Abandoned cars at the Syria-Turley Border | Captured with WorldView-2
Europe faces intense migratory pressure and the European Commission recognises that it is unlikely to ease, even in the long term.
In fact, there is every chance the situation will get worse – there is no resolution in sight for many protracted conflicts in Africa and the Middle East, and the threat of climate change induced-displacement is growing. Affected populations might have decades in which to plan their retreat from rising sea levels, or just hours to flee a natural disaster, and the EU must be prepared for either situation.
We have emerged from the challenge of the 2015 migration wave having learnt some hard lessons. And now it’s time to move on from crisis mode, and the associated inefficiencies, to prepare our institutions for properly managing future human movements.
Currently there are persistent and significant gaps in the personnel and equipment available to the agencies mandated with managing the EU’s external borders – to the point that the European Commission believes they must be doubled in order to meet their current operational needs.
It is no surprise really. The external borders of the EU are vast and complicated. They traverse oceans, mountains, and rivers. But boats, trucks, and personnel will always leave gaps, and effective management requires the ability to monitor and react to action at any geographical location, which is why the European Border Surveillance System (EUROSUR) was created.
“EUROSUR fuses different streams of data in order to visualise the situation along the border, even where there are no resources on the ground,” says Dr. Melanie Rankl, Account Manager at European Space Imaging. “The aim is to prevent crime, irregular migration, and protect the lives of migrants.”
“Very high resolution optical satellite imagery is an especially powerful data stream for EUROSUR because relatively small objects such as cars and boats can be clearly identified. The satellites have the capacity to image even the most remote areas in near real-time – enabling the prompt gathering of new information and the verification of other intelligence sources.”
Satellite monitoring delivers cost-effective insights that enable resources to be deployed to the areas where they are most needed, maximizing operational efficiency.
“Particularly in emergency situations, satellite data can prove to be very valuable information” comments Sonia Antunes, Project Office at European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA).
Compared to imagery from planes or drones, satellites offer logistical simplicity by cutting out the need for permits, air traffic control, equipment, and pilots. This is especially important when the area of the interest is in a crisis or conflict zone.
European Space Imaging has been reliably supplying very high resolution satellite imagery to EU earth observation programmes such as the Integrated Maritime Services (IMS) and COPERNICUS for over a decade, and is proud to offer a service that helps keep our borders secure and our citizens safe, all while protecting the lives of vulnerable people.
About European Space Imaging
European Space Imaging, a Munich based company has been downloading, processing, analysing and selling earth observation data since 2002. They are only European provider of true 30 cm resolution data and to own and operate their own multi mission ground station. With more than 15 years experience, European Space Imaging has developed a reputation for expert and personalised customer service and an unbeatable track record for supplying innovative solutions to meet the diverse projects and requirements of their customers.