Skip to content

Following an internal strategy, the European Association of Remote
Sensing Companies (EARSC) has started an intensive partnership’s
campaign.

EARSC is a non-profit-making organisation that is devoted to
promote Earth Observation Industry and to foster geoinformation
services worldwide.

In these times of intensified European
integration and co-operation, the role of EARSC is becoming
increasingly vital, that is for, the Association maintains close links
with key European Institutions, European Space Agency and National
Space Agencies, providing a key unified voice on wider European issues.

Since EARSC was founding in 1989, The
Association has rapidly grown to become a valuable resource for the
information, news, consulting services that our burgeoning industry
requires. Being inside the process of detailing the future European
Space Policy, Earth observation is at a turning point worldwide where
EO companies are key actors in the global commercial market. Industry
together could transform activities into meaningful action on behalf of
our sector.

Nowadays, EARSC is embarking on
a new strategy of Earth observation awareness and raising to industry
the importance of working together for a better future. It is
definitively becoming a real point of contact for Earth Observation
Industry in Europe!.

EARSC has the challenge to be a representative association at European
level and a lobbying collective voice towards governments and data
providers for a coherent and dynamic development of Earth Observation.

Some steps have been made. Firstly, the
communications with members through meetings, website and newsletter
were developed where highlighted information about market development
sector is being disseminated. Secondly, the active participation and
involvement with institutional bodies where EARSC participates at
different working groups and as representative institution possible
partner of ESA and lobby group for European Commission. Last but not
least, EARSC is confident that our implementation plans for the next
years qualify us for being a referent body of knowledge at European EO
Industry.

EARSC hopes to strengthen a productive
dialogue with EO European Companies and Organizations, welcoming the
opportunity to engage more fully with us.

More information at JoinToUS Membership elections during BoD Meetings!

(Credits EARSC)

The EARSC Annual Meeting and General Assembly took place on June 30 in
Brussels. About 20 Members took part in the meeting and contributed to
the familiar and interesting event.

The EARSC Annual Meeting and General Assembly took place on June 30 in
Brussels. About 20 Members took part in the meeting and contributed to
the familiar and interesting event. Two invited lectures were presented
Dr. Stefano Bruzzi, Head of the ESA Coordination Office and co-leader
of the GMES Programme Office and Dr. Steve Coulson, Head of the
ESA-EOMD Program. Both have informed us about ESA´s strategy in Earth
Observation, in particular in the GMES and EOEP activities and the new
opportunities to do business with ESA at the upcoming EOMD- Market
Development programme.

Following a Membership Campaign, the EARSC Board is glad to welcome the
new Members in our Association.

Following a Membership Campaign, the EARSC Board is glad to
welcome the new Members in our Association. Members accept the Statutes
of the association and its political orientation as expressed through
the statutes adopted in 1989 in Brussels.

Within the EARSC scope and membership strategy, the Observer profile
has been approved during the last Board of Director Meeting in Brussels
(30/06/05). EARSC membership will be composed by full members (1) and
observer members (2)

(1) Any commercial European company or
partnership offering and undertaking consulting and contracting
services or supplying equipment in the field of remote sensing which is
based in a European Country which contributes to the European Space
Agency or which is a member of the European Community shall be eligible
for membership.

(2) Companies from countries associated to
European programs but not eligible for full membership. Any active
representative organization, institution or association party in the
field of Earth observation and not engaged in commercial or
profit-making activities such as Public/Governmental Bodies,
International Organisation, International Non Governmental Organisation
(NGO), Private Non Profit Organisation/Foundation,
Network/Association/Aggregation of Intermediaries(profit or non
profit), Business Association, Universities, other?) with interest in
Earth Observation.

On EARSC behalf, we are certain that all
the new Members will contribute actively to the aims of EARSC devoted
to the promotion of the Earth Observation Sector. Welcome!

  1. Aerodata International Surveys (Belgium)
  2. Aurensis (Spain)
  3. Control-Ware (Belgium)
  4. DNV-Der Norske Veritas (Norway) – Observer
  5. GMV S.A. (Spain)
  6. Kongsberg Spacetec AS (Norway)
  7. LATUV-Funge (Spain) – Observer
  8. Noveltis (France)
  9. RSI Inc (Switzerland)
  10. Spacedat s.r.l.(Italy)
  11. Spacemetric (Sweden)
  12. Tele-Rilevamento Europa TRE (Italy)
  13. TNO Space (The Netherlands) – Observer
  14. Vega Group PLC (United Kigdom)
  15. Vito nv (Belgium) – Observer
  16. VTT-IT (Finland) – Observer

(Credits EARSC)

Setting space funding priorities is a problem on both sides of the
Atlantic. While the US struggles with whether to keep operating two of
the most extraordinary space missions ever undertaken – Voyager and
HUBBLE – Europe is reaching a turning point in 2005 with a key European
Space Agency (ESA) Ministerial conference and the definition of the
European Union‘s 2007-2013 financial package.

“Europe Needs a framework for Earth Obseervation” was published in Space News dated May, 16th 2005.

Setting space funding priorities is a problem on both sides of the
Atlantic. While the US struggles with whether to keep operating two of
the most extraordinary space missions ever undertaken – Voyager and
HUBBLE – Europe is reaching a turning point in 2005 with a key European
Space Agency (ESA) Ministerial conference and the definition of the
European Union‘s 2007-2013 financial package.

It‘s easy to identify what Europe‘s priorities have been in the past.
In financial volume, priority number one has been access to space, i.e.
launchers and space infrastructure centered on the international space
station, with a total in excess of 40% of ESA’s 2005 budget. Meanwhile,
the satellite sector has been weakened, with many programs cancelled or
delayed in Earth observation, science and telecommunications . all
assets in direct service to the citizen.

In that sense, the ends . biosphere
knowledge and protection, space exploration, better services for the
citizen and science – have taken a backseat to the means.

Since 1960 the world economic activity has
been multiplied by six, while the world population has doubled. This
rapid and unique development has been accompanied by a tremendous toll
on natural resources and ecosystems. In less than three decades the
number of natural disasters has been multiplied by 2.5 and the number
of victims by 3. Disasters killed 500 000 people and caused $750
billion of damage over the 1990-1999 decade. Earth as a planet is
threatened, humans are not properly protected and human knowledge of
Earth systems is far from complete. We are lacking observation taken on
a sustained, systematic, and operational basis. In some areas, data
collection is decreasing. Although the development of suitable
technologies and the awareness of the socioeconomic benefits of Earth
Observation are progressing, in Europe the Earth observation industry
is facing severe threats.

While ESA plans only a small number of
Earth observation missions, industry faces technical risk and complex
political and market forces in a sector in which governments are major
players. Satellite capabilities are declining and strategic European
technologies are at risk of disappearing. Earth stations receive mostly
non-European satellite data, value-added companies face a paucity of
European-source data and increased vulnerability in data access.
Operational continuity is not assured. Users and government
decision-makers face a lack of strategic and critical data, limiting
their autonomy.
New directions are needed in space funding. Earth observation is
increasingly recognized as a public good and the use of remote sensing
data, telecommunications and navigation services can deliver enormous
and rapidly increasing public good benefits to the global economy.

A new strategy for Earth Monitoring must
consider science, operational and commercial elements. It should be
based on the following pillars:

1. Science

The main emphasis must be on the Earth and
the solar system. Earth Science, which is an optional program at ESA,
should be a mandatory program allowing industry to invest rationally
instead of counting on lobbying or luck –

- as was recently the case with the selections in the ESA Earth Observation Preparatory Program.

2. Operations

A coherent overall strategy for GMES must
be designed. Priority should be given to deploying satellites for
visible/near-infrared ocean and coastal-zone monitoring (where there is
no successor for oceanographic ENVISAT payload), land observation of
the LANDSAT and Spot type, and risk management, all featuring dual use
for civil and security applications. Failure to establish a
comprehensive observation baseline and commit to continuity of
observation systems will hamper the achievement of environmental
treaties targets. Indeed the fulfilling of international conventions as
well as sustainable development policies is relying on such
capabilities. Finally one could create a defendable business/economic
case only if data continuity is assured.

The main segment of commercial space-borne Earth observation today
is constituted by high resolution imaging, whether in the optical or
radar domains. The number of existing and planned high-resolution
systems in North America, Europe and Asia for the next ten years is
substantial and thus availability of data seems secure. The situation
is more complex in the market for data and services. The Earth
observation data market is small by itself. The real market will result
from the synergy of Earth observation, positioning, and
telecommunications systems.

3. Support for the satellite sector

Access
to space is now assured in Europe. It remains a worthy goal, but it has
cost tremendous amounts of money and eclipsed satellite programs that
could be more useful in terms of applications, innovation and
employment.

There is in Europe no industrial policy
for satellite-derived applications. National optional participation in
programs such as GMES, or Global Monitoring for Environment and
Security, and the ARTES telecommunications research program have been
gutted in favor of launch vehicle programs. The situation must be
re-balanced.

4. International Collaboration

The need for a large variety and quantity
of complementary environmental data to monitor the planet strongly
argues for international coordination. The joint ESA-NASA initiative in
the science-focused Earth Explorer/ESSP framework is an excellent move
in this direction. The GEOSS-GMES links should be the next step
forward. It is also encouraging that at industry level links between
U.S. and European companies are being established.

5. Framework

While multi-source funding is essential, a
single coordinating body must be identified. In Europe, EUMETSAT, which
has efficiently consolidated the Meteosat program and has begun early
work on a third operational Generation, is a good model.

6. Financing and timing

The cost of environmental damage should be
kept in mind when thinking about the cost of satellite surveillance
systems. The cost of a recent oil-tanker sinking alone is about 10
billion dollars. A 10-year European budget of this order for Earth
Science and GMES would be reasonably small compared to the benefits
they bring.

Clearly separated budgets must be
established for the science/research element and for the operational.
As presented earlier, the budgets specifically allocated to the
development of the Earth observation space segment must also be
accompanied by budgets for the information and telecommunication
infrastructures in order for a proper access to data and a suitable
deployment of services to happen.

What is needed is a GMES pilot phase
integrating these elements, without waiting to identify all the future
end users willing to pay to deploy and operate the infrastructure.
There should be no illusions: This will remain a public investment for
many years to come.

It is time to reassess our space priorities to put the industry more completely at the service of the citizen.

Paul Kamoun

EARSC Chairman, European Association of Remote Sensing Companies

Eberhard Parlow

EARSeL Chairman, European Association of Remote Sensing Laboratories

EARSC welcomes two new Members LogicaCMG (United Kigdom) and Sener (Spain)

EARSC has the challenge to be a representative association at European
level and a lobbying collective voice towards governments and data
providers for a coherent and dynamic development of Earth Observation.
EARSC is glad to welcome LogicaCMG and Sener in our Association and we
are certain that both Companies will contribute actively to the aims of
EARSC devoted to the promotion of the European Remote Sensing industry.

Please refer to the following websites for more information about our new Members:

LogicaCMG
Sener

EARSC is the European association dedicated to representing the
companies involved in the Earth Observation domain, from satellites to
value-added services.

EARSC is the European association dedicated to representing the
companies involved in the Earth Observation domain, from satellites to
value-added services. Created in 1989 it has continuously worked to
foster the development of Earth Observation in Europe and of European
remote sensing companies themselves, through the organization of
symposia, meetings with decision makers, collaboration with other
associations or through the building of projects related to Earth
observation.

Strategy

EARSC strategy is to understand the mechanisms of co-operation on Earth
Observation policies between the European Space Agency, the Commission
and Companies in Europe. Stronger cooperation mechanisms between all
actors at the space applications chain are necessary to fully progress
on the European Space Policy. One of the objectives of EARSC is to
build a bridge to better communicate the industry voice to decision
makers, providers and final users.

General objectives

EARSC shall have the major objective of developing a gathering
mechanism for European Earth Observation Industry, providing a forum
for promoting technology transfer and exchange of information and
experience among members through sharing of information, conducting
cooperative projects and participating in EARSC activities.

EARSC shall review the status of Earth observation applications and the
European Space policy, being the connection between decision makers and
industry and respectively industry and final users.

EARSC shall exchange information on space policies and programmes among
members promoting mechanisms for cooperation networks in the earth
observation industry.

EO Industry Summit: Synthesis and Recommendations

The first Earth Observation Industry Symposium was held on February 2005 co organized by EARSC (European Association of Remote Sensing Companies) and EUROSPACE (Association of European Space Industry) under the umbrella of the European Union as a part of its first Earth and Space Week.

The Summit was a success due to the active participation of representatives and delegates from space agencies, international organizations (governmental and non governmental alike) and industry from a very large number of countries, thus setting the scene to foster European and International collaboration into getting Earth Observation views and perspectives. The summit included a variety of topics on advances in Global Monitoring of Environment and Security (GMES) Services, opportunities for business in high tech industry or commercial applications. A real success for our aim, Industry views putting openly and friendly on the Institutional table Space at the service of the citizen.

The timing is particularly appropriate for European Industry to gather and ambitiously present and discuss the way forward, considering the deployment of innovative new systems for Earth Observation in the framework of GMES, of advanced capabilities for new services, in particular through the emerging GALILEO and broadband Telecommunications, as well as contemplating inspiring successes and projects in Planetary exploration. The Summit was an excellent occasion to affirm and recognize the necessity to increase the synergies between all actors of the domain and follow up recommendation and conclusions to improve Industry views on Earth Observation Global programmes.

GMES is on its way

  1. Convergence of views between institutions and industry
  2. Many Pre-operational and operational services presented
  3. Service providers enthusiastic to further develop solutions to satisfy users
  4. Infrastructure widely utilised and deemed highly useful
  5. Capability exists in Europe to provide policy makers with the right environmental data to comply with the environmental protocols (Kyoto,…)

summit

Overall approach

  1. Services now mean convergence (combination of Telecommunications with positioning and Earth Observation from all sensors).
  2. Need a system architecture able to accommodate and harmonize past data, present systems and future systems
  3. Industry as a bridge between civil and defence applications (dual technology along the chain), as well as between the various, still fragmented users communities
  4. Earth Observation industry as a bridge to other industrial sectors (energy, agriculture, transportation,..)

Recommend structuring of EO activities

  1. Create a comprehensive platform for applications development (standards/ interoperability)
  2. Public entities define requirements and develop infrastructure, Private entities define and deliver solutions and services.
  3. Increase awareness among public and private entities of the potential of new GMES-based services.
  4. Foster international links, in particular at industry levels: EARSC, EUROSPACE and ALLIANCE recommend setting up a joint industrial working group and organising annual GEOSS industrial events together.

Recommend preservation and development of assets

  1. Human resources: Space Industry is relevant to the “Lisbon” objectives. Europe must maintain and develop its highly competent and high value work force
  2. Space Industry has the capability to offer highly motivating jobs and contribute to stopping the brain drain from Europe
  3. European institutions must maintain and further develop Earth Observation critical technologies
  4. Data resources: Continuity of data flow from all operational/pre-operational sensors must be insured

GMES financial considerations

  1. To reach the final ideal status where users pay for 100% of the needed service, there must be a transition period when institutions must provide substantial support (financing of infrastructure set up and service development)
  2. Firm decisions on implementing GMES program must be taken by EC/ESA in the frame of establishing a European Space Policy
  3. Budgets required by GMES (relatively small compared to other infrastructure budgets) should be sized considering the cost of natural disasters in terms of lives and economy as well as the cost of Earth Environment deterioration

Conclusions

  1. The GMES community welcomes the new GMES owner in the Commission (DG Ent.)
  2. GMES must go ahead as a grand, coherent, well structured European programme (including budget and programmatics)
  3. Industry is able to develop all the needed GMES elements, all along the value chain from infrastructure development to service provision
  4. Industry stands ready to be an active partner of EC, ESA, and member states in GMES and is looking forward to high level decisions

Information resource

For more information please contact:

Paul Kamoun (EARSC Chairman),
Alain Gaubert (EUROSPACE Secr. General)

After detailed deliberations at various Meetings, the EARSC Board
has recommended the constitution of a working group on Space Policy,
which will address the problems of Earth´s monitoring and the
importance of the Industry in these new challenges for Europe.

After detailed deliberations at various Meetings, the EARSC Board
has recommended the constitution of a working group on Space Policy,
which will address the problems of Earth´s monitoring and the
importance of the Industry in these new challenges for Europe.

The group will seek to define general principles to organise
desirable forms and degrees of understanding through Earth Observation
space policy, and have the aim to elaborate concrete examples or
scenarios of how this will apply. It will pronounce itself on how the
decision-making process should be adapted to create stronger
flexibility in implementation, and how it should involve different
actor’s interests in the policy process.

A key goal of the working group is to enhance key Earth observation
capabilities and assess related European Space Policy. Space policy
will act as a key factor to improve our understanding of sustainable
development and especially as tool for serving the society, such as
with respect to health, resource management, weather prediction, and
economic prosperity.

Terms of Reference

The working group on Space Policy has been constituted as a
cooperative network of EARSC Members to directly address Earth
Observation policy.

All members of EARSC shall be eligible by the Board of Director to
be part of the working group. Experts in the field of interest may be
invited to participate in the meetings as consultative capacity. The
discussions will be focused on the status of actual Space Policy in
Europe and the Industry contribution. Consensus should be agreed within
the group to establish common terms of reference and position papers to
guide up further discussions.

The working Group shall meet at least once in a year or as considered
appropriate to discuss common problems and to develop cooperative
programmes.

The EARSC Board will assist in the working group formulation,
fund-raising and implementation. The working group shall report on its
work to the Board. Working Group shall attend and present the report of
the Working Group at the annual general session.

The EARSC secretariat shall be the coordinator in secretariat
matters; organizing meetings, providing professional advice and inputs,
facilitating the information flow and interaction between members and
the Board of Directors and following the smooth progress of information
exchange through recommendation, newsletters and reports.

Any member of the WG may propose an amendment to the terms of
reference, if approved by a consensus of the members in attendance.

The agenda may include: (a) exchange of information; (b) review of
activities and programmes; (c ) formulation of collaborative ideas; (d)
proposing a funding mechanism for implementing ideas of the position
papers; (e) endorsing an annual work plan and monitor its
implementation.

Functions

The topics focused upon in the Earth Observation policy discussion
group have been selected to start a brainstorming from a broad approach
to the subject and then progressively narrow down to the study of the
Earth Observation programme in Europe and more precisely the role of
Industry in this context. Below we list the general functions of the
working group.

to analyse questions and to select of interesting articles or
programmes raised by Bibliography concerning the European Space Policy,
with regard to the Global Monitoring and Environment Programme,
including; sustainable development and security.
to elaborate interesting activities for communication on different levels; from decision makers to final users
to make any recommendations or position papers that the WG-Space Policy
considers advisable by the discussion or via bibliography research.

List of topics:

Present concerns and scope of the space policy
Definition and Implementation of the European Space Programme
Institutional policy, regulatory and legal framework
Industry experiences and Industry´s needs
Synergy: policy, functions, organization, implementation
Added value of an EO European approach
Organisation of an European effort
Seventh Framework Programme
Use of Earth Observation for decision makers, education and public awareness
Pan European programme
Expertise required, availability, distributed design,
Our Future in Global programmes
Communication strategy