Skip to content

Working in the Space and Earth Observation fields, Critical Software is, and has been, involved in several R&D and operational projects with the aim to deliver innovative Earth Observation products and services to specific user communities. The company has a proven experience in delivering highly dependable mission oriented critical solutions, services and technologies, and has established itself as a reliable and proactive partner for customers, such as ESA, NASA, JAXA, EADS Astrium, Thales Alenia Space, DNV, ScySis, Vega among many others.

Customers trust Critical Software to bring quality and innovation to information systems in a timely and cost effective manner, while developing solutions that simply must not fail. The experience acquired in international consortia with prime contractors has paved the way for Critical Software to provide services ranging from engineering processes definition, solution design and support for the development and integration of Safety Critical Sub-Systems and interfaces, to the development and deployment of best-of-breed software certifiable services and solutions or COTS based systems.

Critical Software’s activities span from the space segment to downstream services, including Earth Observation, Telecommunications and Navigation, such as, flight qualified software, quality & product assurance, operational simulators, data processing and visualization tools, ISVV and RAMS, whilst using best available technologies and modelling methodologies.

Critical Software operates an ISO9001:2000 Tick-IT and CMMI SW/SE Level 5 accredited quality system and applies the ISO/IEC 15504 standard in the area of software process assessment (whose deployment was supported and monitored by the European Space Agency).

Some examples of projects in which Critical Software is or has been involved in the Earth Observation area are:

Premfire – Fire Combat Management and Control System

Critical Software has developed PREMFIRE, whose main objective was to implement a system for fire risk assessment that could easily be used by the civil protection staff or other fire prevention service. PREMFIRE extends the existing RISE system, adding wireless palmtop terminals providing real or near-real time exchange of data with field staff. Relatively static information such as topography, fire history and land use were integrated with meteorological conditions and Earth Observation data from MODIS, ERS, SPOT and Landsat. The possibility of including positional data from EGNOS/Galileo is designed in. Fire risk maps are generated and also automatic alarms when necessary to alert local fire fighting units.

SAFER – Services and Applications for Emergency Response

SAFER aimed at preparing the operational implementation of the Emergency Response Core Service (ERCS). In the scope of SAFER, Critical Software implemented and operated a service chain, allowing the provision of the automatic burn scar mapping service to several Portuguese and Greek authorities.

SMOS – L1PP (SMOS Level 1 Processor Prototype – Up to Phase 5)

Critical Software is involved in the development and maintenance of the SMOS “Level 1 Processor Prototype” (L1PP) (www.smos.com.pt). The objective of the L1PP project is to define the Algorithms Theoretical Baseline and the Detailed Processing Models for the SMOS L1 processing and to implement these algorithms in a prototype that is used as a baseline for the validation of the SMOS L1 Operational Processor and to assess the MIRAS instrument end-to-end performance.

Vessel-X – Maritime Traffic Monitoring with TerraSAR-X images

In the scope of this project, fully developed by Critical Software, a prototype allowing the detection and the classification of vessels was designed and implemented. In order to develop this prototype, several algorithms had to be developed, using radar images obtained by sensors on board of commercial satellites, allowing, for the first time, not only the vessel detection, but also its classification fully supported by satellite imagery.

PREVIEW – Geo-information services for risk management on a European Level

PREVIEW aimed to provide new or enhanced information services for risk management in three thematic domains: Atmospheric, Geophysics and Man-made. Supporting European Civil Protection units (local, regional, national and European authorities) PREVIEW was supported by the most advanced research and technological developments using satellite observation in combination with other data and scientific models that helped better prevent, anticipate and/or manage different types of disasters. In the scope of PREVIEW, Critical Software acted as service provider in Portugal, delivering and validating all forest fire related services.

RBSM – Rapid Burn Scar Mapping

Rapid Burn Scar Mapping, fully developed by Critical Software, aimed to develop a service for the provision of automatic medium-resolution burn scars mapping to the Forest Resources Directorate of the Portuguese Ministry of Agriculture. The burn scar maps are based on medium resolution EO data from the sensors AQUA-TERRA/MODIS distributed by the U.S. Geological Survey.

This completely automatic methodology combines EO data with land-cover information to produce daily burn scars maps with a minimum mapping unit of 48 hectares. Data can be exported to various raster and vector formats and can be easily visualized in applications like Google Earth and integrated in other information systems.

This information is very valuable for the daily estimation of the damage caused by forest fires at a national and regional level. The processing chain does not require any interaction with human operators or image interpretation experts. The maps provide an objective assessment of the situation on the ground, even in remote locations. This product represents a very useful complement to the reports of the fire fighters and civil protection authorities who deals with hundreds of fire events at the same time.

Near Operational Demonstration of the use of Satellite Systems for Fire Risk Management

Near Operational Demonstration project was integrated in ESA’s FUEGOSAT Programme, aiming at to demonstrate services based in earth observing data, in order to manage emergencies located in various countries of Southern Europe. This programme was established to meet today’s growing need for forest fire management, thus many services based in satellite data were developed, namely: Prevention, Detection, Fighting and Assessing Damages.

Critical Software, working in partnership with INSA, carried out the development of this project in Portugal. In the frame of this project, many forest fire products were provided through a precursor decision support system to determine fire risk, ignition detection, fires monitoring, damage assessment, among many other products.

More info at CRITICAL SOFTWARE

www-eomag-eu_articles_1241_critical-software-dependable-technologies-fo.pdf

On 4 May and together with other companies developing transport improvement solutions and five European governments (Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, Malta and Romania) GMV signed a “non-binding agreement” for implementing Europe’s eCall in-car emergency system.

The eCall signing and demonstration ceremony was attended by the European Commission’s Digital Agenda Commissioner, Neelie Kroes.

The idea of fitting vehicles with an automatic emergency-number dialing system is catching on fast in Europe, with 20 European countries now having undertaken to implement the system. Only France, the UK, Bulgaria, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia and Poland have yet to opt in to the project.

eCall is a European Commission initiative designed to bring rapid aid to car drivers involved in a traffic accident anywhere in the European Union. Under this project vehicles are fitted with a device whose sensors (similar to airbag sensors) automatically call 112 in the event of an accident. At the same time a minimum set of incident data is sent to the 112 emergency-center operator; this information includes position (GNSS-GPS coordinates and Galileo in the future), vehicle direction, time of accident, type of vehicle, etc.

The eCall system has already received the endorsement of European mobile telephony operators and carmakers; this backing is a sine qua non of its large-scale implementation.

It is estimated that eCall could save 2500 lives a year in Europe when fitted to all vehicles and also reduce the severity of injuries in 10-15% of car accidents, thanks to the quicker response time of the emergency services.

Since 1994 GMV has been providing Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) as solutions geared towards improving operational efficiency and increasing service quality. GMV develops bespoke applications to meet the sector’s needs, integrating satellite navigation, mobile communications, passenger-information and control and monitoring centers. It is now number one in Spain in GPS systems for the management of urban passenger and railway transport and is also exporting these systems far afield in Europe and Asia.

Source GMV

GIM recently delivered the Calakmul 4DGIS “Information Management System” for the conservation authorities of the Biosphere Reserve and Archaeological Urban Centre of Calakmul (Mexico). This online system allows Mexican managers of Natural and Cultural Heritage to store, share, visualise and create interaction between their data, in order to coordinate various actions of conservation, management, planning, monitoring and research undertaken in the area.

To achieve a good management one needs excellent documentation. This means: data collection, analysis and evaluation. Then the administrators can add a timeline for effective conservation measures. Until now World Heritage managers didn’t have the adequate tools to perform the tasks in an efficient way. Because with management many departments and people are involved, an online application is the ideal way. It provides everyone the possibility to work from his workplace.

The “Information Management System” is based on an online tool developed on the basis of open source elements and according to open standards. It enables the integration of 2D GIS layers and 3D objects, large and small scales cartography layers and the time dimension. It also includes a set of open source tools to create data, but also innovative methods and data models to manage archaeological and ecological data containing time attributes.

The name “Calakmul” refers to an ecological reserve including an ancient Maya city. The study zone lies in the South East of the Campeche State, in the middle of the Yucatan peninsula. The Calakmul Biosphere Reserve was created in 1989. It covers an area of almost 7.300 square kilometres and constitutes one of the largest protected forests of the tropical zones. This biodiversity hotspot shelters rare species of flora and fauna. It also includes many archaeological sites, Calakmul being the most important one. In this site there are 6.252 buildings to be found, from temples, palaces, homes and a ball court. This pre-Colombian city has been registered on the World Heritage List (cultural part) in 2002.
That is why Calakmul is natural and cultural heritage!

This offers opportunities to develop tools for both natural and cultural heritage.

Multidisciplinary approach

The project was carried out with a series of scientists, each with their own specialty.
• Scientists from the Department of Geography of the Ghent University did research on temporal and spatial representation of archaeological data.
• Scientists from the Centre Européen d’Archéométrie of the University of Liège were responsible for data collection and construction of the archaeological database.
• Scientists from the engineering faculty of the Catholic University of Leuven (VISICS team) further developed the Arc3D web service allowing to create three-dimensional models based on sequences of standard digital photos.
GIM was in charge of the project coordination and was responsible for developing the “Information Management System” Calakmul 4DGIS, the analysis of satellite imagery and production of maps for the nature reserve. Our experts ensured interaction with local users and ‘capacity building’ (education and training).

This Consortium worked in close collaboration with UNESCO (Dr. Mario Hernandez) but also with the Mexican partners INAH (National Institute of Anthropology and History – responsible for Mexican Cultural Heritage management) and CONANP (National Commission of Protected Natural Areas – in charge of the management of the Mexican Natural Heritage). Finally, the Consortium was also supported by the University of Campeche.

Results

Calakmul 4D GIS is built on the GIM WebGIS technology. GIM WebGIS provides an open and standard product for consultancy-GIS in an intranet or Internet environment.

It is a solution for publishing a variety of geographic themes for everyone, expert GIS users and non-specialist GIS users.
Calakmul 4DGIS has a range of functions.

Administrators can:
• Produce maps and export them
• Register, visualize, analyse and plan follow up actions for realized and planned interventions
• Identify and analyze threats.

The application was designed to be able to switch to other World Heritage sites with limited adaptation. Follow up projects carried out by GIM such as Silk Road CHRIS (project on the Asian Silk Road) and Heritech (Croatia project) will also be built on GIM WebGIS

In addition to the development of Calakmul 4DGIS, GIM also processed EO data provided by the Belgian Science Policy Office (BELSPO) and by Spot Image via the Planet Action programme. The objective of this task was twofold. First, to process a time series of satellite imagery in order to analyse the evolution of the Land Use Land Cover over the entire Biosphere Reserve. Secondly, to investigate the potential of remote sensing to document Maya ruins and to detect evidences of the presence of archaeological remains in a tropical forest environment. Formosat-2 and SPOT data were used to elaborate LULC maps and to perform a change detection analysis. Formosat-2 recent data set was also used to test the effectiveness of Object-Based Image Analysis method in extracting relevant information for archaeological research. Despite the complexity of the tropical environment, this work was concluded by promising results.

GIM and World heritage

Flexible technology

As in other application areas, GIM has adopted here a flexible approach based on the use of Open Source software components and Open Standards. This is of particular importance in this context, as what makes the concept of World Heritage exceptional, is its universal application. Interoperability, software licenses, costs are thus critical issues. However, the available generic system has also to be adapted to the local situation. Our flexible approach combined with our unique expertise in this field allows us to achieve a perfect matching with the user requirements and to propose a tailored tool.

Information Management System

This web-based system includes a set of tools to be used by site managers to generate or convert data. Once the quality of the data has been checked, it can be uploaded to the system and the corresponding record can be added and documented (metadata) in the catalogue. The latter will allow to search and query the database but also to share the data. Selected information can then be published (display and export) through a web map viewer. This thin client application enables the different users to interact with different types of data.

It allows for:
• Different scales integration;
• 2D and 3D data integration;
• Temporal dimension integration.
This unique combination offered by GIM focuses on the need of site managers and provides diverse functions as:
• Querying, visualizing, accessing all kind of information from a single entry point;
• Supporting decision making processes and coordination of actions;
• Disseminating information and raising awareness.

Capacity building

To ensure the sustainability of such type of information system, GIM, in collaboration with its partners provides training and support to users of the system. In the World Heritage management context, it is indeed essential to transfer the technology but also to give necessary trainings in order to allow the users to become self-sufficient. Users learn how to use the tools and maintain and update the Information Management System.

The Calakmul Information System has been funded by the Belgian Science Policy Office (BELSPO) in the framework of a collaboration agreement with UNESCO.

About GIM

GIM is an internationally operating EO and GIS services company based in Heverlee near Leuven in Belgium. The company provides consultancy, software application development services and products in the geo-spatial domain. GIM specializes in remote sensing services and GIS applications as well as value adding data services and geo-spatial web applications.

Since start of activities in 1995, GIM has been able to establish a broad international customer base and successfully participated in more than 500 local, national, and European projects.

GIMs customers are to be found in private industry sectors, public organisations and research institutes. GIM is dedicated to provide a wide range of value added services for remotely sensed data and GIS applications in segments such as: defence, disaster management, humanitarian aid, nature resources and environment.

The GIM team has expertise in managing and executing national and international projects. At present, GIM is employing a staff of 30 experts and consultants graduated in earth sciences, engineering and informatics.

GIM uses cutting edge GIS and image processing software and provides consultancy, processing and development capabilities for software components from major G IS and remote sensing software vendors.

Press Contact
GIM: Patricia Desmet
Marketing & Communications Assistant
Patricia.desmet@gim.be
32_16_40_30_39

As part of the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security Services Element, the Global Monitoring for Food Security project of ESA aims to provide Earth Observation based services in order to assist stakeholders, nations and international organizations to better implement their policies towards sustainable development.

GeoVille develops Soil Moisture derived Index products based on radar satellite (ERS, ASAR) data and provides related GIS services to the Early Warning Service of the GMFS Stage III project.

More info at Geoville news

Euroconsult, the international consulting and analyst firm specializing in the satellite sector continues to reinforce its Earth observation business. The company provides market studies and consulting, and organizes events.

Euroconsult is also preparing the 2nd Symposium on Earth Observation Business. The event will take place September 9-10, 2010 in Paris and will bring together over 100 leaders from the Earth observation community including CEOs and top executives from leading businesses and government agencies

This high-profile event is a unique meeting place to discuss market trends and the opportunities and challenges ahead in the growing and changing Earth observation sector. GeoEye and Ball Aerospace are official partners for the event. Speakers include CEO’s and top executives from DigitalGlobe, Astrium Services, European Union Satellite Center, GeoEye, US NGA, Total, MDA GSI, Group on Earth Observation (GEO), Google, C-Core, e-GEOS, RapidEye, UK MoD, KSAT, SPOT-Infoterra, Ball Aerospace, NOAA, and SSTL among others.

For more information or a full program at www.satellite-business.com or contact Julia Carré at carre@euroconsult-ec.com or +33 1 49 23 75 28.

The company recently released a new market study. This second title, Earth Observation: Defense & Security, is a comprehensive analysis of the strategic issues, market drivers and trends, supply and demand for image intelligence (IMINT) for the government customer. It joins the company’s annual market prospects report, Satellite-based Earth Observation, Market Prospects to 201x which is an exhaustive analysis and forecast for the entire sector, including every level of the value chain. The 3rd edition will be available in the Fall. www.euroconsult-ec.com

To support this growing business the company is expanding its staff in both Europe and North America offices, and recently formed a partnership with The Jones Consulting Group in the United States. Dennis Jones, President of The Jones Consulting Group, has held a number of senior executive positions at GeoEye, Space Imaging and The Aerospace Corporation. He has also served in analytical and advisory positions in the U.S. government’s national security community, including the Executive Office of the President and the National Reconnaissance Office.

Source Euroconsult

GAF news


GAF AG wins tender for GIS programming and consultation work
18.05.2010

GAF AG wins tender for GIS programming and consultation work in the context of sectoral IT modernization within the Bavarian State Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (StMELF)

GAF AG wins lot 2 of the open tender “Programmier- und Beratungsleistungen im Bereich der Agrar- und Forstfoerderung” put out by the Bavarian State Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (StMELF). The work focuses on the further development of the agricultural geo-information systems (GIS) in the broader context of modernizing applications and technologies adopted to promote Bavarian agriculture and forestry.

PDF

Read More…

Afghan Ministry of Mines delegation on visit to GAF AG
17.05.2010

A delegation of the Afghan Ministry of Mines with high-ranking officials have been invited by GAF to visit BAUMA trade show and perform a study trip to several mining operations in the vicinity of Munich.

The Afghan delegation was headed by H.E. Wahidullah Shahrani, Minister of Mines, and Prof. Dr. A. Rahman Ashraf, Senior Advisor for Mines and Energy to the President. Their concerted effort is to move the Ministry of Mines (MoM) in Afghanistan from being a producer of minerals and other commodities to a policy-maker, promoter and regulator. Therewith an important step towards the eradication of poverty and bringing peace and prosperity to Afghanistan will be done. This is supported by a technical consultancy provided by GAF AG, being part of the World Bank funded Sustainable Development of Natural Resources Project.

PDF

Read More…

Source GAF

(June2010) Eurosense Recent News


A new orthophoto of Bratislava on 10 cm resolution

EUROSENSE completed an aerial photography survey of Bratislava in just one day, namely on 11/6/2010. The survey aims to upgrade its existing 10cm Slovak cities orthophoto serie. Each of 7 previous regular aerial surveys of Bratislava, flown for the first time by EUROSENSE in 1993, have taken up always max. 2 days to complete.

Using a digital Vexcel UCXP camera, EUROSENSE was able to survey and collect over 2000 images across Bratislava in one day. The new camera technology enabled the survey aircraft to fly more efficiently yet still collect a 9,4 cm ground resolution imagery.

This is the 2nd time that aerial photography of Bratislava has been collected at this level in such a short space of time.

Aerial thermography survey by Eurosense in Cherbourg, France

The aerial thermography project launched by the Urban Community of Cherbourg (CUC) aims to inform the inhabitants (92.000 inhabitants) of the five municipalities about thermal losses of their houses (roofs).

Basically, two aerial photoflights were executed over the Urban Community of Cherbourg (69km²) during two cold winter nights in order to collect thermal responses of the roofs. After image processing and cartography, the results comes out with maps showing the heating losses based on a colored pixel classification (from dark blue to bright red) on cadastral reference maps. Final objectives are increasing public awareness about energy consumption and presenting to the inhabitants available housing isolation subsidies launched by the French government.

More info at EUROSENSE

(May2010) e-GEOS, a company set up by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and Telespazio (Finmeccanica/Thales) has become the partner of Google’s Enterprise division to develop and distribute in Italy geospatial solutions based on Google Earth Enterprise technology.

Google Earth Enterprise is the professional version of the famous Google technology that can support the implementation of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and geo-location systems intended to make geospatial data and images accessible to internal and external users.

The Google Earth Enterprise application is intuitive, quick and simple to use. The application enables users to view, explore and analyse georeferenced information on a fully interactive 3D globe or 2D map that can be shared with other users, thus enabling them to take quick decisions based on this information. Access to georeferenced images therefore allows institutions, organisation and companies to simplify and improve their decision-making processes and take action more promptly.

As exclusive distributor of the COSMO-SkyMed radar satellite constellation, e-GEOS adopted Google Earth Enterprise technology to allow its customers access to COSMO-SkyMed images, including the 5M-resolution mosaic of Italy generated by e-GEOS with the support of the Italian Space Agency.

e-GEOS also uses the Google Earth Enterprise platform to optimise access to its vast library of geographic information resources, which includes high-resolution optical satellite images, aerial photographs and digital maps.

e-GEOS’ range of products for the professional market is completed by RealVista aerial images, which guarantee a high level of precision, detail and uniformity, and are updated on an ongoing basis.

“The partnership with e-GEOS represents an important step for us in providing a clear endorsement of the professional version of Google Earth technology in Italy”, said Sanjay Patel, Enterprise Geo Applications Manager EMEA at Google. “Considering the primary market target of Google Earth Enterprise products (medium-sized and large companies, and the public administration), e-GEOS was the natural choice as partner for the launch of our platform in Italy in view of the company’s wealth of expertise and illustrious track record in this field.”

The CEO of e-GEOS, Marcello Maranesi, said: “I’m extremely pleased with the synergy between Google and e-GEOS in developing geospatial solutions that will enable large companies, the public administration and, indeed, all players that manage operations and infrastructure in the country to equip themselves with a tool that enhances their geographic information resources, making such information intuitive and quick to use.”

Press release

The 70th Council meeting of EUMETSAT (the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites) took place on 21-22 June 2010 in Rome, Italy.

Among other issues, the Council discussed the role of EUMETSAT in the European Space Policy and in GMES through the adoption of a dedicated resolution. This resolution emphasises the need to recognise that user-governed entities, such as EUMETSAT, play an important role in structuring space activities, particularly when these activities address operational services, like in the case of GMES. EUMETSAT Member States agreed on a definition of the activities that can be carried out by user-governed entities and proposed that, in the case of GMES, EUMETSAT is involved from the federation of user requirements at European level up to and including the operations of the related satellites.

The above mentioned activities would come in support of the European Commission. In the case of GMES the Commission is responsible for the interaction with user communities to specify European space systems in support of European policies. EUMETSAT could be thus the European entity supporting the EU for the GMES activities related to operational oceanography, atmospheric composition monitoring and climate monitoring.

More information at

More than 1400 scientists and users from around the world gathered this past weeks in Bergen, Norway, for ESA’s Living Planet Symposium to present their latest findings on Earth’s environment and climate using data from observation satellites.

Selected highlights from the symposium were streamed live on the web and are now available for replay.

More videos will be added later.
27-06-2010 Tutorials
28-06-2010 Opening Session
28-06-2010 Envisat Session
28-06-2010 Data Policies Session
29-06-2010 GMES Session
01-07-2010 Climate Change Session

30-06-2010 Interview on oil spill monitoring
01-07-2010 Interview on ice monitoring

Source ESA