data input to National Oceanographic Data Center (ice data) -- 



how many aerial photographs will NODC have to interpret per year? 



MR. H. W. DUBACH (NODC): We plan to begin investigation of ice 

 digitalization schemes before January 196Z. To date we have not 

 assigned any of our staff to consolidate existing collections and 

 review them; therefore, we have no estimate of tfie annual rate of 

 accrual of ice photographs. With daily ice reconnaissance by air- 

 craft for the Baffin Bay, Canadian Archipelago, and Alaska-Bering 

 Sea area, the volume could amount to 200 to 300 photos a day. 

 The normal ice season could run from 6 to 9 nnonths. It is not 

 unreasonable to ajiticipate an accrual of from 5, 000 to 7, 000 

 photographs a year for the North American Arctic alone. 



MR. LEE HEL.SER (Fairchild Camera & Instrument Corporation): 

 Does the Government plan to fund significant research, studies, 

 and the development of new instruments and techniques, or does 

 the Government expect Industry to develop new gear on company 

 fxinds and then contact potential user agencies in an attempt to 

 sell a finished product? 



DR. J. ROCKWELL, JR. (BCF): If a company already manu- 

 factures an instrument to serve a given purpose and if this instru- 

 ment can, with a small amoxint of modification, be adapted to 

 serve the oceanographic effort, then it would be very much to the 

 company's advantage to make this modification itself and sell the 

 Government the patented, finished product. Where a need is pre- 

 sent and there is nothing in existence that approaches the required 

 instrvunent and where the number required is few, of course, the 

 Government must finance development. To assist your company 

 in deciding if its products may be adaptable I suggest that you 

 turn to the list of laboratories dealing in oceanographic research 

 (appendix B) and contact those nearest you, not with the idea of 

 selling thenn on financing your work, but to learn if your particu- 

 lar instrument is close to the corresponding one on the lists of 

 required instruments (appendices E, F, G, and H). The most 

 productive work in the past and the best instruments have always 

 been produced by technically trained people and oceanographic 

 field personnel working in close harmony. Before developing 

 new gear on your own, I would suggest that you get in touch with 

 a using group, particularly if you do not have an experienced 

 oceanographer on your staff, to be sure that you are on the right 

 track. 



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