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Category: Member News

GeoEye, the world’s largest satellite remote-sensing imaging company through its partner European Space Imaging (EUSI) has received an additional contract from the European Commission to supply OrbView-3 high-resolution map-accurate imagery.

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The contract was awarded on April 5, 2006 and is valued at $2.15 million (EUR 1.8 million) over the next four years. The imagery will be collected by the company’s OrbView-3 high-resolution earth-imaging satellite.
Together with its recently renewed three-year contract to supply imagery from GeoEye’s IKONOS high-resolution satellite, EUSI continues to be one of the largest suppliers of commercial satellite imagery to the European Commission.
The imagery will be processed and delivered to the European Commission by EUSI located in Munich, Germany. The contract requires GeoEye to begin imagery collections over 24 specific European sites to support the European Commission’s agricultural subsidy controls.
The European Union is using satellite imagery as a tool to verify farmer’s declarations and claims for subsidies. In addition, the European Commission will use OrbView-3 imagery in support of national security related projects.
“The European Commission has been an excellent customer, and we are committed to continuing to meet all of their expectations,” said Adrian Zevenbergen, general manager for European Space Imaging.
“For the past three years the European Commission has ranked GeoEye’s IKONOS satellite with a 98-100% performance success rate, so we are confident the OrbView-3 satellite will maintain this contract’s same demanding schedule and performance requirements.”
“We are delighted that the European Commission has chosen to use imagery from the OrbView-3 satellite in support of agricultural subsidy controls as well as for security related projects. OrbView-3 has been used by several Asian countries as well as by the US Government’s National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency for similar purposes.
“This contract will now give us an opportunity to demonstrate this satellite’s capability and value to the European community,” said Timothy J. Puckorius, GeoEye’s senior vice president of International Sales.
GeoEye is currently building its next-generation commercial satellite imaging system, GeoEye-1, which will have a ground resolution of .41-meter panchromatic and 1.65-meter multispectral. When launched in early 2007, this satellite will greatly increase our capacity to collect a large amount of data within a short timeframe, which is ideal for monitoring crop subsidy programs.
Related Links:
(Article Credits: Staff Writers (SPX), April)

NPA‘s new 2006 Oil & Gas Brochure now available on-line, containing
a summary of our latest Oil and Gas Exploration Services (GOSD, 3D
visualisation, etc).

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NPA‘s new 2006 Oil & Gas Brochure now available on-line,
containing a summary of our latest Oil and Gas Exploration Services
(GOSD, 3D visualisation, etc).
Link
at
http://www.npagroup.com/oilandmineral/brochure.htm
(Credits NPA Group)

RSI, a wholly owned subsidiary of ITT Industries, has released the ENVI
RX Anomaly Detection Tool, a free plug-in for ENVI 4.1 and 4.2, that
gives ENVI users the ability to quickly and easily identify anomalies
in geospatial images. This new ENVI tool automatically locates areas in
an image that are different from the overall image background allowing
analysts to focus on those areas that are most likely to contain
valuable information.

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The size of geospatial images often makes identifying objects of
potential interest extremely time consuming and overwhelming. The new
ENVI RX Anomaly Detection Tool provides a one-button solution for
identifying anomalies in images, making it the ideal solution for ENVI
users of all abilities to get important information from images quickly
and easily.
The ENVI RX Anomaly Detection Tool uses
the popular RXD anomaly detection algorithm in its classic form to
extract anomalous features from spectral images. Users need only select
the input file and the tool then highlights the pixels that are
different from the general image background. No expert knowledge of
image processing is required to process images and create accurate,
easy-to-interpret results that are unambiguous and useful for a wide
range of situations. Following the detection of anomalies, other tools,
such as the ENVI Spectral Analyst, can be used to address the
identification of the anomalous features, if desired.
In defense and intelligence scenarios,
applications for anomaly detection include locating targets such as
military vehicles and identifying soil disturbances that might indicate
land mines or recent troop movements. Other applications for anomaly
detection include identifying locations of crop stress for precision
agriculture applications, locating areas of infected trees for forestry
applications, and finding rare minerals for geology applications.
(Credits RSI)

The Environment Agency has awarded SciSys a three year contract to
provide core services in support of the development and enhancement of
key regulation systems in England and Wales.

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Approximately £15m is being budgeted for by the Environment Agency
to provide technological enhancements to enable improved and
streamlined delivery of regulation processes.
This latest agreement capitalises on
SciSys’ regulatory knowledge and experience, gained from existing
agreements with the Environment Agency. These have resulted in the
implementation of many key regulation business systems, including the
Permit Administration System (PAS), which is core to the Environment
Agency’s modernising regulation agenda.
Speaking today, Chris Bale, Director of Performance and Innovation at
the Environment Agency said, “SciSys has proven its ability to deliver
and maintain a robust and reliable infrastructure to support our
regulatory activities.
“This contract will make sure the
Environment Agency continues to benefit from this knowledge and
expertise, and at the same time, enjoy substantial cost savings through
the innovative design and implementation of improved regulatory
solutions.
“We are working with the regulation team
at SciSys to use the latest in technology and thinking to radically
change our business processes and service delivery. This regulation
solution will release staff to genuinely add value to the process:
advising businesses on which regulations apply to them, educating them
on how to comply; encouraging a sense of corporate social
responsibility and so reducing the enforcement burden whilst improving
outcomes for the environment.”
Mark Hampson, SciSys Managing Director added, “I am very pleased the
Environment Agency has selected SciSys as a preferred strategic
partner. This is a reflection of the long term relationship we have
built with the Agency and our continued commitment to delivering
innovation and improvement for our customers and to the wider
Regulation market. SciSys has invested in and can deliver a unique and
technically innovative approach that supports the efficient ‘build
once, use many’ strategy that can be used to build and deploy
regulatory solutions within the Environment Agency rapidly and at a
much reduced cost. SciSys is committed to the goal of being a market
leader for Regulation. The award of this contract is clearly an
important milestone in the achievement of this goal.”
The SciSys regulation solution will
eventually be used to support the whole of the Environment Agency’s
regulatory obligations, ensuring staff have more time and resources to
fully evaluate permit applications and their implications, and for
managers to co-ordinate work-scheduling and resource-planning more
effectively.
(Credits SciSys)

SPOT Image Corporation has been awarded a contract by the US Geological
Survey (USGS) for the purchase of satellite imagery products and
services. The SPOT satellite constellation collects imagery ranging
from 2.5m to 20m, from any location on Earth.

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The SPOT satellite constellation collects imagery ranging from
2.5m to 20m, from any location on Earth. SPOT imagery applications
include map updating, creation of 3D terrain models, land-use and
environmental analyses, and disaster response.
“We’ve always maintained a very good
working relationship with USGS, and they’ve worked to integrate our
products into their programs over the 20 years we’ve been in commercial
operations, ” explains Neal Carney, president of SPOT Image
Corporation. “This contract recognizes the need for more global
cooperation in providing a broad range of image options for U.S.
government users.”
“SPOT provides a unique set of imagery
products, bridging the gap between our government Landsat system, and
the higher resolutions of aerial photography and other U.S. satellite
providers,” explains Barbara Ryan, USGS Associate Director for
Geography. “The type of data that SPOT provides will assist the USGS in
fulfilling its mission by providing impartial natural resource and
earth science information to other government agencies, resource
managers, and to the public. We look to expand this relationship, and
help ensure that U.S. users have access to the broadest, most valuable
range of imagery options available.”
SPOT Image Corporation is the exclusive
provider of SPOT satellite imagery products and services to the U.S.
government, serving both defense and civilian agencies at federal,
state and local levels. They work closely with a variety of value-added
firms to ensure that high quality high-value finished products are
reliably delivered to end users. All inquiries concerning SPOT
satellite image products should be directed to SPOT’s U.S.
headquarters, at the address listed below. Headquartered in Toulouse,
France, with subsidiaries and offices in Australia, Brazil, China,
Japan, Mexico, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and the United
States, the Spot Image group leverages a global network of ground
receiving stations, channel partners and distributors to bring
geographic information derived from satellite imagery to public- and
private-sector decision-makers worldwide.
(Credits Spatial News)

TRE, in cooperation with Miami University, has recently applied the PS
Technique to create the first space-derived image of subsidence in New
Orleans.

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In reconstructing the flood defences, following the ravages of
Hurricane Katrina, knowledge of prevailing subsidence rates is an
important input to the design of the rehabilitated levees.
Tele-Rilevamento Europa (TRE) specializes in satellite-borne radar remote sensing. TRE’s products are derived using the POLIMI PS TechniqueTM – a technology that detects and measures small scale surface deformation.
TRE, in cooperation with Miami University, has recently applied the PS Technique to create the first space-derived image of subsidence in New Orleans.
In reconstructing the flood defences, following the ravages of
Hurricane Katrina, knowledge of prevailing subsidence rates is an
important input to the design of the rehabilitated levees.
Levelling data have already suggested that
most of the city and the larger delta are subsiding relative to the
mean sea level, potentially leading to catastrophic flooding. This is
due both to the natural compaction of Holocene sediments and to the
localized compaction of deeper sediments from the extraction of oil,
water and natural gas. However, levelling data can be affected by local
phenomena and in situ effects. In such a situation, an independent
technique featuring high spatial density of measurements points is
therefore valuable. The POLIMI PS Technique™ is such a tool.
On behalf of the University of Miami, TRE
processed 33 radar scenes acquired by Canada’s Radarsat satellite
between April 2002 and July 2005, using the PS Technique™. The study
area was approximately 1,500 km2, around greater New Orleans, where
urbanization provides a good distribution of radar targets. Also, a ten
year record from a high precision GPS station in the greater New
Orleans area provided a control reference to calibrate the PS results.
The results of the analysis will be published in a joint paper written by TRE and the University of Miami.
About TRE
Milan-based Tele Rilevamento Europa, TRE,
is the first spin-off company of the Politecnico di Milano (POLIMI)
University. It was conceived to deliver the PS Technique – patented by
POLIMI in 1999 – to public and private sector customers.
The PS Technique is a unique tool that detects, measures and monitors
different geophysical phenomena (e.g. subsidence, uplift, landslides,
seismic faults, etc.). It also monitors the stability of individual
structures.
TRE complements its commercial activities
by extending the academic research of POLIMI in PS technology into
applied research and development of new service products.
For more information contact:
Alessandro Ferretti
Managing Director
+39 02 4343121
alessandro.ferretti@treuropa.com
(Credits TRE)

VTT is an impartial expert organisation employing approximately 2700
staff members. Its objective is to develop new technologies, create new
innovations and value added thus increasing customer‘s competencies.
With its know how VTT produces research, development, testing and
information services to public sector and companies as well as
international organisations.

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VTT renewed its operating models and structures from the beginning
of 2006 in order to implement the strategy better. This means striving
for functioning closer to customers and being a partner for them,
having better knowledge of customer’s market and recognising business
development opportunities.
VTT’s technology
operations are based on the R&D process, which consist of 45
knowledge centres. A separate Business solutions operation serves key
customers.
Strategic research operation concentrates
on the development of new technologies and competences. Testing,
analyses and certification is handled by Expert services. The new
operations model opens up a chance to participate in the customer‘s
business through Business solutions function, which also manages and
develops actively VTT’s patent portfolio.
The new structure makes it possible to
serve domestic and foreign customers even better in the field of earth
observation that is among the core competence areas of VTT. We are
specialized in the development of science based value added products
for forestry, environment, and natural disasters. The product
development includes the whole value adding chain from data
pre-processing, management, analysis and delivery. Optical and radar
data have an equal weight in our R &D.
Present projects include participation in the GSE Forest Monitoring as
a service provider for French government and environment monitoring
system Envimon. In the Envimon project six applications are developed
for the environmental monitoring. The applications use a common
software framework, which makes the development work effective
including future expansion of the system. The modular structure of
Envimon follows the web services concept.
Additional information
Tuomas Häme
Research Professor
+358 20 722 6282
Tuomas.Hame@vtt.fi
(Credits VTT)

VEGA Group PLC (VEGA), the independent Programme and System Assurance
company, and their partners A.C.S. S.p.A. have been awarded a contract
worth €2.2 million by the European Space Agency (ESA) to build and
deliver the Core Payload Data Segment for the ADM-Aeolus satellite.

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ADM-Aeolus is part of the ESA’s Living Planet Programme and its
objective is to observe global wind profiles and provide information to
improve weather forecasting. The Core Payload Data Segment is part of
the ground-based hardware and software systems that receive, archive
and manage earth observation data from the satellite.
As Prime Contractor, VEGA will be fully
responsible for the integration of the system and delivery to the
European Space Research Institute (ESRIN) based near Rome. ACS will
provide the core Aeolus Processing Facility (APF), based on their
generic PDS elements successfully used for the Cryosat and GOCE ground
segments. KSAT of Norway will be responsible for the ADM-Aeolus X-band
Acquisition Station and associated equipment, with which the core APF
will be integrated.
The ADM PDS is the first project to be
awarded to VEGA and ACS, following signature of a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) between the two organizations in October 2005.
This MoU covers the further development
and distribution of a highly innovative solution for ground processing.
According to this MoU and based on their combined experience, a generic
Earth Observation data processing system has been designed and will be
promoted by both companies worldwide. This solution forms the basis for
the ADM-Aeolus Core Ground Segment and is highly configurable to
process data received from any sensing satellites.
VEGA Group is one of Europe’s leading
designers and developers of spacecraft ground segments and has worked
on every ESA Earth Observation mission for the past 25 years. The
company’s experience covers both the Flight Operations Segment and
Payload Data Segment. VEGA is also involved in a number of non-ESA
missions, including priming the consortium that provided the complete
ALOS ground segment to the European Space Agency. ALOS is a Japanese
satellite to be launched later this year.
VEGA
also develops user support tools such as EOLI, for searching and
ordering EO images, and X-View, for visualizing and analyzing EO data.
The partnership with ACS considerably
strengthens and complements VEGA’s capability in the Payload Data
Segment. ACS has developed ground processing systems for various
satellites such as Landsat, SPOT, ERS, Envisat and, more recently, GOCE
and Cryosat.
ADM- Aeolus Artist´s view, © ESA
Contact:
John Auburn,
Business Development Director, Space
VEGA Group PLC,
Tel: +44 (0)1707 391999
Email: john.auburn@vega.co.uk
and
Karen Rogers,
Marketing Manager, Space
VEGA Group PLC,
Tel: +44 (0)1329 223838
Email: karen.rogers@vega.co.uk
More info at:

Geospace products on CD-ROM includes 3D animations.

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GEOSPACE presents the unique satellite image atlas on CD-ROM.
Geospace products on CD-ROM includes 3D animations. The latest, again improved product of this line are:
• Eye in the Sky “The Alps”
• Germany from Space – 3D
• Austria from Space – 3D
(Credits Geospace)

In March 2006 Infoterra Limited, a world leader in the provision of
geographic information products and services, celebrates its fifth
birthday. Dr Andy Wells, director of sales and marketing, looks back at
the company’s history and how the launch of GeoStore™ is transforming
the market for geospatial data.

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The use of geographic information as a source of competitive
advantage has become increasingly used by both public and private
organisations over the past few years. As a result, geographic
information now affects almost every aspect of business
decision-making, from property planning and insurance through to
environmental assessment and risk management.
In
order to meet the demand for accurate and timely geographic
information, capable of adding immediate insight to any situation,
Infoterra launched GeoStore.com, a unique web based service giving
businesses seamless access to highly accurate geographical data.
Offering the immediate availability of geographic information,
GeoStore.com provides aerial data across England which can be viewed,
analysed and purchased on-line. Launched in October 2005, GeoStore.com
has been warmly welcomed by the geo-community and has been commended
for its use of uncompressed data. As the only on-line system of its
kind (to provide images that have not been compressed in storage),
images are delivered directly to the end user without having decreased
in quality due to storage or transmission techniques.
A data challenge like no other
As part of EADS Astrium, Europe’s
leading space company, Infoterra was able to draw from a 25 year
history of commercial earth observation and geospatial knowledge.
Despite this breadth of knowledge already within the group, the
challenge of storing and distributing vast amounts of aerial
photography and other geospatial data was immense. However, for many
business processes to benefit from this valuable resource, the need to
solve the technical challenges associated with storing, managing and
delivering such data required a solution. Begun in 2000, the £2m
research and development programme finally culminated in the recent
success of GeoStore.com
With England-wide aerial photography
requiring 13 terabytes of storage, overcoming the problems of loading,
management and viewing aerial imagery, was crucial.
Infoterra invested in technologies that
would enable aerial images to be rapidly loaded and easily managed,
while still providing rapid delivery over thin bandwidths, such as the
web and mobile phones.
Utilising a technology that allows the
user to immediately receive accurate aerial images, irrespective of how
the user roams, pans or zooms, has guaranteed that the user waits the
same brief amount of time for the delivery of any image.
Europe’s largest geo-information service centre
Established 10 years ago for the management
of data from ESA satellites ERS1, ERS2 and EnviSAT, the data hosting
centre in Farnborough is the largest commercial geographical data
hosting facility in the UK with 1,500 terabytes of data available on or
near-line and an archive in excess of 7,000 terabytes.
The core of the system is a storage area
network (SAN) linked to multiple server configurations. The choice of
the SAN was made following extensive testing and optimisation using
geographical datasets. This enables multiple services to link to a
single datastore with no loss in performance, providing significant
financial benefits to our clients. The system is supported by a number
of additional services including a state-of-the-art fire suppression
system, flood detection, environmental control, four levels of building
security, a secondary external generator, two separate lines from
separate bandwidth suppliers and a nearline file restoration system
capable of replacing 10 terabytes of data in less than a day.
The latest technology is complimented by a
team of trained staff with 15 years of facilities management expertise
with geographical datasets. All are experienced in data management,
archiving, on-line update, order fulfilment, disaster recovery
processes and programme management, all skill sets required for a
successful geospatial internet service provider (G-ISP).
This centre provides the service backbone
for GeoStore, ensuring high availability, rapid and consistent
performance, high level of data quality and the use of market leading
technology.
The results speak for themselves ….
In the few months since GeoStore.com
launched the site has already delivered hundreds of aerial images to
customers throughout the world. As the service continues to develop two
additional services will accompany GeoStore Select, the service
initially launched that allows a precise location to be identified and
displayed by using roam, pan and zoom functionality.
The two additional services include
GeoStore Explore, which offers the ability to view and analyse
geographic data through a web browser without the need to store a local
copy of the data or for GIS software. This added functionality is ideal
for rapid site investigation, including risk assessments, planning
reviews and environmental enquiries.
Now live, GeoStore Direct enables
immediate access to terabytes of data, delivered on-line through an
open standard solution to the users own geo-information system. By
immediately receiving the image, the user has instant access, without
having to use their own valuable hard disk space to save and then
insert the images required. Through an OGC WMS compliant interface,
environmental reports, property reports, and others can be instantly
enhanced with accurate geographic imagery delivered through
GeoStore.com.
Infoterra now services more than a dozen
clients through this hosting centre including members of the insurance,
property, mapping, government and international community. In each case
clients have remarked on the robust nature of the technology used and
the ability of the software and staff to maintain a high delivery
capability over extended periods of use. In recent a discussion, the
European Space Agency commented that Infoterra continues to be the
leading centre of its type for product delivery and value for money.
This was recently confirmed with the award of two contracts for
development of the site extending still further its remit within the
geospatial market.
Mapping out the future
As 2005 draws to a close, this year marks
the end of an incredible three years for Infoterra, having been awarded
the UK’s largest ever hosting contract from OS in 2002, having
delivered national imagery and data licences to organisations such as
English Nature, Highways Agency and DEFRA, and having been named by IBM
as the ‘partner of Choice’ in delivering DEFRA’s IT outsourcing
implementation in 2004.
In addition to winning new contracts
around the world, Infoterra has continued to invest in new technologies
having recently purchased the ADS40 digital pan broom camera which
unlike frame cameras is able to capture a seamless strip of digital
imagery over large areas. Using a three-line stereo sensor, the camera
can simultaneously capture red-green-blue and colour infra-red imagery,
providing the rapid production of both orthophotos and surface
elevation models.
The ADS40 allows aerial photography to be
captured and delivered faster than ever before and has so far been used
to capture 1,400 square kilometres of Berkshire, producing 16 lines of
imagery that were seamlessly mosaiced into a single image within a
week. Conventional aerial data capture would have processed
approximately 1,400 individual images and would have taken
approximately six to eight weeks to complete.
The use of the ADS40 and GeoStore.com, combines the best of technical acquisition and data dissemination.
Conclusion
The development of GeoStore.com combines
the power of content created by geo experts, with software built by geo
experts, and hosted in a centre supported by experts in geo information
storage and retrieval.
For Infoterra, it is the final component
in a corporate strategy initiated in 2003 to provide a complete
end-to-end solution for those needing support from geospatial
information.
“Irrespective of whether the customer
required 2 square kilometres of aerial photography, rapid map update of
anywhere in the world, complex database creation using Oracle or a
complete outsourcing of their geospatial need, Infoterra now offers the
whole package” said David Fox Managing Director of Infoterra Ltd. Fox
went onto comment “Any organisation can now grow its geospatial
capability in partnership with Infoterra, without the need to
continually change supply partners at each stage.”
Future plans for GeoStore.com are
currently being finalised but early indications offer insight into the
real potential of this portal. Already further data layers are being
planned for loading and dissemination including the recently acquired
“London Heights” layer comprising a ground and building height model
with vertical accuracies better than 15cm. In addition to other UK and
global datasets, increased on-line functionality will further extend
the potential market as non-geo specialists are finally able to harness
the power of geography for their key business purposes.
With the ability to capture the latest
aerial imagery through the ADS40 and disseminate this through
GeoStore.com, Infoterra are well placed for 2006 and beyond.
About Infoterra Ltd.
Infoterra Ltd. is a world leader in the
provision of geographic information products and services. Its
portfolio of geographic information solutions includes airborne and
satellite data acquisition, geo-information creation, database
management and outsourced hosting. Infoterra provides geospatial
knowledge to companies worldwide to help them make informed decisions.
The company has clients in communications, utilities, engineering,
agriculture, defence and oil, gas & mineral exploration. Infoterra
is a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS Astrium.
www.infoterra-global.com
For more information contact
Simon Corbett ,
Edelman, +44 20 7344 1349,
simon.corbett@edelman.com
Infoterra is a trademark of Infoterra Ltd.
All other trademarks and registered trademarks used herein are the
property of their respective owners.
(Credits Infoterra global)