Skip to content

An ESA-backed project has demonstrated how Earth observation satellites can assist in the cross compliance measures – a set of environmental and animal welfare standards that farmers have to respect to receive full funding from the European Union – included in the 2003 reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy.

Using very high resolution (VHR) satellite images for monitoring whether land is safeguarded in Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC), as outlined within the cross-compliance framework, ensures subsidies are distributed in a fair and timely manner and helps farmers complete subsidy applications more accurately.
High resolution satellites as well as aerial photography have been used for some time to monitor areas where subsidies are provided. VHR Earth observation (EO) satellites, however, offer more detail compared with HR satellites and are capable of identifying various landscape features and detecting potential erosion, tillage practices and maintenance of pastures.
Under the GAEC standards implemented in some countries, farmers cannot remove certain landscape features, including hedges, tree rows, water ponds, walls and single trees, without authorisation of national administration in order to preserve habitats for different organisms and species.
By using special classification procedures on VHR satellite images, identification of these landscape features is possible. In combination with digital aerial images, even single trees can be delineated. By comparing older and recent images of these same areas with the processed ‘reference landscape feature’ layer, the removal of these features can be detected.
To protect soils against erosion risks and improve soil structure, the GAEC as applied in some countries, states farmers must establish an ‘environmental cover’ for a buffer width, stipulated by the country itself (e.g. 5 metres), around waterways on all parcels adjacent to waterways to restrict diffuse pollution in waters and soils.
Pastures, permanent crops, woods, hedges and paths are considered ‘environmental cover’, while mainly arable land and crops are not. Because satellite images allow for the interpretation of agricultural parcels, compliancy can be easily detected. Photo interpretation by remote sensing speeds up the process and allows many parcels to be checked in one time.
Tillage practices are also important for reducing erosion as they can reduce the runoff of water across the land surface. The GAEC stipulates that farmers have to plough or plant parallel to contour lines to avoid erosion on slopes more than or equal to a certain percentage defined by the country (e.g. slope of 10 percent).
By detecting parcels within this slope range, detecting the slope direction and the ploughing or planting direction, it is possible to calculate the angle between the slope and ploughing direction, taking into account the soil-sensitivity to erosion, and determine whether the farmer is compliant.
In order to receive subsidies for permanent crops, the GAEC requires that farmers properly maintain them. Using VHR images, the distinction between crops that are ‘maintained good’ and crops that are ‘possibly maintained badly’ can be detected, allowing authorities to visit the fields in question to detect whether they are abandoned or neglected.
This project was funded by ESA’s Earth Observation Market Development (EOMD) programme, aimed at fostering the development of EO data within business practices, and carried out by EUROSENSE, a company that specialises in remote sensing.
(Source ESA)

Satellite Services BV: Vacancies

Company Background
At present, due to company expansion, Satellite Services B.V. have openened a number of new positions throughout different areas of the company.
General
Satellite Services B.V. is a High-Tech Space Small Medium Enterprise (SME) that specialises on working in the international aerospace industry.
Within the company, a culture of team-work, flexibility and dedication to the company and its customers exists. Being a small company, employees are generally involved across different domains with freedom for further self-exploration and development.
Positions Available
At the moment, a number of new positions are available within Satellite Services B.V. The positions are across the different disciplines of the company and range from hardware/software engineering to quality engineering and marketing development support.
At present, the following positions are open:
• Hardware Engineer
• Software Engineer
• Test Engineer
• RF/modem Engineer
• Quality Engineer
• Marketing & Business development assistant
Contact
We encourage people with an experience and background into any of the above positions to submit a C.V. preferrably in the English language to: employment@satserv.nl
This address can also be used for more information. The contact person within Satellite Services B.V. is Miss Antoinette van Leyden. She can also be reached via telephone at: +31 71 402 8120.

Spacemetric has established a dedicated sales presence in the UK in response to the increasingly international profile of its customers and partners.

To run the UK-based sales activities, Spacemetric has appointed Ian Spence as Sales & Marketing Director. Ian has over 15 years’ experience in the Earth observation industry, including periods working at ESRIN and in senior business development roles in Sweden and the UK. Most recently he worked at EADS Astrium’s subsidiary Infoterra Ltd with responsibility for space sector business development.
Spacemetric is a Swedish company providing image supply solutions for satellite and airborne imagery. Customers include the European Space Agency, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd, the National Aerospace Laboratory in the Netherlands, the Swedish National Land Survey and the Swedish National Space Board.
Contact:
Lars-Åke Edgardh,
CEO
Spacemetric AB
Email: lae@spacemetric.com
Tel: +46 8 594 770 80
Ian Spence,
Sales & Marketing Director
International Sales Office,UK
Email: is@spacemetric.com
Tel: +44 207 100 36060
(Source Spacemetric)

STARLAB is the main service provider for the ESA- MarCoast GMES project in Spain (led by Alcatel Alenia Space).

The services provided are two:
The Oil Spill service is a Routine Surveillance of Spanish waters based on near real time oil spill detection using Envisat SAR images. The service also includes the integration of SAR Oil Spill detection with AIS (Automatic Identification System) in order to allow the user the identification of potential polluters, as well as additional relevant met-ocean information.
The service is targeted to National users like Sasemar, as well as to regional users depending on the areas covered in the different deployment phases.
The Water Quality service is a Routine Surveillance of Spanish waters based on ocean previsions from the Mercator-Ocean model. The service provides different marine indexes allowing the user to better obtain ocean characterization, and prevent potential arrival of harmful algae blooms (HABs) related to upwelling events. Maps of temperature fronts and horizontal currents are proposed as well as vertical currents.
The service is targeted to regional users (i.e.: INTECMAR, Instituto Tecnológico para el Control del Medio Marino en Galicia) depending on the areas covered in the different deployment phases.
STARLAB is a SME company that develops new technologies and service concepts, and promotes new technology markets.
www.starlab.es
www.gmes-marcoast.com
marcoast.starlab.net
(Source Starlab)

TRE news

SIMCAT™, Satellite IMagery CATalog
TRE is working on different tools to complement its range of PS service products.
SIMCAT™ – Satellite IMagery CATalog - is a new proprietary TRE software that allows users to find out how many satellite SAR images have been acquired over an area of interest (AOI).
The visualization of results is supported by the Google Earth™ platform and is easy to use . The user defines the AOI using the Google Earth™ interface and then downloads the archive – a list of images acquired by the ERS1, ERS2, ENVISAT and RADARSAT satellites – directly on to the Google Earth™ map (see http://maps.treuropa.com/).
To access SIMCAT™, users need a login code and password. These can be requested at simcat@treuropa.com.
SIMCAT™ is available to both our existing and future clients.
The tool allows the user to identify, independently, whether a PS archive exists for an area. This could be preferred over making direct enquiries to TRE.
Maps: the new platform for visualizing PSInSAR™ maps
Always downloadable onto Geographical Information System, PS data are now available on Google Maps ™ platform thanks to a new application developed by TRE.
Clicking on http://maps.treuropa.com and choosing the “Naples” or “Palo Alto” frame, it is possible to have an example of how this new tool works: PS information (i.e . position and displacement value) will appear by clicking on the “PSInSAR™ viewer” button and will be superimposed on a Google Maps ™ satellite layer.
We are confident that “Maps” makes PS easier to visualize and will bring people to use PS information through a simple browser in the future.
Of course, we are speaking about a starting application with a great potential.
In the next few months, we are going to add other data-sets, obtained by processing different typologies of satellite images (ERS, Envisat, Radarsat, etc.) over different new areas.
From the same interface it is also possible to access the SIMCAT tool. Designed by TRE too, it allows the visualization of catalog satellite images (ERS, Envisat, Radarsat) over a selected area within a Google Earth ™ environment.
(Source TRE)

The European Space Agency (ESA) has selected Thales Alenia Space Italy to be the prime contractor for a C-band radar Earth observation satellite called Sentinel-1 to be launched in 2011 under a manufacturing contract valued at 229 million euros ($309 million), according to European government and industry officials.

Thales Alenia Space Italy bested a competing bid from Astrium Satellites’ German division for the contract, which will be the first spacecraft built for Europe’s Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) program.
GMES is co-funded by ESA and the European Commission.
Sentinel-1 is expected to weigh around 2,200 kilograms at launch and to carry a C-band synthetic-aperture radar to image the Earth in swaths of 240 kilometers in diameter with a ground resolution of between 5 and 8 meters.
Sentinel-1 originally was to be launched in 2010, in time to assure data continuity for users who until then will count on the continued health of the large Envisat radar satellite. ESA officials have said Envisat, launched in March 2002, should be able to remain healthy until 2010.
(Source Space.com)

Training course in surveillance and reconnaissance

Spot Image is holding a one-week training course in June 2007 for image analysts wishing to learn more about the contribution of the new FORMOSAT-2 and KOMPSAT-2 Earth observation satellites in the areas of surveillance and reconnaissance.

Course objectives:
By the end of the course, trainees will have gained the knowledge they need to:
• Manage the fundamental aspects of image analysis for surveillance and reconnaissance
• Analyse high- and very high-resolution imagery
• Interpret KOMPSAT-2 imagery to detect and identify objects
• Interpret FORMOSAT-2 revisit imagery to detect changes
Course requirements:
The course is aimed at people who already have a good grasp of the basic principles of Earth observation
Dates and venue:
Monday 11 to Friday 15 June 2007
Spot Image’s premises in Toulouse, France
Cost:
2,000 euros per trainee for the week
For more information and enrolment:
training@spotimage.fr
(deadline to enrol : 12th May 2007
(Source Spotimage)

SciSys, a leading provider of software services, has announced a major contract from EADS Astrium GmbH to develop on-board satellite software for the three-satellite Swarm mission, a key part in the European Space Agency‘s Living Planet programme.

(February 2007) The objective of Swarm is to provide the best ever survey of the geomagnetic field and its evolution over time, and so gain new insights into improving our knowledge of the Earth’s interior and climate. Resulting geomagnetic field models will improve our understanding of atmospheric processes related to climate and weather and will also have practical applications in many different areas, such as for example, ocean circulation, space weather, and radiation hazards.
The Swarm concept consists of a constellation of three satellites in three different polar orbits between 400 and 550 km altitude. High-precision and high-resolution measurements of the strength and direction of the magnetic field will be provided by each satellite. The satellites will be launched in 2009.
The SciSys on-board software will be responsible for controlling the precise orbit and attitude of each Swarm satellite as well as handling all of their communications with the ground segment. SciSys will be involved throughout all the stages of the Swarm development, from the initial software architecture and definition of the requirements, through integration of the software on-site with the processor hardware supplier in Italy, to supporting system level testing.
“We are delighted to have been chosen to provide the key software for this important programme and welcome the opportunity to continue our close relationship with the teams at EADS Astrium and ESA” said Alan Batten, the Space Business Manager at SciSys.
The SciSys team also confirmed that they have been contracted by Laben to develop the Test Application Software as part of the On-board Computer development for the Swarm mission.
About SciSys:
SciSys plc (formerly Science Systems) is a leading global developer of IT services, e-Business and advanced technology solutions, renowned for quality and efficiency. The company operates in a broad spectrum of market sectors including space, defence, public sector, communication, business services and transport. Within these markets, SciSys has been involved in significant developments in key technologies that have changed the way people do their jobs. SciSys clients are predominantly blue chip, government and quasi-government organisations. Customers include the Environment Agency, Ministry of Defence, Astrium, Rural Payments Agency, European Space Agency and the Metropolitan Police.
For more information, please contact:
Chris Lee
SciSys Ltd
Tel: +44 (0)1249 466466
Chris.Lee@scisys.co.uk
(Source SciSys)

Company names Joel Campbell as Vice President and General Manager USA and David Fullerton as Vice President Worldwide Professional Services

(March 2007) Definiens AG, the number one Enterprise Image Intelligence company, is gearing up for more growth and has formally announced the expansion of its American and global management team. A veteran of GIS modelling and mapping software and technology, Joel Campbell has joined Definiens as Vice President and General Manager USA. Definiens has also appointed David Fullerton as Vice President Worldwide Professional Services. These two key executives supplement the leadership team and demonstrate Definiens’ commitment to the life and earth sciences markets on a global level.
“By adding two experienced professionals to the Definiens management team, we now have more expertise that will pilot us into a successful 2007 and beyond,” said Thomas Heydler, Definiens’ CEO.“ These two leaders bring a tremendous amount of critical knowledge and business perspective that is highly advantageous as we execute on our corporate strategy.”
Joel Campbell, who joined Definiens in 2006, is responsible for the companies operations in USA, focussing on the growth of the company‘s life and earth sciences business in the Americas. He brings over 20 years of experience in the IT industry with him and operated his own consulting firm in the geospatial industry prior to his engagement with Definiens. Mr. Campbell also spent over a decade at Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI), serving as Director of US Sales and Manager of the Washington, DC regional office. He was educated in broadcast communications at the University of Maryland and spent 10 years in various positions in the commercial television industry before beginning his career in GIS and information technology.
David Fullerton brings more than 20 years of professional services experience to Definiens and will focus on global customer service activities and engagements. He has led worldwide professional services, support, and training for a number of enterprise technology companies. Previously with Documentum, Mr. Fullerton headed the professional services organization, creating worldwide service centers for consulting, training, and technical support. He also served in a variety of marketing and services roles with Hewlett-Packard. Mr. Fullerton is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University where he holds a degree in Applied Mathematics. He also studied Electrical Engineering at the University of Michigan.
In the second half of 2006, Definiens appointed Peter Rau as Chief Financial Officer and Rene Hermes as Vice President Marketing. With today‘s announcement, Definiens has rounded off its executive management team as the company continues its dynamic growth. Ranked as one of Deloitte‘s “Fast 50”, the Enterprise Image Intelligence company is one of Germany‘s fastest-growing technology companies with a total of eighty employees at its corporate headquarters in Munich, Germany and in its branch offices in the United States.
About Definiens
Definiens is the number one Enterprise Image Intelligence company for analyzing and interpreting images on every scale, from microscopic cell structures to satellite images.
Definiens patented Cognition Network technology has been developed by Nobel Laureate, Prof. Dr. Gerd Binnig and serves as the base of the Definiens eCognition™ platform. The advanced and robust platform is designed to fulfill the image analysis demands of the Earth Sciences and Life Sciences markets. Every industry today relies on digital images which hold a wealth of valuable information. To date, extracting value has been a time-consuming and largely manual task and the volume of image data is growing substantially.
Definiens’ unique Cognition Network Technology offers a highly automated approach to extracting context-sensitive intelligence from image data. The technology is completely different to conventional data analysis because it is modeled on human cognitive processes.
As a result, enterprises can extract fast, accurate, cost effective and consistent insight and intelligence from their images.
Definiens is headquartered in Munich, Germany and has offices throughout the United States.
Definiens, Definiens Cellenger, Definiens Cognition Network Technology, Definiens eCognition, Enterprise Image Intelligence and Understanding Images are trademarks or registered trademarks of Definiens. All other names are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
Press contacts
Definiens AG
Rene Hermes, Vice President Marketing
rhermes@definiens.com
+49 (0)89 231180-11
Lucy Turpin
Communications GmbH
Nina Wenske
PR & MarCom Manager
definiens@lucyturpin.com
+ 49 (0)89 417761-13
(Source Definiens)

EDISOFT is part of the service providers’ consortium that will be responsible for the development of CleanSeaNet, the European operational system for satellite monitoring and detection of illegal discharges and accidental oil spills at sea.

CleanSeaNet is a European operational system for satellite detection of oil slicks. EDISOFT is part of the service providers consortium that will be responsible for the downloading, processing, analysis and dissemination of the images and derived information, including alerts, to participating coastal states and to the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). The other members of the consortium are Kongsberg Satellite Services AS (Norway) and Telespazio s.p.A (Italy).
CleanSeaNet will provide EU Member States with processed satellite data for the monitoring and detection of illegal discharges and accidental oil spills at sea. The service will begin operating in mid-April 2007 and will provide analysed images from ENVISAT and RADARSAT satellites. A network of receiving stations in Norway, Italy and the Azores (the latter as of 2008) will receive the satellite data, which will then be relayed to control centres for rapid processing and analysis by trained operators. The operators will assess the images generated, together with external meteorological information, to determine the likelihood of the presence of oil on the sea surface and the source of the pollution. The processed and analysed information will then be sent simultaneously to the national authorities in the affected Member States and to EMSA. The time from data acquisition by the satellite to the receipt of processed information by pollution control authorities will be a maximum of 30 minutes.
EMSA has signed a contract with Eurimage SpA, which is the authorised commercial licence distributor for ASAR (Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar) images from the European Space Agency (ESA) ENVISAT satellite. For access to RADARSAT data, a contract has been signed with MDA, which is the holder of the distribution rights to Canada‘s RADARSAT-1 satellite and to the future RADARSAT-2 satellite, which is to be launched later this year.
The scope and aims of the service are to provide:
• a European satellite surveillance system for detecting oil slicks at sea, which will be operational from mid-April 2007, and which can respond to requests from all EU and EFTA coastal states and the European Commission.
• a system that is linked to national and regional response chains, and which strengthens operational pollution response when dealing with accidental and deliberate discharges from ships.
• coastal states with the ability to locate and identify polluters in areas under their jurisdiction. They will have access to satellite images and associated information over the web, and will receive alerts when potential slicks are identified.
• geographical coverage of the following sea regions:
- Baltic Sea.
- North Sea and areas around UK, Norway and Iceland.
- West European waters from English Channel to Gibraltar.
- Mediterranean Sea.
- Western Black Sea. – Canary Islands and Atlantic EEZ (from 2008).
(Source Edisoft)