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Mappy, the second most used webmapping service in France after Google Maps, includes PlanetSAT 15 global imagery basemap from PlanetObserver

The business website Journal du Net has just released the ranking of the most visited desktop webmapping websites in France. In second place after Google Maps, we find Mappy with 7.4 million visitors!

This is a great success for Mappy and for PlanetObserver as well as supplier of the imagery basemap used by this French webmapping service. For more than six years, Mappy has adopted PlanetSAT 15 imagery basemap that offers a global coverage. Processed seamless in natural colours, PlanetSAT 15 satellite imagery provides detailed and reliable geographic information.

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Over the last weeks, EARSC has been working on an update of the EOPages brokerage site. A key improvement is the introduction of a core function which enables partnering, allowing to look for industrial partners either for collaborative research projects or for competitive tenders, this can be accessed via the eo-market tool

The objective of EOpages is to help potential customers explore the available value-added geo-information services of interest to them in a new and user-friendly way.

EOpages API provide the companies with a single location where they can maintain their contact details and capabilities but which can be extracted by other sites to be used in conjunction with their specific applications.

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Joining EARSC is a very efficient way of knowing the status of our industry, getting answers, and being active at defending the development of our business.

EARSC represents the European providers of geo-information services creating a network between industry, decision-makers and users. We consider that the market is at a crucial stage of development as Earth observation becomes more frequently used by society and adds positive value to our daily lives. Nevertheless, there are many issues, opportunities and threats facing industrial actors and, through a small secretariat, EARSC informs and involves its members though its website and newsletters, through the provision of web-tools, as well as organizing events.

Members tell us that they appreciate the opportunity to network with other similar companies and that this helps them develop new business opportunities as well as exchanging on best practices. They also like the regular flow of information as well as the knowledge that EARSC is able to influence EU and ESA policy when it is important for the sector

Industry stakeholders together could transform activities into meaningful action on behalf of our sector. Your membership is more important to us than anything else. Our strength is in our unity and together we can bring about positive change for the EO service community.

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EARSC, in partnership with ESA, is updating the industry survey that we conducted every over year to understand the state and health of the EO services industry in Europe. The results of the previous survey can be found at http://earsc.org/news/earsc-eo-industry-survey. Our goal is to analyse the state of the EO Services Industry and to understand the issues that are important for its future.

A detailed understanding of the Earth Observation sector and the trends is essential to help stakeholders to plan their activities and to assess the effectiveness of their actions. Industry has a strong interest to ensure that accurate and up-to-date information is available. This will help inform stakeholders on the priorities for future EO value adding activities and pave the way for other stakeholder actions. It will provide critical data to help set budgets for EO research and development. It will enable EARSC to represent the industry in the most effective way.

Active participation by the EO service industry is critical to ensure that the survey can meet the objectives of furnishing a sufficiently comprehensive and accurate picture of the current industry status and health. These information will help also to identify priority issues, dominant opportunities, threats and other concerns facing the industry; therefore to have a clear picture about our sector!

Thank you very much for your active participation. Contact secretariat_at_earsc.org

More than 60 organisations have applied to become part of the growing family of Copernicus ambassadors across Europe. The Commission’s objective is to engage with national, regional and local stakeholders for Copernicus user uptake through the creation of a Network of Copernicus helpdesks/information points called the Copernicus Relays.

The members of this new community will be the representatives of Copernicus on the ground and will be promoting the benefits of the EU’s Earth Observation Programme. They will be the voice, but also the eyes and the ears, of the Commission at local and regional level to ensure that user needs are integrated into the Programme and to maximise its use at local and operational level.

The Copernicus Relays will act as local champions, coordinating and promoting activities around the Copernicus Programme, its benefits, and opportunities for local residents and businesses.

Members of this new Network will play a key role in widening the community of Copernicus users, developing new applications and maximising the benefits from Copernicus data and information.

The network is part of a wider toolkit of initiatives designed to provide information about the programme and address any concerns from citizens about accessing data and information from Copernicus. In addition, these localised one-stop shops will spread the word about opportunities set up by the Commission to support the development of innovative applications and new business models.

The Relays constitute the first milestone of the recently adopted Space Strategy for Europe.

The Relays will be in place in the first quarter of 2017. Consult the list of Copernicus Relays (as of November 2016) and get to know more about Members of the Copernicus Family.

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The African Union and European Commission have launched a 30 million Euro programme for the implementation of the ‘Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) and Africa’ initiative.

The programme was launched on 25 november in Brazzaville, the Republic of Congo, by the AU Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology, Dr. Martial De Paul Ikounga, and H.E. Saskia De Lang, Head of the European Delegation to the Republic of Congo in the presence of H.E. Hellot Matson Mampouya, Minister for Scientific research and technological innovation.

The GMES and Africa initiative is a long-term and strategic cooperation framework meant to address the growing needs of African policymakers, scientists and businesses to access and use Earth Observation (EO) data for the implementation of socio-economic and environmental policies on the continent.

The initiative is also grounded on the Africa Space Policy and Strategy, under the AU Agenda 2063 framework, focusing on creating a well-coordinated and integrated African Space Programme and a regulatory environment that promotes and supports an African agenda. AUC Commissioner Ikounga called the signing an important milestone that marks the beginning of a transformative enterprise conceived to contribute to the achievement of Africa’s development aspirations.

Its implementation will enable African partners to provide services to their population on a real-time basis, such as improved rainfall estimate for the farmer, river water level for inland transportation, and fishing stocks for the fishermen.

The Head of the EU Delegation to the Republic of the Congo said this about the launching of GMES and Africa:”This programme is built on 20 years of fruitful cooperation on Earth Observation between Europe and Africa. It will benefit from the data produced by the latest satellite technology developed by the EU in the framework of its ‘Copernicus’ space programme, and by the European agency EUMETSAT, offered to the African continent in the framework of the Joint Africa-EU Strategy”.

African ownership and participation are considered critical to the successful implementation of GMES, which requires the active involvement of all stakeholders. The Minister of Scientific Research and Technological Innovation of Congo referred to the advent of GMES and Africa as an immense opportunity provided by modern science and technology to advance the course of social and economic development in Africa.

The initial implementation phase of GMES and Africa will focus on two services, namely, Water and Natural Resources, and Marine and Coastal Areas.

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The first ESA hardcover book on Earth observation (EO) dedicated to Copernicus idea competitions, in partnership with AZO, is now also available online.

Copernicus in Action features 70 innovative applications based on Earth observation created with the help of the Copernicus Masters and its affiliated Space App Camps.

Space has become part of our daily life. The European Copernicus Programme offers opportunities for the involvement of new actors with great societal and economical potential for Europe. The so-called “New Space Economy”, led by new entrants from the private sector, will play an important role in the development of creative products and services, and adding value to Copernicus services and data. Grab your chance to experience the online journey through the top of line EO services fostering Copernicus User Uptake.

The book is packed with valuable insights, hands-on experience and a comprehensive market overview. The variety of application fields vary from climate & energy, over transport, logistics & infrastructure to disruptive & sustaining innovation.

Learn more about the Copernicus Masters Earth observation competition, the Space App Camps and the multiple opportunities Earth observation offers for commercial applications. Key market players, testimonials of winners and participants – in brief: true innovators – speak about EO-based solutions in a one-of-a-kind format.

Browse through Europe’s flagship Earth observation programme and explore its finest selection of high-flying commercial applications.

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(Strasbourg, 22 November 2016) Today, the European Commission is setting out a strategic approach for achieving sustainable development in Europe and around the world.

A first Communication on the next steps for a sustainable European future explains how the Commission’s 10 political priorities contribute to implementing the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and how the EU will meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the future. A second Communication on a new European Consensus on Development proposes a shared vision and framework for development cooperation for the EU and its Member States, aligned with the 2030 Agenda. A third Communication on a renewed partnership with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries proposes building blocks for a new, sustainable phase in EU-ACP relations after the Cotonou Partnership Agreement expires in 2020.

First Vice-President Frans Timmermans said: “To build a future for our children and our planet to the benefit of everyone we are making the SDGs and sustainability a guiding principle in all our work. Implementing the UN 2030 Agenda is a shared commitment and needs everyone’s contribution and cooperation, including Member States and civil society at large.”

High Representative/Vice President Federica Mogherini said: “In our times we are more interconnected than ever before, so investing in people beyond our borders is also an investment for Europe. Today’s proposals have the common aim of strengthening the impact of our cooperation with our partners across the world, whilst promoting sustainability at home and abroad. This is at the heart of the EU’s Global Strategy published in June. The EU will keep leading an external action that supports peace, democracy and good governance, that reinforces resilience at all levels and promotes shared and sustainable prosperity for all.”

Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica added: “The proposal for a new European Consensus on Development is the EU’s response to an increasingly interconnected and challenging world. I aim for a genuine consensus, under the shared ownership of EU Institutions and all Member States that will help us spearhead global action to implement the Sustainable Development Goals. Together with our proposals for our future partnership with the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, it unequivocally confirms the EU’s readiness to engage with our partners across the world to build a better common future”.

Sustainability is a European brand. The EU has a strong starting position and track record, with a high level of economic development, social cohesion, democratic societies and a commitment to sustainable development which is firmly anchored in the European Treaties. Yet, to preserve the future, the right policy choices have to be made today.

The main elements of the Commission’s new, strategic approach, presented today are:

Next steps for a sustainable European future

The EU’s answer to the 2030 Agenda will include two work streams: the first is to mainstream the Sustainable Development Goals in the European policy framework and current Commission priorities; the second is to launch reflection on further developing our longer term vision and the focus of sectoral policies after 2020.
The Commission will use all the instruments at its disposal, including its better regulation tools to ensure that existing and new policies take into account the three pillars of sustainable development: social, environmental and economic.
To create a dynamic space bringing together the different stakeholders of the public and the private sphere, the Commission will launch a multi-stakeholder Platform with a role in the follow-up and exchange of best practices on SDG implementation across sectors.
The Commission will provide regular reporting of the EU’s progress towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda as of 2017, and will launch reflection work on developing further a longer term vision with a post-2020 perspective.

A new European Consensus on development

  • The proposal for a new European Consensus on Development reflects a paradigm-shift in development cooperation under the 2030 Agenda, responding to the more complex and interconnected challenges the world faces today.
  • The proposal puts forward shared vision and framework for action for all EU Institutions and all Member States, with particular emphasis on cross-cutting drivers of development, such as gender equality, youth, sustainable energy and climate action, investment, migration and mobility.
  • The aim is to increase the credibility, effectiveness and impact of EU development policy, based on shared analysis, common strategies, joint programming, joint action and improved reporting.
  • The new Consensus should frame all development policy activities of the EU and its Member States. An example of this approach is the proposed European External Investment Plan which will use Official Development Assistance to leverage funding from other sources to generate sustainable growth for the benefit of the poorest.

Towards a renewed partnership with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries after 2020

A new partnership should help build peaceful, stable, well-governed, prosperous and resilient states and societies at our borders and beyond and deliver on our objective of a multilateral rules-based order addressing global challenges.
The aim is to agree with the ACP partner countries on an umbrella agreement which would go together with regional tailored partnerships for Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific, which address the specific regional opportunities and challenges faced.

Background

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by the international community in September 2015, represents an ambitious new blueprint to respond to global trends and challenges. The core of the 2030 Agenda are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and associated targets, which run to 2030. Along with the other international summits and conferences held in 2015 in Addis Ababa and in Paris, the international community has an ambitious new frame for all countries to work together on shared challenges. For the first time, the Sustainable Development Goals are universally applicable to all countries and the EU is committed to be a frontrunner in implementing them.

Since 2000, the Cotonou Partnership Agreement has been the framework for EU’s relations with 78 countries from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP). The relationship focuses on the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and the gradual integration of ACP countries in the world economy. It seeks to increase peace and security, and to strengthen the democratic political environment. The agreement is reviewed every five years, and the proposal adopted today is a further step in preparing negotiations for a new partnership beyond 2020.

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(Brussels, 23 November 2016)

The European Association of Remote Sensing Companies (EARSC) and Japan Space Systems (J-spacesystems), both non-profit organisations, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on 23 November 2016 to develop synergies and strengthen cooperation in business, research and technology between Europe and Japan in the utilisation of Earth-observation (EO) technology. The EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation will act as an intermediary support organisation to support activities between the two parties as part of its objective to facilitate EU-Japan industrial cooperation under its Space.Japan project.


Signature of the Memorandum of Understanding by Chetan Pradhan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of EARSC and Yoshiharu Kunogi, J-spacesystems President of the Board of Executives

The memorandum was signed on behalf of EARSC by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chetan Pradhan, and J-spacesystems President of the Board of Executives, Yoshiharu Kunogi with the presence of Ms. Yoko Kadoya representing the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation. The brief signing ceremony took place in Brussels, Belgium at an opportune time – the day after the European Commission held the EU Copernicus User Forum Industry Workshop “Internationalisation of European Earth Observation Companies”.

The signing ceremony was attended by Mr. Takashi Omote, Minister of the Japanese Mission of Japan to the European Union in Brussels, and Mr. Pierre Delsaux, Deputy Director-General of DG-Growth, Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, European Commission.
The memorandum serves to provide a framework for understanding and cooperation between the Parties to achieve their common goals regarding development of partnerships and joint events. The Parties also aim to benefit from the sharing of best practices and exchange of experiences, information and technologies relating to EO which are not available in their home locations. The cooperation will be coordinated by EARSC’s Secretary General, Mr. Geoff Sawyer, and JSS’ Director General, Mr. Hisanobu Takayama with additional support from the EU-Japan Centre.

Areas of Cooperation

  • Exchange of information a foster cooperation in the utilisation of EO technologies and applications between Europe and Japan.
  • Organisation of joint meetings/events to build up cooperation between the EU and Japan in relation to EO technologies and applications.
  • Cross-promotion of other mutual opportunities of interest for the both parties.

This above list is not exhaustive and both parties do not exclude cooperation on other issues of mutual interest.

as the first next step in the cooperation between the EU and Japan, JSS has invited EARSC and European EO companies interested to participate to a workshop on Satellite Data Platforms and Applications in Tokyo on 15 February.

European Association of Remote Sensing Association (EARSC)

EARSC is a non-profit organisation aimed to promote the use of Earth-observation (EO) and European companies which offer EO-related products and services. Formed in 1989, the organisation has over 80 member companies from throughout Europe with a secretariat office in Brussels. EARSC is actively involved in coordinating and strengthening the EO chain and promoting the European geo-information industry, and also providing a unified voice on wider European and global issues of importance to the industrial sector.

Japan Space Systems (J-spacesystems)

JSS is a non-profit organisation formed in 2012 after the merger of three public R&D organizations pertaining to space technology and applications – Institute for Unmanned Space Experiment Free Flyer (USEF), Japan Resources Observation System and Space Utilization Organization (JAROS) and Earth Remote Sensing Data Analysis Center (ERSDAC). JSS conducts space projects involving satellite systems, launch systems, ground facilities for satellite operations, satellite remote sensing technologies and space environment utilization. Recently, the organisation has launched Space Business Court, an online information and business support platform to promote new business development in commercial space, focusing on Earth-observation downstream applications.

Note to Editors:
For more information, please contact Mr. Geoff Sawyer, Secretary General EARSC (geoff.sawyer@earsc.org) or Mr. Hisanobu Takayama, Director General JSS (Takayama-Hisanobu@jspacesystems.or.jp).


From left to right: Pierre Delsaux, Deputy DG DG-GROW, Chetan Pradhan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of EARSC, Yoshiharu Kunogi, J-spacesystems President of the Board of Executives, and Takashi Omote, Minister of the Japanese Mission of Japan to the European Union in Brussels


Group Picture

The Hellenic National Sentinel Data Mirror Site that is operated by the Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Space Applications, and Remote Sensing (IAASARS) of the National Observatory of Athens (NOA) and powered by the GRNET S.A. (Greek Research and Technology Network), is entering a new era making one step forward towards the recommended architecture for the Copernicus GS, the so-called “Copernicus Integrated Ground Segment Data Access”.

The new Greek Mirror Site was overall upgraded, offering to its users a new and more friendly environment for browsing, discovering, previewing and downloading Sentinels data.

1. You can access to the site using the link https://sentinels.space.noa.gr . Then you access to the data by selecting DOWNLOAD SENTINELS DATA , and then by clicking on the ENTER THE HUB button.
2. Alternatively you can directly access to the data hub by linking to https://sentinels.space.noa.gr/dhus!!

The new version of the Hellenic Mirror Site is fully aligned and synchronized with the data hub’s architecture of the European Space Agency (ESA). It offers a high interoperability, and fast online access (1GBps) to the Sentinels data of the last 30days (currently to Sentinel 1 & Sentinel 2, and in the near future to Sentinel – 3 and 5P ) for the regions of Mediterranean, South – Eastern Europe, Balkans, Middle East & the North Africa.

However, in the case which data gaps are detected between the Hellenic National Sentinel Data Mirror Site and the Sentinels Scientific Data Hub catalogue, those are caused by an upgrade progress applied by ESA. More information is available via the following link. This issue affects last month data and is expected to be resolved, soon.

The users registered in the older version of the Hellenic Mirror Site have been automatically transferred to the new one. The previously registered users should have received an email from the sender HNSDMS Support Team (colgrhubinfo@noa.gr) providing you with the new password to enter into the new version of the Hellenic Mirror Site. It is recommended to change your password the first time you enter into the system. However the older users or the new ones, can always register as new users by creating a new account.

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