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A consortium led by DHI GRAS which includes GeoVille GmbH (Austria), ITC (Netherlands) and Brockman Consult (Germany) as well as the technical universities in Copenhagen and Vienna has been selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) to carry out the 1.5 million Euros GlobWetland Africa Project.

African wetlands are among the most productive and biologically-diverse ecosystems in the world, but they are also experiencing immense pressure from human activities – the most important being drainage for agriculture and settlement, excessive exploitation by local communities and improperly planned development activities.

Since 1971, the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands has been the intergovernmental treaty providing the framework for national actions and international cooperation for the conservation and wise usage of wetlands. To date, 169 countries have adopted the Ramsar Convention.

The ESA and the Ramsar Secretariat have jointly launched GlobWetland Africa as a major initiative to provide Earth Observation (EO) methods and tools for major organisations involved in the implementation of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in Africa. These tools will help the major players assess the conditions of wetlands under their areas of jurisdiction or study, and to better monitor their trends over time.

GlobWetland Africa will help African authorities make the best use of satellite-based information on wetland extent and condition for better measuring the ecological state of wetlands. This will increase their capacity to support biodiversity and provide ecosystem services. The project will also organise regional training courses for the partner organisations and ensure technical assistance during a period long enough to allow for an appropriation of the provided methods, tools and products.

Ultimately, GlobWetland Africa aims to enhance the capacity of the African stakeholders to develop their own national and regional wetland observatories, and thereby act as a key contributor towards the development of a Global Wetlands Observing System (GWOS).

Read the full news article over at DHI GRAS

Christian Tottrup
Senior Project Manager, GRAS
cto@dhi-gras.com

At @Geocento, we have been working for the last couple of years on improving our web platform EarthImages.

Following user feedback we recently released a new, simpler, version for the “occasional” use. This version doesn’t require any registration and is exclusively focused on catalogue/archive imagery. It was recently used in the futurelearn “Monitoring Climate from Space” course.

The link to this new version is http://eilite.geocento.com

Here’s an example

In a nutshell:

  • EarthImages is a suite of web applications for finding, selecting and ordering the satellite imagery you need. It is free to use and we provide imagery at no extra costs.
  • The catalogue service currently supports access to over 30 million individual satellite footprints – spanning the last 33 years of free and commercial (SAR and Optical) imagery. We recently added the Sentinel 1 and 2 catalogues.
  • The future acquisition service makes use of our sister company’s (Taitus) technology (SaVoir) to accurately calculate the opportunities over an area of interest.

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< td>July 30, 2016
October 2015
Start Date End Date Name Locality Country
October 16, 2015 October 24, 2015 Luxembourg City Luxembourg
October 19, 2015 October 20, 2015 Brussels Belgium
October 19, 2015 October 23, 2015 Metro Manila, the Philippines
October 19, 2015 October 23, 2015 Netherlands – Belgium – Germany
October 19, 2015 October 20, 2015 Copenhagen Denmark
October 20, 2015 Milan Italy
October 20, 2015 October 22, 2015 Berlin Germany
October 20, 2015 October 22, 2015 London United Kingdom
October 20, 2015 October 21, 2015 London United Kingdom
October 20, 2015 October 21, 2015 ϧ
8;
Londn United Kingdom
October 20, 2015 October 23, 2015 Frascati Italy
October 21, 2015 October 23, 2015 Rome Italy
October 21, 2015 October 22, 2015 Taza, Morocco
October 21, 2015 October 22, 2015 London United Kingdom
October 25, 2015 Seville Spain
November 2015
Start Date End Date Name Locality Country
November 2, 2015 November 5, 2015 Limassol Cyprus
November 3, 2015 November 5, 2015 London United Kingdom
November 3, 2015 November 7, 2015 Cairns Australia
November 4, 2015 November 6, 2015 Brest France
November 4, 2015 November 5, 2015 Frascati Italy
November 5, 2015 November 6, 2015 Noordwijk Netherlands
November 5, 2015 November 6, 2015 Estec Netherlands
November 9, 2015 November 10, 2015 Brussels Belgium
November 9, 2015 November 13, 2015 Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil
November 10, 2015 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mexico
November 10, 2015 November 11, 2015 Amsterdam Netherlands
November 11, 2015 November 12, 2015 Mexico
November 12, 2015 Munich Germany
November 12, 2015 Malta Malta
November 12, 2015 Switzerland
November 12, 2015 November 13, 2015 Noordwijk < /td>

Netherlands
November 13, 2015 Mexico
November 15, 2015 November 17, 2015 Dubai, United Arab Emirates
November 16, 2015 November 17, 2015 Luxemburg Luxembourg
November 17, 2015 November 19, 2015 Paris France
November 19, 2015 November 21, 2015 Health GIS- 2015 Mysore, India
November 23, 2015 December 4, 2015 Sanya China
November 24, 2015 November 25, 2015 London United Kingdom
December 2015
Start Date End Date Name Locality Country
December 1, 2015 December 2, 2015 London United Kingdom
December 7, 2015 December 9, 2015 London United Kingdom
December 7, 2015 December 9, 2015 London United Kingdom
December 8, 2015 December 10, 2015 Al-Ain, UAE
December 9, 2015 December 11, 2015 Frascati Italy
December 10, 2015 December 11, 2015 Amsterdam Netherlands
December 14, 2015 December 18, 2015 San Francisco USA
January 2016
Start Date End Date Name Locality Country
January 12, 2016 January 13, 2016 Brussels Belgium
January 18, 2016 January 20, 2016 London United Kingdom
January 26, 2016 January 28, 2016 Ghent Belgium
January 26, 2016 January 28, 2016 Ghent Belgium
January 26, 2016 January 28, 2016 Ispra Italy
January 27, 2016 Los Angeles United Kingdom
February 2016
Start Date End Date Name Locality Country
February 2, 2016 February 4, 2016 The Hague Netherlands
February 15, 2016 February 16, 2016 Rome Italy
March 2016
Start Date End Date Name Locality Country
March 1, 2016 March 3, 2016 Munich Germany
March 2, 2016 March 4, 2016 Amsterdam Netherlands
March 15, 2016 March 17, 2016 Santa Cruz de Tenerife Spain
April 2016
Start Date End Date Name Locality Country
April 11, 2016 April 15, 2016 ASPRS 2016 Annual Conference Texas USA
April 25, 2016 April 26, 2016 Space Business 2016 London United Kingdom
May 2016
Start Date End Date Name Locality Country
May 9, 2016 May 13, 2016 Prague Czech Rep.
May 9, 2016 May 10, 2016 Montreal Canada
May 10, 2016 May 13, 2016 Prague Czech Rep.
May 23, 2016 May 26, 2016 Rotterdam Netherlands
June 2016
Start Date End Date Name Locality Country
June 1, 2016 June 4, 2016 Berlin Germany
June 6, 2016 June 8, 2016 Los Angeles USA
June 8, 2016 June 10, 2016 SPLIT Remote Sensing Summer School 2016 Athenas Greece
July 2016
Start Date End Date Name Locality Country
July 9, 2016 EUSAR Hamburg Germany
July 10, 2016 July 15, 2016 IGARSS 2016 Beijing China
July 11, 2016 July 17, 2016 Farnborough United Kingdom
July 11, 2016 July 15, 2016 San Diego, California USA
July 12, 2016 July 19, 2016 Prague Czech Rep.
July 12, 2016 July 19, 2016 Prague Czech Rep.
July 12, 2016 July 19, 2016 ISPRS 2016 Congress Czech Rep.
August 7, 2016 Istanbul Turkey
October 2016
Start Date End Date Name Locality Country
October 11, 2016 October 13, 2016 Hamburg Germany
October 11, 2016 October 13, 2016 Hamburg Germany
October 24, 2016 October 28, 2016 Kampala, Uganda
November 2016
Start Date End Date Name Locality Country
November 2, 2016 November 3, 2016 Telford United Kingdom
December 2016
Start Date End Date Name Locality Country
December 22, 2016 December 23, 2016 Dubai, UAE
July 2017
Start Date End Date Name Locality Country
July 2, 2017 July 7, 2017 Washington USA

Dr. Mohammed Al Ahbabi, Director General of the United Arab Emirates Space Agency (UAE) reinforced the agency’s commitment to strengthen international collaboration through space agency cooperation for the use of space assets in environmental research.

In his speech at the Eye on Earth Summit 2015 in Abu Dhabi, Dr. Mohammed Al Ahbabi highlighted: “Space assets are our ‘Eyes on Earth’ and enable us to perform Earth Observation. GNSS and satellite communications are indispensable tools for environmental monitoring and management and help pave the way for a sustainable, safe and ecologically balanced environment.”

Dr. Mohammed Al Ahbabi further emphasized that the mandate of the UAE to promote earth monitoring and tracking will benefit all mankind and future generations.

The Eye on Earth Summit was first established in 2011 with a partnership of the Abu Dhabi Global Environmental Data Initiative (AGEDI) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), following the Eye on Earth Summit Declaration 2011 for the promotion and integration of data for sustainable development.

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Monitoring for Environment and Security in Africa (MESA) from 31st August – 4th September 2015 in Kenya, participants discussed the use of Earth Observation data for policy, planning and decision making processes in Africa, provided by the MESA project.

The Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture of the African Union Commission, H.E. Tumusiime Rhoda Peace highlighted that MESA incorporates a variety of stakeholders, such as African decision-makers, experts, service providers and the user community, which enables comprehensive communication and interaction in different fields of expertise.

Prof. Judi Wakhungu, Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and Regional Development Authority of the Republic of Kenya explained her experience with MESA: “Before this, my office and team members had to travel physically to protected areas which took several days and incurred huge costs. Thanks to the MESA projects, KWS can now get a snapshot of satellite images of the protected areas on a single page. That is a clear example of how these technologies and the ones to be discussed here over the next five days impact our everyday lives. The funds saved from such initiatives can be now channeled by Government to further research and innovation towards safeguarding our environment”.

The MESA project is funded by the European Union and implemented with the coordination of the African Union Commission, as well as steered by the Regional Economic Communities and Inter-Governmental Organizations.

Read full story:
MESA FORUM: A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR AFRICAN DECISION-MAKERS, EXPERTS, SERVICE PROVIDERS AND THE USER COMMUNITY TO EXCHANGE VIEWS

Making a Difference Locally, Where People Live

13 October 2015, Geneva, Switzerland – UNOSAT continues its campaign for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Earth observations. Our DRR activities are focused on increasing the capacity of governments and regional actors in reducing disaster risk, spanning from preparedness to emergency response through the use of GIS and Remote Sensing (RS) applications. A blend of collaborative training, and in-country capacity development forms the basis of our activities which include:

  • Strengthening technical knowledge and skills in the use of GIS and RS technologies for DRR;
  • Raising awareness on use of geospatial technologies for DRR for decision making;
  • Data production and technical backstopping for DRR related matters;
  • Providing global alerts for flood preparedness.

We work in the Horn of Africa in collaboration with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to mainstream DRR across IGAD member states with an integrated approach to disaster management, climate change and human rights / security. In the Southeast Asia region, we are collaborating with the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC) to provide government agencies and stakeholders with geospatial solutions for risk reduction and satellite imagery based analysis and mapping in disaster situations. We are also partnering with the Chadian Ministry of the Hydraulic Urban and Rural (MHUR) in the implementation of the ResEau project, aimed at strengthening national capacities in the fields of geology, hydrogeology and GIS for improved knowledge of water resources management.

UNOSAT has also developed a flood modelling tool “Flood-FINDER’ to produce global early warning and simulated flood scenarios. The flood modelling tool aims to enhance flood resilience by providing forecast information in the form of alert bulletins to effectively help the population during preparedness and planning activities. We have successfully used the tool in forecasting the Malawi and Mozambique floods. Currently, we are releasing flood forecasting in Chad and implementing the use of the flood modelling tool in the IGAD region.

Our regional liaison offices in Bangkok, N’Djamena and Nairobi continue campaigning for an increased outreach of our DRR activities to local actors. Thanks to the generous contribution of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation that our DRR activities have benefitted over 800 disaster management professionals from 104 countries worldwide.

Related links www.geodrr.org
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TORONTO, Ontario (August 30th, 2015) – A group of geospatial veterans have identified the need to address the global commercial UAS/drone mapping market and have formed The GPS Group to meet the needs of this rapidly expanding segment within the geospatial and mapping industry.

The GPS Group takes a unique approach to delivering custom image processing services. Many companies are supplying products derived from “black box” solutions that don’t permit operator intervention or incremental editing of the results, The GPS Group goes a step beyond and provides fully customized products and solutions using commercial-grade photogrammetry software products.

“Drones offer a timely, high resolution alternative to conventional imaging platforms and have the ability to get very high quality geospatial information in front of decision makers quickly and affordably,” said Mike Agnes, managing partner of The GPS Group “However, what must also be considered as part of a successful UAS implementation are the techniques and tools used to create those products”

Although The GPS Group is a new company, its founding partners have well-established track records in the industry. Each member of the team brings complementary and extensive geospatial experience to their clients projects, including commercial UAS operations, remote sensing + GIS, consulting, and geospatial software solutions.

In addition, the company provides coaching and managed services to meet the unique needs of its target market. “UAS professionals and those thinking about embracing this technology, with all of its nuances and special needs, require the same level of sophistication, if not more, than the rest of the commercial mapping industry; we strive to provide these services from a single trusted source,” adds John Dobson, partner and technical operations manager at The GPS Group, “ By providing option of managed services, this gives our clients the ability to leverage our expertise and experience at a fraction of the cost of implementing them alone.”

The GPS Group brings a deep understanding of the photogrammetric process and are excited to apply their knowledge to the UAS community. In fact, the partners view their service capabilities and market knowledge as having significant value to anyone seeking to establish a UAS solution within their organizations.

Being a good corporate citizen is also important to the company. Hence, The GPS Group plans to devote a percentage of its available resources to supporting non-profit groups who are seeking to incorporate UAS for the betterment of their organization’s goals.

About The GPS Group

Every day, The GPS Group helps companies who are seeking to add insight and clarity to the geospatial products they develop for themselves and their clients. The GPS Group specializes in custom image processing services for UAV / drone operators who are looking for a higher standard of accuracy for their terrain and orthoimagery products.

Learn more at www.gpsgroup.ca or by emailing contact@gpsgroup.ca.

Email: agnes@gpsgroup.ca
Web: www.gpsgroup.ca
Twitter: @thegpsgroup

The first case report on Copernicus Sentinels’ Products Economic Value: A Case Study of Winter Navigation in the Baltic has just been published at the EARSC website case report – winter navigation in the baltic

We, EARSC and The Green Land, investigated the benefits brought by the use of satellite imagery in supporting winter navigation in the Baltic Sea.

According to our analysis, between €24m and €116m per annum of economic value is being generated in Finland and Sweden thanks to the use of satellite radar images.

To understand the reason of such a large range you should read tge report Copernicus Sentinels’ Products Economic Value: A Case Study of Winter Navigation in the Baltic published on EARSC website

Winter navigation in the Baltic has an outstanding importance for Finnish economy. Satellite radar (SAR) imagery is used to observe ice conditions in the Baltic by Finland and Sweden. With their synoptic view, satellites allow icebreakers to keep sea-lanes (“Motorways of the Sea”) and ports open more effectively. This allows reducing transit times and uncertainties, which in turn has positive impacts on ports operations and down to goods transportation and availability for the local population. Our approach consisted in finding identifiable impacts for each tier of such value chain.

This report is the first of a series of three cases in the frame of the study “Assessing the detailed economic benefits derived from Copernicus Earth Observation (EO) data within selected value chains”, undertaken by EARSC under an assignment from the European Space Agency (ESA).

case report – winter navigation in the baltic final.pdf

It was rain that wouldn’t quit. A weather system fueled by warm moisture streaming in from the Atlantic Ocean on Oct. 3 and 4 relentlessly dumped between 1 and 2 feet (0.3 and 0.6 meters) of rain across most of South Carolina. The result was rivers topping their banks and dams bursting. Catastrophic flooding followed across most of the state, which has left residents in some areas without power or clean drinking water.

Tracking and predicting the deluge, both as rain and then as floodwater, are the first steps to help protect people in harm’s way. State and federal emergency managers have been on the front lines of this natural disaster since it began, armed with weather and flood forecasts from the National Weather Service. NASA has supported these efforts with information based on data from Earth-observing satellites in space.

The Global Precipitation Measurement, or GPM, mission, a joint project of NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), provided regular data on the amount of rain falling across the region. The GPM Core Observatory, launched in 2014, combines data with a network of international partner satellites that together provide updated rainfall estimates every three hours.

These data, managed by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, confirmed the record-breaking rainfall totals and fed into other systems that helped forecast the extent of the flooding in the region.

As essential as following the rain is knowing what happens when it reaches the ground. The NASA Short-term Prediction Research and Transition Center, or SPoRT, at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, runs a computer simulation model called the NASA Land Information System for most of the central and eastern United States, including the Carolinas.

The SPoRT Project used rainfall data from the GPM mission and measurements from NASA’s Soil Moisture Active Passive satellite in this near real-time simulation, and provided the National Weather Service (NWS) forecast offices with experimental soil moisture data that can aid short-term flood forecasting. Soil moisture describes the ability of the ground to absorb water, like a sponge.

During the record-setting rainfall event, soil moisture across South Carolina reached 75 to 100 percent saturation. At these high levels of saturation, the soil no longer has the sponge capacity to hold the water, so it flows over the land – leading to flash floods.

GPM rainfall data are used in another NASA-funded flood prediction tool that follows water on the ground, the Global Flood Monitoring System, developed and run by researchers at the University of Maryland, College Park. The Global Flood Monitoring System takes current satellite rain data and combines them with a model of the land surface – showing slopes, streams and rivers – and soil moisture to project the likelihood of flooding based on when rivers broke their banks in the past.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Homeland Security use these maps to help tell where the flooding is now, after the rainfall, and where flooding may continue in the days ahead as floodwaters move downstream.

Even before the storm clouds cleared, efforts to assess the damage from space had begun. NASA’s Advanced Rapid Imaging and Analysis (ARIA) project at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, developed plans to analyze before-and-after data from synthetic aperture radars (SAR) flown by the Italian Space Agency and JAXA. These data can see through clouds to detect changes in the urban environment, such as storm damage to buildings and roads.

NASA uses the vantage point of space to increase our understanding of our home planet, improve lives and safeguard our future. NASA develops new ways to observe and study Earth’s interconnected natural systems with long-term data records. The agency freely shares this unique knowledge and works with institutions around the world to gain new insights into how our planet is changing.

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