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Sensor, packet, video and signal data is not only all-digital and collected around the clock but it is also scaling up in size and resolution. The resulting massive surge in storage required to save it all is either a problem for your organization – or a major opportunity.

Plotting geophysical trends, tracking industrial changes or monitoring surveillance imagery requires both broad area spectral analysis and high resolution digital images. Ideally, you can combine multiple inputs for richer analysis to help make the most informed decision as close to real-time as you can get.

Better imagery and capture techniques from ever-higher resolution platforms available around the clock mean that your raw data ingest is massive. Given competitive pressures, your need to collect, route and make sense of that data quickly is sharper than ever. Throwing data away that you can’t handle is not an option, but neither is pumping data into an archive with no way to retrieve it and manage it intelligently.

Handling the influx of data requires a scalable storage platform that allows multiple computing environments to share satellite feeds or other collected data. Most organizations use multiple applications running on different operating systems for different purposes. For example, a Linux-based system might be used to provide high-performance computing horsepower for ingesting data, while a Windows-based system might enable another team to visualize and produce a final product. And since a single data set is often used in multiple workflows to generate varying types of images, simultaneous sharing among systems is critical.

High-performance shared file systems can serve as the glue to bind ingest, processing, and distribution systems together. A shared data pool can allow direct, Fibre Channel speed data access without the scalability and performance bottlenecks found in most NAS solutions. The architecture also provides the flexibility to add additional systems as application requirements and customer demands evolve. In some instances, the streamlining of production workflows might be sufficient, but in the majority of cases, creating imagery products might only be half of the goal.

The Need for Content Retention

Because it is essential to have access to the most complete historical data record possible, preservation of all geospatial data has been a critical requirement. A single snapshot in time is not adequate to facilitate temporal and spatial comparisons that enable accurate analysis of change and its impact over time. If a complete record is not maintained, extremely valuable content that is essential to many applications may be lost. Snapshots need to be retained indefinitely because you never know when that one archived image may be extremely critical for a project.

In industries where trend analysis is increasingly important, companies involved in managing geospatial imagery also need to keep their data sets stored and readily accessible based on evolving data analysis demands. This could apply to changes in plankton levels in our oceans, changing global environmental patterns that could impact the health of food supplies, or activities in a foreign nation that could impact our national security. This would also apply for natural resources where petabytes of location-referenced seismic data have been collected from around the world that need to be preserved for the petroleum industry for current and future exploration and extraction activities. Spatial as well as temporal comparisons are needed to answer important inquiries. And with the increasing resolution of imagery and complexity of the various types of geospatial data, retention and data management becomes extremely critical.

Automated Data Movement

Different data sets are treated differently depending on the project so companies need the ability to tweak movement based on specific project requirements. A data management platform with a rich policy engine could be tuned to handle multiple data sets in unique, project specific manners. A robust policy engine also makes it possible to build a second, long term storage repository. Now as projects are completed, the raw satellite feeds, refined imagery product, and browse thumbnails can be collated and transferred to a long term storage pool. Data can live on high-speed disk for short term repurposing needs and can then transparently move to long-term storage, such as a tape library or disk-based object storage, for faster, more efficient global access to historical data. Such a tiered storage strategy can cost much less than an all disk solution and provides standardization across all projects.

Simplified Data Access

When data analysis must be made quickly, for example in the case of disaster relief support where maps are used to assist relief workers to visualize where specific damages occurred and determine quickly how to route resources, time can’t be wasted when accessing a file. It is critical to find a solution which can mask data location regardless of if it has moved to a tertiary storage device. Within long term storage repositories, all data should look like it lives on the primary storage. This eliminates the need to reconfigure applications to look for data in different locations, causing upheaval to business processes.

A high-performance shared storage platform, such as Quantum StorNext, can ingest and process an ever growing amount of data in a timely fashion and have the ability to store data in a simplified, standardized long term storage repository. With a modern architecture, companies can scale faster and evolve with the next generation of visualization and interpretation techniques. There is a need to have the ability to produce quality imagery and provide trend data that enables better planning, smart analysis and quick action on evolving geophysical and geopolitical conditions. This kind of strategic implementation may not always be able to anticipate demand, but one can now safely plan for it – and turn what is a problem for other organizations into your major opportunity.

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(Munich, 19 March 2014) Imagine a geo service that combines remote sensing imagery and geodata from multiple sources and analyzes them with professional Geo-IT software on a powerful workbench—all on a pay-per-use basis. This has become reality with CloudEO , the cloud-based geo collaboration platform partnering with worldwide leading geodata content, software and service providers.

CloudEO enables new business models for existing and new market players. Rather than making huge upfront investments in permanent licenses for software, IT and data, CloudEO users can now buy subscriptions and even 24/7 geo processing services on a pay-per-use basis at affordable prices, or enter into innovative revenue- sharing schemes. Data providers, software developers and service providers are enabled to market their products and services more easily and efficiently.

“Geo service providers are the customers for our satellite imagery, and we facilitate their businesses every day,” said DMCii CEO Dave Hodgson. “CloudEO’’s unique geo collaboration portal provides all of the elements our customers need to develop a professional service easily and enable a fast market entry and ROI. That’s why we have decided to be CloudEO partner.”

Moreover, CloudEO’s cloud service handles all aspects of user authentication, registration and accounting. “CloudEO’s service opens up great new possibilities to reach our customers more easily, with less administrative effort. We are sure to get new customers with it,” said Dr. Thomas Heege, CEO of EOMAP, a CloudEO partner offering sophisticated map products. “The easy-to-access web store solution is an especially customer-orientated and well-designed platform.”

A new era of easy-to-use and affordable geo-based services has begun. The newly released CloudEO online store gives a first impression on available services, with many more to come in the next weeks and months. The use cases are endless. Only imagination sets the limits.

About CloudEO
CloudEO- the unique portal for all those who create, interpret and use geodata. CloudEO offers to its customers a secure and highly scalable geo infrastructure to develop, produce and market geoservices. It brings data, software and processing power together within a private cloud service and a certified hosting environment. Within CloudEO’s geo collaboration platform content providers, software developers, service providers and geodata users become partners within one ecosystem providing affordable geo services for commercial applications, visit: www.cloudeo-ag.com
CloudEO is supported by the European Space Agency and is part of the ESA BIC, which is operated by the Anwendungszentrum Oberpfaffenhofen.

Press Contact:Susanne Schneider.press@cloudeo-ag.com

(19 March 2014) Esri is launching a comprehensive effort to help communities work smarter and more efficiently, therefore growing their resilience, in response to the White House Climate Data Initiative. The GIS company is also launching a climate-focused geo-collaboration portal.

The White House Climate Data Initiative is one of the most important and timely initiatives of our times. In its community outreach, Esri plans to focus its initial efforts on 12 large and small communities, including New Orleans, Louisiana; Wake County, North Carolina; and Tamarac, Florida, to develop practical methods and approaches based on GIS technology that address the most critical requirements of the communities. Esri will continue its plan by publishing a series of maps and apps developed in conjunction with these communities that will be shared openly. Communities around the world can use the solutions to make progress toward becoming more resilient.

Esri’s climate-focused geo-collaboration portal is a place where citizens and professionals can go online to discover, contribute, and share resources critical to confronting the impacts of climate change, according to the press release. This website will offer a starting point for open data and ideas. It will evolve over time and grow as more scientists, government entities, and the public use it.

Both the local government focus group project and geo-collaboration portal complement the Esri Climate Resilience App Challenge, which launched last week in front of thousands of GIS developers at the Esri Developer Summit. The app challenge inspires developers to use their expertise for making maps and analytical tools that help communities see, understand, and prepare for climate risks. The event is open to everyone- from independent developers to startups, governments, academia, and NGOs. The resulting apps will be openly shared and Esri will award prizes to the winners. In July, the best of the best will be featured at the Esri International User Conference where more than 15,000 people gather to learn new practices they can use to make a positive difference in their own work.

To extend the reach of these important efforts, Esri has partnered with a variety of organizations that share a commitment for tackling complex climate challenges. Esri’s partners in building resilient communities include the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), National Association of Counties (NACO), National League of Cities (NLC), Tumml, American Public Works Association (APWA), American Planning Association (APA), Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM), American Water Resources Association (AWRA), International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), Local Government Commission (LGC), National Association of Development Organizations (NADO), National Alliance for Public Safety GIS Foundation (NAPSG Foundation), National Information Sharing Consortium (NISC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), Trust for Public Lands (TPL), and Public Technology Institute (PTI).

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[SatNews] Data distributors and services providers have established themselves as a key component of the EO value-chain and an important partner of the EO satellite operators in order to disseminate data to the largest number of end-users possible.

This is particularly apparent in accessing key fast growing regional markets and being able to do business with government and private end-users locally. According to Euroconsult’s new research report, Earth Observation: Data Distribution, an estimated 12 to 17 percent of the $1.5 billion* commercial data market flows through the distributors. It is considered that all major vertical market sectors are procuring from the data distributors to varying degrees.

“While this percentage may seem low, it should be recalled that the majority of the total market is to defense end-users [65 percent] who prefer a more direct approach to receive imagery, such as through direct receiving stations. Business for the data distributor reflects this, with a far greater emphasis on enterprise markets,” said Philippe Campenon, Deputy Director, Space and Earth Observation at Euroconsult.

Revenue through data services from the distributors is first from civil governments, totaling 47 percent of distributor data business. This highlights the need to be local in accessing civil contracts, an important consideration given the growing demand globally for EO solutions. Data provision to the private sector through distribution is also disproportionality higher than the total data market, representing 37 percent of the distributors business. The relatively small figure of 16 percent data revenues associated to defense users demonstrates the more direct approach preferred by this user community. Most operating companies with very high resolution satellites offer direct receiving stations solutions to defense end-users in order to meet their requirements of secure, continuous data supply with degrees of autonomy in satellite tasking and data acquisition, and short delivery time.

In order to reach out to all user sectors it is therefore considered a necessity to have a diverse approach in mechanisms for data distribution. This is reflecting in the type of distribution offering. In total, there are more than 550 active data distribution agreements signed globally with local companies. These contracts are classified in five categories within the report, addressing the rationale, contract conditions and key metrics for the following:

  • Data Resellers
  • Value-Added Resellers (VARs)
  • Exclusive Distributors (or Channel Partners)
  • Business Partners
  • Direct Receiving Station Partners

Exclusive Interview Results On Distributors’ Sales + Growth Strategies
Interviews were conducted with 15 data distributors with a mean presence in the sector of 19 years. Companies ranged from data distribution being their primary business to organizations active in other parts of the EO value-chain. The following topics are reviewed in detail:

  • Motivation for setting up a data distribution business line
  • The distributors’ offer to the satellite operators
  • The relationship between satellites operators and the distributors
  • Data distributor customer mix
  • Importance of key client requirements
  • Technology as a market driver/inhibitor
  • Ranking the vertical markets driving data sales and services

For details regarding this report, please access this direct link
*Euroconsult: Satellite-based Earth Observation, Market Prospects, 6th edition
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Airbus Defence and Space, the world’s second largest space company, will be the European Space Agency’s (ESA’s) prime contractor for the development and construction of the high-precision Sentinel-5 instrument worth €144 million.

The instrument will monitor the composition of the Earth’s atmosphere globally on a daily basis by taking measurements of trace gases and aerosols that have an impact on the climate and air quality.

“It is only with satellites and their instruments that we can observe the environment globally and continuously. ESA has entrusted us to take the Copernicus programme forward by constructing the next key instrument, the high-precision Sentinel-5 spectrometer, at our optical space centre in Ottobrunn, near Munich – Germany,” said Michael Menking, Head of Earth observation, navigation and science programmes at Space Systems. “To date, we are already constructing three Sentinel satellites and various other Sentinel instruments for the Copernicus programme that support a modern, efficient infrastructure for Earth observation and geo-information services. This demonstrates how our high-tech expertise serves global environmental monitoring as well as global security.”

Sentinel-5 will be installed on a MetOP Second Generation (MetOP-SG) satellite and fly in a roughly 800 kilometre polar orbit around the Earth. The high-tech instrument is expected to be delivered in 2019, while the launch of the satellite is scheduled for 2021. With a swath width of around 2,670 kilometres, the Sentinel-5 will provide daily global coverage of the Earth’s atmosphere with an unprecedented spatial resolution of 7×7 km2 at nadir, allowing atmospheric and climate scientists to accurately detect and analyse emission sources. This includes determining the concentration of trace gases as significant components in the atmosphere, such as ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, methane, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and aerosols.

At the heart of Sentinel-5 is an ultraviolet, visible, near-infrared and shortwave infrared (UVNS) imaging spectrometer. This large spectral bandwidth is an absolute necessity for measuring the types of molecules named above. The mass-optimised instrument, weighing around 270 kilogrammes and with a service life of more than seven years, consists of the optical module – comprising a reflecting telescope, a beam-splitter optical assembly, two ultraviolet/visible (UV-Vis) and one near-infrared (NIR) spectrometer optics as well as two shortwave infrared (SWIR) systems and a calibration subsystem – and two control electronics assemblies. Airbus Defence and Space is putting together a team of around 24 European suppliers for the development and construction of Sentinel-5.

Airbus Defence and Space has already constructed a large number of optical instruments that successfully operate on scientific, Earth observation and meteorological satellites. The company gained valuable experience from developing ERS-1 and Envisat, key European low-Earth orbit environmental satellites; the Sciamachy instrument for mapping the ozone layer and the development of the ozone hole; the Sentinel-4, a dispersive imaging spectrometer operating from geostationary orbit, as well as the Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec), the major European contribution to the NASA James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

Climate change, air quality and the stratospheric ozone layer are important social issues. Trace gas emissions and aerosols change the chemical composition of the atmosphere, which could have a lasting detrimental effect on the Earth’s living conditions: trace or greenhouse gases heat up the Earth and cause climate zones to shift and sea levels to rise. Combustion products such as nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons cause air pollution from ozone and aerosols, and chlorofluorocarbons and halons have reduced the stratospheric ozone layer. Sentinel-5 observes the Earth’s atmosphere so that the human impact on the climate, air quality and stratospheric ozone can be monitored more closely and differentiated from natural emissions. Furthermore, it will make predicting the condition of the atmosphere easier, ranging from near-realtime, next-day air pollution forecasts to climate forecasts for the coming decades.

About Copernicus
Copernicus is the most ambitious Earth observation programme to date. It will provide accurate, timely and easily accessible information to improve the management of the environment, understand and mitigate the effects of climate change and ensure civil security. Copernicus is the new name for the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security programme, previously known as GMES. This initiative is headed by the European Commission (EC) in partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Environment Agency (EEA). ESA is responsible for the coordination of the space component of the programme, coordinates the delivery of data from more than 30 contributing satellites and operates – in tandem with Eumetsat – the Sentinels while the EEA is responsible for data from airborne and ground sensors. The EC, acting on behalf of the European Union, is responsible for the overall initiative, setting requirements and managing the services.

About Airbus Defence and Space
Airbus Defence and Space is a division of Airbus Group formed by combining the business activities of Cassidian, Astrium and Airbus Military. The new division is Europe’s number one defence and space enterprise, the second largest space business worldwide and among the top ten global defence enterprises. It employs some 40,000 employees generating revenues of approximately €14 billion per year.
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(February 21, 2014 Berlin, Germany) BlackBridge is pleased to announce that it has recently purchased 50% of Brazil’s leading geospatial company Santiago & Cintra Consultoria (SCC).

This transaction demonstrates BlackBridge’s commitment to the Brazilian market. Together, BlackBridge and SCC will expand their existing offerings and grow their mutual customer base by taking advantage of their combined assets, know-how, and strong position in the marketplace. This allows both companies to focus on a tailored approach to serving the Brazilian market. With this strategic transaction, BlackBridge has created an innovative new model with the size, scale, and brand recognition needed to focus on the strategic development of products and solutions for this market.

“This operation will definitely have a positive impact in the growth of our organization,” said Ryan Johnson, President and CEO of BlackBridge. “Brazil is an important market for us for several reasons: the country has a large territory, a very strong agriculture industry, and it has invested in important environmental programs, which are of particular interest to BlackBridge. In addition to this, SCC has been an excellent partner of our company for many years.”

Iara Musse Felix, CEO of SCC, is also enthusiastic about this transaction. “BlackBridge has a unique product, and we have been very successful in developing solutions using RapidEye imagery. We have resold over 30 million km2 of 5-meter imagery over the Brazilian territory. There are many companies and government institutions that use RapidEye images every day, and we will now work together to also provide them new products and solutions.”

About BlackBridge
BlackBridge is focused on providing end to end solutions across the geospatial value chain. This includes satellite operations, ground station services, data center and geocloud solutions, and worldwide satellite imagery distribution through over 100 BlackBridge partners, combined with the creation of value added products and services.

About Santiago & Cintra Consultoria
Santiago & Cintra Consultoria is a Brazilian consulting company specialized on geospatial solutions. It is the largest supplier of satellite imagery in Brazil and has developed unique Web-GIS based solutions, serving a wide range of markets, such as environment, agriculture, government, forestry, mining, defense, Oil & Gas, education, or telecommunications.
http://www.sccon.com.br

Contact
BlackBridge AG
Kurfürstendamm 22
10719 Berlin
Germany
press@blackbridge.com

(February 27, 2014 Berlin, Germany) Upon successful completion of the 2013 North American agricultural monitoring program, BlackBridge officially launches its agriculture solutions on a global level. New programs are already being implemented for subscribers in the UK and South America, and new regions will follow later this year, including North America, where the program will start running in May.

This new imagery service leverages the exceptional collection capacity of the RapidEye constellation, providing access to an enormous pool of multitemporal, orthorectified five-meter, imagery collected throughout the season. Agro-consulting firms, amongst other customers, will benefit from this unique information source for extracting accurate and timely information on crop variables.

The other key feature of these programs is the cloud-based technology that supports it by allowing subscribers to have fast and easy access to the imagery collected everyday shortly after acquisition using an internet connection. Access to archived imagery from past seasons is also an option to program subscribers.

“These programs are the result of BlackBridge responding to the needs of the agricultural market,” explains Karsten Frotscher, product manager. “The concept for these programs and the technological solution behind them have been developed in response to customer requests for more imagery and timely access to it. We have addressed this demand with programs that offer a cost-effective solution to accessing imagery acquired over large agricultural areas. We are really excited about it, as we truly believe this is the type of program the market has been longing to see for many years.”

To find out more about BlackBridge Monitoring Programs for Agriculture, please visit

About BlackBridge
BlackBridge is focused on providing end to end solutions across the geospatial value chain. This includes satellite operations, ground station services, data center and geocloud solutions, and worldwide satellite imagery distribution through over 100 BlackBridge partners, combined with the creation of value added products and services.
Contact
BlackBridge AG
Kurfürstendamm 22
10719 Berlin
Germany
press@blackbridge.com

(31 March 2014) Under the lead of the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre and the Dartmouth Flood Observatory (University of Colorado), the Global Flood Partnership was launched earlier this month.

It is a unique international forum aimed at developing a global flood observation and modelling infrastructure for managing and forecasting flood risk at a global scale. It will provide operational and globally applicable flood monitoring and, at a later stage, forecasting tools and services, as well as short- and long-term flood risk assessment tools, which will be complementary to national capabilities. This will be achieved by bringing together the scientific community, satellite and weather service providers, national flood and emergency management authorities, humanitarian organisations and donors.

The JRC has a unique expertise in this area, as it contributed to the set up and managed the development of the first operational hydrological network in Europe, the European Flood Awareness System (EFAS). EFAS is an early warning system at a pan-European scale to provide flood information 3-10 days in advance, allowing Member States and the Commission to be better prepared for potential flood crises at international scale. Since 2012, it operates under the umbrella of the Copernicus emergency management service and run by Member States organisations.

Source adn JRC

(28 March 2014) The French and Chinese space agencies on 27 March confirmed their joint venture in radar ocean-surface research, approving the final construction of a satellite carrying instruments from both nations to be launched in 2018.

The China-French Oceanic Satellite, CFOSat, will carry the French Surface Waves Investigation and Monitoring, or SWIM, instrument, a wave-scatterometer spectrometer that has been under development for several years at the French space agency, CNES.

The China National Space Administration, in addition to providing the CFOSat platform and a launch of the 700-kilogram satellite on a Chinese Long March rocket, will build the SCAT wind-measurement scatterometer.

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(31March2014) In anticipation of the launch for Sentinel-1A, the European Space Agency is pleased to announce the possibility for users to pre-register for online access to Sentinel data.

The free, full and open data policy adopted for the Copernicus programme foresees access available to all users for the Sentinel data products, via a simple pre-registration.

Following registration, the user will have the possibility to immediately download a test data set that simulates the data products that will be generated by Sentinel-1. Following launch, registered users will be granted early access to Sentinel-1 data samples, even before the full operational qualification of the products is completed.

Who needs to register:

Registration is open to all users via simple on-line self-registration accessible via the Sentinel Data Hub

Existing Copernicus/GMES users (e.g. members of the Copernicus/GMES Core Services and Downstream Services projects) already registered in the Copernicus Space Component Data Access need not register on this service, they are served via the existing access point.

Member States requiring data for national initiatives in the frame of the Sentinels Collaborative Ground Segment need not register on this service, they are served via the existing access point.

Technical information of all Sentinel missions together with detailed definitions of the users products can be found on Sentinel Online

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and EOportal