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RICHMOND, BC, March 29, 2016 /CNW/ – MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (“MDA” or the “Company”) (TSX:MDA), a global communications and information company, today announced that it has been awarded two contracts with a total value of several million dollars from DigitalGlobe Inc. to provide new ground station solutions to two international customers. The ground stations will receive and process imagery and data from DigitalGlobe’s satellite constellation, and are also configurable to receive and process data from the RADARSAT-2 Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite, enabling future integration of electro-optical and radar imagery capabilities.

MDA’s proven design for mobile and fixed ground stations provides operators with local control, satellite data reception, and the option to process data in near real-time or send it to archive for future use. The ground stations maximize the advantages of MDA’s modular multi-satellite ground station infrastructure and rapid upgrade capability and can be extended to support additional satellites.

Norman Hannaford, the general manager responsible for the ground station business said, “These contracts reinforce MDA’s position of delivering operational ground system solutions for the world’s most advanced remote sensing satellites.”

About MDA

MDA is a global communications and information company providing operational solutions to commercial and government organizations worldwide.

MDA’s business is focused on markets and customers with strong repeat business potential, primarily in the Communications sector and the Surveillance and Intelligence sector. In addition, the Company conducts a significant amount of advanced technology development.

MDA’s established global customer base is served by more than 4,800 employees operating from 11 locations in the United States, Canada, and internationally.

The Company’s common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “MDA

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Crowne Plaza, Brussels, Belgium on the 26th and 27th of April 2016

As an integral part of the stakeholder consultation process in preparation of the publication of the European Space Strategy, the European Commission has initiated an action to ensure the fully-fledged development of the Copernicus Value Chain. The ultimate objective is of the workshop is to obtain a clearer view of the Copernicus ecosystem as well as to properly identify the barriers to entry and key enablers for market uptake so as to allow the Copernicus program to produce all the expected benefits.

The workshop aims at identifying specific needs and expectations from the widest possible range of stakeholders and communities to foster the full development of the Copernicus Value Chain. It will gather a mix of representatives from the Copernicus ecosystem, actors from the information technology industry and big data domain, as well as existing and potential end-users of Copernicus data and information from a variety of industrial sectors. Two themes will be particularly addressed: data dissemination platforms for Copernicus and market uptake of Copernicus, including support to companies in the EO downstream sector.

For more information and to register, please visit.

Urban areas will play a critical role in achieving sustainable development and combating climate change. Many cities have already taken bold steps to reduce their environmental footprint, and have often been able to do so much more quickly and pro-actively than their national governments.

Based on the premise that greener cities are the key to a more sustainable future, the World Bank and the Global Environment Facility launched the new Global Platform for Sustainable Cities (GPSC) earlier this month in Singapore. The new platform will help mobilize funding for urban sustainability programs, while also facilitating knowledge exchange between cities.

Thanks to this innovative approach that closely connects finance to knowledge, the GPSC will be uniquely positioned to make cities the driving force of sustainable development.

By 2050, more than 2 billion more people will live in cities, a 50 percent increase from today, and the vast majority of this growth will take place in developing countries, mostly in Asia and Africa.

The new Global Platform is designed to help mayors and other municipal leaders take more informed decisions in the day-to-day management of their cities, including improving access to clean water, energy, and transport, as well as efforts to mitigate climate change. It supports cities in pursuing evidence-based approaches to urban planning, including geospatial data, and establishing urban sustainability indicators.

“Linking knowledge to finance is critical to directing investment flows to quality and sustainability. We see this platform as a great opportunity to connect cities not only to cutting-edge knowledge, but also to development banks and financial institutions,” said Ede Ijjasz-Vasquez, Senior Director of the World Bank’s Social, Urban, Rural, and Resilience Global Practice. “The World Bank will work closely with the partner institutions and the existing city networks to build a broad cooperation to support cities in translating knowledge into action and investment.”

In particular, the GPSC will provide cities with ways to help confront issues like climate change, to which cities are uniquely vulnerable, as almost half a billion urban residents live in coastal areas, increasing their exposure to storm surges and sea level rise. Cities also consume over two-thirds of global energy supply, and are responsible for 70 percent of greenhouse gas emissions.

The products and services provided by the GPSC will include studies, workshops, and online data that will leverage existing expertise in order to promote an integrated approach to tackling complex, multi-sector issues. With common metrics and guidelines in place, the lessons learned from the initial 23 cities can also be shared with hundreds of other cities via a wide range of city networks and other partners.

The GPSC is the foundation of the wider GEF sustainable cities initiative that is expected to create a strong network of cities that will act as global ambassadors for urban sustainability planning, with tangible benefits at both the local and global levels. As a GEF partnership, the initiative, formally called the ‘Sustainable Cities Integrated Approach Pilot’, will involve city municipalities, GEF agencies, development entities, city networks, and technical institutions. Civil society organizations will also contribute.

It will be implemented by the World Bank in partnership with the African Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Development Bank of South Africa, the Inter-American Development Bank, the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Development Programme, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization.

The GPSC launch event was held during Singapore Urban Week, organized by the World Bank in partnership with the GEF and key partners in Singapore, including the Center for Liveable Cities and IE Singapore.

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After 8 consequently years the Geospatial World Forum has gained a repute of being a not-to-be-missed conference for the professionals engaged in geospatial sector and its application domain. In this context, GWF offers a great opportunity to communicate on the results of the Copernicus Sentinels’ Products Economic Value study to a broad audience.

In the frame of the study Assessing the detailed economic benefits derived from Copernicus Earth Observation data within selected value chains, undertaken by EARSC under an assignment from ESA, we provide a bottom up assessment of economic value coming from the use of satellite data. The key difference from previous analyses is to work through the full value chain where the benefits of using EO data can be felt. The level of economic benefit from one service can be very high and touch the everyday lives of all of us. This workshop gives EARSC the possibility to communicate on the findings oof this study.

Workshop Agenda

09:00-09:10 Welcoming remarks
09:10-09:30 The socio-economic benefits of Copernicus, Thibaud Delourme, DG-GROW
09:30-09:50 Presentation of the Copernicus economic value study, Alessandra Tassa, ESA
09:50-10:10 Introduction on the CEVS methodology, Geoff Sawyer, EARSC/ Marc de Vries, The GreenLand
10:10-10:45 Winter navigation in Finland, Jarkko Toivola, FTA
10:45-11:30 Networking Tea/Coffee Break
11:30-12:05 Forest management in Sweden, Erik Willen, FRI
12:05-12:40 Infrastructure monitoring in NL, TBC
12:40-12:50 Conclusions
12:50-13:00 Global discussion
13:00-14:00 Networking Lunch

Registration

According to Euroconsult’s latest report, Earth Observation: Defense & Security, the number of countries expected to launch proprietary Earth observation (EO) defense capacity is expected to remain limited, despite increases in global tensions. Under exploration by multiple countries are other avenues to receive data capable of image intelligence (IMINT) applications, such as dual-use and commercial approaches.

The manufacturing market value of these 80 EO defense satellites over 2016-2025 will be approximately $20 billion. The manufacturing market for defense satellites is historically closed. However with several countries exploring dual-use/defense options with a limited national satellite manufacturing capability, an export market is emerging. As with the civil domain, technology transfer remains a component, however the focus is on obtaining an autonomous IMINT capability rather than first developing a national manufacturing industry. National pride and the “neighborhood effect” are further factors when taking the decision to invest in a defense EO system.

Defense end-users requirements for IMINT include both submetric SAR and optical data sets with, for most applications, a high revisit. Given that most countries launching defense capacity are only developing one satellite or a constellation, not all requirements for defense will be met. Instead, an autonomous system allows for at least some data collection capability when needed. For instance, France operates optical systems, whereas Germany operates SAR only. Other systems being manufactured for the UAE, Peru etc. may only be one or two satellites. Thus it is essential to further augment data, such as through defense partnerships (either for mutual data share between programs, or wider defense agreements), or via the commercial sector.

Defense is by far the first destination for commercial EO data, totaling more than $1 billion in data sales in 2015, nearly three-quarters of the data being from ≤1m ground resolution systems, such as from DigitalGlobe and Airbus Defence and Space. The U.S. NGA remains the single largest procurer of imagery to support defense applications, however non-U.S. markets remain a key growth driver across the commercial data market as a whole. By 2025 it is expected that commercial defense data sales will top $2 billion (7% CAGR). Asia and Latin America in particular are witnessing a strong uptake in the procurement of commercial data, facilitated by direct access solutions provided by the commercial operators and driven by heightened regional unrest.

As with government solutions, commercial high native geolocation accuracy/submetric systems require sophisticated components and stable platforms which imply higher manufacturing costs. Several emerging lower-cost constellations using smallsat technologies however are being developed with data offerings around 1 meter ground resolution and the ability to price data much cheaper than current commercial offerings. If geolocation accuracy can be improved with post-processing and end users are less stringent on native accuracies, then the data can be suitable, adding competition to the commercial supply scenario.

“Only six countries launched dedicated EO defense capacity over 2006-2015; this number is not expected to differ greatly moving into the next decade,” said Adam Keith, Managing Director of Euroconsult Canada and editor of the report. “Only a few new entrants (such as the UAE) are expected, as the high costs and technical know-how to develop and maintain capacity capable of submetric/high geolocation accuracy imaging is an inhibiting factor.” A further four countries launched dual-use satellites (implying mixed defense & civil: financing & usage), spreading the costs across multiple government departments. Several dual-use systems are expected to be launched over the next decade, such as in Peru, Morocco and Spain; in total, 80 defense/dual-use satellites (discounting U.S. classified programs) are expected to be launched over 2016-2025, a marginal increase over that of the previous decade.”

Source Euroconsult

BRINGING SPACE TO EARTH
30 May – 03 June 2016
The Hague, The Netherlands

Registration for the fourth edition of European Space Solutions open!

Hosted by the 2016 Dutch Presidency of the Council of the EU, the conference brings business and policy makers together with users and developers of space-based solutions for five inspiring days of talks, workshops and networking. Don’t miss this chance to learn about new possibilities and how they are fuelling game-changing innovation!

PROGRAMME

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(Munich, 25/01/16) European Space Imaging (EUSI) released a new case study outlining the success of using satellite imagery to help protect UNESCO World Heritage sites this week. Working together with experts at the German Archaeological Institute (DAI) and the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) they explain what high-quality satellite data reveals about the situation on the ground at World Heritage sites Hatra and Nimrud in Iran.

2015 saw a growth of intentional destruction of heritage sites in the Middle East. In the light of international media reports in March 2015 that Nimrud was being methodically destroyed by the Islamic State (IS) with bulldozers and explosives, DAI contacted EUSI to request a combination of new and archive imagery so they could assess the reports. With the help of DLR’s Department Geo-Risks and Civil Security in the German Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD) they analysed the imagery to understand the scope of the destruction. The WorldView-2 40cm imagery supplied by European Space Imaging revealed singular details that helped experts to assess the situation. Their findings are part of the case study “VHR Imagery Enables Archaeologists to Safely Assess Heritage Site Destruction” which can be found on European Space Imaging’s website.

“Without the satellite imagery, we would not have been able to confirm when the major destruction took place” stated Margarete Van Ess, Deputy Director of the German Archaeological Institute (DAI) Orient Department, Germany.

The German Archaeological Institute are forerunners in using space technology and continue to prove the value of using satellite imagery to help protect cultural heritage. They have used remote sensing since the early 2003 for monitoring activity in hard to reach world heritage sites especially those which are located in conflict zones.

Read the case study

About European Space Imaging
European Space Imaging (EUSI) is the ‘go to’ company in Europe if you are looking for very high-resolution satellite data. They always offer customers access to the highest resolution imagery available. Their current ’best’ offering is 30 cm data from the DigitalGlobe WorldView-3 satellite. EUSI also operate a multi-mission ground station to provide direct satellite tasking. This enables optimized image collection strategies, flexibility and real-time weather assessments for new collections. With a reputation for expert and personalized customer service EUSI has been providing tailored VHR imagery solutions from their Munich headquarters to meet the diverse project requirements of their customer base since 2002.

About German Archaeological Institute
The German Archaeological Institute (DAI), based in Berlin, performs fundamental archaeological research around the world with the goal of deepening the understanding of historical cultures. DAI personnel, once based in Baghdad but relocated to Berlin due to instability, began experimenting with satellite imagery in 2003 to monitor cultural heritage sites in the Middle East for evidence of looting and other damage.

About German Aerospace Centre
The Department Geo-Risks and Civil Security of the German Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD) is based in Oberpfaffennhofen near Munich. It is part of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the national aeronautics and space research centre of the Federal Republic of Germany. The Department has the goal of eveloping thematically relevant information products based on earth observation data, integrating them into IT systems, and operating and continuously optimizing customized user services.

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As of April 1st 2016, all Earth imagery from a prolific Japanese remote sensing instrument operating aboard NASA’s Terra spacecraft since late 1999 is now available to users everywhere at no cost.

The public will have unlimited access to the complete 16-plus-year database for Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) instrument, which images Earth to map and monitor the changing surface of our planet. ASTER’s database currently consists of more than 2.95 million individual scenes. The content ranges from massive scars across the Oklahoma landscape from an EF-5 tornado and the devastating aftermath of flooding in Pakistan, to volcanic eruptions in Iceland and wildfires in California.

Previously, users could access ASTER’s global digital topographic maps of Earth online at no cost, but paid METI a nominal fee to order other ASTER data products.

In announcing the change in policy, METI and NASA cited ASTER’s longevity and continued strong environmental monitoring capabilities. Launched in 1999, ASTER has far exceeded its five-year design life and will continue to operate for the foreseeable future as part of the suite of five Earth-observing instruments on Terra.

“We anticipate a dramatic increase in the number of users of our data, with new and exciting results to come,” said Michael Abrams, ASTER science team leader at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, home to ASTER’s U.S. science team. ASTER data are processed into products using algorithms developed at JPL and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) in Japan. A joint U.S./Japan science team validates and calibrates the instrument and data products.

ASTER is used to create detailed maps of land surface temperature, reflectance and elevation. The instrument acquires images in visible and thermal infrared wavelengths, with spatial resolutions ranging from about 50 to 300 feet (15 to 90 meters). ASTER data cover 99 percent of Earth’s landmass and span from 83 degrees north latitude to 83 degrees south. A single downward-looking ASTER scene covers an area on the ground measuring about 37-by-37 miles (60-by-60-kilometers).

ASTER uses its near-infrared spectral band and downward- and backward-viewing telescopes to create stereo-pair images, merging two slightly offset two-dimensional images to create the three-dimensional effect of depth. Each elevation measurement point in the data is 98 feet (30 meters) apart.

The broad spectral coverage and high spectral resolution of ASTER provide scientists in numerous disciplines with critical information for surface mapping and monitoring of dynamic conditions and changes over time. Example applications include monitoring glacial advances and retreats, monitoring potentially active volcanoes, identifying crop stress, determining cloud morphology and physical properties, evaluating wetlands, monitoring thermal pollution, monitoring coral reef degradation, mapping surface temperatures of soils and geology, and measuring surface heat balance.

ASTER data are now available via electronic download from NASA’s Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center (LP DAAC) at the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) Earth Resources Observation and Science Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and from AIST. To access the data, visit:

https://lpdaac.usgs.gov/dataset_discovery/aster

or

https://gbank.gsj.jp/madas/

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EARSC has published the initial results from its survey into Public Service Bodies using EO data and services.

The Survey into Public Service Bodies using EO data and services has been carried out by EARSC in 2015. Its main purpose is to construct a complete and accurate picture of the public organisations in Europe that use EO data and services, documenting key aspects such as their involvement in and awareness of Copernicus and their engagement with external EO providers. This, in turn, will help to provide inputs to the European Commission in view of the upcoming Mid Term Review of Copernicus, whilst also contributing towards better shaping of EARSC’s strategy vis-à-vis the engagement of public organisations using EO data and services.

  • Survey into Public Service Bodies using EO data and services – Initial Report (April 2016)

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Following the successful publication of the 1st edition in 2009, the 2nd edition maintains its aim to provide an application-driven package of essential techniques in image processing and GIS, together with case studies for demonstration and guidance in remote sensing applications.

The book therefore has a 3 in 1 structure which pinpoints the intersection between these three individual disciplines and successfully draws them together in a balanced and comprehensive manner.

The book conveys in-depth knowledge of image processing and GIS techniques in an accessible and comprehensive manner, with clear explanations and conceptual illustrations used throughout to enhance student learning. The understanding of key concepts is always emphasised with minimal assumption of prior mathematical experience.

For more information please visit our product page

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