I can see the plant stress before I can see it with my eyes, and do something about it before it's a detriment. Aerial views have been used scientifically for decades, but in recent years NASA has made the technology available to small businesses. NASA has designated nine universities as AffiliatedResearch Centers, where small businesses can ask for help. Brown is one of the ARCs. Brown is internationally known for its capabilities in remote sensing and spectroscopy, which is the recording of reflected light and emitted heat energy at different wavelengths, much like the human eye detects color with red, green and blue filters.
Spectroscopy uses hundreds of filters.
John Mustard, director of Brown's ARC, sees his role as a problem solver for small business. We want companies who are thinking about using it, but are wary or need help. There is no cost to small business for the projects, which are aimed at demonstrating how remote sensing makes operations more efficient. NASA began introducing companies to remote sensing in 1988. One Brown project involved a Connecticut engineering firm that needed to assess risk by counting houses along natural gas pipelines.