In order to adequately understand and protect forest stands that display old growth structural characteristics, forest managers and ecologists need to know the location and extent of these features across the landscape. To address these needs, RedCastle Resource personnel evaluated airborne radar imagery for mapping forest structure characteristics including tree size and density. This project, although small in area, showed that difficulties encountered in processing and correcting radar data make it a less desirable data source when more traditional remote sensing data sources are available to provide similar information. RedCastle personnel recommended that radar would not be worth the cost of acquisition in areas where traditional imagery was available. A report and maps of forest classifications were delivered. 

In support of the National Interagency Fire Center’s effort to determine the future configuration of the infrared (IR) data collection fleet, a survey was conducted of the fire Incident Command community to ascertain the importance of IR imagery and derived maps to support their fire suppression efforts.  Sixty Incident Command personnel involved in overhead imagery collection operations for fire suppression were canvassed for the survey.  The survey results were published in a document titled “Infrared Imagery and Map Products – Survey of The IC Community”.

RedCastle personnel have been instrumental in the development of an Infrared Data Downlinking (IRDL) system delivered to NIFC in 1999.  Initially, the staff met with the US Army’s Missile Command to discuss appropriate technology for electronically transmitting thermal imagery from point to point.  Transmission technology was developed and implemented to enable National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) aircraft and staff to avoid frequent landings to download collected thermal imagery during acquisition flights.  The system allows the aircraft to transmit large volumes of imagery to a ground receiving personal computer station in a short period.  The system was prototyped, assembled, and tested by RedCastle staff. 
More recently, RedCastle staff worked with NASA and several commercial vendors to develop an operational imagery data downlink system for use on wildland fires in support of the National Infrared Operations (NIROPS) fire mapping activities.  This cooperative effort has resulted in the development of the Remote Internet Protocol Communications (RIPCom) which represents a successful two-year collaboration between NASA-Goddard and the USDA Forest Service to develop a cost-effective, multi-task communications solution.  RIPCom consists of commercial off-the-shelf components that have been chosen because of their unique performance characteristics.

RedCastle Resources personnel worked with the USDA Forest Service to develop contract specifications, evaluate technical proposals, procure, and construct a 3.1-meter X-band tracking antenna at the Remote Sensing Applications Center (RSAC) in Salt Lake City, Utah. The initial purpose of the antenna was to receive Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) imagery in near real-time to support Burned Area Emergency Response and Active Fire Mapping programs. 

RCR works with the U.S. Forest Service and NASA to monitor and evaluate the evolving technology of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), particularly as it might relate to a viable airborne platform for remote sensing equipment. Our evaluations of UAV technology is not limited to the air vehicles alone, but includes the complete sensor packages the communications gear used to control the vehicle and down load the collected data and the methods used to compress, process, and archive the data. These are collectively known as Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS).  We routinely investigate new UAS technologies for potential use for our clients.