Skip to content

PCI News Spring 2010


PCI Geomatics Releases New GeoImaging Tools Software for GIS Users

PCI Geomatics, a world leading developer of geo-imaging software and systems is pleased to announce the release of GeoImaging Tools for ArcGIS™. Offering accurate and highly automated tools for correcting raw satellite imagery, GeoImaging Tools is revolutionizing the integration of remotely sensed imagery into GIS workflows.

For online version visit: http://www.pcigeomatics.com/pressnews/2010_PCI_GITools.html

PCI Geomatics to Participate as Silver Sponsor at GeoTec

PCI Geomatics, a world leading developer of geo-imaging software and systems is pleased to announce its involvement as a silver sponsor at the upcoming GeoTec Event 2010 in Toronto, Ontario.

For online version visit: http://www.pcigeomatics.com/pressnews/2010_PCI_GeoTec.html

PCI Geomatics Named to Branham 300 List of Top Canadian Technology Companies.

PCI Geomatics, a world leading developer of geo-imaging software and systems, is pleased to announce that it has been named to the Branham 300, the annual listing of the top 300 Canadian Information and Communication Technology (ICT) companies.

For online version visit: http://www.pcigeomatics.com/pressnews/2010_PCI_Branham300.html

PCI Geomatics TV

Get up to the minute coverage of PCI Geomatics news on PCI Geomatics TV, visit: www.pcigeomatics.com/pci-tv

PCI Geomatics Partners with Microsoft’s Vexcel Imaging

PCI Geomatics is partnering with Microsoft’s Photogrammetry division, Vexcel Imaging GmbH. The alliance is designed to leverage the strengths of the two organizations to produce an end-to-end image processing system developed specifically for customers of Vexcel Imaging’s UltraCam series of high-resolution digital aerial cameras and UltraMap photogrammetric software.

Through PCI Geomatics’ scalable GeomaticaX technology, a complete workflow will be developed to take advantage of parallel processing and Graphical Processing Units (GPUs), to automatically orthorectify and mosaic hundreds of UltraCam images per day.

Development on the end-to-end workflow is currently underway, and will greatly improve processing throughput for orthorectifying, pansharpening and mosaicking UltraCam imagery. Future plans include the ability to accelerate true ortho image production and the automatic generation of digital surface models from stereo UltraCam imagery.

To read the full press release, please visit: http://www.pcigeomatics.com/pressnews/2010_PCI_Vexcel.html

PCI Geomatics Receives Contract to Assist MDA with Geospatial Solution

PCI Geomatics has signed a significant six-figure contract with MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) to develop and deploy an enterprise level image management system to support the processing of RADARSAT-2 satellite imagery for an international customer.

PCI Geomatics offers image processing and analysis solutions through its GeomaticaX technology, an extension of its desktop software converted to pluggable functions. It’s comprised of an extensive list of software functions used for building workflows which can be linked in unassisted processing chains to produce fully automated image and information products. The GeomaticaX product line encompasses the Professional Software Development Kit (ProSDK), ProLines automated workflows, and the GeoImaging Accelerator.

For more information, please visit: http://www.pcigeomatics.com/pressnews/2010_PCI_MDA.html

PCI Geomatics Named to Branham 300 List of Top Canadian Technology Companies

PCI Geomatics has been named to the Branham 300, the annual listing of the top 300 Canadian Information and Communication Technology (ICT) companies. The Branham300 is the most comprehensive listing of publicly traded and privately held IT companies in Canada and PCI Geomatics ranked in the listing at 202.

The results of the Branham300 are available at www.branham300.com.

PCI Geomatics Partners with Microsoft’s Vexcel Imaging

PCI Geomatics, a world leading developer of geo-imaging software and systems, announced that it is partnering with Microsoft’s Photogrammetry division, Vexcel Imaging GmbH. The alliance is designed to leverage the strengths of the two organizations to produce an end-to-end image processing system developed specifically for customers of Vexcel Imaging’s UltraCam series of high-resolution digital aerial cameras and UltraMap photogrammetric software.

For more information, please visit:http://www.pcigeomatics.com/pressnews/2010_PCI_Vexcel.html

February News

PCI Geomatics Signs Million Dollar Contract with BSEI for an Automated Image Production System

PCI Geomatics Receives Contract to Assist MDA with Geospatial Solution

PCI Geomatics Releases Upgrade to Geomatica Software

PCI Geomatics Participates in Ontario Olympic Pavilion

Gisat and Sprinx Systems with the support of Faculty of Science of Charles University turn the FLOREO services into the first operational phase. The project is making use of satellite Earth Observation that serves for improving hydrological flood forecasts of the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (CHMI).

Czech Republic has experienced different types of floods in recent years, such as summer floods due to the long time precipitation (July 1997, August 2002), flash floods (July 1998, June 2009) but also significant floods from snow melt (March 2000, March and April 2006). Wide range of possible types of floods brings also very wide and complex demand on the input data and hydrological methods and models that are used.

Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (CHMI) regularly evaluates quantity of snow in the Czech Republic. Unfortunately, there is always some degree of uncertainty in the ground observations and in the modelling of the the situation outside the area covered by the meteorological stations. Especially when there is not snow cover over the whole territory of the country, uncertainty of the snow amount estimate may reach even several tens of percents.

The particular problem is the amount of snow in forested areas under the tree cover. Snow accumulates slowly at the beginning of the winter season and its melt is also slower due to the vegetation cover. Snow remains in the forest areas for a longer time comparing to the neighbouring open areas where most of meteorological stations are located. This effect significantly contributed to the extent of flood in the spring of 2006 for instance. Observations from meteorological stations didn’t report any snow, but there was still snow hidden in forest which continually melted and caused floods.

Information obtained from the ground stations is naturally not sufficient. In this case Earth Observation satellites may help significantly as they bring the spatial information. Satellite imagery can also provide additional data useful for predicting of floods, such as information about the properties of snow melting in surface layer of the snow cover. In the summer time different type of information can be derived, for instance the soil water content and soil saturation help to predict responses to coming rainfalls.

These facts, among others, were stimulation to come up with FLOREO project (“Demonstration of ESA Environments in support to FLOod Risk Earth Observation monitoring,”) having the aim to bring more reliable data about the current status of snow cover and additional important ground parameters to improve flood prediction services.

FLOREO turns into the first operational phase now. Its main focus is to build complex system of landscape monitoring that provides important data for flood prediction services. CHMI currently integrates the project results into their processes and believes that the entire system will be fully in operation during this year.

Nowadays the snow cover and its changes are monitored using several satellite systems, such as Terra MODIS imagery with spatial resolution of 250 m or Envisat ASAR radar imagery with spatial resolution of 150 m. The advantage of MODIS data is daily acquisition with full coverage of the area of interest and more straightforward data processing but clouds can hide the land surface. In that case radar data can be processed independently of the cloud cover but only with the period of acquisitions about 10 to 14 days. FLOREO combines both optical and radar imagery.

Inevitable part of the project is the information infrastructure providing user-friendly access to selected datasets and analytical tools via internet mapping services. Sprinx Systems, the project leader, is responsible for the design and operation of the whole infrastructure system. Gisat delivers the concept and processing algorithms that are then programmed by Sprinx Systems to build a complex system including control procedures, data visualization and provision of the results to the end user (CHMI).

See the FLOREO web site to find more information about the project activities or visit the public version of the map portal.

Watch the video demonstrating the main features of the FLOREO map portal:

We are pleased to inform you about the organization of the next EUFAR FP7 Training Courses for promoting airborne research in the European academic community

The courses provide a theoretical background on Earth Sciences and associated physical processes, as well as training on airborne instrumentation, measurement, data processing and analysis. The participants are also trained by aircraft operators on issues specific to airborne operations.

The 1st EUFAR Training Course “ADvanced Digital Remote sensing in Ecology and earth Sciences Summer School” (ADDRESSS) will be held at the Balaton Limnological Research Institute (BLRI) of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences from August 19th to 28th 2010, Tihany, Hungary (see flyer enclosed).

The 2nd EUFAR Training Course “Training & Education for Turbulence Research via Airborne Data” (TETRAD), organized by the CNR ISAC Institute for Atmospheric Sciences and Climate will be held from September 10th to 18th 2010 at Hyères, France (see flyer enclosed).

The webpage (www.eufar.net/ET) provides all practical details for accommodation and registration.
Email: bureau_at_eufar.net
Website: www.eufar.net
Documents
ADDRESSS advertisement
TETRAD advertisement

Starlab is a private company that converts science into technologies with a profound positive impact on society and the planet. Our vision is to make science more useful, alive, vibrant, faster. With impact.

We believe that the potential for innovation is greater when we rethink the basics so we focus on scientific research to transform science into disruptive solutions.

Our main areas of work lie in the space and applied neuroscience sectors. We identify social needs and the market opportunities they create. Then we reach to science and engineering to provide technical solutions, products and services for governments, industry and downstream markets.

We are market-aware and market-driving: Space (technology and EO Services) and applied neuroscience R&D will have great impact in and through several key markets, including environment, energy, health and space.

Our energy comes from the mixture of two cultures: a team of scientists able to look at problems from a different perspective and a business team paying attention to the needs of our clients. That is, scientific excellence and business discipline to transform science into solutions. Talent oriented to solving real problems.

Starlab’s team has three features that make it unique:

• Multidisciplinary backgrounds: physics, mathematics, engineering (electronics, telecommunications, computer science), economics, laws, journalism…

• International: professionals coming from 9 different countries (and growing): United Startes, Italy, France, Greece, Japan, Germany, Italy, Ireland and Spain. Starlab’s official language is english.

• Talent and high grade of education: most of Starlab researchers own or are currently earning a PhD.

Earth Observation Services

Satellites offer the capability to observe the Earth in a powerful, global way for improved management and sustainability. Starlab Space develops new and alternative remote sensing applications to monitor the environment and to improve the management of renewal energies and natural resources.

Some sample services that are already operational:

Starwater: provides coastal authorities with maps of various indicators of water quality to support decision making for coastal environmental management in accordance with European directives.

Starsnow: provides satellite-generated snow cover maps through a user-friendly interface. This service is already being used by public bodies and private energy companies to support their decision making.

Starsoil: provides maps of soil moisture through a user-friendly interface to support decision making for water resources management.

Windmapping: a tool that is supporting wind energy industry to decide where to best invest in wind farms on land.

Starlab Space also develops products such as Oceanpal®, an instrument that provides sea level and significant wave height using Global Navigation Satellite Systems signals like GPS and GALILEO.

Oceanpal® is a remote dry system. This means that, unlike buoys, it is capable of extracting sea related information without actually being in contact with water. This feature drastically reduces the costs of deployment, maintenance and keeps it operational regardless of weather conditions. Oceanpal is currently installed in Europe, Latinoamerica and China.

Contact Details
Starlab
Address: Teodor Roviralta 45, 08022 Barcelona (Spain)
Phone: +34 932540366 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              +34 932540366      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              +34 932540366      end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Fax: +34 932126445
Web: www.starlab.es
Contact person: Araceli Pi Figueroa, eoservices@starlab.es

Eomag!21_Starlab (Spain) (Spring 2010).pdf

Events Spring 2010


Start Date End Date Event Web Venue
31-mar-10 01-apr-10 Monaco Blue Initiative web Monaco, Monaco
08-apr-10 09-apr-10 ISPRS/ESPI/IAA Conference ″Current Issues in Regulating Satellite Earth Observation″ web Vienna, Austria
10-apr-10 15-apr-10 34th International Symposium on Remote Sensing of Environment (ISRSE2011) web Sydney, Australia
11-apr-10 13-apr-10 JURSE 2011 – Joint Urban Remote Sensing Event (URBAN 2011 + URS 2011) web Munich, Germany
11-apr-10 14-apr-10 Geospatial Intelligence Middle East 2010 web Bahrain, UAE
11-apr-10 16-apr-10 XXIV FIG International Congress 2010 web Sydney, Australia
12-apr-10 15-apr-10 5th EGEE User Forum web Uppsala, Sweden
13-apr-10 15-apr-10 3rd Conference on Earth Observation for Global Changes (EOGC2011) web Munich, Germany
14-apr-10 15-apr-10 HR GEO User Consultation Workshop web Frascati, Italy
14-apr-10 16-apr-10 IV International conference Remote sensing – the synergy of high technologies web Moscow, Russia
14-apr-10 16-apr-10 The Sustainable City 2010 web La Coruña, Spain
15-apr-10 15-apr-10 Nereus AGM web Andalusia, Spain
15-apr-10 15-apr-10 Expectations to the Climate Change Monitoring using EO satellites web Tokyo, Japan
15-apr-10 15-apr-10 LIMES Final End User Workshop web Farnborough, United Kingdom
15-apr-10 30-apr-10 Urban Atlas Exhibition web Brussels, Belgium
16-apr-10 16-apr-10 GIM/WorldView Global Alliance: Worldview-2 seminar web Heverlee, Belgium
18-apr-10 21-apr-10 Innovation for Sustainable Production 2010 web Bruges, Belgium
20-apr-10 20-apr-10 Iron GIS Tech: Mobile GIS Solutions Workshop web Montana, USA
20-apr-10 20-apr-10 GIS4EU web Genoa, Italy
20-apr-10 22-apr-10 Advanced Space Technologies for the Humankind Prosperity web Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine
20-apr-10 24-apr-10 15th International Conference Geoforum 2010 web Lviv, Ukraine
22-apr-10 23-apr-10 Centre for Earth Observation Instrumentation (CEOI) Annual Conference web Warwick, UK
26-apr-10 28-apr-10 Integrated River Basin Management Conference web Lille, France
26-apr-10 30-apr-10 “Oceans from Space” Symposium web Venica, Italy
26-apr-10 30-apr-10 ASPRS Annual Conference 2010 web San Diego, CA-USA
27-apr-10 29-apr-10 GEO-Siberia 2010 web Novosibirsk, Russia
27-apr-10 29-apr-10 ESRI 2010 web Darmstadt, Germany
27-apr-10 29-apr-10 The Location Business Summit web Amsterdam, The Netherlands
02-may-10 07-may-10 European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2010 web Vienna, Austria
03-may-10 03-may-10 GEOSS Workshop XXXIVa – Bringing GEOSS Services to Practice, a hand-on workshop of the EnviroGRIDS project web Bucharest, Romania
04-may-10 04-may-10 GEOSS Workshop XXXIVb: GEOSS for Decision Makers in the Black Sea area, a workshop of the EnviroGRIDS Project web Bucharest, Romania
04-may-10 04-may-10 Governance of European Space Programmes web Segovia, Spain
05-may-10 07-may-10 INTERGEO East web Instanbul, Turkey
05-may-10 06-may-10 Space Downstream Services 2010 Conference web Tallinn, Estonia
06-may-10 07-may-10 Boosting the Competitiveness of Business & Science: Satellite Services in Modern Society web Tallinn, Estonia
06-may-10 07-may-10 Paving the Future. Conference organised by CLGE, APCGC, NACLR and URG web Bucharest, Romania
06-may-10 07-may-10 LIMES Workshop “Space Monitoring for Complex Crisis Management” web L’Aquila, Italy
06-may-10 11-may-10 FIG Working Week & General Assembly web Rome, Italy
07-may-10 07-may-10 CGS Conference 2010 web Ljubljana, Slovenia
10-may-10 11-may-10 ESRI (UK) Annual Conference web London, UK
10-may-10 11-may-10 International Land Management Symposium on “Strategies for Improving Urban – Rural Inter-Relationships, Best Practice and Regional Solutions” web Hannover, Lower Saxony, Germany
11-may-10 12-may-10 European conference Information Systems in Agriculture and Forestry ISZL 2010 web Prague, Czech Republic
13-may-10 16-may-10 Surveying and GIS Hungarian Tehnical Scientific Society of Transylvania, the Geodesy Convention (EMT) web Nagybánya, Romania
14-may-10 15-may-10 10th Anniversary of GI2010-Symposium Europe of regions – 10 years saxonian GIS-forum Sustainability of inter-regional collaboration web Dresden, Germany
14-may-10 15-may-10 GeoCAD’2010 Geodesy, Topography, Cadastre and Land Registry web Alba Iulia, Romania
17-may-10 21-may-10 UN/Moldova/United States of America/European Space Agency Workshop on the Applications of Global Navigation Satellite Systems web Chisinau, Moldova
19-may-10 19-may-10 FUSION user workshop (RapidEye) web Berlin, Germany
19-may-10 21-may-10 European Maritime Day Conference web Gijón, Spain
19-may-10 21-may-10 ″InterGeo-East 2010″ Trade Fair & Conference for Landmanagement, Geoinformation, Building Industry, Environment web Istanbul, Turkey
25-may-10 28-may-10 Regional Africa Workshop web Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
26-may-10 27-may-10 AIMS – Aachen International Mining Symposia web Aachen, Germany
27-may-10 28-may-10 Central Asia GIS Conference – GISCA 2010 web Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic
30-may-10 03-jun-10 IDRC Davos 2010 web Davos, Switzerland
31-may-10 01-jun-10 Local and regional authorities mitigating and adapting to climate change using satellite services web Ljubljana, Slovenia
31-may-10 03-jun-10 30th EARSeL SYMPOSIUM “Remote Sensing for Science, Education, and Natural and Cultural Heritage” web Paris, France
01-jun-10 05-jun-10 31st Canadian Symposium on Remote Sensing – The Prairie Summit web Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
05-jun-10 09-jun-10 Second International Symposium “Space & Global Security of Humanity” web Riga, Latvia
08-jun-10 11-jun-10 Toulouse Space Show web Toulouse, France
10-jun-10 10-jun-10 CEOI Technology Showcase web London, UK
10-jun-10 11-jun-10 Geoscience exhibition web Debrecen, Hungary
12-jun-10 14-jun-10 Digital Earth Summit web Nessebar, Bulgaria
14-jun-10 16-jun-10 IEEE Whispers 2nd Workshop on Hyperspectral Image & Signal Processing: Evolution in Remote Sensing web Reykjavik, Iceland
15-jun-10 15-jun-10 Euradin, 1st Address Conference web Brussels,Belgium
15-jun-10 15-jun-10 1st European Address Forum Conference – Addressing the Future web Brussels,Belgium
15-jun-10 20-jun-10 3rd International Conference on Cartography and GIS web Nessebar, Bulgaria
20-jun-10 26-jun-10 International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference & EXPOSGEM 2010 web Albena Resort, Bulgaria
21-jun-10 22-jun-10 The Second Open Source GIS UK Conference web Nottingham, UK
21-jun-10 23-jun-10 COM.Geo 2010 web Washington DC, USA
21-jun-10 24-jun-10 GISDECO/EARSeL SIG Developing Countries Conference
Applying Remote Sensing and GIS in Disaster Management
web Yogyakarta, Indonesia
22-jun-10 22-jun-10 EARSC AGM + Seminar web Brussels, Belgium
22-jun-10 25-jun-10 INSPIRE as a Framework for Cooperation web Krakow, Poland
23-jun-10 25-jun-10 GEOSS Workshop XXXVI – has become “INSPIRE in the Global dimension” web Krakow, Poland
27-jun-10 01-jul-10 Novatech 2010 web Lyon, France
28-jun-10 01-jul-10 6th International Symposium on Ozone Applications and V International Symposium on Environment web Habana, Cuba
28-jun-10 02-jul-10 ESA Living Planet web Bergen, Norway
29-jun-10 02-jul-10 GEOBIA2010 web Ghent, Belgium
01-jul-10 07-jul-10 ISPRS Centenary Celebration framed by ISPRS Commission VII Symposium & German-Austrian-Swiss Conference for photogrammetry, remote sensing, & spatial information science web Vienna, Austria
04-jul-10 04-jul-10 100 Years ISPRS Centenary Celebrations including ISPRS TC VII Symposium “100 Years ISPRS – Advancing Remote Sensing Science“ web Vienna, Austria
05-jul-10 09-jul-10 Space & Global Security of Humanity web Riga, Latvia
06-jul-10 09-jul-10 GI_Forum 2010 web Salzburg, Austria
10-jul-10 16-jul-10 ESRI 2010 Summits web San Diego, CA, U.S.A
18-jul-10 25-jul-10 COSPAR web Bremen, Germany
07-ago-10 12-ago-10 GIslands 2010 – International Summer School on Marine Spatial Planning web Ponta Delgada, Azores
14-ago-10 19-ago-10 HUNGEO 2010 World Meeting of Hungarian Geoscientists web Szombathely, Hungary
19-ago-10 28-ago-10 The 1st EUFAR Training Course “ADvanced Digital Remote sensing in Ecology and earth Sciences Summer School” web Tihany, Hungary
26-ago-10 27-ago-10 WG IV/5 1st International Workshop on Pervasive Web Mapping, Geo-processing & Services (WebMGS 2010) web Como, Italy
26-ago-10 27-ago-10 International Interdisciplinary CODATA Workshop on RISK Models and Applications web Berlin, Germany
01-sep-10 03-sep-10 PHOTOGRAMMETRIC COMPUTER VISION and IMAGE ANALYSIS Conference
ISPRS Technical Commission III Symposium
web Paris, France
06-sep-10 09-sep-10 FOSS4G web Barcelona, Spain
07-sep-10 10-sep-10 Forestsat 2010 web Santiago de Compostela, Spain
09-sep-10 10-sep-10 2nd Symposium on Earth Observation business web Paris, France
10-sep-10 18-sep-10 The 2nd EUFAR Training Course “Training & Education for Turbulence Research via Airborne Data” web Hyères, France
11-sep-10 16-sep-10 15th IUAPPA World Clean Air Congress web Vancouver, Canada
13-sep-10 15-sep-10 8th International Conference on Geostatistics for Environmental Applications web Gent, Belgium
14-sep-10 15-sep-10 ESA oil and gas workshop web Frascati, Italy
15-sep-10 17-sep-10 International Conference on Spatial Data Infrastructures 2010 web Skopje, Macedonia
20-sep-10 23-sep-10 SPIE 2010 web Toulouse, France
20-sep-10 24-sep-10 EUMETSAT Meteorological Satellite Conference web Córdoba, Spain
21-sep-10 24-sep-10 2nd United Nations/Austria/ESA Symposium on Small Satellite Programmes for Sustainable Development web Graz, Austria
22-sep-10 24-sep-10 GEO India 2010 web New Delhi, India
22-sep-10 24-sep-10 2nd Joint EARSeL Special Interest Groups Workshop web Ghent, Belgium
23-sep-10 23-sep-10 CLGE General Assembly web Prague, Czech Republic
23-sep-10 24-sep-10 XX International Symposium “Modern Technologies, Education and Professional Practice in Geodesy and Related Fields web Albena Resor, Bulgaria
24-sep-10 25-sep-10 20th United Nations/ International Astronautical Federation Workshop on GNSS Applications for Human Benefit and Development web Prague, Czech Republic
27-sep-10 30-sep-10 Remote Sensing & Hydrology Symposium 2010 web WY, USA
27-sep-10 01-oct-10 9th EUMETSAT User Forum in Africa web Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
28-sep-10 28-sep-10 11th United Nations/International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) Workshop on Small Satellites in the Service of Developing Countries web Prague, Czech Republic
28-sep-10 30-sep-10 Geospatial Intelligence Summit web Vienna, Austria
28-sep-10 01-oct-10 GIS-Pro 2010: URISA’s 48th Annual Conference for GIS Professionals web Florida, USA
11-oct-10 13-oct-10 ISPRS WG I/4 Workshop on Modeling of Optical Airborne & Space Borne Sensors web Istambul, Turkey
14-oct-10 15-oct-10 Development and cooperation in the Mediterranean region using satellite services web Rabat, Morocco
14-oct-10 17-oct-10 Joint FIG Commission 3 and Commission Workshop “Information and Land Management. A Decade after the Millennium” web Sofia, Bulgaria
14-oct-10 19-oct-10 WG V/2 Workshop on “Advances in Cultural Heritage Measurement Techniques” with International Conference on “Digital Preservation of Archaeological Heritage” web Kanpur, India
19-oct-10 22-oct-10 GSDI 12 World Conference : Realizing Spatially Enabled Societies web Singapure, Singapure
20-oct-10 23-oct-10 The 16th International Conference on Virtual Systems and Multimedia web Seoul, Korea
25-oct-10 29-oct-10 8th International Conference of the African Association of Remote Sensing of the Environment (AARSE2010) web Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
26-oct-10 27-oct-10 Crucial issues of the European Space Policy web Brussels, Belgium
01-nov-10 01-nov-10 Earth Observation Satellites web London, UK
01-nov-10 05-nov-10 31st Asian Conference on Remote Sensing (ACRS2010) web Hanoi, Vietnam
18-jan-11 21-jan-11 Geospatial World Forum web Hyderabab, India

In the next issue of EOMAG, EARSC had the opportunity to discuss with the Member of the European Parliament Mr. Vittorio PRODI some topics relevant for the European Earth Observation Inital Operations programme


GMES, an European earth observation programme

Given the recent findings that called for increased monitoring of climate change impacts, the importance of the regulation on the global monitoring for environment and security (GMES) is further stressed. The data that has been produced by previous monitoring has in fact, either been not complete enough (with regard to parameters), or it has not been available in a continuous manner.

In order to do so, GMES is comprised of three key components:

First of all, the Space: a space observation infrastructure which addresses service data needs, specifically through land, atmospheric and oceanographic parameters, with the aim to develop and implement a number of satellite missions known as the Sentinels; the component relying on coordination by the ESA.

Secondly, the In Situ component (including ground-based remote sensing observations): this relies on a number of facilities, instruments and tools which are owned and operated at national, regional and intergovernmental levels.

The third component, moreover, are the Services, which should ensure access to information covering various thematic areas, from climate change adaptation and mitigation, to security, and land, marine and atmospheric monitoring.

I deem this proposal as an important tool to respond to the increased research and civil protection needs, given the seriousness of global warming effects on the environment.

This regulation will provide us with the means to gather precise data on land, sea and atmosphere changes. Examples of measurable indicators include elements such as ocean salinity or biomass moisture, and sea levels.

Furthermore, there are beneficial effects with regards to our capacity to prevent and manage major disasters, i.e. oil spills, forest fires, floods and landslides. GMES is also a crucial element for ETS management and emissions control.

It has been necessary to prioritise the financial strategy between the three components of the programme bearing in mind that the funding architecture foresees the intervention of National governments and other public and private bodies mainly for the in-situ and services component.

Another element of appreciation comes from the potential spinoffs of the programme for SME growth, especially in the research sector, in a moment of economic crisis. Moreover, the European industries are the ones setting the standards for GMES, with evident beneficial effects on their competitiveness in the global market.

On the international cooperation side, clear mention of GEOSS (Global Earth Observation System of Systems) should be given in the regulation text, considering that part of the funding requested for the implementation of GMES goes as contribution to this world monitoring system to which EU has officially subscribed.

Furthermore, I think that the information technology sector´s involvement will certainly grow, given the particular relevance for satellite technology.

The only serious concern is related to the funding structure of the space component : this regulation only covers financial needs for the period 2011-2013. However, the ESA commitments for the launch of the “Sentinel” satellites require precise and timely preparation and imply huge expenses for the actual launch, planned for the 2014-2017 period. For this period, decisions as regards the financial perspectives have not been taken yet.

Consequently the project will be faced with uncertainties in a transitional phase (January -December 2014) during which no funds will be allocated, while the space purveying industries involved will nevertheless have to be paid for the services delivered.

A solution will have to be found in this respect.

Vittorio Prodi
Vittorio Prodi (born on 19 May 1937 in Reggio Emilia) is an Italian politician and Member of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament and sits on the European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, Subcommittee on Human Rights, Delegation for relations with the Mercosur countries.
Curriculum vitae
-Graduate in physics (University of Bologna, 1959); lecturer in nuclear measurements (1970). University lecturer and researcher in leading national and international institutes; associate professor in the Physics Department of the University of Bologna (since 1983).
-Chairman of the Provincial Council of Bologna (1995-2004); member of the provincial representation of the Conference ‘State – Cities – Local Governments’ and of the ‘Unified Conference’ (State, Cities, local governments and Regions) (2001-2004).
-Author of numerous publications and of five international patents.
Parliamentary activities
Questions
Opinions
Speeches in plenary
Written declarations

Vittorio Prodi
Europarl

Eomag!21_Interview with Vittorio Prodi Member European Parliament.pdf

ERDAS announces new training courses for ERDAS IMAGINE 2010 in Liège, Belgium. The first course will be held on January 26-27, 2010, with reservations being accepted via www.erdas.com/training.

ERDAS IMAGINE 2010 is an all in one, fully integrated desktop authoring platform, incorporating image analysis, remote sensing and GIS capabilities. Featuring a new ribbon interface, ERDAS IMAGINE makes it easier for users to streamline workflows and customize their workspace. ERDAS IMAGINE also provides enhanced tools for parallel batch processing, spatial modeling, map production, mosaicking and change detection. In addition, ERDAS IMAGINE also incorporates the ERDAS ER Mapper algorithms and implements OGC standards.

This two day course includes instruction on the most recently added functionality and enhancements made to ERDAS IMAGINE. Appropriate for both novice and experienced ERDAS IMAGINE users, this course will include a brief introduction to the product, with the majority of time devoted to ERDAS IMAGINE 2010. Key areas of focus include the new Ribbon interface, added customization options and shortcuts, tips and tricks to streamline and simplify the ERDAS IMAGINE experience. The course also provides an overview of the new and updated modules in ERDAS IMAGINE, including the recently released IMAGINE Feature Interoperability and IMAGINE SAR Interferometry.

Last year, ERDAS opened its expanded training center in Liège, Belgium. Supporting ERDAS’ growth in Europe, the center contains state-of-the art training and meeting facilities, in a convenient and central location for customers and business partners.

This facility offers regular and complete training in ERDAS’ desktop authoring products, as well as introductory courses in ERDAS’ enterprise solutions. Some other upcoming courses include Fundamentals of ERDAS IMAGINE I & II, Introduction to ERDAS Enterprise, Introduction to LPS, IMAGINE Defense Analysis, Multispectral Classification and Spatial Modeling & Expert Systems.

ERDAS’ expanded training center is located within the company’s Liège office at Quai Timmermans 14/01, 4000 Liège, Belgium. The phone number for this office is +32 4 364 03 64.

For more information about ERDAS, please call +1 770 776 3400, toll free +1 866 534 2286, or visit www.erdas.com.

On 12 January 2010, the Development Committee of the European Parliament organized the hearing of Mrs Rumania Jeleva, the Bulgarian Commissioner-designate for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response. The aim of this proceeding was to ask her various questions related to humanitarian aid and crises response.

Crisis response

Charles Goerens (ALDE, LU) asked whether the EU’s capacity to respond to natural disasters is sufficient and how to deal with the deficits in this area. Ms Jeleva said: “Now we have civil protection and humanitarian aid in the same portfolio and I will do my best to have better prepared responses and to use all the capacities given by the portfolio to better urge Member States to be more active in preparing themselves and to contribute at European level.”
The voting in plenary, where the Parliament approves or rejects the whole Commission as a body, is scheduled on 26 January 2010.
More information at:

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/008-67128-011-01-03-901-20100111IPR67127-11-01-2010-2010-false/default_en.htm

Source GMES.Info

A major 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince on 12 January, causing major casualties and damage. The quake was followed by several aftershocks with magnitudes over 5.0.


ESA website

Such a powerful earthquake can make current maps suddenly out of date, causing additional challenges to rescue workers on the ground. Earth observation satellite images can help rescue efforts by providing updated views of how the landscape and the infrastructure have been affected.

IMAGE

Following the event, the French Civil Protection authorities, the Public Safety of Canada, the American Earthquake Hazards Programme of USGS and the UN Stabilisation Mission in Haiti requested satellite data of the area from the International Charter on ‘Space and Major Disasters’. The initiative, referred to as ‘The Charter’, is aimed at providing satellite data free of charge to those affected by disasters anywhere in the world.

To meet the requirements of the rescue teams in Haiti, Very High Resolution imagery is needed from both optical and radar sensors. Through the Charter, the international space community is acquiring satellite imagery as quickly as possible. Currently, data are being collected by various satellites including Japan’s ALOS, CNES’s Spot-5, the U.S.’s WorldView and QuickBird, Canada’s RADARSAT-2 and ESA’s ERS-2 and Envisat.

Satellite imagery acquired immediately after the event are used to generate emergency maps to provide rescue services with an overview of the current state of the area. These can be compared with situation maps generated from archived satellite data to identify major changes on the ground caused by the disaster.

Comparison of the maps from before and after the event allows areas that have been hit hardest to be distinguished and identify passable routes for relief and rescue workers. Additionally, they can help to identify areas which are suitable for setting up aid camps where medical support and shelter can be provided to people.

Radar satellites are able to peer through clouds, which is an asset when weather conditions prevent the use of optical satellite instruments. Radar imagery can be used to identify hazards such as landslides that may be triggered by earthquakes. In the long term, radar data can also be processed to map surface deformations caused by earthquakes to help scientists understand better seismic events.

The Global Monitoring for Environment and Security’s SAFER project is collaborating with the Charter to provide a specialised capacity to produce damage maps over the area. SAFER’s value-adding providers SERTIT from Strasbourg and the German Aerospace Centre’s (DLR) centre for satellite-based crisis information (ZKI) from Munich are currently working on this.

In the framework of SAFER, other user organisations, including the German Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance and the UN World Food Programme, have requested damage-mapping services. Based on the collaboration between the Charter and SAFER, the first space-maps derived from crisis data acquired on 13 January were produced by SERTIT within 24 hours as rapid situation maps to help locate damaged areas with up-to-date cartographic material.

Together with ESA and CNES, the Charter, founded in 2000, currently has 10 members: the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Argentine Space Agency (CONAE), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the British National Space Centre/Disaster Monitoring Constellation (BNSC/DMC), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

Via the Charter mechanism, all of these agencies have committed to provide free and unrestricted access to their space assets to support relief efforts in the immediate aftermath of a major disaster.

The Charter also collaborates with other satellite damage-mapping initiatives within the UN such as the UNITAR/UNOSAT team who is receiving support from the U.S. government to analyse satellite imagery to be provided to the Haitian government, UN sister agencies and NGOs.

To learn more about the Charter and to find updated maps on the Haiti earthquake, please visit the links on the right.

Source ESA

GMES.Info website

The GMES Emergency Response Service has been triggered

SAFER, through a collaboration with the International Charter, has been triggered to provide Emergency Mapping service on the Earthquake that struck Haïti.

The COGIC (French Civil Protection), the BBK (German Civil Protection), the World Food Program and UNOOSA have already expressed their interest and specific requirements.

In order to complement the type of data already tasked by the International Charter, SAFER has been specifically triggered to get through GEST very high resolution radar data.

Today, the GMES emergency service has published maps of the Haitian capital Port au Prince. The maps provide an overview of damages (buildings, bridges, roads, etc.).

Yesterday the service delivered a first reference map with background information (e.g. population, epicentre location, etc).
More information on the GMES Emergency Response Service is available on the SAFER
website. The maps can be downloaded here

Source

Related news at ESA website
Satellite data look behind the scenes of deadly earthquake
Satellites show how Earth moved during Italy quake
Respond consortium making maps out of satellite images to support Pakistan disaster relief
Related Missions
Envisat overview
ERS overview
Third Party Missions overview
In depth
The International Charter on Space and Major Disasters
GMES
Earth watching: Haiti earthquake
Related links
SERTIT
GMES SAFER
UNOSAT
DLR

Other related websites:
SpaceFlightNow

Vexcel Imaging GmbH, a Microsoft company, will roll out release 2.0 of its UltraMap photogrammetric software to customers beginning January 25, 2010. UltraMap 2.0 continues the tradition of providing a flexible and scalable distributed system for managing and processing vast amounts of UltraCam data.


The features of UltraMap 2.0 are implemented in five modules:
1. Framework
2. Raw Data Center
3. Radiometry
4. Viewer
5. Aerial Triangulation

UltraMap includes features for managing data download, distributed processing using load balancing and resource management, aerial triangulation, and interactive data visualization for quality control. Use of Microsoft’s Dragonfly technology enables incredibly smooth and high-resolution image browsing and zooming for very large sets of data content. Dragonfly supports multi-channel 16-bit UltraCam imagery for high quality visualization within the complete photogrammetric workflow.

Aerial triangulation has been integrated smoothly into the workflow, and includes new radiometry with gamma and levels dialog. The other new features are concentrated in the Raw Data Center and the Radiometry modules. Of particular note, “Monolithic stitching” is a new feature of the Raw Data Center that improves geometric image accuracy by a magnitude for unstructured terrain. In the Radiometry module, UltraMap 2.0 introduces model-based radiometric correction that enables users to eliminate hotspots, atmospheric effects and haze.

Internet: www.microsoft.com/ultracam/news/umap20.mspx

Source