Skip to content

Name Change

Saab AB (publ) (“Saab”) as of September 1, 2006 has acquired forty (40) percent of the shares in Saab Ericsson Space AB (the Company”) from Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ) tp the effect that Saab noe owns all of the shares in the Company. As consequence of said transaction the Company has changd its name to:
Saab Space AB
The ownership and name chane will not in any impact our ongoing or potential future business relationship
(Source Saab Space AB)

Kongsberg Spacetec is doing a major upgrade on the Ship Detection System based on SAR/Radar data.

The project is a cooperation between the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI), Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI), NORUT IT and Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT).
New features will include usage of SLC products, super-resolution, ice/ship discrimination and tracking. The upgraded is planned available Q1 2008.
Related content

Spacedat has implemented the first monitoring system to measure the Coastal Erosion and Dune health of the Province of Lecce in the south of Italy.

The innovative system “SIMON COSTA” integrates high resolution satellite images with aerial photos and high precision GPS data to provide precise and updated information about the erosion processes.
This system provides policy makers and environmental managers with an operational tool to analyse the effects of natural events (climate change) or human activities. SIMON COSTA provides with the information on where to apply coastal restoration techniques, as well as, being able to monitor the efficiency of previous coastal management activities like offshore breakwater or sand dune stabilization techniques.
The system could be replicated to monitor the coasts of most parts of the world considering its cost efficiency, the possibility to cover wide coastal areas in short periods of time, thus using the highest accuracy and precision provided by latest technology.
Spacedat s.r.l.
Via Duca degli Abruzzi 57, Lecce 73100
www.spacedat.com
Tel./Fax: (0039) 0832.30.85.05
info@spacedat.com
(Source Spacedat)

Spot Image’s International Conference on November in Toulouse, France, attracted 440 attendees from 60 countries

This regular rendezvous gives Spot Image’s customers, prospects and partners—some of whom have been with us for more than 20 years—the chance to express their geoinformation needs and share their experiences. The first day of the conference was devoted to presenting Spot Image’s business development strategy, highlighting recent and ongoing key projects as well as the company’s diverse range of activities, products and solutions.
In addition to imagery from the constellation of 3 SPOT satellites, Spot Image distributes products and solutions from its international satellite operator partners worldwide:
• Daily revisit imagery from the FORMOSAT-2 satellite, operated by Taiwan’s National Space Organization (NSPO)
• Metric-resolution products from the KOMPSAT-2 satellite, launched in July by the Korean Aerospace Research Institute (KARI)
• Radar imagery from the European Space Agency’s ERS-2 and Envisat satellites
Lastly, Infoterra GmbH was also on hand to present future products from its metric-resolution radar satellite TerraSAR-X, scheduled for launch early next year
2006 Spot Image International Conference
Such solutions designed to meet a broad spectrum of requirements—from the supply of optical and radar imagery to comprehensive packages including technology transfer and telemetry reception infrastructures—make Spot Image and its subsidiaries the undisputed leader in the geoinformation market. Indeed, it is the only supplier with a 20-year global imagery archive, at all resolutions from 20 metres to 2.5 metres.
The round-table discussion on new Web GIS trends and realities, mediated by Peter FitzGibbon from the trade magazine GeoConnexion, brought proceedings for the 1st day of the conference to a close. In the evening, delegates attended a gala dinner at the Toulouse multimedia library.
On the 2nd day, users of Spot Image’s products and solutions shared their experiences at two concurrent application-focused sessions. Both sessions were held in front of an audience, which showed a keen interest throughout, asking lots of questions and recounting lessons they had learned.
This kind of interactivity is bound to foster mutual opportunities for Spot Image and all its partners present at the conference, for the benefit of users in mapping, surveillance and security, maritime applications and coastal surveillance, energy and civil engineering, agriculture and forestry, the environment and natural hazard mitigation. All these areas were covered on the 2nd day.
Participants had plenty of opportunities to mingle over the two-day event, especially in the main concourse of the Diagora conference centre, where 10 exhibitors were present. One of the products on show here was a test version of the new Sirius Online imagery catalogue on the central Spot Image stand. This new catalogue will be ready to roll out early next year.
At the closing cocktail reception, attendees were already looking forward to the next conference in 2008. By then, the Pleiades 1 and 2 VHR satellites will be set to come on stream and sustain Spot Image’s continuous efforts to evolve its products and services and advance its ability to deliver ever-more-innovative solutions.
(Source Spot Image)

Starlab, a private independent company seeking to transform
science into disruptive services and technologies, has opened a spinoff
at ESTEC, the European Space Agency (ESA) facilities in Noordwijk,
The Netherlands.

The objective of the new company, named
Star2Earth, is to develop and commercialize innovative instruments for
Earth Observation based on GNSS technologies. The first one of these products is Oceanpal, an instrument
developed at Starlab for operational remote sensing of the sea surface,
with potential applications to soil moisture, river surface
characterization, and snow/ice mapping.
Oceanpal, which is already operational at Barcelona harbor (data
available at http://coeli.oceanpal.net/), uses GNSS reflected signals
to infer properties of the water surface, such as wave height or sea
level. This instrument can be deployed not only on static platforms but
can also be used for airborne campaigns.
Star2Earth’s team will closely work with ESA experts and use its
facilities to further validate the sensor and to prepare it for the future
GALILEO GPS constellation. The cooperation with the European Space
Agency will also permit an easier access to Dutch and European
markets.
(Source Starlab)

Telspazio presents “The Love Planet Earth” Calendar and “Virtual Rome” Project launched.

Telespazio presents its 2007 Calendar, “Love Planet Earth”
Telespazio is proud to present its 2007 calendar, “Love Planet Earth” which this year has an environmental theme. With the help of magnificent high-resolution satellite images, the calendar aims to highlight some of the phenomena that are threatening the Earth’s natural equilibrium.
Seen from space, our planet looks incredibly beautiful yet at the same time extremely fragile. Despite their beauty, the photos of Gilkey Glacier, the Colorado River, the Amazon rain forest, the Saudi Arabian desert, Funafuti Atoll in the Pacific Ocean and the sprawling Mexico City reveal, with an intentionally dramatic contrast, phenomena such as melting ice, desiccation of river basins, deforestation, desertification, rising sea levels and population explosion in our cities.
The images selected, in all their emotive resonance, will accompany us throughout the year, and help us all to love and respect our planet.
“Virtual Rome” project launched with high-resolution pictures provided by Telespazio
The most ambitious project to reconstruct Imperial Rome in 3D has now been launched, and will use the latest technology available to the National Research Council’s Virtual Heritage Lab, Seat PG’s new PagineGialle Visual multimedia web platform and the high-resolution aerial and satellite orthophotos provided by Telespazio.
The new partnership between Seat Pagine Gialle and the National Research Council’s Virtual Heritage Lab was unveiled during “From Space To Place”, the world’s most important conference on remote sensing applications and digital technology in archaeology. The alliance centres on the Virtual Rome project, the most ambitious virtual scientific reconstruction of Imperial Rome, based on the three-dimensional modelling of the present and past territory using 3dGIS software.
The initiative uses cartographic data acquired through aerial orthophotos, satellite pictures and the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) provided by Telespazio and georeferenced data to reconstruct the ancient landscape. By using this information as a basis to describe and visualise the area, the main monuments of the Imperial Forums around Via Appia and Via Flaminia Antica will be reconstructed and modelled in 3D.
(Source Telespazio)

The European Commission has selected the consortium led by Thales to develop OSIRIS, the first integrated service of the GMES programme (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security).

One of Europe’s flagship programmes after Galileo, GMES will create an EU-wide capability to acquire, analyse, process and distribute information in support of European environment and security directives.
From 2008, GMES will provide services based on data from satellites and a range of in-situ sensors including seismographs, water analysers and air analysers to improve Europe’s environment and, in turn, the quality of life for its citizens.
With a total budget of €11 million, the OSIRIS* project calls for the definition, development and testing of an integrated real-time surveillance and crisis management system. The system will significantly enhance Europe’s ability to monitor environmental crises and manage and coordinate related operations and emergency responses.
The programme is structured around three key areas: accidental air pollution in urban areas, unexpected water pollution in drainage basins, and forest fires.
The proposed architecture is open and scalable to allow for easy integration of new data from satellites and other sources to further improve the quality of service.
The OSIRIS programme is a prime illustration of the integrated services concept underpinning the European GMES system. GMES will provide the secure information and communication system architecture needed to deliver functions ranging from earth observation to end user services.
Thales’s broad experience as a prime contractor for complex large-scale projects involving multiple technologies and contributors (research centres, industry, institutions, etc.) and its recognised expertise in critical information systems were decisive factors in the decision to award the OSIRIS contract to the Thales-led consortium.
The European Commission considers the OSIRIS project as the “cornerstone of what will be a highly integrated and effective European information system dedicated to the environment”. “OSIRIS is the GMES system‘s first operational building brick. We’re extremely proud to have this opportunity to contribute to Europe’s future as a leading force in environmental management and security,” said Luc Fonda, Director of the GMES programme office at Thales.
Notes to editors
*OSIRIS: Open architecture for Smart and Interoperable networks in Risk management based on In-situ Sensors
About Thales
Thales is a leading international electronics and systems group serving defence, aerospace and security markets worldwide, supported by a comprehensive services offering. The group’s civil and military businesses develop in parallel to serve a single objective: the security of people, property and nations. Leveraging a global network of more than 20,000 high-level researchers, Thales offers a capability unmatched in Europe to develop and deploy critical information systems. Thales employs 60,000 people in 50 countries and generated revenues of €10.3 billion in 2005, with a record order book of over €20 billion.
Press contact
Fabienne Issot Sergent
Tel: +33 (0)1 41 30 48 20
(Source Thales)

The Spanish aeronautics companies ITP, EADS-CASA, INDRA, CESA, TAM, GMV, GTD, Sener, Aernova and Aries Complex have signed an agreement to create an Economic Interest Grouping (EIG) with the aim of participating actively in the future Community program: Joint Technology Initiative (JTI) ‘Clean Sky’

‘Clean Sky’ is one of the main collaboration tools in this field to be carried out as part of the 7th FP of the European Union.
The initiative is the biggest European project for research and development of new technologies to enable the sector to meet the new environmental demands. The program, to run from 2007-13, has a budget of 1.7 B€ and is backed by the EC, which will be responsible for 50% of the financing.
(Source GMV)

In its tenth year, ASITA is proving to be the most important Italian Conference and commercial exhibition for geodesics, geographical information and land management.
ASITA lasted four days offering a rich programme of conferences, poster sections and workshops.

TRE has seen a great interest at ASITA this year towards
the PSInSAR™ technology.
For more information (in italian) on ASITA
(Source TRE)