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Critical´s CEO, emerging enterpreneur of the Y2006. Critical at the Europe´s Top500 fast growing companies ranking.

Gonçalo Quadros, Critical’s CEO is the «Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year 2006»
The “Entrepreneur of the Year” Prize, raised by Ernest and Young Company since 1986, aims to recognise the businessmen who are distinguished by the creativity, personal investment in a project of enterprise, development strategy and the success reached by his enterprise.
Gonçalo Quadros, Critical Software’s CEO, graduated in Electrotechnical Engineering in 1987. Later he worked in the industry and research branches. He returned to the University and accomplishes its Phd in Science and Computer Networks in 2002 in the University of Coimbra. In 1998 he was one of the company’s co-founders.
Critical Software’s fast, but sustained, growth is essentially due to a business innovative culture based in five great values: quality, innovation, global positioning, flexibility and people. The broad repercussion of the company in the media was, mainly, the result of having NASA as one of its initial customers; such reference was essential for the international expansion, which in turn, led Critical Software to become leader in the market niche of critical software validation and verification for the Aerospace sector.
The diversity of markets, sectors and geographical areas allows, today, a concentrated offer of high added value services and software products for the Aeronautics, Defence, Financial Services, Government, Manufacturing, Space and Telecom markets. This year, Critical Software started a new cycle with the creation of a spin-off company – Critical Links, which is geared to introduce in the market the edgeBOX product.
Critical Software is an example of the success that can be achieved when you bring to the market some of the excellent ideas that spring in the academic world; the quality of the people that began the company and that are giving continuity to the company’s strategy and, finally, with the recognition that its market could not be limit to Portugal.
In this way the award on “Emerging Entrepreneur Of The Year” is a way to be aware of the success and the renown that Critical Software, in the name of its CEO, has already conquered worldwide. “I’m very proud that someone picked my name as a nominee to this award. It is a recognition for the performance of Critical and a great team I’m very pleased to lead”, Gonçalo Quadros confirms.
The award ceremony the «Entrepreneur of the Year 2006», took place in Campo Grande, Lisbon, on the 11th December
For more information:
Critical Software SA
Maria João Santos
marcom@criticalsoftware.com
Tel.: +351 239 989 100
Fax: +351 239 989 119
www.criticalsoftware.com
Critical lists as 209th in Europe’s Top500 fast growing companies ranking (*)
Critical announced that it has been listed for the 3rd time in a row in the European TOP500 fast growing companies. The company climbed 81 positions, from 290th in the 2005 ranking to 209th in 2006. The ranking is made out of job creation. Critical has created 89 new jobs leading to a 153% mark on the Relative Employment Growth. With regards to the sales an Absolute Turnover Growth of €3.239.961 was achieved, which means a score of 125.6% on the Relative Turnover Growth metric.
Gonçalo Quadros, CEO, stated that “2005 was particularly challenging, with an internal reorganisation and a strong investment on product development leading to the successful spin-off of Critical Links”. “This score is an interesting benchmarking for us, making it clear that we are still growing at a much faster pace than our competition” he further added.
(*) Special Note: An error in the internal process of building up EUROPE’S 500 list caused Critical Software to be omitted from the released TOP500 list web site. For your reference please consider the quote from Ms Dee O’Sullivan, Marketing and Communications Director of EUROPE‘S 500:
“Europe‘s 500 – Entrepreneurs for Growth is pleased to acknowledge that Critical Software fulfilled the criteria for the 2006 Europe‘s 500 Listing and is entitled to be considered a 2006 champion of growth. We apology for the error which led to the omission of Critical Software from the final Listing of winners for 2006”.
DEE O‘SULLIVAN
Marketing and Communications Director
dee.osullivan@europes500.com
EUROPE‘S 500
Avenue de Tervueren 300
B-1150 Brussels – Belgium
Phone +32 (0)2 789 2315
Mobile +32 (0)495 893925
Fax +32 (0)2 743 1550
About Critical Software
SA
Critical Software SA is an international systems and software company established in Portugal (1998) with offices in San Jose (US), Southampton (UK), Lisbon and Porto (PT). Today the company employs over 150 people and operates a quality system certified to CMMI® Level3, ISO 9001:2000 Tick-IT, ISO 15504, AQAP 2120 and EN9100. Critical Software’s portfolio of customers comprises companies such as Vodafone, Infineon Technologies, Qimonda, Westland Helicopters, NASA, EADS, Northrop Grumman, and ESA.
For more information:
Critical Software SA
Pedro Murtinho, CFO
E-mail: rmurtinho@criticalsoftware.com
Tel: +351.239989100,
Fax: +351.239989119

CLS tracks, the 74 competitors of the Route du Rhum 2006, during the entire race.
Each yacht is equipped with a MAR YX transmitter

This transmitter is the first
component of the Argos system including a constellation of 6 satellites, 40 antennas
and 5 data processing centers. The Argos tracking beacon transmits regular
messages which enables locating the equipped yachts. Thanks to this location, the
race Organisation can establish the ranking but also improve skippers’ safety at sea.
CLS ensures, for the fifth time, yacht tracking for this race. CLS, worldwide leader of
data collection and location by satellite provides and check personally the installation
of all waterproof and autonomous transmitters on each yacht. The Argos tracking
beacon transmits a message to satellite which sends it to land antennas. Then this
message is received by CLS processing centers, operational 24h a day, 365 days
per year. The center, bases in Toulouse, decodes the messages and delivers results
to the organisation.
CLS,a subsidiary of CNES (French Space Agency), Ifremer (French Research
Institute for Exploration of the Sea) and several French financial institutions, offers
satellite services in location and data collection to a broad range of professionals
including: governments, industry and scientific community. Within this context, CLS
works in close collaboration with CNES, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), and Eumetsat, (Organization for the Exploitation of
Meteorological satellites). CLS is an international corporation with 280 employees:
220 at company headquarters in Toulouse (France) and 60 at its offices and
subsidiaries around the world.
CLS is particularly attached to adventurers, wether they are skippers on the Route
du Rhum like Alain Gauthier, extreme explorers like Jean-Louis Etienne, science
travelers like Stephan Levin or navigators like Maud Fontenoy. CLS equips all of
them and continuously tracks their progression.
Press contact
Amélie PROUST
Tel. +33 5 61 39 37 95
Port. +33 6 62 80 45 92
aproust@cls.fr
CLS, 8-10 rue Hermès, Parc Technologique du Canal, 31520 Ramonville Saint-Agne
France
Tel. + 33 5.61.39.47.00
Fax: +33 5.61.39.37.91
(Source CLS)

New Managing Director and New Web site

Ms. Aida Agea, Managing Director of AURENSIS
The Shareholders and the Council of Administration of AURENSIS have decided to appoint Ms. Aida Agea Vocal of the Administration Council and Managing Director of the Company. Ms. Aida Agea will report to Mr. Manuel Gordillo, with who will form the first level of Direction, taking care preferredly of the operational management of Aurensis.
Aida Agea has developed its professional career in the industry of the New Technologies, specializing in Geographic Information Systems. During the last years she has occupied the positions of Commercial Director and Director of GIS, Mobility and Data in Aurensis.
Aida Agea holds an Engineer of Telecommunications degree from the Polytechnical University of Catalonia and an Executive MBA from IESE.
AURENSIS presents new Web Page
AURENSIS S.L. launches its new Web Page, in the context of the image renovation process of the Company. The new Web Page of AURENSIS displays a contemporary design and content with the aspiration to offer interesting information for a demanding public:
• Accessible and rigorous information on the Company, and on the services and products offer.
• It is available in three languages (Spanish, Catalonian and English).
• It incorporates a new section called Press Center, where an actualized press summary can be found, unloadings of corporative logos and another promotional material, as well as the last reviews of the Company in national and international press.
• The new Web also includes several modules with news of the sector.
• In the design of the Web Page have been considered the parameters of Accesibility and Usability establishes by Law 34/2002, from Services of the Society of the Information & Electronic Commerce (LSSICE).
(Source Aurensis)

ACS News

GMES Mission Capacity Planning
Starting from 2008, the EU Global Monitoring for Environment and Security Programme (GMES) will provide operational data, information, services and knowledge to support Europe’s sustainable development and global control of the environment.
ACS Prime will coordinate the consortium that sees EADS Astrium SaS, INFOTERRA, EADS Astrium Ltd and SPOT IMAGE assessing how the GMES dedicated and contributing space missions will fulfil the requirements of the future and potential operational GMES services.
The process of collecting data requirements for GMES services will be based on the capacity planning methodology, resulting from modelling of EO missions and sensors, the coverage analysis and simulations carried out with the support of mission analysis tools.
It is expected from the proposed methodology and support tools to permit easy updates in response to any new requirement originating from GMES Programme evolutions.
ADM Aeolus LTA
ADM Aeolus LTA contract will advance the Ground Segment standardisation concept through endorsement of ESA emerging MMFI technology. The peculiarity of this contract? No or minimal development activities. In line with its current trend for reducing development and operations costs, ESA has asked for a maximum reuse of its Multi-Mission Facility Infrastructure. Thus, the Agency’s MMFI will be reused and configured to serve as a managing platform where to plug in Mission specific Elements (MSE) such as e.g. Processors and Quality Control Facility provided as Customer Furnished Items.
ACS supported by VEGA Technologies brings into this project specific experience and knowledge of MSE interfaces specification, product formats and processors acquired during the ADM Aeolus PDS development.
CASPAR (Cultural, Artistic and Scientific knowledge for Preservation, Access and Retrieval)
Is information really preserved and usable following multiple migrations and transformations?
Knowing there is much more to preservation but mere media and formats, CASPAR will work on enhancing the access to information rather than just data.
CASPAR partners are some of the major European stakeholder institutions in science (ESA, CCLRC), cultural heritage (UNESCO) and performing arts (INA, IRCAM, and CIANT).
This will facilitate the take-up of the project results and the preservation of digital content for generations to come. The CASPAR technological OAIS based platform (Open Archival Information System) will host software components for preservation activities in three testbeds: cultural, contemporary art and science.
Heterogeneous digital data will be made available through a common framework of existing and emerging standards and a variety of innovative applications and services.
MIMS Contract
Aims at implementing operational MERIS Information Mining Services at ESRIN. These value added services concern Content Based Image Selection and Retrieval, Information Discovery and Scene Understanding on system or user provided MERIS Reduced Resolution (RR) and Full Resolution (FR) products.
The MIMS project builds upon the results and functions already handled by the KIMV and KES.
However, some previously implemented features (i.e. Cloud Cover handling) have been further enhanced. Thus, MIMS offers system training to identify different, relevant cloud types. The result of this training process is applied to all images from a catalogue to extract the cloud cover percentage for each image.

GOCE 3rd User Workshop
Was held at the European Space Agency (ESA)-ESRIN from 6 to 8 November 2006. ACS’ Daniela Bencivenni presented the GOCE PDS-IPF solution, first designed and developed for ESA CryoSat mission. This very same modern and innovative architecture has been later selected for the ADM Aeolus Processing Facility.
The modularity and scalability of SW components, permitted ACS to realise additional GOCE facilities namely:
• the GOCE Calibration and Monitoring Facility I/F Infrastructure,
• the GOCE Long Term Archive Re-processor and GOCE Data Manager
(Source ACS)

VisioTerra gives advice to companies in their use of Google Earth and develops the tools that can enable them to share geolocalised data within the company, with their partners and with the World.

VisioTerra expertise
VisioTerra was set up in May 2004 and has specialized in Science Consulting for Earth Observation. This encompasses expert support for EO programs, remote sensing training and communication, scientific documentation publishing, quality control assessment of instruments and EO products, new products and instruments specification and prototyping, audits as well as the production of GIS-aimed cartographic products .
Google Earth helps to carry out the synergy of Visioterra skills by providing a shared geolocalised data tool.
VisioTerra assists companies in:
* Google Earth use,
* Definition of the Google Earth integration scheme within their organisation
* Development of business data conversion tools,
* geographic quality control,
* connection to their intranet system,
* supply and treatment of satellite or aerial high resolution data,
* maps geocoding and GPS transfer.
Use cases
Share company’s data
Centralize work sites’ data
« At the beginning of any exploration project, we examine all accessible data about the area of interest. Google Earth can help us to visualize at once all the layers and to list the missing we have to obtain ».
Jean-Paul Xavier, Geomatic service Manager for TOTAL.
VisioTerra advises TOTAL about what Google Earth can offer for Total business: work sites preparation, internal and external communication of results, 3D visualization, importing ArcGis data, crisis management.
Capitalize the company expertise
« We have activities all around the World (Soudan, Afghanistan, Liberia, Irak…) and experts on permanent assignment . For each project, we buy satellite images, we take ground samples, hundreds of photos… we want to use Google Earth as an internal exchange platform. For example,very soon, each expert back from mission will be able to provide the team with his GPS points and associated photos on a dedicated intranet space.»
Muralee Thummarukudy, UN, UNEP Post Conflict Branch, Operations Manager.
VisioTerra has given UN experts a GPS and Google Earth training as well as the development of a methodology adapted to the information sharing needs of the service.
Coordinate partners’ activities
Convene an « emergency think tank »
VisioTerra can convene in less than 3 hours an emergency think tank by finding all needed documents from the company database and accessible informations anywhere in the World in a precise geographic zone.
Visio Terra works with GAEL Consultant to get access to satellite images within the 3 hours following their purchase.
GPS monitoring of work sites progression
« I need to anticipate work sites incidents, for example, I want to follow up the real-time progression of my work sites from my office. »
Nabil RIZK, Quality, Environment and Security service Manager, TSO.
VisioTerra proposes to visualize on Google Earth the movements of all GPS-equipped people and vehicles. By catching data from the control room and importing them into Google Earth, we can follow the progression of different sites at the same time.
Capture diversity
Analyze environmental impact
« We want to quickly identify all the sensitive sites which could be disturbed by our industrial activities. With Google Earth we can confront our GIS data with the available database within the Google Earth users community such as, for example, the UNESCO World Heritage List.»
Magali CLERC, GIS HSE service Manager (Hygiene Security Environment) for TOTAL.
Prepare work sites
« Before beginning a work site project, I would like to gather all the environment data such as schools, administrative boundaries, hospitals, old people’s homes… »
Nabil RIZK, Quality and Environment service Manager, TSO
VisioTerra proposes to set up a qualified database for the clients’ zone of interest.
Manage traceability and expertise
“Play-back” work site progression

« I need to report the progression of the work sites to my managers . It would be interesting. to “playback” a work site progression »
Nabil RIZK, Quality and Environment service Director, TSO.
VisioTerra proposes on top of the archiving work sites data, to create “Playbacks” of projects, which could be played on meetings.
Show and control observation features of satellite images

« When delivering SPOT scene to users we could join together an associated Google Earth file showing how the scene has been observed. »

Didier JACOBBO, SPOT IMAGE.
The DIMAP format provides with the auxiliary data from which the scene centre time, the corners coordinates and ephemeris are extracted. The kmz file that has been produced shows the location of the satellite, the viewing vectors and the quick look that has been mapped on-ground.
Communicate with the World
Google Earth links from your web site
« We have set up projects all around the World. I want to show our clients the diversity of their geographic distribution. »
Philippe MOREAU, Architect, LAPIDEM.
VisioTerra has developed HTML pages that supply Google Earth links. The projects are presented in the Google Earth windows with a link to the project description on the web site.
www.lapidem.fr
Google Earth links from your web site

« I want my clients and suppliers to get an easy access to my offices. »
Serge RIAZANOFF, Director, VisioTerra.
VisioTerra has edited a Google Earth link on its web site in order to locate all its offices.
www.visioterra.fr/contact
(Source VisoTerra)

MFB-GeoConsulting (MFB-Geo) is specializing in “Solutions in Geographic Imaging” for optical, lidar and radar Earth observation.

The company is based in a countryside village in the neighborhood of Berne, Switzerland. As a young enterprise – founded in 1999 – MFB-Geo covers a wide range of national and international activities and services. Depending on the customer’s needs, MFB-Geo offers project- and customer-adapted solutions in geographic imaging including the design and implementation of operational workflows.
The integration of image and auxiliary geo data with geographic information and database management systems is one of the strength of MFB-Geo. Special attention is given to interfaces for data transfer between different system components as well as on the development of user interfaces. In addition, the extraction of 3-D information from stereoscopic imagery with photogrammetric precision (DEMs, buildings, etc.) and the 3-D visualization via internet are part of the technological know-how.
MFB-Geo and its highly specialized team have an extended experience in applied remote sensing and Earth observation. To strengthen its presence on the EU market, MFB-Geo founded in 2006 – in cooperation with its German partner Geosystems (Germering) – a daughter company in France (Geosystems France), based in Montigny-le-Bretonneux near Paris.
Remote Sensing and Earth Observation
Based on its long-term research work, the MFB-Geo team is familiar with spectral sensor characteristics related to reflection/emission signatures and their spatial and temporal variability, resp., of the Earth’s surface. Specialists in agriculture, forestry, hydrology/snow/ice and planning/mapping can merge the EO-specific know-how with daily practical and operational needs of its customers. As a licensed reseller of most Earth observation data (Ikonos, QuickBird, Spot, IRS, Kompsat, Formosat, ERS, Radarsat, etc.), MFB-Geo can advise its clients in getting the most appropriate data set and the according solution.
Thus MFB-Geo can support its customers in a variety of EO applications as:
• Land-use/land-cover mapping: for irrigation planning and monitoring as well as input into hydrological models
• Change detection in agriculture and forestry
• Hydrology: snow and ice cover monitoring, snowmelt runoff forecasting, flood forecasting and monitoring, hydro-power generation and irrigation
• Rapid mapping for natural disasters
• Infrastructure planning: telecommunications, mining, reservoirs
• Urban planning
MFB-Geo’s focus is also on the most recent development in 3-D visualizations using 3-D GIS and web technologies. Based on stereoscopic air- or space-borne optical, lidar or radar sensor data and imagery, digital surface and elevation models (DSM, DEM) are derived using photogrammetric analyses tools. Thus, 3-D change detection, e.g., in urban planning and in mining, can be carried out.
MFB-Geo offers such technologies to the tourism, mobility and planning sectors. These tools enable the customers – after draping image data on DEMs – to populate the 3-D landscape model with a variety of data:
• 3-D objects derived from stereoscopic imagery, e.g., buildings
• complex textured city models
• points of interest
• landmarks
• hyperlinks related to specific objects
• videos and sound related to selected objects
• weather web cams
• animated 3-D objects in the 3-D landscape (cars, railways, planes, etc.)
• vector data (roads, hiking trails, public transport, etc.)
All this information is put on a website and the web users visiting such a site can actively move through the 3-D landscape and collect the needed information.
Tools for Analyzing Remote Sensing and Earth Observation Data
For providing a customer with the most adequate solution for its project, MFB-Geo either offers to analyze geo data or to set up (design and implement) entire operational workflows. The design of workflows means to integrate the additionally needed workflow into an existing one, and to identify and realize the necessary system links and interfaces. All project-specific hardware and software is evaluated and implemented including satellite receiving stations, image processing and GIS systems as well as project-specific models (e.g. hydrological forecasting models).
In this context – as a licensed reseller for the entire suite of Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging (LGGI) software tools – MFB-Geo provides its customers with the most recent software solutions in image processing (ERDAS Imagine), photogrammetry (Leica Photogrammetric Suite) and 3-D visualization (Leica Virtual Explorer). In addition, a full range of the most recent 3-D stereo-graphics cards, emitters, shutter glasses and 3-D monitors are implemented.
Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging software tools include:
ERDAS Imagine (add-ons: subpixel classifier, radar mapping suite, stereo analyst, feature analyst, lidar analyst, auto sync, vector, actor)
• Leica Photogrammertic Suite (LPS) including Imagine, LPS core, LPS stereo, ATE, TE, Mosaic Pro, Orima, Pro600)
• Leica Virtual Explorer (LVE) including LVE architect, LVE server, LVE client, LVE pro client, LVE custom client
As a solution provider, training and education is a fundamental task of MFB-Geo. A full range of courses is provided: software-specific training and software support; project-related training in remote sensing / Earth observation and its applications; integration of remote sensing with GIS and other geo data; feeding models with EO data or derivative data. Furthermore, training courses and lectures are held at colleges and universities.
Project Management, Realization and Consulting
MFB-Geo offers its services to national and international customers. The attached list gives an overview on the most important projects realized by MFB-Geo.
One of the fascinating projects is the “Flood Forecasting and Monitoring Project” at the Changjiang (Yangtze) river in China, a joint Sino-Swiss cooperation project with the Changjiang Water Recourses Commission (CWRC) as a partner. The goal of this project is to improve operational flood forecasting procedures for the Three-Gorges Reservoir at the Changjiang river. Therefore, the computer infrastructure including hard- and software is implemented, selected geo data sets are made available, and local specialists are trained. In detail, this means:
• Implementation of a satellite receiving station for digital NOAA-AVHRR data. These data cover the basic needs for geo data (vegetation and land-use, snow and cloud cover, flood monitoring, etc.). The spatial resolution of 1 km2 is sufficient with regards to the size of the basin and the local needs as well as the hydrological model applied. Furthermore, these data can be received free of charge (which covers the request for sustainability);
• Setup of a processing chain for geo data based on digital image processing and GIS systems including a server-based computer infrastructure;
• Delivery of selected data sets as: a) digital 1 km elevation model for China, b) ASTER satellite data for the Three-Gorges neighborhood (50,000 km2) including an ASTER-derived DEM; Landsat-TM data for the entire Three-Gorges basin; QuickBird scene for the Three-Gorges reservoir;
• Evaluation and implementation of a distributed, conceptual hydrological model for the “Daning” as a test basin and an expansion of the model to the Three-Gorges basin; this task is carried out by the technical uncivesity of Zurich (ETHZ);
• Training of local specialists based on several approaches: a) basic training in image processing and GIS at a local university, b) intensive follow-up training in Europe at ITC, c) project-specific training in Switzerland: processing of geo data, flood monitoring and forecasting, model-specific training in forecasting, d) Swiss specialists training of local participants in China.
Figure 1: QuickBird scene on the Three-Gorges Dan at the Yangtze River, China (source: Eurimage/MFB-Geo, 2004)
A project representing a completely different scale and space is related to the application of geo data for telecommunication network planning in Switzerland: based on all accessible geo data including satellite data, MFB-Geo derived a 3-D clutter (morphological or land-cover) map for entire Switzerland. This clutter map serves as an input to a radiation propagation model for calculating the reception quality of radio communication.
The basic request was to generate a clutter map with a grid size of 5m x 5m and showing all objects with a heights larger than 2m. This means an improved spatial resolution by a factor of at least 2 to 5 compared to conventional models. The following data were applied:
• Satellite data and aerial photos
• Digital elevation models
• Digital surface models based on lidar data
• Pixel maps 1:25,000
• Vector maps 1:25,000
• Geo-statistical data (100m x 100m)
Figure 2: Telecommunication network planning. 2a) satellite mosaic, antenna locations and visibility; 2b) 2D-clutter map; 2c) 3D-clutter map indicating object heights classes (source: MFB-Geo, 2005)
MFB-Geo developed semi-automatic procedures for extracting land-cover information from image, vector and statistical data as well as for the determination of object heights. Based on this high-resolution clutter map, a significant improvement of the predicted radiation compared to the measure one was achieved.
Location-based information distribution and collection in a 3-D virtual world, visualizations and fly-throughs via the internet becomes more and more important in a broad field of applications (planning and construction, tourism, etc.). In the project presented here, MFB-Geo realized a visualization for a cable-car project. Based on a digital elevation model and image data (air- and space-borne), vector information and 3-D objects were integrated in this virtual scene. The scene was then populated with points of interest, hyper links, sounds, videos and many other information related to the objects in the scene (pdf files) showing the touristic context of the project including hotels, restaurants, farms, hiking trails, weather web cams, etc.
In the last months and years, MFB-Geo has continuously invested in the most recent technologies in image processing (hardware and software) for processing extremely large data sets. Thus, the MFB-Geo team is capable to offering its services to a broad spectrum of customers.
Figure 3: Tourism; 3a) Tourist attractions and Points of Interest; 3b) cable car planning (source: MFB-Geo, 2006)
Reference Projects
- Infrastructure for Flood Monitoring of the Yangtze River, China: Satellite Reception, Image Processing, GIS and Hydrological Models, Swiss Development Cooperation / Emergency Aid and Reconstruction (2003-2007)
- ESA / EO Envelope Program, Market Development: EOMD Mining (2003 – 2006)
- Geo Data and 3-D Technologies for Telecomm Network Planning Switzerland (2000 – 2006)
- Establishment of Operational Snowmelt Runoff Forecasting in Tajikistan, Federal Office of Foreign Economic Affairs (2001 – 2004)
- Regional Center of Hydrology in Central Asia: Establishment of an Information and Communication System for Operational Flow Forecasting, Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC) (2000-2004)
- Improvement of the Infrastructure at the Hydrometeorological Surveys of Central Asia, World Bank Program 2.1, Federal Office of Foreign Economic Affairs (1997 – 2002)
- 3-D Visualization for Tourism in the European Alps (2003)
- Near-real time 3-D Visualization at the World Orienteering Championship in Switzerland (2003)
- Monitoring of Sugar Can Plantations, Kom Ombo, Upper Egypt (2002 – 2003)
- Palm Tree Monitoring, El Oued/Gardaia, Algeria (2001 – 2002)
- Snowmelt Runoff Simulations in the Himalayas, ESA/DUP-Project SPIHRAL (1998 – 1999)
- Hydrology of Alpine and Northern Latitude Basins, EU Project HYDALP (1996 – 1999)
- Information System for Messen (Solothurn/Switzerland), Community information system and master plan (1996 – 1999)
References
- Member of the European Assoc. of Remote Sensing Companies (EARSC)
- Member of the European Assoc. of Remote Sensing Laboratories (Earsel)
- Founding member of the Society of Swiss Earth Observation Service Providers (SED)
- Member of the Swiss Soc. on Photogrammetry, Image Analysis and Remote Sensing (SGPBF);Member of the board of SGPBF (1991 – 1997)
- Swiss Federal delegate to the European Space Agency (ESA/DOSTAG), (1993 – 1998)
- Advisor for the Int. Committee on Remote Sensing (ICRS) of the Int. Assoc. Hydrological Sciences (IAHS)
- Assoc. Prof. at the Dept. of Geography, University of Berne (since 1988) ad lecturer at various colleges and universities
CONTACT
MFB-GeoConsulting GmbH
Eichholzstrasse 17 & 23
CH- 3254
Messen, Switzerland
Phone: +41 (31) 765-5063,
Fax: +41 (31) 765-6091

In this issue of EOMAG, EARSC has the opportunity to feature an interview with Mr. Valère Moutarlier, head of the GMES Bureau at the European Commission.

First of all, thank you very much for taking some time from your busy agenda and giving us the occasion to talk about some aspects relevant for the European Earth Observation sector.
Role of the Bureau
The Bureau is a Commission internal structure that federates the needs and resources of the whole Commission, how effective are these links inside and outside the Commission? and what is the role of the Bureau in federating the needs of the stakeholders for the next three years?
Indeed, one important goal of the Bureau is to federate user needs, define the overall strategy for GMES and ensure coherence between objectives and resources of GMES. We are strongly committed to the idea that GMES is “user-driven” so primarily our role is to try and identify what user needs are, whether within the European Commission or in a broader sense.
GMES generates information in support of different EU policies. Therefore, it has been necessary to establish a focal point within the Commission. The structure of the Bureau within the Commission is unique. The Bureau is guided by an internal Steering Committee bringing together users such as the Directorates-General for Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development, Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, External Relations, Development, Humanitarian Aid Office, European Aid Cooperation Office, Energy and Transport, Justice Freedom and Security, Regional Policy, Taxation and Customs Union, Anti-fraud Office but also Directorates-General for Research, Information Society and the Joint Research Centre.
The GMES Bureau was officially set up on 1st June 2006. Relations are well structured within the Commission; we have a lot of interactions with many Directorates-General to understand and to take onboard the needs of EU policies for the fine-tuning and evolution of GMES services.
Which are the main tasks of the Bureau in developing the operational services? (clearly, the fast track services; land, marine, and emergency should be operational by 2008) but which other forthcoming interests will be a priority for the Bureau?
Through FP6 projects, there have been precursors for the first GMES services that will be demonstrated in 2008. In the meantime, implementation groups have been set up to assist the Commission define the scope and design of GMES operational services. It is important to understand that what we are preparing with the fast track services is only a first step. Later on these services will have to evolve to follow the market trend. Service evolution will be a function of evolving user needs. Customised solutions will be implemented through downstream services the development of which will also be initially supported.
In parallel, the Bureau needs to reflect on the overall architecture for GMES and to prepare proposals for governance. So when services are ready to become operational, the necessary financial and institutional framework should be available.
In my view, the implementation of GMES as an autonomous and operational European capability which provides strategic information services brings together a number of fundamental components: the user component; the service component including core and downstream services; and the observation infrastructure component including space-based and in-situ infrastructure.
As a user-driven initiative, GMES should be designed in such a way that there is a continuous user uptake through constant consultation with users and integration of their changing needs in an iterative process. Users can be grouped as either high-capacity users benefiting from GMES core services directly. Other users will benefit from downstream services enabled through the value-adding sector and the existence of core services.
Users will be served directly or indirectly through GMES core services which will be organised in a functional way to ensure that Earth elements (land, ocean, and atmosphere) are adequately observed ensuring operational environmental monitoring and addressing strategic security needs at European level.
Numerous downstream services should be developed boosting the value-adding sector and job creation. Downstream services are tailored for policies or specific applications at local, regional, and national levels, for public or private users. They may also cover specific needs of some users within the Commission.
Observation infrastructure, both space-based and in-situ (air-, sea-, land-based) should ensure seamless, state-of-art and operational data flow as the backbone for the implementation of information services. Observation infrastructure should be organised at European level in order to establish public and private operators which are controlled at European (for space-based) or national level (in-situ).
The mission of the GMES Bureau

The mission of the GMES Bureau is to assure the availability to end users of independent geospatial information services for European policy makers and citizens, provided on an operational basis and based on identified user´s needs, in order to stimulate both the market for innovative customised applications and a competitive Earth observation industry.

The Bureau´s functions are to channel user demands, identify sustainable funding for the service´s needs and communicate the innovative and strategic added value of GMES.

As an internal organization of the European Commission, open to seconded staff from Member States and other EU Institutions, the Bureau has been created with a limited lifetime, as its primary focus lies in delivering the first GMES services by 2008. It will also pave the way towards the establishment of a permanent governance structure for GMES.
Dialogue
How could an effective dialogue be established between the Bureau and the EO Industry?
The development of value added information services reaching the European citizen is considered to be the ultimate goal of GMES.
GMES is now part of the Enterprise and Industry DG. This is a sign that nowadays industry and especially small and medium enterprises are key partners for dialogue and business on the overall development of GMES. GMES has something to bring to competitiveness by creating opportunities for development of new business.
This is how the Bureau understands the future of GMES in the downstream services. It is in this overall context that a fruitful dialogue with the EO industry should be maintained.
Core and downstream services? Which is the strategy for talking for different users on these lines?
GMES is a complex initiative. It is clear that we try to distinguish between the core and the downstream services; which are of different nature. Core services are multipurpose services to address needs at European level. This has some consequences on the way we want to organise and to support these services. Sustainability of core services is very important for the business model. This is the basis for the development of the downstream sector.
The Bureau is in contact with different partners in defining the scope, organisation and functionality of the services. We very clearly see that we have numerous partners: other EU institutions and bodies, Member States and intergovernmental organisations such as ESA and EUMETSAT, national agencies, but also all industry including value-adding industry.
We develop relations and discussions with industry on the vision and strategy to support to value-adding chain integrating different steps from the infrastructure to the service level. But we also try to push very hard to enhance activities for the value added companies at the level of the downstream services.
How should the issue of integrating EO value adding capabilities into the user community be evolving?
To the extent that value added companies are users of GMES services, they should of course be included among the users and be able to contribute to the definition of the services. However, in most cases these companies are developers or providers of downstream services to end users. In this context, the main links with the Commission will be through the research framework programme, which may be mobilised to stimulate the development of these downstream services.
It is clear that we should encourage the implementation of service capacities in the value-adding industry sector. This capacity should contribute to both core and downstream services. However, we should also analyse with industry realistic business models: we cannot promote service capacities which cannot be sustainable in the long term. In order to impulse and accompany the implementation of new capacities within industry, funding mechanisms could be helpful (e.g. R&D for developing methodological toolboxes). However, they should not induce inappropriate business models.
Funding
How is FP7 organised? Which are activities are foreseen? How does it support the development of GMES?
For the first time space is a self-standing theme in the Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development of the European Community. The objective of the space theme is to support a European Space Policy focusing on applications such as GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security), with benefits for citizens, but also other space foundation areas (e.g. science, technology, launchers, exploration) for the competitiveness of the European space industry. This will contribute to fulfil the overall objectives of the European Space Policy, complementing efforts of Member States and of other key players, including the European Space Agency.
FP7 is dedicating more than 1.4 billion € in 7 years to space and 85% of it, about 1.2 billion €, to GMES related activities. GMES related funding is instrumental to feed the massive R&D needs for the preparation of pre-operational services, the development of satellites and procurement of data (both spaceborne and “in-situ”).
The first call for proposals has been published on 22nd December 2006 and is available in the Official Journal of the European Union and on the Cordis web-site (cordis.europa.eu). The call will be open until 19 June 2007 and includes the following topics:
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-Development of upgraded capabilities to existing Fast Track Services and related (pre)-operational services (land, marine, emergency response)
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-Developing pre-operational service capabilities in new application fields (atmosphere, security)
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-Strengthening of Space foundations (science, technology, transportation)
In addition, a specific coordination and support action to facilitate the provision of spaceborne remote sensing data for GMES (thereby enabling easy access for relevant research projects to data) will be granted to the European Space Agency.
Evaluation of proposals will take place after summer and first contracts are expected to be signed beginning of 2008.
How will the EC funding for GMES cover the initial research and also guarantee long term sustainability of services and data provision?
GMES is service- driven which means European services funded by European money with European added value. FP7 is seen as the “intermediate phase” between FP6 projects and operational services which will arrive later around 2012. The intermediate phase will shape the project due to service precursor (working on the validation) of the service for leaving the research world and entering into the operational part.
Through FP7, there will also be Community contribution in support of coordinated data access and of the development of space infrastructure. These two actions are expected to support data provision to services and sustainability of infrastructure which is a pre-requisite for the continuity of observations and data.
How many funding steps are envisaged? How is the Bureau screening the funding opportunities? And what about the political commitments?
The political commitment is critical and challenging to achieve, but of course this is part of all the beauty of this exercise. To move from research to operational services is not an easy task. Our current approach on how to address financing aspects is as follows.
First we have to identify an initial amount of operational budget. For 2014, the service will be tuned and heavily involved in the validation phase and the challenge will be to find the funding opportunities after 2014 to really speed the operational services.
Second we also have to tackle the issue of funding opportunities for downstream services. Downstream services will not be continuously supported by public funding for elements which have become operational. This is very important because we do not want to induce a wrong business model.
We have a business model for the core services which foresees support by public operational funds with a phasing out of R&D funds. It does not mean that sustainable funding will be private for downstream services; but rather that funding opportunities of specific user communities will have to be found in order to sustain the operational services.
Finally, it should be noted that projects which are not ready for market uptake may benefit from innovation funding beyond the research programmes.
Which could be the role of the EO value added industry?
The role of the industry is to make its best to take into account the requirements of the programme. For the core services we have defined the guidelines of how we see the organisation of the whole project to prepare the operationalisation of the downstream services and of course the funding as a kind of capacity to structure some of those active communities.
All the stakeholders perfectly understand the role of each other; the role of the Commission is to structure and identify what is critical for the sustainability of the project. Industry is prepared to organise the service to be operational. I am positively impressed by the capacity of industry to innovate and to propose solutions that will meet the programme requirements.
Future
How do you see the interaction with EO VA companies?
Industry is a key player for any stage of the value added chain; from the infrastructure integrators to the downstream services providers. All along the chain, I see a big role for the industry as key player and the Bureau has a commitment to an intensive dialogue with industry at each stage of the GMES process.
The GMES Bureau aims at launching downstream activities and fostering entrepreneurship and innovation. The Commission will consult and enter, in one way or another, in a dialogue with the different stakeholders. This is in line with my commitment to fully involve our industrial partners and define the different steps of our programmes. Indeed, being hosted in DG ENTR, the Bureau can rely on well-established dialogue channels with innovative companies, especially SMEs.
The development of value added information services reaching the European citizen is seen by the Commission as the ultimate goal of GMES. Value-adding industry should be a major player in the tailoring of information for specific purpose, at both “downscaling” level (i.e. national, regional, local) and international level. Community funding for developing a European GMES service capacity in the value-adding industry also represents a significant impulse for improving the competitiveness of European industry at international level, and to open new markets for these companies.
What is the most challenging task for GMES?
I think the most challenging task is to shape GMES to meet expectations of all stakeholders making sure that we build on existing capabilities and that we serve the user. Public support will not have the resource to develop a wide spectrum of services and that is why we really need to work on the “user driven model” and on what kind of “business model” will allow GMES a further development, sustainable in itself.
With this perspective in mind, the main challenges for the Commission in order to meet our political commitment to establish an autonomous and operational capability is three-fold: to successfully validate the first operational services; to endorse a common programmatic vision for GMES and to propose a financial and institutional framework that enables this common vision to be operational and sustainable.
And allow me if I may to conclude that the main challenge for the value-adding industry will probably be to accompany this demanding political task and evolve hand-in-hand to get closer to the user and thus increase its markets.
Mr. Valère Moutarlier, head of the GMES Bureau Office has explained the actual role of the “GMES Bureau to nurture a spirit of pan-Commission and pan-european teamwork and exchange federating user needs

EOvox project: an opportunity for companies to voice their viewpoint on the EO service Industry

Information on the project reports. Main results from this activity can be found at www.eovox.org
Industry is invited to review and comment upon these reports, and in particular to respond to the “Open Issues” presented at the end of the reports.

ESA EO Development and Exploitation Programmes must continue to respond to the issues faced by the European EO Service Industry.

To ensure this, it is essential that ESA has access to up to date and accurate information on the state and health of the European and Canadian EO service industry and the issues that the industry is facing in the short and medium term.
In 2004, ESA ran a contract to analyse the state and health of the European (and Canadian) EO Service Industry led by the UK company, Vega. This covered the evolution of the industry over the 3 year period 2000 to 2002. The results of this study fed directly into the programme of work and contracts issued under the EO Market Development Programme for the following years.
Since this period, the industry has been exposed to significant change drivers – for example, the evolution of GMES, new European and national legislation such as the Inspire directive and an increase in the number and performance capabilities of EO satellites. ESA has therefore kicked off a follow-on contract to characterise how the EO service industry has evolved since 2002 and the extent to which issues faced by the industry have changed or been addressed.
As in the original study, the work will be led by Vega and the core analysis will be based on information gathered from the industry. Initial work has started to prepare the information gathering exercise which will be leaner and easier to complete than the questionnaires set up under the original study. It is planned to start gathering information in early March using a secure web tool and continue for a period of approximately six weeks.
The accuracy of the information collected and the extent to which it represents a comprehensive sample of the EO Service Industry is critical. It is intended to elaborate future EOMD workplans based on the findings and conclusions from this analysis. In addition, discussions such as the role of industry within European developments (eg GMES) must be informed by timely and accurate information. Without this, the value and impact that ESA programmes can generate for the industry as a whole and for individual companies is at risk. Clearly, the strong support of both EARSC and the EO Service Industry for this analysis is an important factor in ensuring the continued success and impact of ESA EO Exploitation Programmes.
(Source ESA-EOMD)

EARSC Symposium: Brussels, May 31st, 2007
“In-situ monitoring and Earth observation in the framework of GMES and GEOSS”

Earth Monitoring is at a turning point world wide. The awareness of the risks inherent to an uncontrolled development of human activities has led to environmental protocols, to the setup of new partnership, such as the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) and the European GMES initiative (Global Monitoring of Environment and Security), and to develop synergies between available capabilities internationally. GMES has already gathered substantial momentum through the actions of the European Union and European Space Agencies and through the wide ranging participation of European industry. This encompasses in-situ, airborne and spaceborne sensor deployment, ground infrastructures and data processing, value added data production and interpretation, up to extending aid for Environment and Security decision-making.
GMES is a complex undertaking and the process of developing applications for new end users, many of whom may be decision makers or policy makers in the public and private sectors, requires research and the availability of multiple operational sources of data and information. Equally important are the conditions under which data and/or applications are made available to users, requiring that issues such as the timeliness, continuity, and stability of data, reliability of access, viability of data formats and processing, intellectual property rights, and operational cost-effectiveness be addressed satisfactorily. All of these elements come into account for most data access and use techniques, in particular in-situ and remote sensing.
It is by now well recognised that the proper monitoring of our planet will require the use of both in-situ and remote sensing techniques. While those approaches are operationally very different, they have each an essential role to play in any serious plan to monitor a site, a region, a country or the Earth as a whole. Unfortunately this synergy is neither yet realised nor fully appreciated, in part because of the different technologies involved and skills required to operate them, in part because of the resilience of traditional working practices, in part also because of arguments linked to training, to the need to implement new tools and models, and to many other aspects.
The objectives of the workshop are:
* first: to bring together experts from the two sides to increase mutual knowledge of their communities
* second: to quickly reassess the importance of in-situ and remote sensing techniques in Global Earth Monitoring
* third: to explore the mechanisms of synergy between in-situ and RS and to evaluate its impact.
* fourth: to foster the development of those techniques and their exploitation at European level.
The presented workshop will be an opportunity to draw on the experience gained through the industry and other stakeholders as European Union and European Space Agencies
Target Audience: Industry, Research centres and Space Agencies, European Union Agencies involved in GMES and GEO representatives.
Format: Round panels for discussion
Venue: May 31st, 2007, Brussels
Sponsors: Industry and Space Agencies
Sponsorship fee for Industry – 500 Euros
Tentative Programme
PROGRAMME
MORNING
: 9h – 13h
1. Sensors and sensors integration
a. Architectures: OSIRIS
b. Automated applications
c. Technologies
d. Sensor web SANI
e. R&D and Standards
f. Transition technologies: ad hoc networks, proxy sensors INTERRISK
2. Implementation
a. In-situ
b. Mobile
c. Airborne
d. High Altitude
e. Read out
f. Examples
i. Tsunami
ii. Nuclear
iii. Oceanography
iv. Air/Water Pollution
AFTERNOON: 14h – 17h
3. Data Policy
4. Integration of in-situ, space and other sensors
a. Meteorology and air pollution
b. Meteorology and oceanography
c. Other applications: water management, risk management,…
5. ROUND TABLE: ”Technology Roadmap: what’s next”