For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment—visit
For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit
Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also may contain copyrighted materials as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted items must be secured from the copyright owner.
Natural resources have always been a strength for Indiana. Once largely covered by forest, the State now includes a mix of forest, farmland, wetlands, and small lakes. In fact, farms and forested areas make up more than 80 percent of the land (
Agriculture adds more than $30 billion to the economy in Indiana, which placed eighth in the country for agricultural exports at $4.6 billion in 2017 (
Landsat can help monitor the condition of natural resources and the effects of extreme weather events. Here are several ways Landsat has benefited Indiana.
Using a foundation of Landsat and other data, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has developed Cropland Data Layer (CDL) maps that display crop type, acreage, and yield for fields in Indiana and nationally. The annual CDL reveals what is planted, how much, and the location, as well as where land use has changed. This helps agricultural producers and others in the industry make prudent decisions (
The 2021 Cropland Data Layer for Indiana (left full State) and nearby States includes forest (medium green), grassland (pale yellow green), corn (golden yellow), and soybeans (dark green). Image credit: U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Flooding is a threat to Indiana’s agriculture and economy because of heavy precipitation and changing climate patterns (
Landsat 5 images show the difference a year before flooding, on June 9, 2007 (left), and during flooding, on June 11, 2008 (right), in southern Indiana. Image credit: U.S. Geological Survey.
An exploration of Landsat’s archive can reveal gradual change. One example is a study of the effects of transitioning the 50,000-acre Jefferson Proving Ground Army munitions testing facility to the Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge provides habitat for rare birds and other plant and animal species, along with hunting grounds for turkey and deer. Images from the years 1985–2013 quantified changes in land cover, such as forest to shrubland (
Indiana Dunes National Park contains wetlands in addition to shoreline. Restoration of wetlands is one example of land cover change that has been detected at the park. Photograph credit: National Park Service.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Land Imaging Program provides a wide range of satellite imagery and other remotely sensed and geospatial data to Government, commercial, academic, and public users. Those users can get worldwide access to Landsat satellite data through the National Land Imaging Program-funded USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center.
Landsat is the most widely used land remote sensing data source within Federal civilian agencies. Local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies use Landsat to monitor and forecast a wide range of land surface phenomena. Information from Landsat contributes to day-to-day decisions on land, water, and resource use that protect life and property; safeguard the environment; advance science, technology, and education; support climate change resiliency; and grow the U.S. economy. Landsat’s imagery provides a landscape-level view of land surface, inland lake, and coastal processes, both natural and human-induced. Landsat enables us to better understand the scope, nature, and speed of change to the natural and built environment.
Businesses draw upon Landsat data to provide customer-specific applications to improve logistics, resource allocation, and investment decisions. Commercial space imaging firms leverage Landsat data to refine product offerings and support new information services. A 2017 USGS study determined the total annual economic benefit of Landsat data in the United States. to be $2.06 billion, far surpassing its development and operating costs (
Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 provide 8-day repeat coverage of the Earth’s land surfaces. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the USGS are currently reviewing the findings from a joint Architecture Study Team, which will inform the design and implementation approach for Landsat Next, the follow-on mission to Landsat 9. Landsat 9 and its successors are planned to provide a sustainable, space-based system to extend the 50-year Landsat series of high-quality global land imaging measurements—the world’s longest time series of the Earth’s land surface.
The long-term availability of consistent and accurate Landsat data, combined with a no-cost data policy, allows users to analyze extensive geographic areas and better understand and manage long-term trends in land surface change. New cloud computing and data analytics technologies use Landsat data in a wide range of decision-support tools for Government and industry. Much like global positioning systems and weather data, Landsat data are used every day to help us better understand our dynamic planet.
Program Coordinator
USGS National Land Imaging Program
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
Reston, VA 20192
703–648–4567