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The Japanese geo-information provider PASCO Corporation is the first distribution partner for TerraSAR-X radar data products.

• Infoterra GmbH signs distribution agreement worth 10 Mio Euro.
• Data received by Direct Access Partner in Tokyo directly.
EADS Astrium builds German Radar Satellite – Launch scheduled for April 2006.
The
Japanese geo-information provider PASCO Corporation is the first
distribution partner for TerraSAR-X radar data products. After a first
agreement had already been reached in November of last year, Joerg
Herrmann, Managing Director of the German Infoterra GmbH and Yoichi
Sugimoto, President and CEO of PASCO, have now signed the official
contract, worth € 10 Mio.
Almost two years prior to the start of
the operative phase of the German radar satellite TerraSAR-X, PASCO has
not only secured the exclusive distribution rights for the Japanese
market as well as a substantial data contingent, but also the
opportunity to receive TerraSAR-X data directly from the satellite,
starting in late 2006 – as a Direct Access Partner.
Japan is a natural disaster prone country
and suffers from earthquakes and typhoons every year. “We have great
expectations from the capability and high resolution images of
TerraSAR-X to provide us the information and monitoring in all weather
conditions” says Yoichi Sugimoto. “Apart from the mapping and
generation of digital surface models, we will target several
applications, such as land slides, change detection, agriculture and
forestry, car navigation and others.”
„We are extremely glad to have acquired
such a renowned company as the exclusive distribution partner for the
Japanese market,” states Joerg Herrmann. “The great interest in such
partnerships, as well as the ambition of future partners to secure
their data access rights and contingents at such an early stage;
reassure us of the unique potentials TerraSAR-X has to offer.”

Surrounding the Earth on a polar orbit at an altitude of 514
kilometers, TerraSAR-X will be collecting new-quality X-band radar data
of the entire planet. The satellite will operate independent of weather
conditions, cloud coverage, and illumination and will be capable of
delivering data at a resolution up to 1 meter. TerraSAR-X, due to be
launched in the second quarter of 2006, is currently being developed by
EADS Astrium, while the German Aerospace Center (DLR) is preparing the
ground segment.
Infoterra GmbH was launched in 2001 for
the purpose of pursuing the exploitation of TerraSAR-X and will be the
only commercial provider of TerraSAR-X data worldwide. Currently, the
company is preparing the global distribution of this data, scheduled to
start in late 2006, by establishing a global partner network. Infoterra
GmbH is a 100% subsidiary of EADS Astrium, the leading European
satellite company. Infoterra has a workforce of approximately 25
employees in Friedrichshafen, Germany and is part of the European
Infoterra Global Group with companies in Germany, the UK and France.
Infoterra collects and processes data obtained from Earth observation
satellites and airborne campaigns. These tailor-made information
products can be used in agriculture and forestry, urban and regional
planning, cartography and resource management. PASCO Corporation is
based in Tokyo and provides advanced and innovative aerial
photogrammetric, survey and GIS services in Japan and around the globe,
backed by 50 years of experience since 1953. The company offers a
complete range of measurement technology, ranging from airborne to
ground and even ship-borne equipments. PASCO possesses world-leading
geomatics technological capabilities, creates new business models and
develops innovative products and services for governments and
administrative agencies, corporations and individuals (http://www.pasco.co.jp/global/english/).
EADS Astrium is Europe’s leading satellite system specialist. Its
activities cover complete civil and military telecommunications and
Earth observation systems, science and navigation programmes, and all
spacecraft avionics and equipment. EADS Astrium, wholly owned
subsidiary of EADS
SPACE, which is dedicated to providing civil and defense space systems.
In 2003 EADS SPACE had a turnover of € 2.4 billion and 12,000 employees
in France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Spain.
EADS is a global leader in aerospace,
defense and related services. In 2003, EADS generated revenues of €
30.1 billion and employed a workforce of more than 100,000.
For further information and image material, please contact:
Infoterra GmbH Communications,
Tel.: +49-7545-8-3924
Mareike Doepke
This and other texts as well as high-resolution images may also be found at: www.terrasar.de
(Credits Terrasar)

Infoterra take delivery of new pushbroom digital camera to deliver airborne data more efficiently.

EADS Astrium, through its world leading geo-information business
Infoterra, has invested in new technology which will allow aerial
photography to be captured and delivered faster than ever before.
Unlike frame cameras, the ADS40 is able to
capture a seamless strip of digital imagery over large areas. Using a
three-line stereo sensor, the camera can simultaneously capture
red-green-blue and colour infra-red imagery, providing the rapid
production of both orthophotos and surface elevation models.
Earlier this year a trial was undertaken in England, where 1,400 square
kilometres of Berkshire was successfully captured using the ADS40. The
trial produced 16 lines of imagery that were seamlessly mosiaced into a
single image within a week. Conventional aerial data capture would have
processed approximately 1,400 individual images and would have taken
approximately six to eight weeks to complete.
Infoterra Ltd. will operate the new camera
on behalf of Infoterra Global and the data will then be processed using
the ISTAR Pixel Factory™, a highly automated production process. The
combination of the ADS40 and the ISTAR Pixel Factory will provide
customers with the rapid provision of imagery, which has already been
demonstrated in a number of projects carried out across Europe.
Applications such as land use evaluation,
habitat analysis and agricultural management will benefit from the
functionality and efficiency of the system. For example, a single
image, including infra-red data, allows vegetation discrimination both
in terms of species and health, which in valuable for monitoring
purposes. Many other applications will benefit including environmental
stewardship.
“EADS Astrium has always been at the
forefront of new technologies and this new investment in the latest
airborne digital camera means we can accurately capture large expanses
of land in a single fly-past. This fast turnaround will allow us to
make the most of weather opportunities around the world and provide
efficient data acquisition and processing to our customers” says Marc
Tondriaux, Chairman, Infoterra Global.
Tondriaux continues, “The ADS40 technology, which is more closely
related to a satellite sensor that any existing aerial photography
camera, will compliment our existing product portfolio and will help
address global monitoring environment and security applications.”
About EADS Astrium
EADS Astrium is the European leader in space activities,
with companies in France, Germany, UK and Spain. Beyond its main
activity of satellite manufacturer, which encompasses the prime
contractorship of major earth observation satellites such as SPOT,
HELIOS and TERRASAR, EADS Astrium develops geospatial applications and
services to promote the operational use of space and airborne E.O.
data. These activities are handled within its subsidiaries gathered
under the umbrella of Infoterra Global group.
About Infoterra Global
A 100% EADS Astrium company, Infoterra
Global is one of the world‘s leading suppliers of value-added products
and services derived from satellite and aerial remotely sensed data.
INFOTERRA GLOBAL group is composed of:
- Infoterra Ltd. based in Leicester and Farnborough (U.K.), a leading provider of geospatial products and services.
- Infoterra GmbH based in Friedrichshafen (Germany), the lead provider of TerraSAR-X radar satellite imagery.
-
Infoterra SAS based in Toulouse (France), an innovator in digital data
processing automation – such as the fully automated Pixel Factory
satellite and aerial data processing chain. EADS Astrium Earth
Observation, developing national spatial data infrastructures.
In addition to this, Infoterra Global,
through EADS, owns 40% of the world leading data distributor SPOT IMAGE
thus providing a unique “one-stop-shop” data service to its clients.
Infoterra Global counts amongst its clients major blue-chip companies,
as well as national and local government and international
organizations such the European Union and European Space Agency. The
group operates across a comprehensive range of thematic markets.
For more information contact
Simon Corbett, Edelman,
+44 (0) 20 7344 1349, simon.corbett@edelman.com
All trademarks and registered trademarks used herein are the property of their respective owners.
(Text credits Infoterra-global. Image credits UK perspectives)

Infoterra, a world leader in the provision of geographic information
products and services, has launched GeoStore.com, a unique web
based service giving businesses seamless access to geographical data.

Infoterra, a world leader in the provision of geographic
information products and services, has launched GeoStore.com, a
unique web based service giving businesses seamless access to
geographical data.
Geographic information affects almost
every aspect of business decision-making, from property planning and
insurance through to environmental assessment. Infoterra has developed
GeoStore.com to provide a flexible online service for businesses to
access geographic data. The first phase sees the availability of aerial
imagery of England, with plans in place to add further data during
2006.
As there are many uses for geographic data
GeoStore.com offers three online services. Each service offers the
ability to view and purchase the latest aerial imagery, and is the only
on-line system of its kind to provide images that have not been
compressed in storage, therefore delivering higher quality images to
the user. GeoStore.com offers a unique service by providing a truly
seamless shopping experience: the ability to choose the exact area of
an image required and receive a quote online, as well as the ability to
transfer this data directly to a GIS application.
GeoStore Select – Allows a location to be
identified and by using roam, pan and zoom functionality, a precise
area can be displayed. Once the data is selected, the user will receive
a quote on screen and be able to choose a delivery format.
- GeoStore Explore – Offers the ability
to view and analyse geographic data through a web browser without the
need for GIS software or storing a local copy. It is ideal for
professional users who wish to undertake rapid site investigation,
including risk assessments, planning reviews and environmental
enquiries. GeoStore Explore will be available later this year.
- GeoStore Direct – Enables immediate access to terabytes
of data, hosted by GeoStore.com, from within the user’s own
geo-information system. Through an OGC WMS compliant interface,
environmental reports, property reports, and others can be instantly
enhanced with accurate geographic imagery.
Dr Andy Wells, director of marketing at
Infoterra comments, “Today, geographical data underpins more
operational decisions than ever. As the demand for accurate, high
quality geographic information grows, GeoStore.com offers a single
solution allowing businesses to make informed decisions based on the
latest geospatial data.”
Wells continues, “GeoStore.com will be
constantly updated and improved, to provide the most current
geographical data available online.”
About Infoterra Ltd
Infoterra Ltd. is a world leader in the provision of
geographic information products and services. Its portfolio of
geographic information solutions includes airborne and satellite data
acquisition, geo-information creation, database management and
outsourced hosting. Infoterra provides geospatial knowledge to
companies worldwide to help them make informed decisions. The company
has clients in communications, utilities, engineering, agriculture,
defence and oil, gas & mineral exploration. Infoterra is a wholly
owned subsidiary of EADS Astrium.
Infoterra is a trademark of Infoterra Ltd. All other trademarks and
registered trademarks used herein are the property of their respective
owners.
For more information contact:
Simon Corbett,
Edelman, +44 20 7344 1349, simon.corbett@edelman.com
(Credits Infoterra Ltd)

Kongsberg Spacetec has successfully completed delivery of the Chinese University of Hong Kong ENVISAT receiving station.

Kongsberg Spacetec has successfully completed delivery of the
Chinese University of Hong Kong ENVISAT receiving station. The system
is receiving ASAR and MERIS from
Envisat and outputs standard image products. The system is also capable
of doing automatic ship detection.
Previously Kongsberg Spacetec has
delivered Envisat ASAR reception and processing system to Remote
Sensing Ground Station (RSGS) in Bejing, and TERRA/AQUA direct
broadcast systems to several customers in China.
(Credits Kongsberg Spacetec)

GMV has been involved in the development of the MetOp mission for a
long time, with contributions to different areas such as flight
dynamics, mission planning and data processing.

GMV has been involved in the development of the MetOp mission for
a long time, with contributions to different areas such as flight
dynamics, mission planning and data processing.
Within the data processing field, GMV is
participating in the Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment (GOME), a
spectrometer aboard the MetOp satellite series, whose main product is
the ozone column density. Since mid 2001, GMV has been developing the
simulator and the prototype processor as well as providing support to
the validation of the operational processor.
Photo Credits: ESA
The GOME-2 processor prototype has been used to assess the GOME-2
ground processing and to validate the operational processor integrated
in the EPS ground segment. The processor generates reference data for
the operational processor validation and the auxiliary tools provide
the means to perform the validation itself: product format checking,
product comparison, visualization, dumping, and reporting.
The GOME-2 processor prototype calculates in near-real time the
required checks to identify the quality of the products. Two sets of
checks are performed. The first set of checks is related to measurement
degradation, i.e., SAA pixels, clouds, sun-glint, saturated, and so on.
The other set of checks is related to the quality of the instrument,
i.e., non-nominal currents, voltages and temperatures. Additionally,
the Product Quality Evaluation tool provides the means to verify the
quality of the measurements by checking and analysing, in a graphical
way, all the quality flags, reporting the status, performing new
additional checks and extracting high level parameters like vegetation
index, ozone, ground images.
GMV will also support ESA for the GOME-2 In Orbit Verification (IOV),
during the MetOp commissioning phase. GMV will perform the required
adaptations and implement the new functionality required by the GOME-2
performance tests. GMV will also support the execution at ESA premises
during the SIOV rehearsal and the SIOV execution.
(Text credits GMV. Image credits ESA)

In October 2005, GAF AG celebrates its 20-year anniversary.

GAF AG, headquartered in Munich, was founded in 1985 as the
Gesellschaft für Angewandte Fernerkundung mbH (GAF) by Dr. Rupert
Haydn, together with Agrar- und Hydrotechnik GmbH (AHT), Essen, and the
JBK Management Company of the Wittelbacher Equalization Fund in Munich.
The idea behind the company was to offer services in the business
segment of earth observation using satellite data, a completely new
field at that time. Over time, this core competence was developed and
expanded with the development of new market applications in the areas
of system technology and geo-information. The conversion into GAF AG, a
stock corporation, took place in 2001 and the shares held by AHT and
JBK were acquired by the Italian company Telespazio in 2003.
Today, GAF is a consulting company that is
globally active with an international reputation as a competent
provider of project conception, management and implementation services
to private and public clients. Under the leadership of Dr. Haydn, who
has directed the company since its establishment, GAF AG has set new
standards in quality, competence and reliability, while simultaneously
developing a high-performance, multi-disciplinary range of products and
services.
The growth in the number of employees also
impressively confirms the success story of the company, which started
with a team of just 5. GAF AG currently employs more than 80 highly
qualified experts in the fields of information and remote sensing
technologies, covering a wide-range of multi-disciplinary thematic
backgrounds relating to earth sciences. This broad range of skills and
expert knowledge positions GAF AG as the absolute leader in competence
in its market segment.
The GAF AG goal is always to develop
products and services that exactly match the needs of the customers and
the market, and that exceed the expectations of users and recipients.
Today, the firm is proud of its developments and solutions, which
guarantee its customers customized and often unrivalled products, and
which therefore also document the technological leadership of the
company.
Core competencies of GAF AG:
# Distribution of satellite data: GAF is Europe‘s leading
supplier of satellite data and products and services based on such
data. Based on distribution agreements with all significant satellite
operators, GAF, and its subsidiary Euromap, offer the complete spectrum
of satellite data available in the civilian sector.
# Set up and management of spatial information systems
(geographic information systems – GIS, land information systems – LIS)
for a very diverse range of application fields
# Project conception and project management in the areas of data acquisition and spatial data processing and analysis
# Operational geodata processing
# Institutional consultation and expert training
# User specific software design and development, along with complete system integration
# Production of tailored mapping products
# Virtual reality and multimedia
# Research and development in the areas of GIS, databases and digital image processing
International consulting
One
important department is Consulting Services, which covers the planning,
implementation and management of complex projects based on GIS and
remote sensing in a range of fields at national and international
levels, such as environmental issues, geology and water, agriculture,
forestry, cadastre and infrastructure support.
From the start, GAF AG has been an
internationally active company with a global network. It has project
references in more than 60 countries spread across every continents.
The GAF customer portfolio includes
clients from commercial companies, public institutions, government
departments and supranational organizations. Examples of clients are
telecommunication companies, raw material firms, international
financial organizations such as the World Bank, Inter-American
Development Bank and kfW, as well as the European Union, ESA (European
Space Agency) and UNDP.
Euromap: satellite data and services for Europe (www.euromap.de)
Euromap Satellitendaten-Vertriebsgesellschaft
mbH is a fully owned subsidiary of GAF AG; it was founded in 1996 with
the goal of receiving, processing and distributing data from the Indian
satellites IRS- 1C, IRS- 1D and IRS-P6 (Resourcesat-1). The German
Aerospace Center (DLR) has taken over reception of the data with its
state-of-the-art antenna systems in Neustrelitz
(Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) and, in order to guarantee that customers are
supported in a timely and efficient manner, Neustrelitz was selected as
the ideal place for the Euromap headquarters. Today, Euromap works from
Neustrelitz on behalf of GAF AG to provide the German market with data
from almost all commercially available earth observation satellites.
’Euro-Maps’ is a product developed
by Euromap GmbH and is based on IRS satellite data. It is currently the
only available high-resolution satellite mosaic on the market that
provides blanket nationwide coverage and that provides such a high
quality and up-to-date and precise foundation for planning. The latest
IRS-P6 data is always processed for the Euro-Maps mosaics. The high
resolution (5 meters on the ground) and the high positional accuracy
(RMSE 10 – 15 m) of the image data, combined with its homogenous
structure, form an excellent foundation for the most diverse planning
and mapping assignments, down to a scale of 1:20,000. The Euro-Maps
image data is available for wide portions of Europe and is already
being successfully used for a very wide range of tasks.
(Credits GAF AG)

EADS Fleximage has prepared a study covering the changes, the outlets or
threats Google Earth product generates in the geographical information
and Defence & Security world.

EADS Fleximage has prepared a study covering the changes, the outlets or
threats Google Earth product generates in the geographical information
and Defence & Security world.
EADS Fleximage is one of the world
leaders in Satellite Image Analysis and Image software for Defence and
Security. Our expertise and products are mostly dedicated to
Intelligence, Security and Peacekeeping Organisations and Institutions.
Google Earth (GE) is a powerful combination of imagery and
software enabling everyone to survey any area from the Earth. – What
are the technical features, the
reliability and limits of GE data and software, face to the
international security regulations? – Which confidence in data, the
real dangers of a
pernicious use, or the multiple impacts of such an easy access to
imagery on users or geographical information market? – What are the new
applications stemming from the GE
offering, the services which can be derived from, or the ways to
integrate GE into an information system?…
To get information on the GE study: GE-study@fleximage.fr and sales@fleximage.fr
In addition, EADS Fleximage offers on-line services in reconnaissance and identification of Google Earth imagery:
-
RECCE Engine on-line, a web site to support identification of mobile
equipment such as ships, aircrafts or vehicles (access upon
subscription)
- Flex-Consulting on-line, to get a near real time answer
to questions from features observed through Google Earth (Access upon
subscription)

EADS Defence and Communication Systems (DCS) is part of the Defence
& Security Systems (DS) Division of EADS.
The DCS goal is to create complete communication and information
systems solutions including platforms and to provide the means of
implementing these solutions.

The DCS goal is to create complete communication and information
systems solutions including platforms and to provide the means of
implementing these solutions. With its systems competencies, DCS
fulfils all customer requirements in the areas of Air and Naval
Defence, Information Superiority, advanced Command, Control and
Communication (C3I) systems, Professional Mobile Radio and Homeland
Security.
DCS is the EADS “Systems House”, offering
its customers comprehensive and tailored solutions that combine the
know-how to design, develop and implement Large System Integration
(LSI) solutions making it possible to link the widest possible range of
individual platforms and subsystems into a single effective network.
DCS can call on the full range of capabilities and experience in
military systems and secure communications networks. In order to make
the technological changes tangible and demonstrate the strengths of
this paradigm, EADS simulation tools such as NETCOS (Network Centric
Operations Simulation) are an important part of DCS.
Information Superiority
Information Superiority is the key source
for information procurement within the EADS Systems House. EADS
provides information superiority systems based on fully integrated
information chains such as
- ground segments for all kinds of platforms (mission aircraft and UAVs),
- a family of earth observation satellite ground segments, and
- advanced interpretation tools, as well as accurate 3-D
image modelling for military and civil applications, supplying complex
Network Centric Warfare systems with high value-added information for
strategic, operational and tactical missions (Image and Electromagnetic
Intelligence).
The new requirements of Information
Superiority operations demonstrate the growing importance of network
centric information and the need for highly interoperable systems. EADS
DCS is developing a new concept of Multi Mission Ground Segments to
meet armed forces’ needs for time-critical intelligence gathering and
processing in a multi-mission and multi-sensor context. Its open system
architecture facilitates its integration into a network centric
environment. Strong communication links, together with appropriate data
fusion and adequate data dissemination systems, ensure prompt and
accurate information delivery to all relevant decision-makers.
EADS also supplies and supports a complete
range of ground segments for the theatre of operations as well as for
UAVs, reconnaissance aircraft and satellite imagery, with over 400
operating stations in service worldwide.
Amongst the most important contracts in this field, EADS Defence and
Communications Systems (DCS) has signed last June, a contract worth
19.3 million euros with the Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources
and the Environment for the turnkey provision of
a complete environmental and natural resources monitoring system, to be
operated by the national Centre for Remote Sensing in Vietnam.
The integrated system to be supplied
by EADS DCS consists of a receiving station for satellite images from
SPOT and ENVISAT, a centre for the processing and distribution of
images, and 15 specialised application systems for operational and
research purposes. These systems will be installed on the premises of
the main public operators, namely Vietnamese ministries and other
project partners such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
Development, the Ministry of Fisheries, the Ministry of Natural
Resources and the Environment, the national civil defence agency and
the Vietnam Petroleum Institute.
The fifteen applications will be employed
in such activities as risk prevention and support for emergency rescue
services, the observation and planning of agricultural land use for the
cultivation of major crops including rice, the surveillance of maritime
and coastal zones, research in connection with the preservation of
resources in inland waters and forests, and geological studies for the
petroleum and mining industries.
The project is expected to last 3 years, including installation of the system, training, technical
assistance, a variety of pilot projects in each field of application,
and assisting the system’s future owners with the development of their
national centre for remote sensing.
It is one of the most comprehensive and
innovative projects of its type ever to have been launched in Asia, and
forms the extension of a scientific and technological co-operation
agreement in the field of remote sensing that was concluded between
France and Vietnam in 1990, in which EADS has always played a key
partnership role.
Others major Programmes are main European
earth observation satellite ground segments: SPOT 1 to 5, HELIOS 1,
HELIOS 2, SAR LUPE, Mission aircraft ground segments: AGS, Asro-X,
Field-proven multi-satellite mobile stations: Eagle Vision,
Reconnaissance systems: AIES for German Air Force Recce-Tornados,
Operational and next-generation ground segment systems for drones and
UAVs: CL 289, SIDM, EuroHawk, etc, Cartographic data production systems
for army, air force and navy: SENATER, CCAM, CPIA
EADS Defence & Security Systems,
with revenues of about € 5.4 billion in 2004 and roughly 23,000
employees across ten nations, forms the defence and security pillar
within EADS. It offers integrated systems solutions to the new
challenges confronting armed forces and homeland security units. It is
active in the areas of military aircraft, missile systems,
Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems with manned
and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), battlefield management systems,
defence electronics, sensors and avionics, and related services. EADS
is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2004,
EADS generated revenues of € 31.8 billion and employed a workforce of
about 110,000. Contact: www.eads.com
(Credits EADS Defence and Communications Systems)

The operational result is a daily production of a fire-risk map at
national scale with 232 meters spatial resolution, using LANDSAT
imagery for land cover cartography, ETM produced in a NASA Shuttle
mission, weather forecast based on MSG, and daily MODIS imagery for
NDVI calculation and automatic rapid burnt scar mapping.

Critical Software was created in late 1998 as a software company.
Since its early days, working on remote sensing related projects was an
identified objective, and the opportunity came on 2001 when ESA awarded
Critical a contract for the development of PREMFIRE project.
Along with PREMFIRE, there are other
significant projects in which Critical is involved such as: COTEC’s
project (national project), NOD – Near Operational Demonstration (ESA)
and Euro Risk PREVIEW (EU) projects.

One of the most significant and recent one is COTEC’s project Following
2003 summer forest fires in Portugal, COTEC Portugal, Enterprise
Association for Development and Innovation, launched in 2004 a large
initiative, aiming to provide helping solutions to solve this dramatic
problem. From this initiative a two year project emerged with three
workgroups: (1) Benchmarking of forest fire prevention and combat
systems, (2) Support to forest fire prevention and combat information
systems, and (3) Forest surveillance, detection and alert on forest
fires.
Critical Software was invited to
coordinate the second workgroup, which is participated by some of the
most relevant Portuguese experts and research institutes with knowledge
in this field. National authorities also participate, namely, civil
protection (SNBPC) and the Directorate-General for Forest Resources
(DGRF), which play important roles on all phases of forest fire
emergency, from prevention through detection, extinction and damage
evaluation. In the scope of this project lead by Critical, three
different pilot zones representing Portuguese forest were defined.
Starting in 2004, three different products got operational: two
fire-risk map products, one of them structural (updated in 5 to 10 year
time frame), and another one, a dynamic fire-risk map, daily calculated
by PREMFIRE system; a fire behaviour tool was also installed on these
three pilots, the FIRESTATION system.
This project was the opportunity to further develop PREMFIRE’s
fire-risk tool. The operational result is a daily production of a
fire-risk map at national scale with 232 meters spatial resolution,
using LANDSAT imagery for land cover cartography, ETM produced in a
NASA Shuttle mission, weather forecast based on MSG, and daily MODIS
imagery for NDVI calculation and automatic rapid burnt scar mapping.

(Credits CriticalSoftware)

GMV has moved forward in its commitment to total quality by obtaining
Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) level 3, as a result of a
rigorous evaluation performed at its premises.

GMV has moved forward in its commitment to total quality by
obtaining Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) level 3, as a
result of a rigorous evaluation performed at its premises. The
objective of CMMI is the continuous improvement of the organization
processes capabilities. The CMMI model and its predecessor CMM
(Capability Maturity Model), developed by the Software Engineering
Institute, have been in place for fifteen years and are being adopted
by an increasing number of companies worldwide.
GMV has always been fully committed to
total quality management as a means to provide its customers the best
solutions and value added services. GMV’s Quality Management System was
built upon the requirements of the ISO 9001:2000 norm, for which it was
first certified back in 1997. GMV’s quality system also has specific
certifications such as the EN 9100:2003, for aerospace developments,
and the Spanish Pecal 110 and 150 certifications for defense
activities. Finally, GMV’s Environmental Management System is certified
under the ISO 14000 norm.
According to Jesús Serrano, GMV’s Managing
Director, “obtaining CMMI level 3 represents the culmination of a four
year planned process in which the whole organization has been involved.
Today we have more mature processes, we are able to predict the future
in a more accurate manner and we have got tools and metrics that are
helping us to improve the way we work. Our next step will be to evolve
to higher levels of maturity and to achieve CMMI level 5 within a three
to four years timeframe.”
(Credits GMV)