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##   2023 in Review: EROS Celebrated its 50th, Named a Director

Explore Our Anniversary Website

      By Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center       December 21, 2023    

The past year has been exciting and momentous at the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center for many reasons. Certainly the biggest came as employees past and present celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Center’s opening in a former farm field in South Dakota to serve as the anchor for the Landsat Program’s data management and, eventually, mission operations. 

Read more about the anniversary and other notable events in our EROS Top 10 list for 2023.

 

### **1. EROS Turns 50!**

View Media Details

###  

Months of planning and anticipation culminated in 50th anniversary festivities in August that welcomed USGS leadership, global and local partners, alumni, and employees’ families and friends. The EROS rededication ceremony took place August 18, 2023, inside the EROS Auditorium, built as part of the 1990s building addition. Following the speeches, a time capsule gained new items, including an EROS 50th anniversary poster and program.

The following day, EROS bustled with employees on their Saturday off, along with their families and friends, as they streamed through the building exploring exhibits, listening to alumni and science talks and taking tours of EROS. They also sat under a tent outside the original 50-year-old building for a ceremony describing the significance of EROS, in the past and in the future. Hear more from alumni and EROS friends who attended in Eyes on Earth podcast episodes 103 and 104.

### **2. Pete Doucette Named EROS Director**

View Media Details

After serving as Acting Center Director for two years, Dr. Pete Doucette was named Director of EROS in March 2023. Doucette arrived at EROS in 2019 to serve as the lead for Integrated Science and Applications after leaving the National Land Imaging Program in Reston, Virginia. Doucette reflected on his move to EROS and the future of the center in Eyes on Earth podcast episode 102.

### **3. Future of Land Cover Science Announced**

An announcement in April 2023 outlined the next generation of land cover science at EROS. Combining the best of two key land cover efforts, National Land Cover Database (NLCD) and Land Change Monitoring, Assessment and Projection (LCMAP), the initial release will debut in 2024 as NLCD 2023 with the advantages of NLCD’s robust class structure and LCMAP’s annual time steps and use of the lengthy Landsat archive. Many people within and outside of EROS are working hard to accomplish NLCD 2023’s ambitious goals. Listen to a discussion about this future step in Eyes on Earth podcast episode 107.

### **4. Hovenweep Arrives**

View Media Details

In June 2023, USGS added a new supercomputer to its lineup to help meet computing demand, and like the High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems Tallgrass and Denali before it, Hovenweep also calls EROS home. Hovenweep is the most powerful computer in the Department of the Interior and open to use by employees of the USGS and other federal agencies.

### **5. Data Releases Stack Up**

EROS scientists produced at least 20 new data releases in 2023. One was the LANDFIRE 2022 Update, part of the transition of LANDFIRE to annual updates. LF 2022 was the first update to include disturbances from just a year before, and portions of the United States and its territories were released incrementally from May to December. Another significant achievement came from NLCD 2021, which marked the last installment of the traditional NLCD products. A Surface Urban Heat Island dataset was updated to include extent, intensity and hotspot data of land surface temperatures for 50 cities across the United States. Find other data releases about exotic annual grasses, rangeland tree canopy cover, LCMAP reference and validation, Landsat cloud truth masking and much more here.

### **6. Support for Fifth National Climate Assessment**

When the U.S. Global Change Research Program released the Fifth National Climate Assessment in November 2023, the Congressionally mandated report that assesses current and future national risks from climate change included some key inputs from EROS. EROS Research Physical Scientist George Xian was selected to fill out the term as Federal Coordinating Lead Author for the report’s Chapter 6, Land Cover and Land-Use Change, after the death of Brad Reed, a USGS scientist and former EROS employee. LCMAP data is foundational to that chapter and also is used in Chapter 7, Forests. Elsewhere in the report, urban heat island information based on land surface temperature from EROS appears in graphic form in the report Overview; Chapter 12, Built Environment, Urban Systems, and Cities; and Appendix 4, Indicators, with EROS scientist and contractor Hua Shi listed as a contributor for the latter two sections.

### **7. Fact Sheets Roll Out**

Fact sheets help the public and data users understand the benefits of EROS work and products. In 2023, a variety of topics were covered in newly released fact sheets. LANDFIRE provided an updated look of its purpose, products and uses. The Rangeland Condition Monitoring Assessment and Projection (RCMAP) project offered similar information. Another fact sheet described Landsat Collection 2 U.S. Analysis Ready Data. And just before the end of the year, a fact sheet debuted outlining urban heat island intensity and change for 50 cities across the United States.

View Media Details

### **8. Landsat 7 Sensor Heads to D.C.**

EROS’ loss became the Smithsonian’s gain when the Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) instrument was carefully crated up in March 2023 from its prominent spot in the atrium and trucked east to its new home in the National Air and Space Museum. The instrument, an engineering model of the version currently in orbit imaging Earth, had been in place at EROS since the early 2000s but now will help educate museum visitors about remote sensing and Earth observation.

### **9. Daily Walk-in Tours Resume**

The Covid-19 pandemic closed the EROS facility for a time, sending most employees to work from home and canceling tour opportunities. When employees came back to the building, staff-guided tours soon returned by appointment only. But in May 2023, EROS once again began offering staff-guided tours at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. weekdays, open to any visitors dropping in, with self-guided tours welcome anytime from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Learn more about visiting EROS here.

### **10. Third Shoemaker Award in a Row**

EROS Communications & Outreach gained a new government lead this year, Michelle Bouchard, and also its third-in-a-row Shoemaker Award for Communications Excellence, this time in the 2022 Small Print Product Category for a selection of fact sheets that relate Landsat Program benefits to different states. This followed the 2020 Audio/Visual Product Award for the Eyes on Earth podcast series and the 2021 Graphic Product Award for a “Denver Urban Wildlife Refuge” display.

## Related Content

                -              Multimedia           
                -              Web Tools           
                -              News           

View videos and listen to Eyes on Earth podcast episodes related to 2023 events at USGS EROS.

August 19, 2023

####   USGS EROS: Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence

For 50 years, the people of EROS have overcome difficulties and celebrated triumphs together, always centered on providing a perspective of the Earth that helps us better understand its condition. This video, timed with the 50th anniversary celebration at EROS in August of 2023, explores the center's history.

Core Science Systems Mission Area, National Land Imaging Program, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center 

Thumbnail image of Jon Dewitz and Terry Sohl at USGS EROS for EOE logo

Eyes on Earth Episode 107 – EROS 50th: Land Cover, Part 2

Thumbnail image of Jon Dewitz and Terry Sohl at USGS EROS for EOE logoThumbnail image of Jon Dewitz and Terry Sohl at USGS EROS for EOE logo

November 13, 2023

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 107 – EROS 50th: Land Cover, Part 2

link

The National Land Cover Database (NLCD) has a long history as the definitive U.S. land cover product. But the newer Land Change Monitoring, Assessment and Projection (LCMAP) effort takes a longer look back in time.

Core Science Systems Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center 

Thumbnail image of Jon Dewitz and Terry Sohl at USGS EROS for EOE logoThumbnail image of Jon Dewitz and Terry Sohl at USGS EROS for EOE logo

November 13, 2023

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 107 – EROS 50th: Land Cover, Part 2

link

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 107 – EROS 50th: Land Cover, Part 2

link

The National Land Cover Database (NLCD) has a long history as the definitive U.S. land cover product. But the newer Land Change Monitoring, Assessment and Projection (LCMAP) effort takes a longer look back in time.

Core Science Systems Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center 

Thumbnail logo image for EoE episode 106, Land Cover Part 1

Eyes on Earth Episode 106 – EROS 50th: Land Cover, Part 1

Thumbnail logo image for EoE episode 106, Land Cover Part 1Thumbnail logo image for EoE episode 106, Land Cover Part 1

October 30, 2023

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 106 – EROS 50th: Land Cover, Part 1

link

Several decades ago, USGS EROS employees were pioneers in land cover mapping—turning satellite imagery into a record of what covers the land, from farmland to forest to urban areas. National and global datasets with a variety of uses resulted from these efforts.

Core Science Systems Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center 

Thumbnail logo image for EoE episode 106, Land Cover Part 1Thumbnail logo image for EoE episode 106, Land Cover Part 1

October 30, 2023

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 106 – EROS 50th: Land Cover, Part 1

link

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 106 – EROS 50th: Land Cover, Part 1

link

Several decades ago, USGS EROS employees were pioneers in land cover mapping—turning satellite imagery into a record of what covers the land, from farmland to forest to urban areas. National and global datasets with a variety of uses resulted from these efforts.

Core Science Systems Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center 

EoE – Episode 104 EROS 50th: Alumni and Friends, Part 2 thumbnail

Eyes on Earth Episode 104 – EROS 50th: Alumni and Friends, Part 2

EoE – Episode 104 EROS 50th: Alumni and Friends, Part 2 thumbnailEoE – Episode 104 EROS 50th: Alumni and Friends, Part 2 thumbnail

September 25, 2023

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 104 – EROS 50th: Alumni and Friends, Part 2

link

At the USGS EROS 50th anniversary events on August 17-19, 2023, a special effort was made to include alumni who had worked at the center, especially those from the earliest years of EROS’ existence. This episode of Eyes on Earth is the second to highlight their stories, with emphasis on science, technology, and EROS’ international outlook.

Core Science Systems Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center 

EoE – Episode 104 EROS 50th: Alumni and Friends, Part 2 thumbnailEoE – Episode 104 EROS 50th: Alumni and Friends, Part 2 thumbnail

September 25, 2023

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 104 – EROS 50th: Alumni and Friends, Part 2

link

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 104 – EROS 50th: Alumni and Friends, Part 2

link

At the USGS EROS 50th anniversary events on August 17-19, 2023, a special effort was made to include alumni who had worked at the center, especially those from the earliest years of EROS’ existence. This episode of Eyes on Earth is the second to highlight their stories, with emphasis on science, technology, and EROS’ international outlook.

Core Science Systems Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center 

EoE Episode 103 thumbnail - EROS 50th: Alumni, Part 1

Eyes on Earth Episode 103 - EROS 50th: Alumni and Friends, Part 1

EoE Episode 103 thumbnail - EROS 50th: Alumni, Part 1EoE Episode 103 thumbnail - EROS 50th: Alumni, Part 1

September 18, 2023

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 103 - EROS 50th: Alumni and Friends, Part 1

link

At the USGS EROS 50th anniversary events on August 17-19, 2023, a special effort was made to include alumni who had worked at the center, especially those from the earliest years of EROS’ existence. This episode of Eyes on Earth highlights their stories, with emphasis on EROS’ history and its dedicated employees.

Core Science Systems Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center 

EoE Episode 103 thumbnail - EROS 50th: Alumni, Part 1EoE Episode 103 thumbnail - EROS 50th: Alumni, Part 1

September 18, 2023

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 103 - EROS 50th: Alumni and Friends, Part 1

link

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 103 - EROS 50th: Alumni and Friends, Part 1

link

At the USGS EROS 50th anniversary events on August 17-19, 2023, a special effort was made to include alumni who had worked at the center, especially those from the earliest years of EROS’ existence. This episode of Eyes on Earth highlights their stories, with emphasis on EROS’ history and its dedicated employees.

Core Science Systems Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center 

EoE thumbnail image of Pete Doucette for episode 101

Eyes on Earth Episode 101 – EROS 50th: Director Pete Doucette Looks Ahead

EoE thumbnail image of Pete Doucette for episode 101EoE thumbnail image of Pete Doucette for episode 101

August 14, 2023

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 101 – EROS 50th: Director Pete Doucette Looks Ahead

link

EROS Center Director Pete Doucette has been at EROS for a fairly short stretch of the center’s 50-year history, but his passion for the mission of EROS and its opportunities in the future are clear in this episode of Eyes on Earth.

Core Science Systems Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center 

EoE thumbnail image of Pete Doucette for episode 101EoE thumbnail image of Pete Doucette for episode 101

August 14, 2023

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 101 – EROS 50th: Director Pete Doucette Looks Ahead

link

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 101 – EROS 50th: Director Pete Doucette Looks Ahead

link

EROS Center Director Pete Doucette has been at EROS for a fairly short stretch of the center’s 50-year history, but his passion for the mission of EROS and its opportunities in the future are clear in this episode of Eyes on Earth.

Core Science Systems Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center 

EoE thumbnail for episode 100 - Our Legacy

Eyes on Earth Episode 100 – EROS 50th: Our Legacy

EoE thumbnail for episode 100 - Our LegacyEoE thumbnail for episode 100 - Our Legacy

August 7, 2023

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 100 – EROS 50th: Our Legacy

link

As USGS EROS turns 50 this month, our Eyes on Earth podcast also marks a big moment: Episode 100. To celebrate, we bring together some treasured moments from previous episodes in which people inside and outside of EROS share their thoughts on EROS and its role in the world of remote sensing, including as keeper of all Landsat satellite data.

Core Science Systems Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center 

EoE thumbnail for episode 100 - Our LegacyEoE thumbnail for episode 100 - Our Legacy

August 7, 2023

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 100 – EROS 50th: Our Legacy

link

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 100 – EROS 50th: Our Legacy

link

As USGS EROS turns 50 this month, our Eyes on Earth podcast also marks a big moment: Episode 100. To celebrate, we bring together some treasured moments from previous episodes in which people inside and outside of EROS share their thoughts on EROS and its role in the world of remote sensing, including as keeper of all Landsat satellite data.

Core Science Systems Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center 

EoE EROS Tours thumbnail

Eyes on Earth Episode 86 - Tours at EROS

EoE EROS Tours thumbnailEoE EROS Tours thumbnail

December 16, 2022

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 86 - Tours at EROS

link

The USGS EROS Center is the home of the Landsat satellite archive. This data center and science center located on a former farm near Sioux Falls, SD, is one of the largest civilian archives of land imaging in the world.

Core Science Systems Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center 

EoE EROS Tours thumbnailEoE EROS Tours thumbnail

December 16, 2022

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 86 - Tours at EROS

link

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 86 - Tours at EROS

link

The USGS EROS Center is the home of the Landsat satellite archive. This data center and science center located on a former farm near Sioux Falls, SD, is one of the largest civilian archives of land imaging in the world.

Core Science Systems Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center 

Visit the EROS 50th anniversary website for details about the facility's history.

August 15, 2023

####                 Celebrating a Half-Century at EROS              

For 50 years, the EROS Center has been archiving and distributing satellite, aerial, and mapping data amidst farmland north of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. We invite you to explore the surprising history and cutting-edge science and research performed at EROS every day. 

Core Science Systems Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center , EROS History Project, Landsat Legacy

Read about a variety of developments at USGS EROS in 2023.

EROS Gives Snapshot of Heat Trends in 50 Cities Across the U.S.

December 14, 2023

####   EROS Gives Snapshot of Heat Trends in 50 Cities Across the U.S.

What happens on a hot day when the sun bakes buildings and asphalt parking lots in areas that contain little, if any, grass or trees? The heat...

Read Article

USGS New Supercomputer Helps Scientists Wrangle Data

December 1, 2023

####   USGS New Supercomputer Helps Scientists Wrangle Data

Earlier this year, the U.S. Geological Survey’s Science Analytics and Synthesis Advanced Research Computing (ARC) installed its newest supercomputer...

Read Article

USGS EROS Celebrates 50 Years of a Mission that Matters

August 23, 2023

####   USGS EROS Celebrates 50 Years of a Mission that Matters

Fifty years ago, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) brought people together to work in a new government facility surrounded by South Dakota farm fields...

Read Article

As USGS EROS Turns 50, Director Embraces Future

August 14, 2023

####   As USGS EROS Turns 50, Director Embraces Future

Dr. Pete Doucette came to the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center in 2019 from the USGS in Reston, Virginia, to lead the...

Read Article

EROS 50th History: A Leader in Mapping Land Cover and Change

August 9, 2023

####   EROS 50th History: A Leader in Mapping Land Cover and Change

We become intimately familiar with the land where we live, work and play. The backyard maple where three baby robins left their nest on the fourth...

Read Article

EROS Resumes Daily Public Tours

May 31, 2023

####   EROS Resumes Daily Public Tours

Free, guided tours at the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center are once again open to the public each day at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m...

Read Article

Pete Doucette Named Director of USGS EROS

April 24, 2023

####   Pete Doucette Named Director of USGS EROS

Pete Doucette has been named Director of the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center, after serving as Acting Director since March...

Read Article

USGS Announces Next Generation of Land Cover and Change Products

April 17, 2023

####   USGS Announces Next Generation of Land Cover and Change Products

The USGS is excited to announce the development of the next generation of land cover and change products. 

Read Article

USGS Satellite Sensor Finds Home with Smithsonian

March 15, 2023

####   USGS Satellite Sensor Finds Home with Smithsonian

The 50-year Landsat Program lies at the heart of the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center, so naturally there are a few Landsat...

Read Article

## Related Content

View videos and listen to Eyes on Earth podcast episodes related to 2023 events at USGS EROS.

August 19, 2023

####   USGS EROS: Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence

For 50 years, the people of EROS have overcome difficulties and celebrated triumphs together, always centered on providing a perspective of the Earth that helps us better understand its condition. This video, timed with the 50th anniversary celebration at EROS in August of 2023, explores the center's history.

Core Science Systems Mission Area, National Land Imaging Program, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center 

Thumbnail image of Jon Dewitz and Terry Sohl at USGS EROS for EOE logo

Eyes on Earth Episode 107 – EROS 50th: Land Cover, Part 2

Thumbnail image of Jon Dewitz and Terry Sohl at USGS EROS for EOE logoThumbnail image of Jon Dewitz and Terry Sohl at USGS EROS for EOE logo

November 13, 2023

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 107 – EROS 50th: Land Cover, Part 2

link

The National Land Cover Database (NLCD) has a long history as the definitive U.S. land cover product. But the newer Land Change Monitoring, Assessment and Projection (LCMAP) effort takes a longer look back in time.

Core Science Systems Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center 

Thumbnail image of Jon Dewitz and Terry Sohl at USGS EROS for EOE logoThumbnail image of Jon Dewitz and Terry Sohl at USGS EROS for EOE logo

November 13, 2023

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 107 – EROS 50th: Land Cover, Part 2

link

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 107 – EROS 50th: Land Cover, Part 2

link

The National Land Cover Database (NLCD) has a long history as the definitive U.S. land cover product. But the newer Land Change Monitoring, Assessment and Projection (LCMAP) effort takes a longer look back in time.

Core Science Systems Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center 

Thumbnail logo image for EoE episode 106, Land Cover Part 1

Eyes on Earth Episode 106 – EROS 50th: Land Cover, Part 1

Thumbnail logo image for EoE episode 106, Land Cover Part 1Thumbnail logo image for EoE episode 106, Land Cover Part 1

October 30, 2023

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 106 – EROS 50th: Land Cover, Part 1

link

Several decades ago, USGS EROS employees were pioneers in land cover mapping—turning satellite imagery into a record of what covers the land, from farmland to forest to urban areas. National and global datasets with a variety of uses resulted from these efforts.

Core Science Systems Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center 

Thumbnail logo image for EoE episode 106, Land Cover Part 1Thumbnail logo image for EoE episode 106, Land Cover Part 1

October 30, 2023

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 106 – EROS 50th: Land Cover, Part 1

link

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 106 – EROS 50th: Land Cover, Part 1

link

Several decades ago, USGS EROS employees were pioneers in land cover mapping—turning satellite imagery into a record of what covers the land, from farmland to forest to urban areas. National and global datasets with a variety of uses resulted from these efforts.

Core Science Systems Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center 

EoE – Episode 104 EROS 50th: Alumni and Friends, Part 2 thumbnail

Eyes on Earth Episode 104 – EROS 50th: Alumni and Friends, Part 2

EoE – Episode 104 EROS 50th: Alumni and Friends, Part 2 thumbnailEoE – Episode 104 EROS 50th: Alumni and Friends, Part 2 thumbnail

September 25, 2023

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 104 – EROS 50th: Alumni and Friends, Part 2

link

At the USGS EROS 50th anniversary events on August 17-19, 2023, a special effort was made to include alumni who had worked at the center, especially those from the earliest years of EROS’ existence. This episode of Eyes on Earth is the second to highlight their stories, with emphasis on science, technology, and EROS’ international outlook.

Core Science Systems Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center 

EoE – Episode 104 EROS 50th: Alumni and Friends, Part 2 thumbnailEoE – Episode 104 EROS 50th: Alumni and Friends, Part 2 thumbnail

September 25, 2023

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 104 – EROS 50th: Alumni and Friends, Part 2

link

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 104 – EROS 50th: Alumni and Friends, Part 2

link

At the USGS EROS 50th anniversary events on August 17-19, 2023, a special effort was made to include alumni who had worked at the center, especially those from the earliest years of EROS’ existence. This episode of Eyes on Earth is the second to highlight their stories, with emphasis on science, technology, and EROS’ international outlook.

Core Science Systems Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center 

EoE Episode 103 thumbnail - EROS 50th: Alumni, Part 1

Eyes on Earth Episode 103 - EROS 50th: Alumni and Friends, Part 1

EoE Episode 103 thumbnail - EROS 50th: Alumni, Part 1EoE Episode 103 thumbnail - EROS 50th: Alumni, Part 1

September 18, 2023

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 103 - EROS 50th: Alumni and Friends, Part 1

link

At the USGS EROS 50th anniversary events on August 17-19, 2023, a special effort was made to include alumni who had worked at the center, especially those from the earliest years of EROS’ existence. This episode of Eyes on Earth highlights their stories, with emphasis on EROS’ history and its dedicated employees.

Core Science Systems Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center 

EoE Episode 103 thumbnail - EROS 50th: Alumni, Part 1EoE Episode 103 thumbnail - EROS 50th: Alumni, Part 1

September 18, 2023

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 103 - EROS 50th: Alumni and Friends, Part 1

link

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 103 - EROS 50th: Alumni and Friends, Part 1

link

At the USGS EROS 50th anniversary events on August 17-19, 2023, a special effort was made to include alumni who had worked at the center, especially those from the earliest years of EROS’ existence. This episode of Eyes on Earth highlights their stories, with emphasis on EROS’ history and its dedicated employees.

Core Science Systems Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center 

EoE thumbnail image of Pete Doucette for episode 101

Eyes on Earth Episode 101 – EROS 50th: Director Pete Doucette Looks Ahead

EoE thumbnail image of Pete Doucette for episode 101EoE thumbnail image of Pete Doucette for episode 101

August 14, 2023

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 101 – EROS 50th: Director Pete Doucette Looks Ahead

link

EROS Center Director Pete Doucette has been at EROS for a fairly short stretch of the center’s 50-year history, but his passion for the mission of EROS and its opportunities in the future are clear in this episode of Eyes on Earth.

Core Science Systems Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center 

EoE thumbnail image of Pete Doucette for episode 101EoE thumbnail image of Pete Doucette for episode 101

August 14, 2023

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 101 – EROS 50th: Director Pete Doucette Looks Ahead

link

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 101 – EROS 50th: Director Pete Doucette Looks Ahead

link

EROS Center Director Pete Doucette has been at EROS for a fairly short stretch of the center’s 50-year history, but his passion for the mission of EROS and its opportunities in the future are clear in this episode of Eyes on Earth.

Core Science Systems Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center 

EoE thumbnail for episode 100 - Our Legacy

Eyes on Earth Episode 100 – EROS 50th: Our Legacy

EoE thumbnail for episode 100 - Our LegacyEoE thumbnail for episode 100 - Our Legacy

August 7, 2023

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 100 – EROS 50th: Our Legacy

link

As USGS EROS turns 50 this month, our Eyes on Earth podcast also marks a big moment: Episode 100. To celebrate, we bring together some treasured moments from previous episodes in which people inside and outside of EROS share their thoughts on EROS and its role in the world of remote sensing, including as keeper of all Landsat satellite data.

Core Science Systems Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center 

EoE thumbnail for episode 100 - Our LegacyEoE thumbnail for episode 100 - Our Legacy

August 7, 2023

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 100 – EROS 50th: Our Legacy

link

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 100 – EROS 50th: Our Legacy

link

As USGS EROS turns 50 this month, our Eyes on Earth podcast also marks a big moment: Episode 100. To celebrate, we bring together some treasured moments from previous episodes in which people inside and outside of EROS share their thoughts on EROS and its role in the world of remote sensing, including as keeper of all Landsat satellite data.

Core Science Systems Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center 

EoE EROS Tours thumbnail

Eyes on Earth Episode 86 - Tours at EROS

EoE EROS Tours thumbnailEoE EROS Tours thumbnail

December 16, 2022

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 86 - Tours at EROS

link

The USGS EROS Center is the home of the Landsat satellite archive. This data center and science center located on a former farm near Sioux Falls, SD, is one of the largest civilian archives of land imaging in the world.

Core Science Systems Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center 

EoE EROS Tours thumbnailEoE EROS Tours thumbnail

December 16, 2022

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 86 - Tours at EROS

link

#### Eyes on Earth Episode 86 - Tours at EROS

link

The USGS EROS Center is the home of the Landsat satellite archive. This data center and science center located on a former farm near Sioux Falls, SD, is one of the largest civilian archives of land imaging in the world.

Core Science Systems Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center 

Visit the EROS 50th anniversary website for details about the facility's history.

August 15, 2023

####                 Celebrating a Half-Century at EROS              

For 50 years, the EROS Center has been archiving and distributing satellite, aerial, and mapping data amidst farmland north of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. We invite you to explore the surprising history and cutting-edge science and research performed at EROS every day. 

Core Science Systems Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center , EROS History Project, Landsat Legacy

Read about a variety of developments at USGS EROS in 2023.

EROS Gives Snapshot of Heat Trends in 50 Cities Across the U.S.

December 14, 2023

####   EROS Gives Snapshot of Heat Trends in 50 Cities Across the U.S.

What happens on a hot day when the sun bakes buildings and asphalt parking lots in areas that contain little, if any, grass or trees? The heat...

Read Article

USGS New Supercomputer Helps Scientists Wrangle Data

December 1, 2023

####   USGS New Supercomputer Helps Scientists Wrangle Data

Earlier this year, the U.S. Geological Survey’s Science Analytics and Synthesis Advanced Research Computing (ARC) installed its newest supercomputer...

Read Article

USGS EROS Celebrates 50 Years of a Mission that Matters

August 23, 2023

####   USGS EROS Celebrates 50 Years of a Mission that Matters

Fifty years ago, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) brought people together to work in a new government facility surrounded by South Dakota farm fields...

Read Article

As USGS EROS Turns 50, Director Embraces Future

August 14, 2023

####   As USGS EROS Turns 50, Director Embraces Future

Dr. Pete Doucette came to the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center in 2019 from the USGS in Reston, Virginia, to lead the...

Read Article

EROS 50th History: A Leader in Mapping Land Cover and Change

August 9, 2023

####   EROS 50th History: A Leader in Mapping Land Cover and Change

We become intimately familiar with the land where we live, work and play. The backyard maple where three baby robins left their nest on the fourth...

Read Article

EROS Resumes Daily Public Tours

May 31, 2023

####   EROS Resumes Daily Public Tours

Free, guided tours at the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center are once again open to the public each day at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m...

Read Article

Pete Doucette Named Director of USGS EROS

April 24, 2023

####   Pete Doucette Named Director of USGS EROS

Pete Doucette has been named Director of the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center, after serving as Acting Director since March...

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USGS Announces Next Generation of Land Cover and Change Products

April 17, 2023

####   USGS Announces Next Generation of Land Cover and Change Products

The USGS is excited to announce the development of the next generation of land cover and change products. 

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USGS Satellite Sensor Finds Home with Smithsonian

March 15, 2023

####   USGS Satellite Sensor Finds Home with Smithsonian

The 50-year Landsat Program lies at the heart of the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center, so naturally there are a few Landsat...

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#### Michelle Bouchard

##### Communications and Outreach

Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center 

mbouchard@usgs.gov

605-594-6168