Skip to content

Month: January 2007

Image Acess Solutions and Getting Imagery to Distant Forces

Published on
Deliver Images faster: Image Access Solutions.
IAS revolutionizes the access, management and delivery of large geospatial images – so you can get the information you need faster. Using “intelligent streaming technology”, IAS delivers image information to remote user much faster than traditional dissemination methods, even when there are significant network bandwidth constraints. As a result, the time between collecting an image and delivering it is dramatically reduced, allowing you to make informed, accurate decisions faster.
IDL Analyst
Integrated Numerical Analysis & Data Visualization Solution. The developers of IDL introduce IDL Analyst – a new, premium IDL product that integrates the comprehensive mathematical and statistical routines of the IMSL™ C Numerical Library with the advanced data visualization and analysis capabilities of IDL.
ITT Provides Air Force Better Way To Get Imagery To Distant Forces
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., January 2, 2007 — ITT Corporation (NYSE: ITT) announced that as part of an Air Force-sponsored program, ITT has developed and delivered an advanced imagery management and dissemination solution for the Air Force that provides high-resolution, large-file imagery at high speed over low bandwidth to combat forces.
The new system incorporates the Advanced Geospatial Imagery Library Enterprise (AGILE) technology developed by ITT. Adhering to National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) NITF/JPEG2000 imagery standards, the system receives processed and unexploited imagery from various Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) sources, while providing the framework necessary for managing hundreds of images collected daily . This allows combat forces to quickly locate and access current imagery.
Based on original image sensor metadata, the solution incorporates a Web-based Search and Discovery feature to facilitate a user’s ability to rapidly find and retrieve desired images. A key feature of the system is its ability to disseminate imagery in near real time to users in the field at low bandwidths – even below 10Kbps. This is accomplished through dynamic access of the full frame image, This dynamic access makes the imagery readily available to tactical users where limited communications inhibits access to imagery and reduces the time for tactical decision making from days/hours to minutes/seconds.
“Our challenge is to significantly shorten the time it takes for critical users to obtain this high-resolution imagery,” said Bruce Wald, Vice President and Director, Image Information Solutions, ITT Space Systems Division. “Prior systems were slow because of difficulty sending large volumes over a small bandwidth. Our solution, which uses a non-proprietary architecture based on open standards for advanced compression and wavelet dissemination, allows the Air Force to deliver imagery far more rapidly.”
The core component of the system is the Image Access Solutions (IAS) commercial software product from ITT. It is the engine that provides data conversion, compression and dynamic image access. IAS software allows you to deliver, visualize, and integrate imagery with geospatial data for time-sensitive surveillance and reconnaissance missions. For more information on IAS software, visit http://www.ittvis.com/ias
Follow-on efforts with the Air Force will integrate ITT technology into the Distributed Common Ground Station Integrated Backbone (DIB) and Global Command and Control System architectures. This will dramatically extend the numbers of users who will be able to benefit from the technology.

About ITT Corporation
ITT Corporation (www.itt.com) supplies advanced technology products and services in several growth markets. ITT is a global leader in the transport, treatment and control of water, wastewater and other fluids. The company plays a vital role in international security through its defense communications and electronics products; space surveillance and intelligence systems; and advanced engineering and related services. It also serves the growing leisure marine and electronic components markets with a wide range of products. Headquartered in White Plains, NY, the company generated $7.0 billion in 2005 sales. In addition to the New York Stock Exchange, ITT Corporation stock is traded on the NYSE Arca, Paris, London and Frankfurt exchanges.
About ITT Visual Information Solutions
ITT Visual Information Solutions (formerly Research Systems, Inc./RSI), a wholly owned subsidiary of ITT Corporation, provides integrated software solutions that help scientists, engineers, researchers, and medical professionals turn complex data into useful information. The company’s 150,000 customers from more than 80 countries use IDL, ENVI and IAS to analyze data and imagery and deploy imaging applications. ITT Visual Information Solutions’ products are used in a variety of industries, including remote sensing, engineering, earth sciences, aerospace, defense and intelligence, medical imaging, oil and gas exploration and biotechnology. Combined with a host of support services including training, consulting and technical support, ITT Visual Information Solutions offers the most complete data visualization, image analysis and image delivery solutions available. For more information visit: www.ittvis.com.
Media Contacts
Bernice Borrelli
585.269.5060
Tom Glover
7
03.790.6334
(Source www.ittvis.com)

Infoterra Ltd has today announced it has been appointed to provide technical assistance to the Government of Vietnam in the development of a proposal for the first phase of the Vietnam Land Administration Project (VLAP), for more effective land utilisation and resource management aimed at alleviating poverty and encouraging stable economic development.

Published on
Appointed by SIDA/The Swedish Embassy in Hanoi, Infoterra’s highly-experienced team will work in close co-operation with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) and other Government of Vietnam agencies.
VLAP is key to the development of an effective, efficient and transparent Vietnam-wide land administration system. The project’s main components include: improvements to the land administration system, awareness building and management support.
Dr. Giles D’Souza, project consultant of Infoterra Ltd said: “This project comes at a very exciting time in the development of land administration systems and national spatial data infrastructures around the world. It further demonstrates the ability of land administration systems to underpin more effective land utilisation and resource management so aiding rural poverty alleviation and stable economic development.”
MoNRE, formed by the incorporation of several former government departments, has responsibility for the management of land, water and mineral resources, environment, and hydrometeorology, as well as surveying and mapping for the whole country.
SIDA is the Swedish Government Agency for bilateral international development cooperation and has a lot of experience in the field of land administration in Vietnam.
About Infoterra Ltd.
Infoterra Ltd. is a leading provider of geographic information products and services. Its portfolio of geographic information solutions includes airborne and satellite data acquisition, geo-information creation, database management and outsourced hosting. Infoterra provides geospatial knowledge to companies worldwide to help them make informed decisions. The company has major customers in communications, utilities, engineering, agriculture, defence and oil, gas & mineral exploration.
Infoterra Ltd. is part of the Infoterra group which comprises companies in France, Germany and the United Kingdom, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Astrium Ltd, an EADS company.
For more information contact
Sarah Haslam, Infoterra Ltd,
+44 (0)116 273 2300
(Source Infoterra Ltd)

Spot Image has entered into an agreement with Google in order to improve the available resolution of Google Earth products over wide areas of the world. Under a multi-year agreement, Spot Image will provide Google Earth with 2.5 meter resolution imagery taken from the SPOT5 satellite.

Published on
As of January 22, users will be able to see new high resolution satellite images on Google Earth for various European areas including France, Belgium, Luxemburg, Spain and Portugal.
“We always look to work with the best satellite imagery providers and are very pleased to be working with a French company. Giving our users access to the highest quality images is very important for us. We hope this will help them explore more of our planet from above”, says Mats Carduner, Head of France and Southern Europe for Google.
“This cooperation with Google is a great opportunity to enlarge the community of people who enjoy the images taken by the SPOT satellites, and to show all the benefits of earth observation from space. I am convinced it will contribute to growing public interest for this technology. We are very enthusiastic at Spot Image about this cooperation.”, says Hervé Buchwalter, President & CEO, Spot Image
Spot Image‘s wide range of products and services makes it a leading supplier of geo-spatial information. Over two decades, the company has perfected the ability to harness space- and ground-based systems to meet customers’ needs. Headquartered in Toulouse, France, with subsidiaries and offices in Australia, Brazil, China, Japan, Mexico, Singapore and the United States, the Spot Image group leverages a global network of ground receiving stations, partners and distributors to bring geographic information to public- and private-sector decision-makers worldwide.
For further information :
Spot Image
Corporate Communications
Tél : +33 (0)5 62 19 40 10
Google
Emmanuelle Flahaut-Franc
Anne-Gabrielle Dauba-Pantanacce
Press line : 01 44 88 88 23

focusLEO, the GMV´s low-Earth orbit (LEO) flight dynamics product, has been selected by Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE:ORB) to support the Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO), a mission to measure carbon dioxide in the Earth´s atmosphere managed by NASA´s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).

Published on
Orbital will provide the OCO project´s spacecraft and real-time mission operations.This is the first opportunity for GMV, a global satellite ground segment software company with a US subsidiary located in Rockville, Md., to support a NASA JPL mission. It is also GMV’s first sale of its operational Flight Dynamics software in support of a NASA mission.
focusLEO has also been sold by GMV to operate European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Meteorological Satellite Organization (EUMETSAT) missions. focusLEO provides full support to constellation flying which is important for OCO because it will fly in the NASA A-Train constellation. It provides full lifetime support of LEO and MEO satellite flight dynamics operations with attitude and orbit propagation and determination (including precise orbit determination), maneuver planning and calibration, flight dynamics events generation, and satellite end-of-life planning.
After its 2008 launch, the Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) mission will collect precise global measurements of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the Earth‘s atmosphere. Scientists will analyze OCO data to improve the understanding of natural processes and human activities that regulate the abundance and distribution of this important greenhouse gas. This research will enable more reliable forecasts of future changes in the abundance and distribution of CO2 in the atmosphere and the effect that these changes may have on the Earth‘s climate.
(Source GMV)

Image processing has entered a new era with the object oriented approach.

Published on
The concept behind Definiens is that important semantic information necessary to interpret an image is not represented in single pixels, but in meaningful image objects and their mutual relationships.
While only spectral aspects can be used when classifying pixels, working with objects, as offered by Definiens, allows incorporating shape, texture and environmental factors to classify satellite imagery and aerial photography.
GIM offers the following product:
Definiens Professional Earth 5 provides segmentation and extended classification functionality. In version 5, processes replace protocols offering extended possibilities for development, editing and execution of Image Analysis Routines. It offers improved algorithms for segmentation and classification of images and fusion of objects (e.g. Quadtree & Chessboard Segmentation, possibility to reclassify objects that are enclosed by a certain class, simple processing loops). Furthermore, the assignment of aliases is improved for a better transferability. Finally, thematic layer insertion and manual editing were extended for a better classification.
Furthermore, GIM is proud to offer you Definiens related services:
• On-request Definiens training course
• Improving the efficiency of your mapping processes
• Interpretation and automated classification of your aerial and satellite images;
• Urban Green products using Definiens;
• …
Definiens Professional Earth 5 is a Definiens product
To request additional information on the software, a demo licence or an offer, please contact us via definiens@gim.be
or give us a call on +32 16 40 30 39
(Source GIM and Definiens)

GAF AG has completed successfully the main phase of a technical assistance project in establishing the geoscience and mining information centre in Madagascar BPGRM – Base de données pour la Promotion et la Gouvernance des Ressources Minérales – Centre d`Information Géoscientifique et Minière de Madagascar), under the “Projet de Gouvernance des Ressources Minérales” (PGRM).

Published on
The works have been performed for the Ministry of Mines & Energy, Antananarivo, Madagascar, and are funded by the World Bank-International Development Association and the Government of Madagascar. The Information Centre has been officially launched by the Ministry of Energy and Mines Sept 29th and is a key achievement for the promotion of the mining sector and the attraction of foreign investment.
Please visit the project website here.
(Source GAF AG)

EUROSENSE provides important geo-information to several players in the risk management cycle. In this rapid changing world, cartographic data have to catch up with the appearing of new housing, roads, buildings,… By frequently monitoring elements at risk, EUROSENSE offers data-layers with a regular update of the changes. This multi-risk service provides geo-information that is indispensable in the prevention phase or crisis situation of all sorts of risks.

Published on
The first phase of the GMES-project RiskEOS funded by ESA, in which EUROSENSE is involved as ‘Service Developer’ and ‘Service Provider’, was ended successfully in November 2006. This is also proven by the fruitful cooperation of EUROSENSE with the Slovak Water Management Enterprise, Danube basin, which also triggered the interest and enthusiasm of the City of Bratislava.
On a daily basis new housing, new roads, buildings and infrastructures appear in many regions across Europe. The cartographic material which represents the actual situation is outdated and is only updated every 5 or 10 years. Especially for regions with a lot of new developments and changes, for example cities in Central Europe, the existing printed maps are not updated frequently and can’t catch up with the changes on the terrain. When a natural disaster takes place, the consequences are obvious: new developments are not integrated in the geo-data used for risk management and so they are not taken into account by the rescue teams or crisis managers. This can have disastrous consequences when acting in a crisis-situation.
The service “Monitoring of elements at risk” of EUROSENSE makes it possible to frequently provide several end-users with up-to-date maps. These end-users are civil protection agencies, water management authorities and rescue organisations. The maps contain urban areas, as well as isolated buildings, industrial/ commercial/public buildings and infrastructures and/or all their changes in a fixed period of time, depending on the product.
Based on optical satellite images, several geo-data products can be produced by using a semi-automatic classification process. The overall focus of the service is to locate and to identify all civilian elements contained by areas prone to risk of natural disasters, e.g. recent or predicted flooded areas. Besides for risk mapping, these products are also very useful for urban and regional planning purposes and users.
The benefits of this service are the rapid way of updating old cartographic data for a large coverage and the possibilities of doing this on a yearly or 2-yearly basis, depending on the users’ needs. This EUROSENSE’ service is continuously improved in close cooperation with the several end-users. In that way this multi-risk service can be adapted to the specific user needs and the results can be integrated in the existing database or system.
Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. represent Bratislava and its surroundings lying very closely to the Danube River. A great
part of the city is situated approximately 4 to 5 meters below the
Danube level. In Fig. 1 and Fig. 2.C the new buildings (appeared
between 2005 and 2006) are presented in red in a 3D-perspective. In Fig. 2.A you can see the situation in 2005. Fig. 2.B represents the architectural plan of a building in 2005 in light blue.
For more information on this service, we refer to the following contact information:
EUROSENSE
Address: Nerviërslaan 54 B-1780 Wemmel BELGIUM
Phone: +32 2 460 70 00
Fax: +32 2 460 49 58
E-mail: andre.jadot@eurosense.com
Website: http://www.eurosense.com
(Source EUROSENSE)

Earth Observation shall be the focus government space application for the next ten years … The estimated world government investment in this area is $4.6 billion in 2006 for both unclassified defense and civil space programs. This represents a 6.8% average annual growth over the period 2002-2006.

Published on
For the first time world government space spending exceeds $50 Billion
Euroconsult’s new report on the states of play and prospects for government space programs worldwide has identified over 60 active public civil and defense space programs around the world cumulating over $50 billion spending in 2006. Continuous growth in government spending is expected after this historical peak confirming the good shape of the government market while the commercial market remains fragile.
A changing market environment increases new cooperation opportunities in the civil market
Increasingly more countries build up investments in civil space programs with worldwide public expenditure estimated $27.8 billion in 2006. Key factors for growth include
• Growth of the US civil space program with $17.3 billion allocated in 2006 in order to support space science and exploration programs
• Spectacular recovery of the Russian program with a clear effort by the Russian government to expand and modernize capabilities. Investments increased from $195 million in 2001 to $821 million in 2006.
• A dynamic Asian market. Indian and Chinese space programs have experienced the most impressive expansion and should keep their pace in the medium term. Both have prioritized self-reliance and positioned themselves as leading partners for both established and emerging countries. South Korea and Malaysia should emerge as other regional leaders
• Multiplication of initiatives worldwide: Whereas a dozen countries devoted a significant budget to their civil space program in the early 1990’s, the number has doubled ten years after offering new business and cooperation opportunities. Space agencies have been created in several countries such as Algeria, Chile, Malaysia, Nigeria and Turkey. These countries focus on programs from which they can reap direct benefits and develop local capabilities, mainly observation (environment monitoring, security & defense)t and telecommunications (broadcasting, telemedicine…).
Earth Observation shall be the focus application for the next ten years
Earth observation is the second largest civil space application worldwide. The estimated world government investment in this area is $4.6 billion in 2006 for both unclassified defense and civil space programs. This represents a 6.8% average annual growth over the period 2002-2006.
It is the priority program area for a large number of countries due to its contribution to environment, defense and security and relative low cost.
Earth observation is the main area of interest for emerging countries, including in Asia (eg Thailand) and Latin America (eg Chile) with more and more countries planning to develop domestic capabilities.
A dynamic European market: European countries are renewing/developing national capabilities essentially for dual purposes, including Spain (Seosat), France (Pleaides, Helios 2), Germany (Sar Lupe) and Italy (Cosmo Skymed). In addition, EO programs are experiencing new management models with public private partnerships projects (RapideEye, TerraSar). These initiatives are witnessing better market acceptance for Earth Observation products and services and a better understanding of business models from the finance community.
A lucrative US market: the US DoD has an unchallenged program mainly directed by the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) who manages classified programs essentially oriented towards surveillance/reconnaissance applications and roughly estimated at about $10 billion. Contribution of the private sector is an essential component of the military program with two standing contracts Clearview and Nextview to Digital Globe and GeoEye to secure imagery access for an estimated annual value of $500 million.
Earth Observation programs shall remain the focus application in the future, with 32 % of the satellite planned (77 satellites) for the next ten years. It is the favored applications for emerging countries since it provides high return for a relatively low level of investment. In addition, established countries have set environment purposes as a clear priority in their space agenda (Japan, Europe, Canada in particular)
EO Program multiplication in emerging markets

About Euroconsult…..
Euroconsult is an employee-owned company with over 500 clients in 50 countries. Since its creation in 1983, the company has become a worldwide reference for expertise and independent advice on satellite application and digital broadcasting for innovative and high-technology companies.
Euroconsult’s service capabilities include independent assessments of business plans and government policies, market assessments, financial valuations, risk assessments and feasibility studies. Euroconsult also host the World Satellite Business Week, September 3-6, 2007, Hotel Westin, Paris. (http://www.satellite-business.com)
For further information please contact;
Adam Keith
Tel. +33 (0)1 49 23 75 27
Fax +33 (0)1 48 05 54 39
(Source Euroconsult)

The European Space Agency has awarded ESYS a contract to study the impact of various scenarios for future ESA governance.

Published on
ESYS wins a contract to study scenarios for future ESA governance.
ESA was created in 1975, as an intergovernmental organisation having no legal or organic link with the then-called European Communities. The two institutions have continued to lead separate lives, each having its own Member States, and its own legal texts. However, over the last few years, the relation between ESA and the European Union (EU), in particular the European Commission has intensified and become closer.
A study is being conducted by the European Commission into the impact of the European Space Policy, using a number of specific scenarios for how ESA governance might evolve. The general objective of the current contract with ESYS is to perform a detailed assessment of how these scenarios, might impact the Agency’s role and operations. In particular the study will examine the Agency’s overall functioning (especially its financial operations), its decision making processes and its industrial policy. The legal dimension, such as the ESA Convention and the ESA/EU Framework Agreement, is also an important aspect to be considered.
ESYS is prime contractor for the study, and is teamed with Euroconsult of Paris, and the Institute of Air and Space Law, University of Cologne.
Mike Dillon, ESYS CEO, comments: “This is the most important strategic question facing the space sector in Europe today. ESYS, together with our teaming partners, feel privileged to be entrusted with such an important assignment at this time of great change for the European space community.”
Contact
Nigel Burke
Email: nburke@esys.co.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)1483 304545
Fax: +44 (0)1483 303878
(Source ESYS)

The SANCHO program (Aerostatic System for Navigation, Communications and Observation Tools) seeks to develop medium and high altitude aerostats for security, fire surveillance and telecommunications applications, as well as the testing of aerial navigation and alignment technologies.

Published on
SANCHO will contribute to GMES as an in-situ element, complementing satellite observation, to which it will contribute improved image refreshment times and greater resolution in limited areas.
SANCHO has redirected its objectives toward the development of medium-altitude operational systems as of 2008, incorporating mature technologies, as an intermediary step toward the contribution to vehicles operating at high altitudes. SANCHO is led by INSA and INTA, and has a group of significant companies in aerospace, TIC and environment sectors, as well as in the development of alternative power sources .
(Source INSA)