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Industry Survey Ending June we presented the industry survey results to an audience of EARSC members and invited guests. The final report is expected to be published in September. The study has identified a population of 319 EO service companies in Europe and Canada and the sector is employing about 5087 people with estimated revenues of 762Mio€ in 2012.

AGM We have had a very successful working day during this year’s EARSC AGM, sharing information about the status of Copernicus, GEO and discussing future opportunities for the Service Industry within export market and ESA initiatives to approach International Financial Institutions.

It was agreed that the next board meeting will be dedicated to a review of EARSC strategy.

Export markets and finding the best way of accessing them were the main topics under discussion at our afternoonworkshop during the EARSC AGM. Following the workshop on Export markets, EARSC will start a process to develop an export plan and activities for the industry.

Info on EARSC activities


Regio in Estonia is mainly working on four fields of activity: mapping, geospatial data, geographical information systems (GIS) and mobile positioning. Earth Observation (EO) developments started in 2010 when Estonia became ESA’s cooperating state.

TAKT is a spin off from the project “Establishment of Office for Aerospace Technologies for Crisis Management and Disaster response” – a joint project of the Bulgarian Space Research and Technologies Institute and the Bulgarian Centre (SRTI) for National Security and Defence Research.

Objective

To collect the views of the EO services industry and some of their main customers regarding an industry-wide certification scheme,

  • to agree or not on the need for a scheme and establish its scope
  • the key requirements based upon draft proposals
  • to determine steps towards its implementation

Background

Certification implies that a company, a process or a service has been approved to a common, well-defined industrial standard. In any industry, certification and validation helps to reassure customers of the reliability of the product and is generally of most relevance for standard products and services. Certification can play a role in improving product quality and thereby getting users to trust the products and services helping to speed up customer acceptance of earth observation products. Certification can also play a role in reducing the cost of the earth observation products by introducing more streamlined processes

A study of a Quality Management System Certification scheme and/or a Product Certification Scheme has been issue by Hollidge Consulting Limited during 2011. This study should be used as reference background for the round table discussions. The workshop should provide an outcome input into the definition of scheme requirements and standards.

Approach

The workshop will bring together the key players from both EO service suppliers and customers. Each part of the EO service value chain will be represented; satellite operators, VA service providers, customers as well as other stakeholders; ESA, EC, EARSC. Representatives from customer sectors will include the O&G industry, insurance industry and the agriculture sector. The views of the various stakeholders will be presented representing differing needs at different stages of the value chain. Both institutional and commercial customers will present their views. The suppliers will be asked to present what they already do and working groups will be organised along thematic/market lines ie vertically, to examine the specific interests which will be presented to the workshop as part of a round table session. Conclusions will be drawn as to the next steps to be taken on the nature of the scheme, areas where pilot projects could be considered and linking activities between the various stakeholders.

Presentations have been now included at dropbox

We are now starting the consolidated analysis and EO companies will be invited to a workshop looking at the preliminary results.

We have now completed the survey and are starting to analyse the results. Some 166 companies responded to the request to complete the on-line survey and 133 provided at least some useful data on revenues and/or employment. A second, more detailed survey has been completed through phone interviews with 53 companies that had completed the on-line survey. The preliminary results look extremely interesting and will support future actions that EARSC takes on behalf of the industry. It is too early to report any results here but we plan a workshop in the summer (late June) at which they will be discussed with companies that have provided responses. A report will be available in the summer.

Thank you to all who have contributed!.

We have recently completed the study into the benefits of a Free and Open Data policy for GMES Sentinel data.

The final report can be downloaded from our web-site plus we have produced a short animated video to promote the key results which can be viewed at http://vimeo.com/earsc/geeseandgoldeneggs

Basically, there is growing evidence that if public data is made available at no cost, it can be used by companies and individuals to create new products and services. These generate new jobs and taxes that provide a greater contribution to the economy than if the data is charged for as has often been government practice. Furthermore, the public sector bodies concerned save money by removing the need for accounting and sales systems which often cost as much as the revenues generated. It is a win-win situation where companies can develop new business and the public sector focuses on achieving its own goals using the data whilst reaping the benefits of increased economic activity. This argument which has been applied to many forms of public data such as cadastral information, transport timetables, meteorological and mapping data, is found to be also appropriate for GMES Sentinel data.

We are planning a seminar in the European Parliament at which the results will be presented and GMES data policy will be discussed.

Report and Presentation can be downloaded below
Open Data study Final report
EARSC FODP workshop presentation

The practical aspects of Copernicus Data Policy


In the recent EARSC position paper (Industry Access to Copernicus Sentinel Data) a number of areas have been identified where it would appear that the anticipated free and open data policy alone will not achieve the desired results due to some practical, conceptual or financial limitations on data access. EARSC is concerned that this will make it difficult for the EO services industry to play a full role in meeting growth and competitiveness goals. Consequently we look forward to future discussion on the practical aspects of Copernicus Data Policy.

Introduction

Considerable discussion and exchange of views has taken place amongst stakeholders concerning the appropriate data policy for Copernicus Sentinel data2 and in particular the introduction of a free and open policy. Representing the view of the EO services industry, EARSC has been supporting the view that the data should be free and has recently completed a study3 looking at the impacts of such a policy. The study examines the consequences of a free and open data policy and makes a series of recommendations on steps that would help grow the EO services industry.

The industrial view supporting this policy is based on the perspective that the greatest benefit accruing from Copernicus will come from having free and open access to this new, public data. Industry expects to exploit the Copernicus Sentinel4 data through developing new business with commercial (ie non-public) and export (ie non-EU) customers.

That being said, the industry also includes commercial data providers which expect a negative impact on revenues by virtue of free and open data policy unless adequate measures are taken. Private satellite operators – some with the support of Member States and the EU – have made large investments to build, launch and operate a number of satellite systems. Full and open access to Sentinel data will present a direct challenge for these data providers, where off-setting market growth may take considerable time to develop. Private satellite operators have played a fundamental role in the GMES pre-operational phase by complementing data available through ESA satellites. This role has demonstrated repeatedly that it is in the best interest of the EU to have a strong private satellite operators’ industry sector. Hence a free and open data policy must be accompanied by measures which help the transition of the European commercial data providers’ business models.

More recently, industry focus has turned to the practical aspects of a Free and Open data policy and how companies will be able to obtain imagery to be used for commercial business. It may be fine that the data is free but this is of no consequence if industry / companies are unable to access it. This has led to an exchange of information on the practicalities of the data access which gives rise to a number of concerns which are considered in this short paper.

EARSC Position Paper on Industry access to GMES _ Copernicus Data final

The governance of GMES / Copernicus remains an unresolved concern. This paper expresses the views of industry both towards the overall governance and the role that industry should play. In the paper, we look at the EU policy context of Copernicus, then the policies that will define the programme. We give our views on the issues that are key to the governance and then those that are of particular importance for industry. We provide some conclusions and recommendations including that we shall set-up an industry forum based around the EARSC working group.

EARSC has recently distributed a position paper expressing the views of industry both towards the overall governance and the role that industry should play. There is no doubt that the European EO services industry will play an important part in helping to ensure that Copernicus meets goals set for growth and competitiveness and EARSC looks forward to future discussion on the governance of Copernicus and the role that this developing industry can play.

EARSC Position Paper on GMES Copernicus Governance final

EARSC is a non-profit-making organisation created in 1989 with the mission to foster the development of European Geo-Information Service Industry. Our main objective is to stimulate a sustainable market for geo-information services using EO data. Today, EARSC has 65 members in more than 20 countries, and is a recognized association both in Europe and worldwide.

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.

The acceptance of new members has to be approved at the Board of Directors. The documents needed are:
1) signed pdf letter quoting an agreement with EARSC status, company interest in the Association, and a brief description of your company activities and
2) common EARSC Template (please request to secretariat_at_earsc.org)

More information on EARSC including how to join could be found at our website (www.earsc.org). Here you can subscribe to eomag if you do not already receive it and learn more about what EARSC is doing.

Analysing the state of the EO geo-information Services Industry and to understand the issues that are important for its future

At the end of 2012, EO services providers have received a mail from EARSC asking to complete a questionnaire for our survey to analyse the state of the EO geo-information Services Industry and to understand the issues that are important for its future.

The web-questionnaire will be followed by a limited number of phone interviews. Whilst the first is very focused on figures the second will be more subjective and opinion-oriented and we estimate will take around 30 to 45 minutes. We would like as many companies as possible to complete both surveys and are interested to hear from any company wishing to participate.

Active participation by the EO service industry is a critical component in ensuring 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!

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.

The survey will help inform ESA 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.

If you wish to participate in the survey, or if you have any other questions regarding the survey, contact
EARSC secretariat

Thank you very much for your active participation,
EARSC secretariat

Linked to the OGEO platform, a workshop is being organised on 18th/19th February in Frascati to help identify capabilities for the O&G industry to respond to oil spills focusing on practical and technical monitoring capabilities from satellite, aerial and surface platforms.

The scope includes remote sensing technologies and capabilities, collaborating with other industry working groups to ensure international applicability. Lessons learned from recent incidents will be incorporated in the review (Macondo, Gannet, Bonga etc), including the need for additional planning, improved capabilities (e.g. response times across relevant locations) and further research to optimise monitoring and characterisation of oil spills using remote sensing techniques.

The overall objective is to provide the energy industry with an understanding of current and planned surface surveillance capabilities, along with gaps, and thus to improve industry readiness for future incidents. This will be facilitated by information gathering at the workshop, involving presentations (including industry requirements), break-out sessions and 1 to 1 interviews.

Any company with relevant observing capacity to offer that is interested to participate please contact us at secretariat@earsc.org