How does the IKONOS launch affect the rest of the commercial industry? GIS industry?
We’re expecting an overwhelming response from industries that haven’t necessarily thought of using imagery in their daily business practices. We anticipate the use of our products in new markets once the information is cost effective and readily available. The value of Earth information in everything from agriculture assessment to the monitoring of current events for the media will spark creativity in the marketplace. For the GIS industry, our imagery will be unequaled in the timeliness, accuracy, accessibility, GIS-readiness and high information content of the imagery. GIS users in local government alone will appreciate the value of satellite imagery for urban planning, road and highway planning, tax assessment, environmental impact studies, and utility network planning, to name a few.
