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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 127 records · Page 7

Future US energy demands based upon traditional consumption patterns lead to requirements which significantly exceed domestic supply

Energy consumption in the United States has risen in response to both increasing population and to increasing levels of affluence. Depletion of domestic energy reserves requires consumption modulation, production of fossil fuels, more efficient conversion techniques, and large scale transitions to non-fossile fuel energy sources. Widening disparity between the wealthy and poor nations of the world contributes to trends that increase the likelihood of group action by the lesser developed countries to achieve political and economic goals. The formation of anticartel cartels is envisioned.

Source record↗

Lack of agreement over the use and ownership of the internationally shared resources (such as air space, outer space and the oceans) leading to international conflict

The lack of adequate institutional mechanisms to regulate, monitor and govern the use of commonly owned world resources appears to be politically destabilizing and subject to socioeconomic pressures of overpopulation, food shortages, cartelism, terrorism, and wealth distribution to developing countries. The capacity and propensity to wage war and its potential consequences are elaborated. It is shown that technology is one of the dominant factors affecting the exploration and management of commonly shared resources.

Source record↗

Applications of space technology to developing nations

The use of imagery from the Landsat spacecraft for the monitoring and management of natural resources in developing countries is discussed. The Landsat imagery can be used to make cartographic maps at scales of 1:250,000 which meet the US National Map Accuracy Standards, providing a means of map updating to correct for river meanders or changing shorelines. The Landsat data can also be used in defining and measuring agricultural areas, identifying pest breeding areas, and monitoring irrigation practices and crop performance. Total volume estimates can be obtained in many cases for surface bodies of water, and subsurface water supplies can be detected from changes in vegetation in some instances.

Freden, S. C.↗

Meteorological sensors and related technology for the eighties

The sensors currently projected for the new generation of meteorological satellites which will be in operation during the First Global Atmospheric Research Program GARP Global Experiment (FGGE) are described. The closely related subject of on-board data processing is treated briefly as well as efforts by the countries/agencies responsible for these satellites to make useful products available to developing countries at low cost.

Heacock, E. L.↗

Photovoltaic village power application: Assessment of the near-term market

The village power application represents a potential market for photovoltaics. The price of energy for photovoltaic systems was compared to that of utility line extensions and diesel generators. The potential domestic demand was defined in both the government and commercial sectors. The foreign demand and sources of funding for village power systems in the developing countries were also discussed briefly. It was concluded that a near term domestic market of at least 12 MW min and a foreign market of about 10 GW exists.

Rosenblum, L.↗

Photovoltaic water pumping applications: Assessment of the near-term market

Water pumping applications represent a potential market for photovoltaics. The price of energy for photovoltaic systems was compared to that of utility line extensions and diesel generators. The potential domestic demand was defined in the government, commercial/institutional and public sectors. The foreign demand and sources of funding for water pumping systems in the developing countries were also discussed briefly. It was concluded that a near term domestic market of at least 240 megawatts and a foreign market of about 6 gigawatts exist.

Rosenblum, L.↗

Future use of digital remote sensing data

Users of remote sensing data are increasingly turning to digital processing techniques for the extraction of land resource, environmental, and natural resource information. This paper presents the results of recent and ongoing research efforts sponsored, in part, by NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center on the current uses of and future needs for digital remote sensing data. An ongoing investigation involves a comprehensive survey of capabilities for digital Landsat data use in the Southeastern U.S. Another effort consists of an evaluation of future needs for digital remote sensing data by federal, state, and local governments and the private sector. These needs are projected into the 1980-1985 time frame. Furthermore, the accelerating use of digital remote sensing data is not limited to the U.S. or even to the developed countries of the world.

Spann, G. W.↗

Description of photovoltaic village power systems in the United States and Africa

Photovoltaic power systems in remote villages in the United States and Africa are described. These projects were undertaken to demonstrate that existing photovoltaic system technology is capable of providing electrical power for basic domestic services for the millions of small, remote communities in both developed and developing countries. One system is located in the Papago Indian Village of Schuchuli in southwest Arizona (U. S.) and became operational 16 December 1978. The other system is located in Tangaye, a rural village in Upper Volta, Africa. It became operational 1 March 1979. The Schuchuli system has a 3.5 kW (peak) solar array which provides electric power for village water pumping, a refrigerator for each family, lights in the village buildings, and a community washing machine and sewing machine. The 1.8 kW (peak) Tangaye system provides power for community water pumping, flour milling and lights in the milling building. These are both stand-alone systems (i.e., no back-up power source) which are being operated and maintained by local personnel. Both systems are instrumented. Systems operations are being monitored by NASA to measure design adequacy and to refine designs for future systems.

Ratajczak, A. F.↗

International photovoltaic program. Volume 2: Appendices

The results of analyses conducted in preparation of an international photovoltaic marketing plan are summarized. Included are compilations of relevant statutes and existing Federal programs; strategies designed to expand the use of photovoltaics abroad; information on the domestic photovoltaic plan and its impact on the proposed international plan; perspectives on foreign competition; industry views on the international photovoltaic market and ideas about the how US government actions could affect this market;international financing issues; and information on issues affecting foreign policy and developing countries.

Costello, D.↗

An assessment of LACIE and related methodologies for conducting crop inventories

The Large Area Crop Inventory Experiment (LACIE) is a joint undertaking of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. It is designed to verify an economically important application of remote sensing from earth orbital satellites. The first two phases of the experiment have been completed. A description of the experiment and a short discussion on the results and conclusions of the first two phases are presented. The LACIE design is compared with other designs for conducting crop inventories. An integrated design methodology (based upon accumulated LACIE experience) is discussed for conducting crop acreage surveys in developing countries.

Tokerud, R. E.↗

Research in space commercialization, technology transfer and communications, vol. 2

Spectrum management, models for evaluating communications systems, and implications of communications regulations for NASA are considered as major parts of communications policy. Marketing LANDSAT products in developing countries, a political systems analysis of LANDSAT, and private financing and operation of the space operations center (space station) are discussed. Investment requirements, risks, government support, and other primary business and management considerations are examined.

Dunn, D. A.↗

Qualification testing of solar photovoltaic powered refrigerator freezers for medical use in remote geographic locations

One of the primary obstacles to the application of vaccination in developing countries is the lack of refrigerated storage. Vaccines exposed to elevated temperatures suffer a permanent loss of potency. Photovoltaic (PV) powered refrigerator/freezer (R/F) units could surmount the problem of refrigeration in remote areas where no reliable commercial power supply is available. The performance measurements of two different models of PV powered R/F units for medical use are presented. Qualification testing consisted of four major procedures: no-load pull down, ice making, steady-state (maintenance), and holdover. Both R/F units met the major World Health Organization (WHO) requirements. However, the testing performed does not provide complete characterization of the two units; such information could be derived only from further extensive test procedures.

Kaszeta, W. J.↗

Aquaculture: A Component of Low Cost Sanitation Technology

The paper discusses all phases of aquaculture, including commercial viability, sanitary and biological considerations, public health, financial/economic and sociological aspects. Current studies are detailed and options are discussed for their potential applicability to developing countries, considering requirements for capital and labor skills as well as physical needs such as land.

Edwards, P.↗

User evaluation of photovoltaic-powered vaccine refrigerator/freezer systems

The NASA Lewis Research Center has concluded a project to develop and field test photovoltaic-powered refrigerator/freezers for vaccine storage in remote areas of developing countries. As a conclusion to this project, questionnaires were sent to the in-country administrators for each test site probing user acceptance of the systems and attitudes regarding procurement of additional systems. Responses indicate that the systems had a positive effect on the local communities, that they made a positive impression on the local health authorities, and that system cost and scarcity of funds are the major barriers to procurements of additional systems.

Ratajczak, Anthony F.↗

Design, development and deployment of public service photovoltaic power/load systems for the Gabonese Republic

Five different types of public service photovoltaic power/load systems installed in the Gabonese Republic are discussed. The village settings, the systems, performance results and some problems encountered are described. Most of the systems performed well, but some of the systems had problems due to failure of components or installation errors. The project was reasonably successful in collecting and reporting data for system performance evaluation that will be useful for guiding officials and system designers involved in village power applications in developing countries.

Kaszeta, William J.↗

Remote sensing: Earth's surface and atmosphere; Proceedings of Workshop X and the Topical Meeting of the 26th COSPAR Plenary Meeting, Toulouse, France, June 30-July 11, 1986

The present conference on space-based remote sensing of the earth's surface and atmosphere addresses the two broad issues of remote sensing activities of interest to developing countries and the results obtained to date by the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project, the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment, and the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE). Attention is given to the remote sensing of environmental factors affecting health, applications of satellite microwave radiometry, earth science missions for the NASA Space Station, and digitally produced Landsat map images. Also discussed are time-accumulated visible and IR histograms used as cloud cover descriptors, the estimation of the radiation budget's sensitivity to cloud variations, monitoring global surface temperature variations using cloud data sets, and an analysis of preliminary SAGE II data on ozone and NO2.

Carter, W. D.↗

Low cost, microcomputer-based interactive analysis system for direct-reception and archived remote sensing data

A hardware/software system has been developed for use in meteorological field experiments and by developing countries which need low-cost remote sensing data analysis capabilities. The system can directly receive satellite transmissions of the AVHRR, TOVS, Argos, GOES, GMS, and Meteosat systems. Also, the system can process computer tapes from Landsat. Received data are ingested directly into the computer's disk storage, eliminating the need for a wide-band analog tape drive. Data may be interpreted in terms of cloud imagery, cloudtop temperature, sea surface temperature, vegetation index, and temperature/humidity profiles with overlays of geographic boundaries and latitude/longitude grids. The image processing, enhancement functions, and modeling capabilities of the system are discussed.

Vermillion, Charles H.↗

Cropland measurement using Thematic Mapper data and radiometric model

To halt erosion and desertification, it is necessary to quantify resources that are affected. Necessary information includes inventory of croplands and desert areas as they change over time. Several studies indicate the value of remote sensor data as input to inventories. In this study, the radiometric modeling of spectral characteristics of soil and vegetation provides the theoretical basis for the remote sensing approach. Use of Landsat Thematic Mapper images allows measurement of croplands in Saudi Arabia, demonstrating the capability of the approach. The inventory techniques and remote sensing approach presented are potentially useful in developing countries.

Lyon, John G.↗