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(Dec 2008) The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA), through its commercial launch business, has received a contract to launch the fourth satellite for the COSMO-SkyMed (Constellation of Small Satellites for Mediterranean basin Observation) program for Thales Alenia Space Italia, prime contractor of the Italian Space Agency.


The COSMO-SkyMed spacecraft is expected to be launched in 2010 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., on a Delta II vehicle in the 7420-10 configuration.

“Boeing Launch Services is honored to provide the fourth COSMO-SkyMed mission for Thales Alenia Space,” said Boeing Launch Services President Ken Heinly. “The proven reliability of the Delta II rocket has enabled the success of the COSMO-SkyMed program, and this fourth satellite will deliver the full capabilities of the system.”

Boeing Launch Services will procure the launch vehicle and related support from United Launch Alliance, a Boeing-Lockheed Martin joint venture.

To support a rapid initial operating capability, Boeing successfully launched the first three COSMO-SkyMed satellites from Vandenberg within the 17-month period between June 2007 and October 2008.

Thales Alenia Space Italia developed the COSMO-SkyMed program for the Italian Space Agency and the Italian Ministry of Defense. It is an end-to-end Earth-observation system comprised of four medium-sized satellites and supporting ground stations, which provide orbit-control systems and data reception and processing. The system takes imagery of the Earth using an X- Band Synthetic Aperture Radar instrument capable of operating in all visibility conditions. Its institutional and commercial users include members of the civil, scientific and defense communities.

Boeing is committed to strengthening its more than 40-year partnership with the Italian aeronautics industry and to expanding its collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Defense. Thales Alenia Space has provided Delta II tanks to Boeing since 2001 and built the Cupola and Harmony Node 2 elements of the International Space Station (ISS) for the European Space Agency. Boeing is the prime contractor for the ISS.

Boeing Launch Services is a customer-focused subsidiary that provides business development, sales, procurement and program management of Delta launch services for commercial customers. It is part of the Space Exploration division of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems and is based in Huntington Beach, Calif.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems (http://www.boeing.com/ids/) is one of the world’s largest space and defense businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world’s largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $32.1 billion business with 71,000 employees worldwide.

SOURCE The Boeing Company=

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(Dec 2008) EADS Astrium has chosen Arianespace to launch the SSOT Sistema Satelital para Observación de la Tierra Earth observation satellite for the Government of Chile.


SSOT is a high-resolution Earth observation satellite. It will be boosted into Sun-synchronous orbit by a Soyuz launcher from the Guiana Space Center, Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.

Slated for launch during the first half of 2010, SSOT will be built by Astrium using the Myriade platform, within the scope of a contract awarded by the Chilean government.

SSOT will provide Chile with very-high-quality images for both civil and military applications: mapping, agriculture, natural resources management, natural disaster and risks management, etc.

About Arianespace

Arianespace is the world’s leading launch Service & Solutions company, delivering innovative services and solutions to its customers since 1980. Backed by 23 shareholders and the European Space Agency, Arianespace offers an unrivalled launcher family, comprising Ariane 5, Soyuz and Vega, and an international workforce renowned for their culture of commitment and excellence. As of December 15, 2008, Arianespace had launched a total of 263 payloads, including more than half of all the commercial satellites now in service worldwide. It has a backlog of nearly 25 Ariane 5 and 10 Soyuz launches, equal to more than 3 years of business.

Posted in Space Race News, NASA
Source

(Dec 2008) NASA, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and their international partners cut the ribbon Friday in Nairobi, Kenya, for SERVIR-Africa. The SERVIR-Africa system integrates the satellite resources of the United States and other countries into a Web-based Earth information system.

(WASHINGTON) This effort puts previously inaccessible information into the hands of local scientists, government leaders and communities to help address concerns related to natural disasters, disease outbreaks, biodiversity and climate change.

SERVIR, Spanish for “to serve,” has been in operation in Central America, the Caribbean and southern Mexico since 2005. Now, through the support of multiple government agencies and other organizations, NASA and USAID are expanding the system to Africa in partnership with the Regional Center for Mapping of Resources for Development in Nairobi. The center, an intergovernmental organization with 15 member states in eastern and southern Africa, is a leader in geospatial mapping in the region.

“A satellite birds-eye view can provide an overall picture of a natural disaster, such as a flood, and its consequences,” said Tesfaye Korme, director of remote sensing and geographic information systems at the center. “Using the SERVIR-Africa platform, we will be able to develop near-real time maps of flood-affected areas to estimate the number of displaced people and locate potential transportation disruptions.”

SERVIR-Africa will use Earth science satellite data from many of NASA’s missions and other information to better predict areas at risk for severe flooding and map regions hit by floods. It also will develop an early-warning tool to predict the distribution of vector-borne diseases such as Rift Valley Fever. By mapping the location of climate change projections, the system will allow people to see impacts on such things as Africa’s diverse ecosystems.

SERVIR-Africa’s information technology team will use the Internet to acquire and distribute satellite and ground-based Earth observations, map data, and geospatial analyses that target issues such as urbanization, biodiversity threats, and management of natural resources.

SERVIR-Africa will benefit from the breadth and depth of valuable NASA Earth science satellite and model analyses,” said Dan Irwin, SERVIR project director at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. “Science and technology are key, but ultimately it is the combination of local knowledge along with space-based observations that makes real time monitoring of Africa’s environment effective.”

The strength of the SERVIR system is in its diverse international team of scientists, developers and researchers. SERVIR-Africa builds on existing capacity at the mapping center in Nairobi. The center, together with SERVIR’s lead partner in Central America, the Water Center for the Humid Tropics of Latin America and the Caribbean, are jointly developing an integrated system. These two regional organizations are standardizing database management and evaluating common methods for predicting severe weather events, analyzing impacts from climate change and working to understand health and ecosystem interactions.

SERVIR also has been building relationships with industry

“Public-private partnerships are critical to the success of the SERVIR system,” said Jacqueline E. Schafer of USAID. “Bringing together the expertise and resources of geospatial information systems software and cell phone companies, university researchers, conservation organizations, and governments, SERVIR puts science and technology into the hands of local decision-makers.”

The SERVIR system was developed with USAID by researchers at a global coordination office and rapid prototyping facility at Marshall. Three other NASA centers — NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., NASA’s Ames Research Center at Moffet Field, Calif., and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. — partnered with Marshall on the system. Also participating in the implementation of SERVIR-Africa is the Institute for the Application of Geospatial Technology in Auburn, N.Y.

For information about SERVIR, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/servir

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov

SOURCE

(Dec 2008) Malaysia is zooming in on forests with a satellite in order to fight illegal logging which its government says is harming the major timber exporting country, a report said last week December 2008.

Darus Ahmad, deputy director-general with the Malaysian Remote Sensing Agency, said the “eye in the sky” programme was put in place in October.

“There is always criticisms that our forests are diminishing,” he was quoted as saying by the New Sunday Times newspaper.

Darus said that using satellite images the authorities can establish a national forest inventory of the country’s total area of forest cover.

They can then check whether logging in a particular area is legal or not, he said, adding that the facility was currently available in the western peninsular part of Malaysia only.

Darus also said the system can be used to prevent air pollution by detecting forest fires and illegal land clearing.

In the 1990s alone, Malaysia lost more than 13 percent of its forests, with much of the deforestation on the island of Borneo, which it shares with Indonesia and Brunei.

The World Wildlife Fund at the time estimated that illegally logged trees made up about one third of Malaysia’s timber exports.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi last year pledged not to indiscriminately approve logging licences, amid mounting concern that clearances are threatening endangered species and tribal communities.

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak, who also heads the National Forestry Council, later warned that illegal logging could undermine Malaysia.

“It can jeopardise our efforts to preserve biodiversity, flora and fauna and have an impact on global warming. At the international level, illegal logging portrays a negative image of our country,” he said.

“It can harm our national economy as the timber industry produces 23 billion ringgit (6.8 billion dollars) worth of wood-based products a year,” he added.

The European Union market accounts for about 30 percent of Malaysia’s annual timber exports.

Source

(Dec 2008) Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman G. Madhavan Nair has said that after the success of Chandrayaan 1, India’s Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is going to launch an exclusive weather satellite jointly with the French space agency CNES (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales) in 2009

The satellite, named ‘Mehga Tropiques’ will study the tropical atmosphere and its associated phenomena and would help India and France to study the cyclones, monsoon and other changes.

The Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS) would be built and launched by ISRO and two instruments called SCARAB and SAPHIR would be built by the CNES.

The other critical instrument called MADRAS will be jointly engineered by ISRO and CNES.

Talking to reporters here on the sidelights of a programme on Monday, Nair said that the satellite would be launched by the end of 2009.

“It is a joint agreement between France and ISRO. Some instruments are made by French people and some we are doing it. By the end of the 2009, it would be launched. This satellite will provide lot of inputs for weather modulates and near time weather forecast and so on,” said Nair.

The satellite would be operated by ISRO and both the countries (India and France) would share data.

India hopes to send an astronaut into space by 2012 and a manned mission to the moon by 2020.

India’s Chandrayaan-1, the first unmanned spacecraft mission to moon and the country’s first space vehicle to venture beyond Earth’s orbit successfully entered lunar orbit on November 8.

Source

More info

Events Winter 2008/2009


Start Date End Date Event Web Venue
15-jan-08 16-jan-08 International Astronomy Year web Paris, France
18-jan-08 20-jan-08 ISU: Space for a Safe and Secure World web Strasbourg, France
19-jan-08 22-jan-08 DGI 2009 web London, UK
20-jan-09 21-jan-09 ESA Earth Explorer Missions web Lisbon, Portugal
20-jan-09 21-jan-09 Techniques Laser pour l‘étude des environnements naturels et urbains web Le Mans, France
25-jan-09 28-jan-09 Symposium GIS Ostrava 2009 web TU of Ostrava, Czech Republic
26-jan-09 27-jan-09 Models of Governance of National Space Activities in the Evolving European Framework web Budapest, Hungary
26-jan-09 28-jan-09 The International Lidar Mapping Forum web New Orleans, USA
26-jan-09 30-jan-09 POlinSAR web Frascati, Italy
27-jan-09 30-jan-09 DGI EUROPE 2009 web London, UK
28-jan-09 29-jan-09 Towards Shared Environmental Information in Europe : Opportunities and Challenges for Integrated Rsc web Wallingf, UK
02-feb-09 03-feb-09 The rise and meaning of Cloud Computing web London, UK
02-feb-09 04-feb-09 FIG Commission 3 Workshop on “Spatial Information for Sustainable Managemenordt of Urban Areas” web Mainz, Germany
03-feb-09 05-feb-09 ESRI User Group Conference web Sacramento, CA- USA
08-feb-09 15-feb-09 15th International Geodatic Week web Obergurgl, Austria
10-feb-09 13-feb-09 Map World Forum web Hyderabad, India
11-feb-09 13-feb-09 Location Summit 2.0, 1st Global Summit on Positioning and Navigation web Hyderabad, India
12-feb-09 12-feb-09 ESDIN web Paris, France
12-feb-09 13-feb-09 Cities Revealed Event 2009 – Lighting the Way web Cambridge, UK
26-feb-09 28-feb-09 Navigating the Future of Surveying Education. Workshop on Educational Management and Marketing web Vienna, Austria
01-mar-09 31-mar-09 TBD- GMES Conference under the Czech EU Presidency web Prague, Czech Republic
01-mar-09 31-mar-09 TBD-Launch of ESA’s GOCE satellite (Earth’s gravity field) onboard a Rockot launcher web Plesetsk, Russia
03-mar-09 05-mar-09 GlobalGEO web Barcelona, Spain
10-mar-09 12-mar-09 Climate Change: Global Risks, Challenges and Decisions web Copenhagen, Denmark
10-mar-09 13-mar-09 Geoform+ 2009 web Moscow, Russia
11-mar-09 12-mar-09 PROGIS – International Conference 2009 web Villach, Austria
25-mar-09 27-mar-09 Towards eEnvironment – Challenges of SEIS and SISE: Integrating Environmental Knowledge in Europe web Prague, CZ
31-mar-09 01-apr-09 Offshore Survey 09 web Southampton, UK
01-mar-09 03-apr-09 The 17th annual GIS Research UK (GISRUK) web Durham, UK
07-apr-09 07-apr-09 ESA investment Forum web ESA-ESTEC, The Netherlands
14-apr-09 16-apr-09 Map Middle East 2009 web Dubai, UAE
14-apr-09 19-apr-09 IGSM 2009 web Zurich, Switzerland
15-apr-09 17-apr-09 III International conference “Remote Sensing – the Synergy of High Technologies web Moscow, Russia
15-apr-09 17-apr-09 2nd International Conference: Advanced Space Technologies for the Humankind Prosperity web Dnepropetrovsk, Ukranie
15-apr-09 17-apr-09 3rd Space and Society: Space-The Human Dimension web Dnepropetrovsk, Ukranie
19-apr-09 24-apr-09 European Geosciences Union, General Assembly web Vienna, Austria
21-apr-09 25-apr-09 ‘GEO- SIBERIA – 2009’ web Novosibirsk, Russia
22-apr-09 25-apr-09 REAL CORP 2009 web Sitges, Spain
23-apr-09 25-apr-09 14th International Scientific and Technical Conference – Geoforum 2009 web Lviv, Ukraine
26-apr-09 28-apr-09 Defence Geospatial Intelligence Middle East web Dubai, UAE
03-may-09 08-may-09 FIG Working Week 2009 web Eilat, Israel
04-may-09 08-may-09 ISRSE-33 web Stresa, Italy
05-may-09 09-may-09 International and Interdisciplinary space-related events of the Institute of Air and Space law web McGill Univ, Canada
11-may-09 11-may-09 The impact of GMES models on Industry web Brussels, Belgium
11-may-09 13-may-09 Information Systems in Agriculture and Forestry web Prague, Czech Republic
25-may-09 27-may-09 TBC: EARSC workshop on GMES Governance web Brussels, Belgium
25-may-09 29-may-09 International Conference on Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre in XXI-th Century web Moscow, Russia
02-jun-09 05-jun-09 12th AGILE International Conference on Geographic Information Science – Advances in GIScience web Hanover, Germany
02-jun-09 05-jun-09 ISPRS Hannover Workshop 2009 web Hanover, Germany
15-jun-09 18-jun-09 Intergraph 2009 web Washington DC, U.S.A.
15-jun-09 19-jun-09 GSDI 11 World Conference web Rotterdam, The Netherlands
15-jun-09 21-jun-09 48th Paris Air & Space Show web Le Bourget, Paris, France
20-jun-09 25-jun-09 29th EARSeL Symposium “Imagin(E/G) Europe” web Chania, Greece
24-jun-09 26-jun-09 27TH URBAN DATA MANAGEMENT SYMPOSIUM web Ljubljana, Slovenija
28-jun-09 03-jul-09 Advanced Training Course on Land Remote Sensing web Prague, Czech Republic
29-jun-09 03-jul-09 Cognitive Processing and Representations of Place, Space, and Time web Florence, Italy
01-jul-09 31-jul-09 TBD-Launch of ESA’s SMOS (Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity) mission, together with the microsatellite Proba-2 web Plesetsk, Rusia
01-jul-09 03-jul-09 The 9th Conference on Optical 3-D Measurement Techniques web Vienna, Austria
07-jul-09 10-jul-09 GI_Forum 2009 web Salzburg, Austria
21-jul-09 23-jul-09 GEO Summit – Latin America web Sao Paulo, Brasil
24-aug-09 28-aug-09 ICA Symposium web Dresden, Germany
31-aug-09 03-sep-09 SPIE Remote Sensing Symposium web Berlin, Germany
31-aug-09 04-sep-09 Geodesy for Planet Earth – IAG2009 web Buenos Aires, Argentina
09-aug-09 11-sep-09 GEOITALIA 2009, VII Italian Forum of Earth Sciences web Rimini, Italy
09-aug-09 12-sep-09 The 6th International Symposium on Digital Earth (ISDE6) web Beijing, China
26-sep-09 26-sep-09 Exhibition at European Researchers Night web Frascati, Italy
01-oct-09 01-oct-09 60th anniversary of the Council of Europe, Strasbourg web Strasbourg, France
12-oct-09 16-oct-09 60th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2009) web Daejeon, Korea
20-oct-09 23-oct-09 FOSS4G conference web Sydney, Australia
01-nov-09 31-nov-09 TBD- Launch of ESA’s Cryosat-2 mission web Plesetsk, Russia
30-nov-09 11-dec-09 COP 15’, United Nations Climate Change Conference web Copenhagen, Denmark
01-dec-09 03-dec-09 Earth From Space -the Most Effective Solutions web Vatutinki Center, Russia

China plans to launch the first satellite of the Fengyun-4 (FY-4) series by 2013, said the China Meteorological Administration (CMA). The FY-4 project involves the country’s second-generation of geo-stationary meteorological satellites.

Leading scientists and engineers believe FY-4 could help China more accurately forecast weather, climate, environment and natural disasters, when it is launched. Currently, the project is in the proposal stage.

CMA Vice Director, Yu Rucong, said FY-4, a successor of the FY-2 series, would further boost China’s ability to monitor cloud systems and atmosphere temperature and humidity.

China plans to launch another 22 meteorological satellites by 2020. Four are from the FY-2 series, 12 from the FY-3 series and six from the FY-4 series.

Sun Laiyan, vice director of the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, said the FY series had become a model of remote sensing satellite operations and civilian satellite services.

No details of just what FY-4 will be able to do have been decided on. However, scientists say it will be more advanced than FY-3 which launched at the Taiyuan satellite center in northern Shanxi Province May 27.

FY-3 worked with the FY-2D to ensure timely weather forecasts during the Beijing Olympic Games. It is equipped with a dozen detectors such as the infrared scan actinograph and a microwave formatter. FY-3 can provide data to forecast between 10 to 15 days of weather in a row.

Source Xinhua News Agency

SciSys has delivered the final report of a BNSC funded study on improving access to the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters (the Charter).

The UK became a Charter signatory in November 2005 and BNSC provided Charter leadership as Chair of the Charter Board during 2007-2008. In the spirit of promoting continued Charter uptake and sustainability, BNSC commissioned SciSys, with support from Infoterrra UK, to conduct a short study during its Chairmanship of the Charter to investigate improving access to the Charter. The aim of the study was to identify where access to the Charter is limited and needs to be improved, the reasons for the limitations and to recommend how improved access can be achieved.

The Charter is a global initiative. Access to it is currently available solely through a network of authorised users (AUs) and cooperating bodies that can “activate” the Charter at any time. There is a desire amongst Charter members to make the Charter more widely accessible, without impairing its effective operations. An acceleration in Charter uptake has raised the issue of potential strains on the system capacity and there are concerns that Charter accessibility varies around the world. Identifying and analysing -the geographical variations in accessibility that constrain Charter performance and how to improve this therefore formed a central component of the study.

The study addressed a number of objectives:
-Identify regions (and countries) where access to the Charter is poor.
-Determine the reasons (real and perceived) why access to the Charter is poor in these regions (and countries).
-Identify priority regions (and countries) where access to the Charter should be improved
-Identify options for improving access to the Charter in terms of (1) overall Charter policy and governance; and (2) Charter operations at working level
-Assess the implications of these options on Charter operations and policy; including strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, lessons learned, and links to other initiatives
-Make evidence-based recommendations on how to improve access to Charter.

The study was based on reference documents sourced during the work and interviews with a number of principal contacts drawn from Charter members, disaster related agencies and user representatives. Particular emphasis was placed on contacting African representatives to evaluate a perception that Charter activation frequency is quite low in that region. Their inputs provided case study evidence as a supplement to a regional analysis of Charter activations and helped to identify where the Charter is useful and how to improve access to the Charter in Africa. It is notable that the most recent activation by Algeria is the first occasion that an African AU has itself directly triggered the Charter. Africa has a relatively low Charter activation frequency, which has increased in recent years due largely to UN activations on behalf of African nations.

Based on the analysis a number of options for improving Charter access and coverage were developed. These were grouped according to their relevance as “access routes” or “access gatekeepers” and their implications for Charter governance and Charter operations respectively assessed. A separate SWOT analysis was also performed for each of the main options identified.. The overall analysis identified key issues on Charter governance, evolution and operations and supported a number of recommendations.

The study report is not intended as an exhaustive or definitive set of conclusions and recommendations. It was prepared as evidence in support of discussion of the issues around access to the Charter, to develop and further clarify how the Charter can best enable better and more extensive access to the important and valuable capabilities it offers. The report executive summary should be available shortly.

The British National Space Centre (BNSC) was established in 1985 to co-ordinate UK space policy and programmes. BNSC is at the heart of UK efforts to explore and exploit space. Formed from 10 Government Departments and research councils, it co-ordinates UK civil space activity; supports academic research; nurtures the UK space industry; and works to increase understanding of space science and its practical benefits. BNSC has three long-term objectives:

-to enhance the UK’s standing in astronomy, planetary and environmental sciences;
-to stimulate increased productivity by promoting the use of space in government, science and commerce; and
-to develop innovative space systems, to deliver sustainable improvement in the quality of life.

SciSys is a leading supplier of solutions to the Space, Defence, Transport and Public Sectors. SciSys offers a thorough and long standing understanding of these market domains both at a technical level and at an infrastructure / organisational level. Formed in 1980, SciSys became an AIM listed company in 1997 and today SciSys has a complement of over 300 staff.

SciSys is an established supplier to the public sector and all the key space markets. It offers software and consultancy services constructed with a full appreciation of the service/business practicalities, technologies and costs involved. SciSys has a proven track record of being able to consult with a wide range of private and public sector organisations to deliver practical, reliable solutions

SciSys staff have worked closely with BNSC over recent years and have first hand experience of user needs assessment, government needs and process and Charter issues and operations. Over recent years SciSys has developed particular expertise in the analysis of needs, technologies and services in support of GMES-Kopernikus. SciSys is currently a technology partner in the GMES TerraFirma and Respond GSE projects. SciSys has provided technical inputs to the HMA project on GSE needs analysis and missions capacity planning. SciSys is leading the ESA GMES Services Evolution project – a study to characterise existing service offerings and design future options for the GMES service network.

Contact Ian.Downey-at-scisys.co.uk

Remote sensing is the science and art of obtaining information about an object, area, or phenomenon through the analysis of data acquired by a device that is not in contact with the object, area, or phenomenon under investigation. Providing an exciting introduction to the field, this book covers the science of remote sensing from physical basis to sensors and applications.

The new Sixth Edition not only offers the latest information, but also has been revised to make the material more accessible.

For more information please click on:
http://www.researchandmarkets.com/product/eeb4f6/remote_sensing_and_image_interpretation_6th

Title Index:
1. Concepts and Foundations of Remote Sensing.
2. Elements of Photographic Systems.
3. Basic Principles of Photogrammetry.
4. Introduction to Visual Image Interpretation.
5. Multispectral, Thermal and Hyperspectral Sensing.
6. Earth Resource Satellites Operating in the Opticak Spectrum.
7. Digital Image Interpretation and Analysis.
8. Microwave and Lidar Sensing.

Appendix A Radiometric Concepts, Terminology and Units.
Appendix B Remote Sensing Data and Information Resources.
Appendix C Sample Coordinate Transformation and Resampling Procedures.
Appendix D Radar Signal Concepts, Terminology and Units.

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Related Titles also available from Research and Markets:

Integration of GIS and Remote Sensing – http://www.researchandmarkets.com/product/eeb4f6/integration_of_gis_and_remote_sensing

In this issue of EOMAG, EARSC will have the opportunity to feature an interview with Mr Paul Weissenberg, Director in DG Enterprise and Industry at the European Commission


INTRODUCTION

Why has been decided the Lille Forum as a networking platform to present the new brand name for GMES “KOPERNIKUS”?

As we are all aware GMES is celebrating this year its tenth anniversary. I do not know if this represents the age of reason. However, what I know is that GMES has reached such a level development that it is currently at a crossroad. The consensus among interested parties is that GMES must now leave the research phase to move towards the operational stage by delivering sustainable services based on a well-coordinated and fully reliable Earth Observation system.

To mark this move to a new era the Commission considered that a new name should be adopted. The Lille Forum on GMES organised by the French Presidency last September was a timely opportunity to launch KOPERNIKUS.

How the European Commission is treating the communication aspects of KOPERNIKUS? Is there now a need of branding the new name among stakeholders?

I believe that it is clear to everyone that substituting GMES with KOPERNIKUS is much more than a matter of pure branding. Nevertheless, names play an important role in terms of perception. Something complex such as the global monitoring for environment and security is made easier to identify through a symbolic name.

The purpose of KOPERNIKUS is to go beyond what the acronym GMES implied so far. Ensuring both the preservation of environment and security of European citizens will obviously continue to be a matter of concern. Thanks to KOPERNIKUS we would like to add something tangible which speaks to everybody including remote sensing companies.

In our view, KOPERNIKUS must become as familiar as GALILEO is to a layman. To achieve this, the Commission will develop in the coming weeks appropriate external communication campaigns to increase the awareness of the initiative. It will also take every opportunity to promote KOPERNIKUS with the help of media. To illustrate this change, a specific logo has been elaborated.

GOVERNANCE, COOPERATION, PARTNERSHIP

What are your thoughts on the following KOPERNIKUS pillars? a.European public interest service for environment and security-related information? b.European public undertaking?c.for a buy its users? d.a European contribution to an international effort?

The Commission is preparing a Communication, which will set out its views on the future governance structure of KOPERNIKUS. More generally, the Commission intends to propose a specific European Programme taking the form of a legal instrument including both institutional and financial components.

Indeed, KOPERNIKUS is mainly a service provider delivering information based on Earth Observation. The services provided must meet the end-users needs since KOPERNIKUS is clearly a system driven by public demand. Of course, users will only be willing to use KOPERNIKUS services if they have the guaranty that the required information will be provided in the long run. User representatives have been involved since the beginning of this undertaking; this should be maintained and even increased in the future.

The data it provides are a public good. As a common good this information must be available free of charge to anybody regardless of its public or private nature who wants to use it. A return to investment can be expected through the creation of a large downstream service industry, which will flourish provided a steady state is attained with the availability of KOPERNIKUS data on a sustainable basis.

In essence, KOPERNIKUS infrastructures are owned either by European or national entities with their respective political and financial responsibility. KOPERNIKUS requires a partnership unlike GALILEO. As a result, a networking approach is necessary.

Although it might seem paradoxical at first sight, autonomy of knowledge requires international cooperation. Some KOPERNIKUS services rely on infrastructures that are located outside the European territory. To avoid the risk of loosing access to relevant information international cooperation should be established. At the same time, KOPERNIKUS’ infrastructure or general information may be made available to international endeavours such as, for example, in the frame of Climate Change. International cooperation can be established on bilateral dialogues or on multilateral initiatives as, for instance to the GEO process (Group of Earth Observation) or GEOSS (Global Earth Observation System) where the Commission could play a key role.

What kind of cooperative efforts between European Institutions and Industry will bring KOPERNIKUS? What type of dialogue mechanism could take place with the service industry?

KOPERNIKUS is a true partnership and requires the involvement of many actors. But as the overall endeavour depends on the contribution of each individual member, there is a need to formalise this partnership and the commitments of its members.

The role of the EU should go beyond its traditional role of implementation. That is why, in my view, the Commission should also ensure the overall coordination of partners at national and European levels.

The dialogue with industry is a prerequisite to ensure that KOPERNIKUS services and observation infrastructure respond to the needs of identified users. This condition is fundamental in order to ensure that the EU responds to public needs and that the sector industry is involved in a fruitful market with a lot of opportunities for downstream applications.

What is your idea for the KOPERNIKUS governance scheme?

In our view, the Commission should take the lead in this domain to make a decisive step forward and make KOPERNIKUS a reality. The Commission should ensure the overall coordination of partners at national and European levels.

Without prejudging the final decision of the Commission on KOPERNIKUS our intention is to propose that the Commission have the central programming responsibility as a Management authority. The Commission would be assisted by a Steering Body of Member States for its coordination tasks as well as a Programme Committee for the budget implementation.

In our view the ESA should act as a development and supplier agency. It should focus its activities on the overall coordination of the Space domain. EUMETSAT (the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites) could be involved in the observation of both the atmosphere and the oceans. Regarding in situ namely, air-, sea- and land-based infrastructures the European Environment Agency would be an excellent candidate for the consolidation of different partners input.

Public investment is crucial for SMEs so that investments already made by industry are secured that can be ready for competition. What are the biggest challenges the commercial Earth Observation Industry is facing in the coming years?What kind of downstream service industry would Europe benefit from?

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) are at the heart of Europe’s economy. Creating more new firms and nurturing them is essential if Europe is to maintain its competitive position in the global economy and continue to make sure that its citizens benefit from an ever-improving quality of life. This is a credo within the Commission. Of course, this applies to any industrial sector including SMEs operating in the space domain, particularly companies dealing with remote sensing, which, I understand, represent approximately 65 % of your members.

Earth Observation SMEs are used to coping with many challenges. Provided KOPERNIKUS is on the right tracks, benefits for SMEs, in particular for the service providers’ sector are expected thanks to the availability of products provided by the KOPERNIKUS Core Services and by maintenance of the operational infrastructure, both financed by public funds. Moreover, any sector oriented action is likely to be supported by the Small Business Act, recently proposed by the Commission.

FUNDING

What will be the budget envelope and budget breakdown for the downstream services call?

KOPERNIKUS is a shared and distributed system. Consequently, it is and should continue to be co-financed at European, intergovernmental and national levels.

The EU contributes to its development through the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Development where 1.2 billion € is foreseen for KOPERNIKUS. Roughly 35% of this amount are planned for the development of services (core and downstream).

While the first call had foreseen financing for the continued development of core services, the current call (that will last until early December) concentrates on downstream market by investing some 30 to 35 million € in this activity. Additional financing to support development activities for both core services and the downstream sector are foreseen for next calls.

We also need to establish an operational budget line which will bridge the gap between the end of the preparatory action ending 2010 and the new financial perspectives. This will be essential for the continuity of KOPERNIKUS services which have mainly been to date co-financed by research funds.

Is the new downstream services call broad enough to support the launch of KOPERNIKUS operationality?

At Community level, KOPERNIKUS has been and still is funded through R&D Framework Programmes. The launch of the KOPERNIKUS operationality needs the specific EU funding that do not exist so far.

Given that “Operational services need operational budget” what is the corresponding planning and budgeting process?Is KOPERNIKUS now on the right track of funding?

Moving into a fully operational system means that services have to be provided on a daily basis and therefore KOPERNIKUS can no longer be funded solely as a research project. It is therefore essential that in due course an overall financing strategy is established providing for specific allocations to the services (both core and downstream), space and in situ components of KOPERNIKUS from the European Union and Member State sources.

The cost of KOPERNIKUS over time will depend on the scope of the services to be delivered, on the required observation infrastructure to be set up and on the degree of international cooperation, particularly the involvement of the EU Member States. KOPERNIKUS needs its proper funding and an appropriate structure at European level if it is to live up the challenge.

What are the minimum requirements to succeed with a downstream service?

Thanks to KOPERNIKUS, the EU offers tremendous opportunities for the downstream market: the availability of free information through KOPERNIKUS core services as well as the guarantee of a long term observation infrastructure are favourable conditions for a downstream market.

Downstream service providers are expected to be the layer filling the gap between multi purpose products generated by core services and the specific needs that could be identified by specific user communities or regional authorities. Given the vast range of applications, a flourishing market with a lot of opportunities will come up.

FUTURE, SOCIETY

In the light of the latest KOPERNIKUS developments what will be the task ahead? What is your vision of the future? How do you see the future steps for KOPERNIKUS? How do you see Europe’s autonomy in space in the coming years?

Any steps forward in the European construction require patience and pragmatism. I am confident of succeeding in our enterprise. KOPERNIKUS will reach a steady state sooner or latter.

Europe needs an effective space policy to enable it to exert global leadership in selected policy areas in accordance with European interests and values. To fulfil such roles the EU increasingly relies on autonomous decision-making, on space-based and communication systems.

Regarding the future stages of KOPERNIKUS, the finalisation of the legal instrument I mentioned earlier is in preparation. This will take the form of concrete proposals on the ways and means to set up the long term governance of KOPERNIKUS, its financial sustainability, the unrestricted access to the data and the international cooperation. It will be a tangible signal of the Commission’s commitment to a wide EU audience.

What are your expectations of Earth Observation development in the future for citizens?Which important benefits will be provided in the near future?

European citizens are often complaining about Europe and Brussels that in their view seem to be too remote from their daily reality.

At the Lille Forum we have had the opportunity to see a demonstration of the huge capabilities of products derived from Earth Observation core services in the fields of emergency response, land management and marine management that are currently at a pre-operational stage. The technical validation of these services at the operational level is at a final stage following which a plethora of service applications will be available.

For instance, citizens will soon have access to continuous flood forecast information based on satellite radar imagery directly from their home computer, thanks to KOPERNIKUS. This will change people’s life in areas that are frequently subject to flooding. This will not only benefit European residents but will also be available to those who are unfortunately living in places where natural disasters are a recurrent phenomenon. KOPERNIKUS would thus provide an effective instrument in support humanitarian aide.

Other examples such as air quality monitoring, measurement of UV radiation, extreme weather events forecasting or water quality assessment clearly demonstrate that KOPERNIKUS is directly linked to our day-life.

Mr. Weissenberg, thank you very much for your time, and for sharing your thoughts and comments with the EOmag readers