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In the spring of 2006 the level of Danube River rose dramatically due to heavy rains and snow melting in the North-Western part of the Bulgarian river bank.

The cities of Vidin and Lom were partially flooded as also big territories from the plains in Romania.
On ReSAC request SPOTIMAGE opened an every day acquisition window from 16.04 till 04.05.2006 of FORMOSAT data. The purpose of the acquisition was to present the applicability of FORMOSAT data for monitoring of floods. The data were kindly supplied by SPOTIMAGE and processed by ReSAC.
The final outcome from the investigation is presented in maps for the affected from the floods areas and analysis of the land cover of those regions. Together with FORMOSAT data also Ikonos and IRS (kindly supplied by ScanEx) data were used for the floods in Bulgaria in August 2005. By utilising different GIS and image processing methods and analyses, maps for the vulnerable to flooding areas in the region of Russe town were produced from IKONOS imagery and DEM in 1:5000 scale. Maps of the possible affected areas from the floods were delivered to the Municipality of Rousse during the floods in April 2006 couple of days before the high water level to reach the city.
The usage of FORMOSAT data is still not at its full capacity because of lack of experience and software models for the FORMOSAT processing. ReSAC has done an experiment for the FORMOSAT L1A data orthorectification for the region of Sofia. The image was provided by the FORMOSAT distributor – SPOTIMAGE. Very high quality GPS measurements were used for the orthorectification together with Reference 3D product as DEM. For the processing of the image OrthoEngine of PCI Geomatics was used as the first software which has implemented the FORMOSAT satellite model. The results from this experiment were presented on a meeting of the European satellite image providers in the Institute for the Protection and Security of the Citizens of JRC on 19.09.2006.
© Courtesy of NSPO – 2006, Distribution Spot Image S.A.
For more information: www.resac-bg.org

A reliable distribution of the future TerraSAR-X Services has recently been secured in large parts of South America: Infoterra GmbH, holder of the exclusive commercial exploitation rights for the new-quality radar data the spacecraft will deliver, has negotiated and acceded to a number of distribution agreements.

• TerraSAR-X Services available in South America
• Further Distribution Agreements under Preparation
• Spacecraft’s Launch scheduled for 2006
Friedrichshafen / Ottobrunn,

“With the launch of TerraSAR-X rapidly approaching, we are facing a constantly growing interest not only in the data itself”, states Andreas Kern, head of Infoterra’s TerraSAR-X Services business development team. “Around the globe, providers of remote sensing data are eager to join our distribution network. They consider the TerraSAR-X data a valuable enhancement to their established portfolios.”
The South American partners GeoSpatial in Colombia, BMP Geomática in Peru, Gtt NetCorp in Mexico, and Gtt Netcorp LA in Panama will be assuring reliable access to the new services for clients in their respective countries. Customers in Brazil will receive TerraSAR-X products and services through Engesat, Novaterra, and Imagem. Furthermore, Infoterra’s long term-partner GeoVille Information Systems GmbH, based in Innsbruck, Austria, has been appointed distribution partner for this country. All corresponding contracts have been signed during the summer months.
“We are very glad to be able to announce such a rapid growth of our distribution network, even prior to the satellite’s launch,” says Joerg Herrmann, Infoterra’s managing director. “We are convinced to have selected skilled partners, who will contribute significantly to a dependable distribution of our products and services.”
Infoterra now works towards wrapping up several additional contracts
-distribution agreements and data reception contracts alike
- which are still being negotiated. Herrmann expects to be able to finalize at least two further agreements before TerraSAR-X’s launch later in 2006.
About TerraSAR-X
TerraSAR-X is a German radar satellite scheduled for launch in 2006. The spacecraft will deliver radar remote sensing data of an unprecedented quality: 3 operational modes, one of them delivering a resolution of up to 1m, flexible beam steering, and daylight and weather independent data acquisition are only a few of TerraSAR-X’s unique abilities. The exclusive commercial exploitation rights for TerraSAR-X data lie with Infoterra GmbH. The spacecraft was realised in a public private partnership between the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) and Infoterra’s parent company, Europe’s leading satellite system specialist Space GmbH.
About Infoterra
Infoterra GmbH was launched in 2001 for the purpose of exclusively pursuing the exploitation of TerraSAR-X. This allows the company to offer to its clients an extensive portfolio of TerraSAR-X based products and services, ranging from basic radar imagery to sophisticated geo-information products and thematic applications, as well as direct access services. Furthermore, Infoterra GmbH has established a leading role in providing land services within the European GMES Initiative of the European Commission (EC) and European Space Agency (ESA)
Infoterra GmbH is part of the Infoterra group which comprises companies in France, Germany and the United Kingdom with 300 employees and a turnover of 50 Mio Euro per year. Infoterra GmbH is a wholly owned subsidiary of Space GmbH.
About BMP Geomática
Since 1995, BMP is a company dedicated to research, development, promotion and sales of GIS and remote sensing systems. BMP is committed to generating customer benefit through the efficient use of information- and Earth Observation technology in order to improve their processes and businesses.

About ENGESAT Imagens de Satélites S/C Ltda
ENGESAT is located in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. Founded in 1997, the company markets satellite imagery of South America to clients worldwide. ENGESAT offers data from several satellite suppliers as well as specialized processing, including 3D modelling, to serve the geo-information market and end users. It is recognized for its extensive partner network in Brazil and South America, and for offering innovative solutions.
About GeoSpatial
GeoSpatial is a leading engineering company founded in Bogotá, Colombia, in 1997. Its team is formed by specialists in applied geomatics, consulting, innovation, and GIS solutions, providing products and services for the local and international markets.
About GeoVille Information Systems GmbH
GeoVille Information Systems GmbH is an internationally operating consulting company based in Innsbruck, Austria. It is dedicated to the complete range of value-added GI-services in the land domain. GeoVille provides consultancy, services and products in the geo-spatial domain, specializing in remote sensing and GIS applications.
About Gtt NetCorp and Gtt ImagIng
Founded in 1994 in the United States, with operational bases in Mexico and Panama, Gtt NetCorp – with its satellite imaging division Gtt ImagIng – is a leading provider of satellite imagery and related imaging software and hardware products in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. Gtt NetCorp‘s staff has over 20 years experience in the design, development and implementation of leading-edge solutions.
About Imagem
Since 1986, IMAGEM has been developing customized solutions in geotechnology. IMAGEM is leader in GIS solutions and remote sensing in Latin America, with six offices in Brazil and several partners. IMAGEM also provides databases of the national territory, solutions to mobile GIS, street maps, building heights and mapping. IMAGEM serves e.g. the following markets: utilities, oil and gas, telecommunications, agriculture, logistics and transports, defence, government, environment, and finances.

About NOVATERRA Geoprocessamento e Des. de Sist. em Inf. Ltda.
NOVATERRA is a geo-processing and environmental consulting company based in Rio de Janeiro. Using satellite data and aerial photos Novaterra provides remote sensing, GIS and mapping solutions for various applications such as utilities, mining, oil & gas, environment, forest, agriculture and urban planning. Novaterra has a multidisciplinary staff developing value–added services using up-to-date technologies for the Brazilian market.
For frther information and image material, please contact :
Infoterra GmbH
Communications,
Tel.: +49-7545-8-3924
Mareike Doepke
Fax.: +49-7545-8-1337
mareike.doepke@infoterra-global.com
This and other texts as well as high-resolution
images may also be found at:
www.terrasar.de

The Spanish aerospace engineering company DEIMOS Space and the Remote Sensing Laboratory of the University of Valladolid (LATUV) have founded the new company DEIMOS Imaging for the design, implementation, operation, and commercial exploitation of a complete Earth Observation space system in Valladolid (Spain).

The system is based on a satellite with a multispectral optical instrument with a spatial resolution of 22 m and a wide swath of more than 600 km. The satellite records Earth images on board for a later downlink via the ground station under construction in the Technological Park of Boecillo (Valladolid, Spain).
DEIMOS Imaging is developing the new satellite system in collaboration with Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) based in Guilford (UK), European leader in the construction of small satellites, with an impressive record of over 30 launched satellites. One of them is the first experimental satellite of Galileo, the new European navigation constellation. This satellite was successfully launched in December 2005, and has secured the frequency assigned to Europe for the operation of this Constellation.
The planned launch date for the new satellite is the first quarter of 2008. The operational lifetime of the satellite is five years. The new company DEIMOS Imaging will provide Earth imagery at different processing levels to the European and global Earth Observation value added companies. In addition, it has the capability to develop applications leading to commercial products and services for final institutional and private users. The main applications of the system are targeted to agriculture, forest, land use, environment, hydrology, monitoring natural resources and disaster monitoring such as fires or flooding.
The processing, archiving and distribution centre will be located at the R&D Building of the University of Valladolid. In this University, LATUV has been developing its Remote Sensing activities during the last 18 years.
The new satellite provides a unique imaging capacity and revisit time at this level of resolution. Due to its large swath, it allows a double full coverage of Spain and Portugal every week, and a full coverage of Europe every 10 days. The regions of special interest for the new system are: Spain (and especially the region of Castile and Leon) where the system is located; Portugal where the sister company DEIMOS Engenharia will commercialise the system, and the rest of Europe, where DEIMOS Imaging would like to contribute to the development of the GMES (Global, Monitoring, Environment and Security), a joint Programme of ESA and the European Union (EU).
DEIMOS satellite will be integrated into the international constellation DMC (Disaster Monitoring Constellation), which is composed of satellites from the UK, China, Nigeria, Algeria and Turkey. The combined use of the constellation satellites provides a unique capacity for Earth Observation, with more than one daily image of any place in the world.
The DMC is a unique international collaboration of member nations and, through this satellite, Spain joins the existing countries in the consortium (Algeria, China, Nigeria, Turkey and the UK). Each member of the consortium owns and operates a satellite whilst co-operating with the other members of the consortium. The model of co-operation has significant benefits – it allows information generated on-board one satellite to be used by other members of the consortium.

More Information
Deimos Space S.L.
Miguel Belló Mora, Managing Director
Tel: +34 918063450
(Source Deimos Space)

On the first semester of 2007, project Ocean Eye led by EDISOFT shall begin the supply of ocean monitoring data to the United States, using a facility that shall be installed next to ESA’s satellite station in Santa Maria, Azores.

Ocean Eye is thus the embryo of a fixed satellite station in Santa Maria, an initiative that shall bring to Portugal considerable scientific and economic advantages.
To observe, to monitor and to survey the entire North Atlantic is, indeed, Ocean Eye’s primary goal that, by ensuring the ocean’s permanent watch, allows an effective management of ocean resources, including the detection of maritime pollution in Portuguese waters and, in a broader reach, the monitoring of fishing activities, the detection of illegal ship activities and the mapping of wind and sea currents and temperature, especially in the North Atlantic.
Another Ocean Eye’s goal is to supply information to Santa Maria’s satellite station and several research and development programmes in this field.
Contact
Edisoft, S.A.
Rua Quinta dos Medronheiros-Lazarim
Apartado 382 Monte de Caparica
2826-801 Caparica
Portugal
Tel.: (+351) 212 945 900
Fax: (+351) 212 945 999
Mobile: (+351) 93 235 1618
E-mail: barbara.manso@edisoft.pt
(Source Edisoft, S.A)

ESYS represented the European Commission Framework Programme 6 (EC-FP6)’s Wide Information Network (WIN) for Risk Management at an international conference dedicated to Disaster and Risk Reduction, 27thAugust-1st September 2006.

During the week, several poster sessions enabled the public to learn about the new Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) of WIN, which is aimed at enhancing the European information infrastructure for risk management. In the context of new open-architecture initiatives being developed to ultimately blend into the GMES information infrastructure service (INSPIRE), WIN has been focusing on the oil spill, flood and fire domains to illustrate this capacity. A specific and challenging objective of the project is to improve the interconnectivity of the various EU systems and players currently involved in disaster mitigation.
ESYS, as part of a 16-partner consortium led by Alcatel Alenia Space (France), is in charge of devising the organisational model and roadmap for the project, which enters its final year in September.
Contact: Lucie Viciano
Email: lviciano@esys.co.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)1483 304545
Fax: +44 (0)1483 303878
(Source ESYS)

GAF is a partner within the German national DeCOVER project on actualisation and production of land use and land cover data, aimed at serving national authorities’ needs.

It builds on innovative and cost-efficient remote sensing technologies and is strongly linked to other GMES-related activities. On 19th and 20th September, the DeCOVER partners will hold a workshop in Dessau at the German Federal Environmental Agency (UBA) bringing together decision-makers from national, member-state and regional administrative levels. This workshop offers the unique possibility to be informed about, comment on and also influence the development of the DeCOVER process. Registration will be possible till the start of the workshop.
The workshop information brochure can be found here.
Please also visit the DeCOVER project website.
(Source GAF AG)

GEOSYSTEMS, authorized distributor of Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging, LLC in Germany, and MFB-GeoConsulting, distributor in Switzerland, announce the foundation of GEOSYSTEMS France S.A.R.L on the 1st of October 2006.

GEOSYSTEMS France is entirely dedicated to distribute Leica Geosystems software products for remote sensing, digital photogrammetry and 3-D applications. The staff of the newly set up company is committed to support users in France and French speaking African countries.
Patrice Lemire, managing director of GEOSYSTEMS France, with many years experience as Leica Geosystems support engineer, stands for a continued personal contact to Leica Geosystems users in France. Located in Montigny-le-Bretonneux near Paris, GEOSYSTEMS France is authorized distributor for ERDAS IMAGINE®, Leica Photogrammetry Suite, ArcGIS Extensions by Leica Geosystems and complementary software modules. In addition GEOSYSTEMS France offers a complete range of services like technical support, individual training, software customization and project consulting. GEOSYSTEMS France will clearly benefit from the outstanding experience of its mother companies GEOSYSTEMS in Germany and MFB-GeoConsulting in Switzerland. Both companies are proven experts in the earth observation and geoinformatic business since more than 17 resp. 7 years.
“With the foundation of GEOSYSTEMS France, Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging will have a strong and competent representation for all of their products in France and French speaking Africa. We are looking forward to a fruitful co-operation with the highly motivated staff at GEOSYSTEMS France and are excited about this opportunity to expand our network in Europe” underline both, Dr. Ludwig Abele, managing director at GEOSYSTEMS in Germany and Dr. Michael Baumgartner, managing director MFB-GeoConsulting in Switzerland.
For further information please call or send a mail to Geosystems France
Patrice Lemire
12 avenue des Prés
78180 Montigny-le-Bretonneux
T: +33 (0)674 536 457
E: contact@geosystems.fr

About GEOSYSTEMS GmbH Germany
GEOSYSTEMS is a private sector enterprise, founded in 1989 and located
in Germering on the outskirts of Munich, Germany. As authorized and
exclusive distributor of Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging, LLC.
GEOSYSTEMS is a true representative of an expert in geospatial imaging.
Its software products power the Geospatial Imaging Chain – the
definitive industry workflow of capturing, referencing, mapping,
analyzing and presenting geospatial information. In addition to Leica
Geosystems software we also offer Definiens Professional, the
innovative software solution for object oriented image analysis.
GEOSYSTEMS is ESRI Business Partner and completes its competence and
product range with the ArcGIS product line. As a company dedicated to
selling solutions and not just software modules, GEOSYSTEMS is very
active in consulting customers about their projects, in customer
specific training and application oriented software development. For
further information please see http://www.geosystems.de
GEOSYSTEMS GmbH
Heike Weigand
Riesstrasse 10, 82110 Germering, GERMANY
T: +49 (0)89 – 89 43 43 -11,F: -99
E: h.weigand@geosystems.de
About MFB-GeoConsulting GmbH
MFB-GeoConsulting GmbH – on marked since in 1999 – is specializing in
“Solutions in Geographic Imaging” for optical and radar earth
observation. The company’s services do cover a complete range of
distribution services including the full range of earth observation
data as well as, software solutions for image processing,
photogrammetry, 3-D visualizations (exclusive sales partner for Leica
Geosystems in Switzerland) and 3-D hardware components. Furthermore we
provide advanced services for project management and realization,
training and education. The integration and interfacing of image and
auxiliary geo data with geographic information and database management
systems including the data transmission (field-to-office) is one of the
strength of MFB-GeoConsulting. Depending on the customer’s need, we
offer customer-adapted solutions. Our highly specialized team has a
long-term experience in applied remote sensing and earth observation.
For further information please contact www.mfb-geo.com
MFB-GeoConsulting GmbH
Dr. Michael Baumgartner
Eichholzstrasse 23
CH-32545 Messen
SWITZERLAND
T: +41 (0)31 765 5063,
F: +41 (0)31 7656 6091
E: baumgartner@mfb-geo.com

Designed to facilitate the mission planning, support analysis of ESA/third party missions and simulate the future missions, MAPS prototype met all the ESA needs recognised at the time.

Thanks to a specific greedy algorithm a set of on-board and on-ground constraints get elaborated, acquisition conflicts detected and resolved accordingly.
When ESA asked for a fully operational system, the best of MAPS was reused and new functionalities introduced resulting in the high performance EO acquisitions planning tool MAT.
The MAPS inherent flexibility permitted old and new features to coexist.
Thus both old logical structure for multi-mission modelling and new User Requests modelling functions (e.g.Virtual Platform for Correlated/Concurrent observations) are available.
Some very neat options add user friendliness to MAT:
- adapting manually a plan proposed
- loading meteorological data and cloudiness filters
- finding Thematic Maps and statistical information over the selected area
A MAPS window
Through the specification and configuration of different resources and request parameters, MAPS provides the user with the optimised acquisition scenario.
(Source ACS)

In co-production, GAF AG and its subsidiary, Euromap GmbH, have extended the availability of the successful IRS orthophoto mosaic “Euro-Maps” from Germany, Austria and Switzerland to Italy. Nationwide, high-resolution IRS satellite mosaics- Euro-Maps now available for Italy.

Euro-Maps is suitable for spatial planning and analysis of the current situations for a wide range of tasks. Euro-Maps is regularly updated and is the only high-resolution satellite mosaic on the market offering such precise and current information with 5-m ground resolution and blanket coverage for multiple countries. The required areas can be precisely defined and this prevents losses caused by scattering, which allows considerable cost savings. Euro-Maps provides an up-to-date, extremely accurate and economical planning spatial information base which can be continually updated and expanded. Euro-Maps offer simple and rapid access to detailed information about specific locations and their spatial relationships. This allows reliable decision making and rapid and efficient preparation of planning measures and cartographical tasks. Euromap has the only IRS receiving and processing station in Europe. Today, Euro-Maps can already be created and delivered for other countries or regions anywhere in Europe, on request. Euro-Maps of the Iberian peninsula as well as large parts of northern Africa are just under construction and will be published beginning 2007.
Euro-Maps will be demonstrated during Intergeo 2006 in Munich at the booth of GAF AG in Hall C2, booth C2.2220.
More about Euro-Maps:
Euro-Maps is the only 5-m satellite standard mosaic product available on the market today. Recent data will be used for regional updates in order to guarantee the highest temporal accuracy.. The high resolution (5-m on the ground) as well as the high positional accuracy (RMSE 90 % < 12 m) of the image data, in combination with their homogeneity, make Euro-Maps a tool well suited to a range of tasks in the fields of thematic planning, mapping and visualization to a scale of 1:20,000. The up-to-date and cross border availability of the image mosaic information is especially useful as the basis for large-area mapping and planning projects in the field of rural and urban development, agriculture and forestry, as well as all kinds of environmental problems. The fast and easy access to the required information is ensured by the GIS compatibility and regional availability of Euro-Maps. Euro-Maps data are already successfully used for different types of tasks and applications in Germany.
About Euromap GmbH
Euromap Satellitendaten-Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH was founded in 1996 as a 100% owned subsidiary of GAF AG, creating an efficient commercial structure to receive, archive and market satellite earth observation (satellite) data in Germany. Experience and expertise in data reception and processing is optimally combined with marketing and distribution activities – providing the essential conditions for supporting a growing user-market in remote sensing data. Euromap GmbH represents the only IRS-P6 receiving and distribution facility in Europe and is located in Neustrelitz, Germany, with Dr. Rupert Haydn as CEO.
About GAF AG
GAF AG is an international renowned geo-information company, with leading competence and experience in the development of dedicated software and services for applied remote sensing and information systems providing uncompromising quality. GAF AG offers a broad spectrum of services, ranging from procurement of geodata (e.g. satellite and aerial data, DEM, land use and land cover data), to value added processing, information processing and software development as well as the provision of turn-key technical assistance projects and customized spatial land management and monitoring systems. These products and services are based on state-of-the-art technology and know-how. GAF AG´s activities are run by Dr. Rupert Haydn.
Contacts for further information:
Euromap GmbH
Tel.: 49 (0) 3981 4883
info@euromap.de
GAF AG
Tel. 49 (0) 89 12 15 28 0
info@gaf.de
(Source GAF AG)

Spacedat is currently involved in two applied research projects regarding the management of Coastal Areas, one financed by the Italian Ministry of Research (MIUR) and the other by the Province of Lecce – Italy.

What we provide is an innovative web based system to analyse and monitoring the different variables that contribute to the coastal erosion processes. The system integrates the use of aerial photos, high resolution satellite images and the use of differential G.P.S to analyse changes on the shoreline, the health and morphology of sand dunes (3D), the presence of vegetation along the coast, as well as, the identification of posidonia beds.
The system makes use of advance algorithms that provide updated information on the erosion trends. It also provides policy makers and environmental managers with the opportunity to analyse how these variables change over a period of time, thus obtaining a real visual overview of the problem.
Technological instruments of this kind have a promising future considering the vast archive of high resolution satellite data covering most parts of the world and the upcoming launch of new high resolution satellites, which could guarantee a constant monitoring of coastal areas at a sub-meter resolution.
More information at: www.spacedat.com
Via Duca degli Abruzi 57 Lecce 73100
Tel./Fax: (0039) 0832.30.85.05