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WARSAW, Poland — The European Commission has unveiled plans to spend 16 billion euros, or $18.6 billion, on a space program to boost the EU’s space capabilities in the years 2021 to 2027.

Of these, 9.7 billion euros are to be allocated to the Galileo and European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) satellite navigation systems, 5.8 billion euros to the Copernicus Earth-observation program, and a further 500 million eurowto the development of new security components.

“We need to up our game. Space data can help our industries lead on the. Internet of Things and automated driving, and help us more accurately monitor greenhouse gas emissions to make our climate action more effective than ever before,” Maros Sefcovic, the vice president of the European Commission, was quoted in a statement.

The EC claims that a swift agreement on the EU’s overall long-term budget is crucial to ensure that funds for space-related projects deliver results.

“Delays similar to the ones experienced at the beginning of the current 2014-2020 budgetary period would mean that investments in the EU’s space activities – Galileo, EGNOS and Copernicus – would be put at risk and new services would be delayed,” the statement said.

EU security concerns drive space programs

Meanwhile, local observers say that the spending hike is partly due to the increasing security concerns amid EU policymakers.

“The European Commission is starting to invest in the means of securing its infrastructure. What is on the table now is financing for the full deployment of Galileo, the continuation of Copernicus, meeting new challenges in the field of security, and R&D activities to develop a new generation of satellites for Galileo and Copernicus,” Jean-Jacques Tortora, the director of the Vienna-based European Space Policy Institute (ESPI), told Space News.

This said, the ongoing Brexit talks with the U.K. could present new challenges ahead of the EU’s space efforts, according to Tortora.

Determined to maintain the U.K.’s access to the program, Brexit negotiators have warned the EC that pushing London and U.K. businesses out of Galileo could force the British authorities to seek reimbursement of their spending.

“Galileo is definitely an EU program, and with Brexit, the U.K. becomes a third-party. Some public services are embedded within Galileo, and third-parties are not eligible to be involved in the security-related dimensions of this program,” Tortora said. “The U.K. can still be the EU’s partner on this program, but with some restrictions on the use of security-related services, and the U.K. industry cannot be involved in its core activities, according to the current regulations of the program.”

Meanwhile, in a technical note on the country’s participation in Galileo, the U.K. government says its exclusion could result in delays and additional costs to the program.

“U.K. entities have played an integral part in designing, developing and managing Galileo to date, particularly the delivery of payloads for satellites, the ground control segment and the development of the PRS software. Excluding industrial participation by U.K. industry in security-related areas risks delays of up to three years and additional costs of up to €1 billion to the programme. It will not be straightforward to effectively fulfil all Galileo security work elsewhere,” the document says.

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Earth Observation: Data, Processing and Applications is an Australian Earth Observation (EO) community undertaking to describe EO data, processing and applications in an Australian context and includes a wide range of local case studies to demonstrate Australia’s increasing usage of EO data.

This series will be published across three volumes and aims to consolidate EO teaching resources in Australia and encourage a greater number of tertiary courses involving EO in Australia.

Volume 2A of Earth Observation: Data, Processing and Applications is now available from the CRCSI website. This new sub-volume, entitled Volume 2A: Processing—Basic Image Operations, launches the second of three volumes in this series of publications. This series explains the principles and products of Earth Observation (EO) in an Australian context and features a wide range of local case studies. Each text has been prepared by a diverse panel of Australian EO professionals, with the production of the series being sponsored by FrontierSI (formerly the Cooperative Research Centre for Spatial Information), the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Geoscience Australia and the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre.

Document 1

Document 2

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The Netherlands has a strong international position in the application of photonics. This innovative lighting technology contributes to the solutions for societal challenges in the ICT, manufacturing, semicon, health, agri-food, environment & energy sectors. To accelerate the opportunities of photonics technologies, the National Photonics Agenda is published today. The agenda describes how the Netherlands can further strengthen its leading global position in the coming years, an ambition that is seamlessly aligned with the innovation and top sector policy.

On 13 July Benno Oderkerk, chairman of PhotonicsNL in The Hague, presented the National Agenda Photonics to Mona Keijzer, State Secretary for Economic Affairs and Climate Policy. This photonics agenda has been drawn up partly at the request of the Ministry by PhotonicsNL, Dutch Optics Centre of TNO and TU Delft together with PhotonDelta. The plan for PhotonDelta, the public-private investment and research programme in the field of photonics was also presented along with the agenda. René Penning de Vries did this on behalf of the provinces of Noord-Brabant, Overijssel and Gelderland.

State Secretary Keijzer (Economic Affairs and Climate Policy): “Photonics is faster and more energy efficient than traditional electronics. That is why this is an important key technology in our top sector policy. Photonics is going to help us solve societal challenges. For example, because this technology enables us to make better diagnoses in the healthcare sector and to map out our subsurface in more detail. Dutch entrepreneurs are already at the forefront of this, with almost 300 companies using this technology today. By targeting photonics, we are targeting the future.”

KEY TECHNOLOGY

Photonics is the technology that focuses on generating, transporting and detecting light waves and light particles (photons). It is already used in a wide range of products and processes in which light plays an important role. Think of ever-improving cameras in mobile phones, sustainable lighting and fast fibre-optic internet connections. Photonic solutions are a response to the growing need for fast, reliable communication and industry digitisation. It is used for imaging, spectroscopy and metrology. But the application also extends to food production, home comfort and health technology, thus making an important contribution to solving societal challenges. A new development concerns miniaturisation and integration in chips, the so-called integrated photonics. Europe has indicated its willingness to invest heavily in photonics as a key enabling technology. Not only to achieve European industrial leadership and economic growth, but also to stimulate high-quality, long-term employment.

MARKET ORIENTED CLUSTERS

The global growth of the photonics industry is estimated to be 40% over the next five years. Technology plays a major role in the success of the Dutch high-tech industry and is a driving force for maintaining the competitiveness of our economy. Nearly 300 Dutch companies, many of which are SMEs, work directly on the development and application of photonics products. Estimated total revenues are more than four billion euros. Investment initiatives are expected to reach an annual total of 60 million euros in the Netherlands, a figure that will be financed partly by the public and partly by the private sector. This is to strengthen the hundreds of millions already invested by the market in photonics.

Arnold Stokking, Director of TNO Industry: “It is very important for the Netherlands that we invest heavily in this new technology. For successful positioning in the European and global market, the Netherlands must present itself as a single coherent photonics region. The Dutch Optics Centre, the expertise centre for high-tech optics and optomechatronics of TNO and TU Delft, supports the application areas with key technologies such as imaging, spectroscopy and metrology. It is good news that PhotonDelta, which is active in the new field of integrated photonics, is being given the means to develop further. Our ambition requires a single agenda and a framework for the photonics initiatives in the Netherlands. This agenda is therefore an invitation to companies, knowledge institutes and government to participate in the acceleration of photonics.”

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The Norwegian Oil-on-Water (OPV) exercise is unique. Norway being one of the very few countries that allow the release of actual oil on water, it attracts international participation and attention. KSAT, an important contributor since many years, ensures satellite acquisitions from a broad variety of satellites throughout the entire drill.

Gaofen-3, launched in August 2016, is China’s first Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)-imaging satellite and was tested during the oil on water exercise in Norway in June.

Beginning of June more than 100 m3 of oil was released in realistic scenarios offshore Norway, using different types of oil and emulsion for verification of recovery equipment and for remote measurements such as satellite, drones and aerostats. Airplanes from the Nordic countries also documented the event.

Pioneering the world of Near-Real Time (NRT) access to Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data from satellites, KSAT´s participation in this exercise is very important for the research and development (R&D) environment in Norway as well as abroad. Through the tailored in-house processing chain, KSAT is able to plan, order, download, process, analyse and distribute large amounts of SAR data from many different SAR satellites through one system.

During the 10 day period of this year´s drill, KSAT was able to acquire more than 40 scenes using 6 different SAR satellite missions. Images were acquired in different modes and polarisations, ensuring a unique spectre of documentation so that findings in these datasets can be compared to the amount and type of oil released during the exercise.
This is the reason why satellite data from the OPV is so valuable; it offers a unique opportunity to collect congruent information; satellite images and in-situ observations. For scientists, both from a remote sensing and modelling perspective, the lack of in-situ observation is a major challenge.

CIRFA – Centre for Integrated Remote Sensing and Forecasting for Arctic Operations, is one of the main users of this data, and their goal is to develop better models to predict the drift of oil spills and to better understand the interaction between the radar signal and the slick. .
The satellites missions used were the European Sentinel, Italian Cosmo SkyMED constellation, Canadian Radarsat-2, German TerraSAR-X. In addition two brand new SAR-missions were tested; the Spanish PAZ and Chinese Gaofen-3.
The Chinese Gaofen-3, launched in August 2016, is China’s first synthetic aperture radar-imaging satellite. PAZ was launched 22. February this year and will be included in the KSAT NRT portfolio after commission phase next year.

The exercise is conducted by NOFO, the Norwegian Clean Seas Association for Operating Companies. With the overall goal to strengthen the national capacity on environmental monitoring and oil recovery.

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The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) has selected Hexagon US Federal as a prime contractor on two multiple awards, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contracts for amounts totaling $1.17 billion. Hexagon was selected as one of multiple vendors for the JANUS Geography and JANUS Elevation contracts.

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) has selected Hexagon US Federal as a prime contractor on two multiple awards, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contracts for amounts totaling $1.17 billion. Hexagon was selected as one of multiple vendors for the JANUS Geography and JANUS Elevation contracts.

Tasks for the JANUS Geography program will support the creation, conflation, integration, and enrichment of Foundation GEOINT data used to produce a comprehensive and seamless dataset for NGA partners and customers. A great benefit to the warfighter and humanitarian organizations alike, the creation of this dataset will ensure more accurate and readily available geospatial data for military and intelligence operations as well as disaster relief missions saving time and lives.

“We are pleased to be a vital part of the JANUS program that will enhance NGA’s ability to support critical defense and humanitarian assistance missions with improved global GEOINT terrain models and geospatial datasets,” said chairman of the board Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Michael D. Maples.

As a prime contractor on the JANUS Elevation contract, Hexagon will support NGA’s Office of Geomatics with maintenance to an existing worldwide library of digital elevation models. This effort includes products generated, modified, or assessed by the Office that are a digital representation of the terrain surface of the earth.

Hexagon work on for the contracts has already begun.

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Exploiting a huge volume of free available Copernicus System Sentinel-2 satellite data, being collected daily, can be easily and effectively only with the use of artificial intelligence. This is what our partnership with Simulirity provides to us, through Simularity’s artificial intelligence solution for satellite data, Automated Image Anomaly Detection System (AIADS). This solution massively provides the capacity to detect land use changes in time series of big volume satellite imagery (e.g. Sentinel-2), in a very simple, effective and successful way (http://simularity.com/solutions/satellite-anomaly-detection/).

The image shows an example of automated land use detection in Sentinel-2 imagery at the area of Chalkidiki

Our investment in Earth Observation field is continuous and we are able, in a daily basis, to provide dynamic access via OGC services to satellite data of Copernicus System, as well as to automate processing of huge volume data via dynamic artificial intelligence tools for land use detection. Analysis result is diffused through web mapping contemporary tools, following standards and methodology implied by Inspire and PSI Directives leading to the substantiated decision making in almost real time via contemporary tools (dashboards).

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Geocento has recently commenced an InnovateUK project which will apply Chatbot natural language processing to the satellite imaging business with the aim of making the process of discovering and ordering imagery much easier. We are currently in the process of designing the intents associated with user interactions, the workflows and entities (key parameters) associated with these interactions and the information needed to fulfil an enquiry.

A Chatbot is a computer program or artificial intelligence which conducts a conversation via auditory or textual methods with a human. These programs are designed to simulate how a human would behave as a conversational partner. Chatbots are typically used in dialogue systems for various practical purposes including customer service or information acquisition and as such are potentially very relevant to the satellite imaging business. Some chatbots use sophisticated natural language processing systems, but many simpler systems scan for keywords within the input, then provide a reply with the most matching keywords, or the most similar wording pattern, from a database.

The aim of the project is to help make our interactions with our clients more efficient for them and us, ensuring that information needed to fulfil an enquiry is complete and obtained as easily as possible. Part of the innovation involves using our EarthImages API as one source of information to answer questions posed by the client, within the Chatbot environment, for example in relation to whether there is fresh imagery of a region. We are finding that the process of designing the Chatbot is extremely valuable in its own right, providing a framework within which to articulate the thinking, logic, methods of expression and intents of the range of users.

We are currently working on the design of the Chatbot. We will then move onto the implementation later during the summer. Please do get in touch with us via our contact page if you wish to find out more. We will report on results in a later blog.

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FDC recently started the PATROL project that aims to develop, supply and test Galileo’s Open Service Navigation Message Authentication (OS NMA).

PATROL will deliver a market-ready technology that guarantees robust and secure positioning using Galileo’s OS-NMA capability. This next generation GNSS module will be capable of providing a trusted position, velocity and precise time (PVT) to smart tachographs and other positioning applications.

“This project is an important milestone for the satellite navigation industry, as it aims to prove the importance of Galileo OS authentication in fulfilling the emerging security needs of many applications”, says GSA Executive Director, Carlo des Dorides.

According to FDC CEO, Pascal Campagne, “PATROL is a major step towards FDC strategy to supply increasingly robust GNSS modules for critical applications. We are proud to be part of this exciting initiative that will demonstrate the benefits of Galileo OS NMA for such demanding and promising markets“.

FDC is a key consortium member of the PATROL project that involves major stakeholders in GNSS authentication and Intelligent Transport Systems fields.

The PATROL project is sponsored by the GSA’s Fundamental Elements mechanism, which supports the development of European GNSS-enabled chipsets, receivers and antennas.

For more information, please click here

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While the world watched their soccer team compete in the World Cup qualifiers, the people in the Democratic Republic of Congo were fighting to contain an Ebola outbreak—for the fourth time since 2012. On May 8, the government of DRC declared the latest outbreak in Equateur Province. When it jumped a few days later to Mbandaka, a major transport hub along the Congo River that’s 150 km from the original case, the risk of Ebola spreading internationally became a reality.

Last week, World Health Organization’s Director-General Tedros Adhanom said the crisis was “far from over” and ongoing surveillance is critical. Despite proactive containment efforts, the response on the ground has struggled due to a lack of information about the affected communities. A report in The Atlantic notes that almost all the existing maps of the outbreak zones contain inaccuracies, and different health organizations are operating from disparate maps and sources of information.

Satellite imagery becomes a game changer in emergencies like this. The imagery provides a timely source of truth over even the most remote, forgotten areas of the world. That’s why Maxar’s DigitalGlobe is committed to supporting the brave efforts of our partners in the field, in hopes that putting those Congolese families on the map will help them receive the vaccines and medical care they deserve. To help the response, DigitalGlobe is publicly releasing building footprints produced on GBDX for Equateur Province in DRC, where towns like Ikoko Impenge have never been mapped. Using a combination of machine learning-based algorithms and very high-resolution satellite imagery, DigitalGlobe mapped the 130,000 km² of Equateur Province in a matter of days; moreover, these maps are incredibly accurate. Our in-country partners like PATH and Doctors without Borders are working closely with the Ministry of Health to ensure the data are operationalized immediately. DigitalGlobe was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop this technical approach specifically for global health interventions and is collaborating with the foundation, as well as the United Nations, to get the data into the hands of decision-makers and front-line health workers.

Additionally, Radiant Solutions, another Maxar Technologies company, is providing a roads data set and a Human Landscape data set for the Equateur Province. The roads data set will help health workers figure out how to best reach certain areas. The Human Landscape data set describes the environmental, physical and human geography of the area, including demographics, economies, ethnicities, medical facilities and more, which will provide invaluable insight for teams planning to assist in the Ebola response.

“Access to these building footprints, the road data and the Human Landscape data enables response organizations in the DRC to find the shortest distances between where they find cases of Ebola and critical emergency treatment units. It’s also possible to simulate past epidemics in order to predict future outbreaks, allowing for the DRC Ministry of Health and partners to plan for likely scenarios,” said Io Blair-Freese, Associate Program Officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

If you ask our partners working on the ground, these maps and the information they provide are mission critical. Putting the most isolated, remote communities on the map is more than just a technical exercise. It means that those households are known to the rest of the world and they can receive services and vaccines when a crisis like this happens. In today’s world, being on the map is a recognition of human rights and dignity, and those communities have a right to be seen. This is the true promise of machine learning and satellite imagery: to make a difference in the lives of people halfway across the world. Maxar Technologies’ purpose is to Build a Better World, and when we say world, we mean everyone, including the Congolese families at risk of Ebola.

You can access these data sets for Equateur Province, DRC through our Open Data Program. Please reach out to rhiannan.price@digitalglobe.com.

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CGG Multi-Physics is pleased to announce that its Helitem helicopter time-domain electromagnetic system has successfully acquired high-quality, broad-spectrum Airborne Electromagnetic (AEM) data at a base frequency of 7.5 Hz. This is a significant breakthrough for resource exploration worldwide, and an industry first.

_Comparison of 30 Hz Helitem resistivity data and 7.5 Hz Helitem resistivity data. The circles indicate known targets
at 200m (right) and 400m (left) depth. The 30 Hz data does not image the deeper target while the 7.5 Hz data does._

As shallow mineral resources are depleted, and mining activity moves to ever greater depths, mineral explorers are searching deeper and in more difficult-to-image environments, such as beneath conductive cover sequences. The ability to effectively energize deep conductive targets and survey at lower frequencies is critical to improving the imaging performance of airborne electromagnetic systems in these environments. Until now, these capabilities have been beyond the reach of AEM systems.

The key to this major advance has been CGG’s continued investment to improve its AEM receiver design. Historically, receiver motion-induced noise has been the primary limiting factor in acquiring useful low base frequency AEM data. Evolutions in the design of CGG’s Helitem AEM system in terms of both receiver electronics and a patented receiver suspension system now allow operation at a base frequency of 7.5 Hz. An innovative change in transmitter pulse-shape also enables early off-time measurement and effective energizing of deep conductive targets.​​

CGG’s Helitem AEM system can now image the Earth’s resistivity to greater depths than other systems while retaining resolving power throughout the section. A comparison of resistivity images from CGG’s 30 Hz and 7.5 Hz Helitem systems shows that the 7.5 Hz data provides more interpretable information about the near-surface and also delivers accurate geological information at depth.

Greg Paleolog, SVP, Multi-Physics, CGG, said: “This significant breakthrough puts Helitem in a league of its own as the most advanced helicopter electromagnetic technology for exploring conductive targets at great depth. This unique capability makes Helitem the premier AEM technology for explorers requiring deeper and clearer imaging of new orebodies.”

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