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Studying ground movements using its own PSInSAR™ technique

TRE has been awarded a major contract from the Regional Government of Lombardy (Northern Italy) to continue studying ground movements using its own PSInSAR™ technique.

As already carried out in a previous 2001-project, TRE will provide satellite-derived PS measures to monitor wide areas in Lombardy, threatened by ground deformations.

Now we will process both ERS1/2 historical archives (1992-2000) and up-to-date Radarsat data to obtain information suitable for land mapping and change detection.

Source TRE

SSF was formed in the early 1990s following a research project relating to the measurement of atmospheric ozone.

Since then, SSF have participated in several demanding scientific computation projects, most of which have related to software running at satellite ground stations in an automated processing environment. This includes several software components with near real-time requirements for the product generation. As the scientific algorithms implemented can also be quite complex, many of these projects have been computationally challenging.

The GOMOS Processing Facility contains data processors from Level 0 to 1b and 2 that use algorithms defined by the ESA Expert Support Laboratory (ESL). The main objective of the level 1 processing is to correct the GOMOS measurement data for all instrument effects before using the data for scientific atmosphere analysis. From these products, Level 2 products that contain atmospheric profiles of O3, H2O, NO2, NO3, and O2 are constructed. Auxiliary L2 products are air density, high-resolution temperature profiles and aerosol extinction coefficients. The Level 2 processing is accomplished through several inversion steps.
SSF have developed several Product Generation Executives (PGEs) for processing data from the OMI instrument.

These contain PGEs for creating the following Level 2 products:

• Ozone vertical column
• Cloud product
• NO2 vertical column
• Aerosol product
• Ozone profile

During the OMI PGE projects, SSF also developed a mathematical library containing several ‘general purpose’ functions that are common for the PGEs. These include linear and non-linear fitting functions, linear fitting using singular value decomposition, spline interpolation, n-dimensional linear interpolation and several small utility functions.

Source SSF

Skysoft has been awarded a contract by the European Space Agency to port and optimize the performance of the MERISAT tool

This tool generates the Look-Up-Tables which are used by the operational MERIS instrument processor in order to enhance overall processing performance.

The MERIS instrument is a programmable, medium-spectral resolution, imaging spectrometer operating in the solar reflective spectral range, and is one of the nine Earth-observation instruments on ENVISAT that gather information about the earth (land, water, ice, and atmosphere) using a variety of measurement principles.

The current version of the MERISAT tool is running on a SUN-SPARC workstation under the Solaris 2.6.x operating system with OpenWindows 3.x environment, and to assure its long-term maintainability this will be ported to a Linux operating system.

Source SKYSOFT

ReSAC was a subcontractor in a project related with the flood risk management using satellite information for a pilot region in Bulgaria. The project goals were to model high water level and to detect flooded area based on satellite images.

In the autumn of 2007 ReSAC participated in a pilot project for developing of a methodology and modeling application for forecasting of potential losses from Iskar river floods for the region of Novi Iskar, Bulgaria.

The main contractor of the project was Agency for Sustainable Development and Eurointegration – ASDE with subcontractors Remote Sensing Application Center – ReSAC and National Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology – NIMH.

The main beneficiary of the project is Sofia Municipality and the project was fulfilled with the coordination of the State Agency for Information Technologies and Communications – SAITC.

The pilot project is in relation with:

- Municipal program “Local Agenda 21”; – Annual program for participation of Bulgaria in the decision making process of EU (2007) – Scientific-applicable task of SAITC for risk management; – Bulgarian-French project “BULGARISK” for application of satellite images for risk management; – Pilot project for monitoring on the base of remote sensing, including fast-track services; – GMES Program; – URBAN-NET, FP6.

In the past couple of years ASDE and ReSAC are introducing and implementing in Bulgaria the good European practices in the area of risk management using satellite information. As a non-profit organizations ASDE and ReSAC are cooperating with numerous governmental, NGO, scientific and private organizations by forming public-private partnerships – PPP in order by optimal cooperation to fulfill better the tasks. The present project is an example of such partnership. The development of a methodology for estimating potential losses from floods aims not only to respond to the current European requirements, but also to respond the real practical problems, which occur in the area of Sofia Municipality during the floods in 2005 and 2006.

The project had the following tasks: – Developing of a methodology for flood simulation and analyses of potential losses, prediction of flooded area along Iskar river in the Novi Iskar region; – Integration of GIS information with satellite images; – Developing of a methodology for metadata for satellite images; – Testing of different DEMs for flood modeling.

The project followed the main principles from the new European directive for floods issued on 23th October 2007. The aim of the EU Flood Directive is to reduce and manage the risks that floods pose to human health, the environment, infrastructure and property. According to the EU Flood Directive, Member States will have to reduce flood risk for those areas where the risk is deemed significant. This is done by first determining the extent of flood risk (through flood hazard mapping and flood risk mapping). Consequently, objectives for flood risk reduction have to be established, as well as the measures that will be taken to reach these objectives. These are laid down in flood risk management plans.

The project shows also some of the GMES services for provision of information products for floods based on earth observation technologies.

The project area is of about 80 sq.km. and covers part of the Iskar river watershed in the Sofia Valley.

The project was focused on two big floods which occur in June and August 2005. In order to analyse the flooded area 4 satellite images were used:

Details Satellite
SPOT-5! Ikonos IRS LISS IRS LISS
Date 19/08/2004 16/06/2005 30/06/2005 12/08/2005
Spatial resolution 5 m 1 m 23 m 23 m

Map of the flooded areas: June-August 2005

Because the satellite images are used as a base for creation of different information products it is very important information for the source and processing of the images to be available, or so called metadata.

ReSAC, using part of the methodology of JRC/EC for metadata for satellite images created a modified templates by which to describe the processed images. These metadata include information about the raw image, geometric processing performed, and information about the GCPs, ICPs and orthorectification accuracy as well as information for the final product delivered.

The developed methodology is open for new modifications based on the new European rules for exchange and maintenance of spatial information, which is to be accepted in the next years.

Based on topographic maps and satellite images different GIS layers were created which to be used in the flood modeling such as:

- road network; – ditches and dikes; – river and channel network; – DEM in scale 1:5000

In order to model hydraulically the water flow the MIKE 11 software was used. The model was fed with various hidro-meteorological information from the National Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology: water levels, water quantities; meteorological data.

Because the DEM was prepared from topomaps which were not updated in the previous 15 years several cross sections were measured with precise instruments in the flooded area in order to obtain information for the riverbed and detailed information for the relief of the flood plain.

The model results were compared with the real flooded area digitized from the satellite images and this information was used to assess the types of land use flooded in June and August 2005.


Comparison between the model result and real flooded area based on satellite images (Ikonos and IRS LISS) for both floods

The good results from this pilot project will continue in a new project which to cover the whole Sofia Valey and all the main rivers which passes through it.

For more information:
Remote Sensing Application Center – ReSAC

As an ongoing series, RapidEye will keep you informed each quarter of how our service business provides solutions to customers worldwide…

Germany’s largest agricultural insurance company, Vereinigte Hagel, made the decision this year to provide crop insurance in Lithuania, and RapidEye helped to make this transition a success.

RapidEye is a long-term partner with Vereinigte Hagel, developing and implementing advanced geo-information based agro-insurance solutions. When asked to collaborate on the Lithuanian project to come up with an innovative IT solution, our software and data base experts were up to the challenge.

“We are extremely proud of our staff who worked side by side with people from Vereinigte Hagel, The Lithuanian Agri-Information and Rural Business Centre (VIC) and Munich RE to realize a very complex system in such a short time”, reported RapidEye’s Head of Product Development Dr. Frederik Jung-Rothenhäusler.

With the system elements RapidEye has developed, farmers in Lithuania can now apply for crop insurance or make claims on their policies entirely online. Vereinigte Hagel will then use the information this system garners in a web-based Management GIS (Geo- Information-System) tool giving them an overview of multi-regional crop insurance risks within Lithuania.

Source Rapideye

PCI Geomatics to support satellites WorldView-1 and TerraSAR-X / PCI Geomatics releases latest version of GeomaticaX / PCI Geomatics to support satellites WorldView-1 and TerraSAR-X along with improvements for ALOS

*PCI Geomatics to support satellites WorldView-1 and TerraSAR-X *

PCI Geomatics, a world-leading developer of software and solutions for geospatial imaging applications, is pleased to announce its support of image products from the satellites WorldView-1 and TerraSAR-X, and enhanced coverage for ALOS (Advanced Land Observing Satellite) in the form of additional JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) files support.

“PCI Geomatics remains at the forefront of the geospatial industry by providing software to enable our customers to utilize the best sensors currently available,” said Michael Agnes, Director of Software Sales, PCI Geomatics. “With each release of our software, our list of supported sensors has grown, and we are delighted to include WorldView-1 and TerraSAR-X to this list.”

PCI Geomatics will support the satellites via data import, orthorectification models, image mosaics and advanced data fusion techniques (including pan sharpening) as well as stereo DEM generation.

Increased Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) file support includes import and orthocorrection of JAXA Level 1.5 PALSAR data.
More info

PCI Geomatics releases latest version of GeomaticaX

PCI Geomatics is pleased to announce the latest release of GeomaticaX, a toolkit for creating customized workflows and automated processing chains, using Python scripting language and C++ and Java programming languages.

This latest release of GeomaticaX consists of version 1.2 of PCI Geomatics’ Professional Software Development Kit (ProSDK), and a suite of ProPacks. Each ProPack contains a set of software components that address specific geomatics application areas including orthorectification, mosaicking, elevation extraction, and pansharpening and extends the capabilities of the ProSDK. These software components represent PCI Geomatics’ core technology and are called PCI Pluggable Functions (PPFs).

The ProSDK version 1.2 offers a flexible development environment and more accessible functionality. The new ProPacks support hyperspectral analysis, layer-to-layer conversion, an ALOS and CARTOSAT model and more. These additions complement the suite of existing solution technology such as our enterprise data support and file format support (NITF).

“This ProSDK and ProPacks release has over twice as many PPFs as the version 1.1 release and the amount of automated, repeatable testing applied to this product has increased along with its size in order to maintain a high level of quality,” said Dr. Richard Pollock, Director of Research and Development at PCI Geomatics.

GeomaticaX is available for Windows XP and Linux. PCI Geomatics is a world-leading developer of software and solutions for geospatial imaging applications, and our Professional Services Group is available to deliver straightforward solutions that incorporate ProSDK and ProPacks software into your prerequisites.

For more information on ProSDK and ProPacks, visit

PCI Geomatics to support satellites WorldView-1 and TerraSAR-X along with improvements for ALOS

PCI Geomatics, a world-leading developer of software and solutions for geospatial imaging applications, is pleased to announce its support of image products from the satellites WorldView-1 and TerraSAR-X, and enhanced coverage for ALOS (Advanced Land Observing Satellite) in the form of additional JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) files support.

“PCI Geomatics remains at the forefront of the geospatial industry by providing software to enable our customers to utilize the best sensors currently available,” said Michael Agnes, Director of Software Sales, PCI Geomatics. “With each release of our software, our list of supported sensors has grown, and we are delighted to include WorldView-1 and TerraSAR-X to this list.”

PCI Geomatics will support the satellites via data import, orthorectfication models, image mosaics and advanced data fusion techniques (including pan sharpening) as well as stereo DEM generation.

Increased Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) file support includes import and orthocorrection of JAXA Level 1.5 PALSAR data.

Owned and operated by Digital Globe, WorldView-1 was recently launched to provide highly detailed imagery for precise map creation, change detection and in-depth image analysis. WorldView-1 is a panchromatic imaging system featuring half-meter resolution imagery.

TerraSAR-X is an earth observation satellite that uses an X-band SAR to provide high-quality topographic information for commercial and scientific applications. Infoterra holds the exclusive commercial exploitation rights.
For more information.

About PCI Geomatics
PCI Geomatics is a world-leading developer of geospatial software, specializing in remote sensing, digital photogrammetry, spatial analysis, cartographic production, and, more recently, automated production systems. Today, with our trusted Geomatica® brand, PCI Geomatics provides all the image-centric solutions necessary to meet the expectations of a large and expanding industry. Since 1982, the company and its reputation have continued to grow as a result of innovative leadership, strong technology partnerships, active geomatics community involvement, and a dedication to earn the trust of customers who use PCI Geomatics.

For more information
pcigeomatics
Press Contact
Alysia Vetter
Marketing Communications Specialist
Tel: 819-770-0022, Ext. 233
Fax: 819-770-0098
Email: vetter@pcigeomatics.com

Complex ARDS transmission system to be extended with three new contracts worth around EUR 9 million

Bremen-based space and high-tech company OHB-System AG has received three new contracts for the radio transmission of high-resolution aerial reconnaissance images.

The first contract entails a high-rate data link system for the revolutionary new system AGILES UAV. OHB will be supplying a broad-band data link known as ARDS (Aerial Reconnaissance Data System). This link has been initiated as part of the German Federal Government’s Research and Technology Program and developed and readied for the market by OHB over the past few years using its own funds. Under the terms of the new contract, ARDS will be modified and qualified for AGILES UAV and assembled for system demonstration by the customer EADS Military Air Systems. “The use of ARDS for this system marks a major step in the deployment of unmanned observation and reconnaissance vehicles in Germany and Europe,” stresses Wilfried Wetjen, head of Aerial Reconnaissance Systems at OHB. In addition, ARDS is currently the only way of achieving the necessary image and information quality for reconnaissance and observation tasks without any delay.

The other two contracts aim to demonstrate the capabilities of “real-time broad-based reconnaissance” over a distance of some 400 km for the German Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement BWB. To this end, OHB’s own reconnaissance vehicle will be converted into an airborne relay radio station to increase the ranges from a current 250 km to the 400 km being sought. The use of an airborne radio relay ensures reliable communications between at least two stations, between which a direct link is normally not possible on account of the earth’s curvature or obstacles such as mountains.

Under the second contract awarded by BWB, OHB will be assembling aircraft equipment for testing and demonstrating real-time reconnaissance capabilities. Here as well, the ARDS high-rate data transmission system will be integrated. It will be supplemented with sensors of the type required for reconnaissance work as well as a modern data compression system, which is a proprietary OHB-System development.

In order to demonstrate real-time reconnaissance quickly, the overall system will include commercially available components which can be combined with existing subsystems. “This system will be closing a technological gap,” explains Wilfried Wetjen, “as in the future it will be possible not only to engage in military reconnaissance but also to ensure broad-based monitoring of shipping to reduce the risks caused by accidents at sea or pollution.” For OHB-System, these contracts constitute a further key milestone in its aerial monitoring and reconnaissance technology program.

Please direct any inquiries to OHB-System AG
Communication & Public Relations
Danela Sell
phone: +49 421 – 2020-620
fax: +49 421- 2020-700
mail: sell@ohb-system.de

During 2006 and 2007, NPA have added large volumes of new data to our Global Offshore Seep Database in a variety of basins across the world.

For the remainder of 2007, NPA will continue to add new data by screening several large areas, as indicated by the yellow-shaded areas in our global coverage map. The focus area will be in East Asia (Area 10), to provide 100% coverage of China and Korea waters and Arctic Russia (Area 8) with an initial focus on the prospective Laptev Sea and the North Sakhalin and Okhotsk Sea regions.

In parallel, NPA will be providing seep screening projects for on-going or planned licencing rounds. To date, NPA have compiled a number of licence-specific studies combining existing and new data,
More info at NPA

MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (TSX: MDA), a provider of essential information solutions, announced today that it will receive $2 million CAD to modernize the processing of land information requests coming from the National Land Information Service (NLIS) to Babergh District Council in Eastern England.

The NLIS modernization initiative aims to significantly decrease response time for land and property information requests to Local Authorities. As part of this initiative, Babergh District Council will enable requests coming from NLIS to be processed primarily on an electronic basis, dramatically reducing the delivery time. The project has other significant benefits in the modernization of land and property information and systems, including enhanced interfaces and mapping facilities, as well as improving the efficiency of the Land Charge Service in Babergh and speeding up the search process.

Other Local Authorities that are undergoing, or have undergone, modernization through MDA’s NLIS program in the U.K. include Slough, Liverpool, Telford & Wrekin, South Norfolk, Canterbury, Sandwell, Waveney, Bolton, Redcar and Cleveland, Bromsgrove and Stockport.
About MDA

MDA provides advanced information solutions that capture and process vast amounts of data, produce essential information, and improve the decision making and operational performance of business and government organizations worldwide.

Focused on markets and customers with strong repeat business potential, MDA delivers a broad spectrum of earth and space based information solutions, ranging from complex operational systems, to tailored information services, to electronic information products.

MDA employs more than 3,000 people in locations across the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. The Company’s common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol TSX:MDA.
Related Websites:
www.mdacorporation.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements and information, which reflect the current view of MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. with respect to future events and financial performance. Any such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and MDA’s actual results of operations could differ materially from historical results or current expectations. Additional information on these and other potential factors that could affect MDA’s financial results are detailed in documents filed from time to time with the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities.

The Toronto Stock Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the form or content of this release.
For more information, please contact:

Wendy Keyzer
MDA External Relations
Telephone: 604-231-2743
E-mail: wendy@mdacorporation.com

LogicaCMG hosted a roundtable forum on 8th November 2007 in London, to discuss UK involvement in GMES, a major European satellite initiative to address climate change.

LogicaCMG hosted a roundtable forum on 8th November 2007 in London, to discuss UK involvement in a major European satellite initiative to address climate change – Global Monitoring for the Environment and Security (GMES). The panel was chaired by John Higgins, Director General of Intellect, and included some renowned experts from a range of industries:

Rt Hon Michael Jack MP – the Conservative MP for Fylde and Chairman of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee.

Professor Alan O’Neill – Professor of Meteorology at Reading University and director of the National Centre for Earth Observation (NCEO).

Stuart Martin – Director of LogicaCMG’s Space and Satellite Communications business.

Professor David Crichton – consultant, author and lecturer specialising in the impact of climate change on insurance.


GMES panel

A video recording the highlights of the discussion can be viewed at this link

The video is in Windows Media Player format. If you are unable to view it, you can download Windows Media Player

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About LogicaCMG

LogicaCMG is a major international force in IT and business services. It employs around 39,000 people across 41 countries. LogicaCMG’s focus is on enabling its customers to build and maintain leadership positions using LogicaCMG’s deep industry knowledge and its track record for successful delivery. The company provides business consulting, systems integration and IT and business process outsourcing across diverse markets including telecoms and media, financial services, energy and utilities, industry, distribution and transport and the public sector. Headquartered in Europe, LogicaCMG is listed on both the London Stock Exchange and Euronext (Amsterdam) (LSE:LOG; Euronext:LOG) and traded on the Xternal List of the Nordic Exchange in Stockholm. More information