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These contracts, together with the ones obtained for the processor prototypes, position the company as a leader in the processing of EUMETSAT Polar System.

EUMETSAT has recently awarded the contracts for the EPS-SG payload exploitation ground segment, selecting Elecnor Deimos for the provision of the operational processors of 6 of the instruments. The EPS-SG programme is expected to be among the most important providers of satellite observation data for all forecasts based on Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) from 2020 to 2040. The instrument data will be provided to the users in near real-time, after acquisition and processing by the ground segment.

These contracts, together with the ones obtained for the processor prototypes of the development phase that was managed by the European Space Agency (ESA) between 2015 and 2016, position Deimos as a leader in the processing of EUMETSAT Polar System (EPS). EUMETSAT will provide services and operate the polar orbiting satellites for a nominal duration of 21 years, which leads to an expected workload for Deimos that involves long-term development and updates.

EPS-SG consists of two, parallel series of satellites, Metop-SG A and Metop-SG B, and a constellation deployment scenario allowing parallel operations of multiple satellites. The programme will generate important socio-economic benefits to EUMETSAT Member and Cooperating States, leveraging the capability of polar orbiting satellites to deliver unique infrared and microwave imagery inputs from high latitudes that are key to the National Meteorological Services. It represents the European contribution to the future Joint Polar System (JPS) that, as the Initial Joint Polar System (IJPS), will be established together with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the United States.

Friedrichshafen, 06 July 2017 – Airbus Defence and Space has again expanded its WorldDEM portfolio with the launch of WorldDEM4Ortho.

Tailored for orthorectification of high and very high resolution optical and radar satellite data, WorldDEM4Ortho will enable corrections of all distortions induced by the topographical variations of the Earth’s surface and satellite orientation when acquiring an image. Covering the Earth’s entire land surface, WorldDEM4Ortho is the most consistent and accurate elevation model for orthorectification on a global scale.

Without these geometrical corrections, satellite images cannot be used in Geographical Information Systems or for any mapping related applications. With the huge development of new geolocated applications like business analytics, location-based services or tourism, the needs for such a consistent and precise elevation model are exploding.

WorldDEM4Ortho is based on the global WorldDEM dataset. It is produced via a fully automated process and features a vertical accuracy of four metres in a 24 metre raster. Identified disturbing terrain artefacts are removed. Bodies of water like lakes or sea are flattened. Rivers are stepped with a flow that follows the surrounding shorelines. Adaptive smoothing processes are also applied to different landscapes and land-use such as urban areas to avoid distortions in the orthorectified image.

ReSAC is responsible for the development and implementation of GIS Modules to publish and visualize project results of two projects – GRASSLAND and FEMA, which are financed by Program BG03 “Biodiversity and Ecosystems” and co-financed by the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area (EEA FM 2009-2014).

This type of data is first published for the entire territory of an EU Member State outside NATURA 2000 Network. Project results can be used by different users for research, analysis and decision making. Mapping data for grassland and freshwater ecosystems condition and their services in Bulgaria are published in two separate, specialized WebGIS Modules.


Overview of web-GIS interface

GIS Modules realization is based on open source software. The web-based architecture is compliant with the OGC standard. Geographic (spatial) information is provided by GeoServer, which includes outputs such as dynamic geographic data representation (Web-based GIS maps), access to spatial object attributes and search for attribute information. The flexibility of the proposed architecture provides OGC services to access spatial information (WMS and WFS), export to PostgreSQL / PostGIS DB of vector data and metadata to them, export to ESRI Shapefile, GML, GeoJSON and / or raster.

Databases are structured in separate groups in terms of ecosystem types, condition indicators and indicators of ecosystem services.

Users can use different base maps for visualization, such as satellite imagery or different types of maps.

Users can also visualize each indicator individually, to making reference to different attributes for each layer, and check the characteristics of the different types of indicators.

For more specialized users, it is also possible to use data in their desktop software via WMS and WFS services.

GIS modules are available at the following web addresses:

For more information:
Remote Sensing Application Center – ReSAC
61, Tzar Assen Str., fl. 2, 1463, Sofia, Bulgaria. Tel: +35929800731 / Fax: +35929818216.
E-mail: vassil.vassilev@resac-bg.org

Coastal zones are home to half of the world’s population and 60% of all economic activities take place in coastal areas. Any uncontrolled development activity in coastal watersheds, floodplains, wetlands, tidelands, or water basins potentially causes damage to coastal water ecosystems.

Along with climate change impacts, the coastal environment is thus more and more under pressure. As a consequence, it is essential to map and monitor the state of the environment in coastal zones and support coastal management strategies.

Monitoring of coastal zones and water resources requires reliable data and information on the state and change of coastal habitats, wetlands, water supply and water use efficiency. There is a growing awareness that Earth observation data can serve these data needs, especially in the context of European regulations and reporting obligations, as well as supporting international Official Development Assistance (ODA) and the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

GeoVille’s expertise

GeoVille ’s core expertise is in Earth observation based monitoring services for land and coastal areas. Quality controlled geo-information provides critical input for environmental assessments. This support our customers to better manage coastal zones and water resources, to better understand and mitigate the effects of climate change, safeguard developments and ensure civil security. GeoVille’s products and solutions drive transparency of operations, significantly increase the effectiveness of activities and enhance project implementation, monitoring and evaluation. In the context of the Sustainable Development Goals, GeoVille is highly experienced in the

  • monitoring of the coastline and coastal habitats as well as their changes over time (Goal 14: SDG indicator 14.5.1, Goal 15: SDG indicator 15.3.1)
  • delineation of surface water bodies (Goal 5; SDG indicator 6.3.2)
  • mapping of the spatial extent of wetlands as well as open water surfaces (Goal 6; SDG indicator 6.6.1)
  • inventory of wetlands as a basis for management oriented assessment and monitoring (Goal 6; SDG indicator 6.6.1)
  • mapping of irrigated water use efficiency and water cycle regimes (Goal 6; SDG indicator 6.4.1)
  • assessment of soil erosion potential and vegetation dynamics in coastal areas (Goal 15: SDG indicator 15.3.1)

GeoVille’s relevant recent experiences and capacities

  • Copernicus Pan-European and Local Land Monitoring Services (ongoing): For the Copernicus Land Monitoring Services, under contracts with the European Environment Agency (EEA), GeoVille is currently producing a variety of essential land cover and land use products, including permanent and temporary water bodies and wetness, imperviousness, grasslands, small woody features, as well as change monitoring for Natura2000 sites as well as Riparian zones. These data will have an extensive pan-European coverage and will include large parts of Europe’s coastal areas. More information: http://land.copernicus.eu/

    High-resolution mapping of coastal land use and land cover
  • GlobWetland Africa (ongoing): Within the GlobWetland Africa project, funded by the European Space Agency (ESA), an open source wetland observing system is developed, implemented and validated for the Ramsar Convention of Wetlands in Africa. The goal is to deliver Earth observation-based products and tools enabling users to better assess the conditions of wetlands and to better monitor their trends over time. GeoVille has successfully produced and presented first products including wetland inventories, water cycle regimes and mangrove extent maps to a large number of African countries. More information: www.globwetland-africa.org
  • Large Scale EO Exploitation Activities in Support of International Development Initiatives (ongoing): The aim of this ESA project, funded under the EO4SD (Earth Observation for Sustainable Development) initiative is to increase the uptake of satellite-based information into regional and global programs of various International Financing Institutions (IFIs) for ODA, such as World Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and their Client States. GeoVille implements various Earth observation services targeting a wide range of development projects, programmes and activities of IFIs in areas such as water resources management, coastal management and food security. More information: www.eo4sd.esa.int. Another important activity in this context is TIGER-NET under the ESA TIGER initiative, supporting African water authorities with satellite based assessments and monitoring of water resources for Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM). More information: www.tiger-net.org.
  • Coastal erosion and change mapping: Within World Bank funded projects, including for example World Bank’s Coastal Adaptation to Climate Change activity, GeoVille assessed the impact of climate change along West African coasts, including the islands of Sao Tomé and Príncipe. GeoVille produced detailed coastal change, coastal erosion, flood inundation and sea level rise scenario maps and has performed capacity building and training workshops to improve capacities for coastal zone and disaster management and increase resilience of local communities. More information: www.projects.worldbank.org/P111669/sao-tome-adaptation-climate-change

GeoVille recently launched landmonitoring.earth, a new Earth observation based monitoring system for automatic global high-resolution mapping and monitoring of land and coastal zones, fulfilling multi-user application requirements. The paradigm shift from periodical status mapping to continuous monitoring provides cost reductions, near-real time data provision, more detailed insights into historic developments and ongoing processes, situational awareness and robust baseline for decision making and forecasting.

GeoVille is a global leader for land monitoring solutions. We have attained innovation leadership in “end-to-end” geo-spatial land monitoring applications through 19 years of business and our proven capacity to meet today’s and tomorrow’s geo-information requirements. We provide a wide range of high-quality land and coastal monitoring solutions supporting our customers world-wide.
Web // E-mail // Tel:+43 512 562021 // Fax: +43 512 562021-22

JUNE 6, 2017. The French company Noveltis has been using SimActive Correlator3D software for precision viticulture. Based on multispectral UAV imagery, mapping products are generated to determine vine health and detect missing plants.

SimActive automates the production process for extracting DSMs, DTMs and orthomosaics, said Florian Jeliazovski, project manager at Noveltis. The company greatly improved the detection of vine rows, and has been able to provide quantitative and qualitative information to its customers.

Noveltis has been building on its expertise in image processing to develop innovative solutions for different applications: earth observation, environment and sustainable development. The company specialises in processing, modelling, simulating of environmental data and has extensive expertise in the fields of land surfaces, oceans and atmosphere.

Correlator3D is a photogrammetry solution for the generation of high-quality geospatial data from satellite and aerial imagery, including UAVs. Correlator3D and UAV technology allow efficient monitoring of high-value crops, said Philippe Simard, president of SimActive. He stated he is proud to support Noveltis in its innovative application of the software.

Source

NOVELTIS developed unique, reliable and innovative products, called WINEO, for characterizing the vineyard plots by using the latest technologies of aerial and satellite remote-sensing.

The products provide the user with a comprehensive view of its vineyard and helps him/her enhance its production potential and quality.
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WINEO services include:

  • The coverage of the vineyard with high-resolution aerial imagery with centimetre resolution;
  • The digitalisation of each plot boundaries;
  • The characterisation of each plot with unique and reliable indicators:
    • Localisation and percentage of missing plants;
    • Precise vigour mapping (without the artefacts of inter-rows) to inform about the vineyard maturity and help defining the appropriate plot management practices;
    • Inter-row vigour mapping to localize the unwanted grass, target the areas of extensive vegetation and optimize the costs of the weeding processes;
    • Rows characterization (positions, orientation);
    • Mapping of sunshine potential.

WINEO products are provided in several formats, depending on user’s preferences: Online web-mapping, printed maps or GIS layers.

WINEO products were validated in close cooperation with several end-users in Europe (France, Germany, Spain, Bulgaria, Portugal, etc.). Today WINEO products are operational and commercialized by NOVELTIS at the global scale.

Key benefits:

  • Optimization of the vineyard potential.
  • Selective harvesting and production of homogeneous tanks.
  • Cost reduction by targeting the use of fertilizers and reducing the ground inspections.
  • Modern decision making tools with multi-temporal monitoring.
  • Disease monitoring.

This article was first published on Terrasigna’s website in June 2017.

Reality
Life is about people, nature and the surrounding environment. Nature is defined by rich biodiversity, if taken care of it. April 2017 has marked 25 years of EU supporting nature, environment and climate change through LIFE Programme, while the 5th of every June celebrates the World Environment Day. Each World Environment Day is organized around a theme that focuses attention on a particularly pressing environmental concern.

The theme for 2017 is connecting people to nature.
Without nature our life is not possible, and sometimes we forget these basic principles. Even more, we don’t recognize all the goods and services natural ecosystems provide us. From food, clean water, and flood protection to cultural heritage and a sense of a place in the world, ecosystems provide essential benefits to us all. Forests, as well as trees in general, and other wooden lands play a significant role in these ecosystem services.

They fulfill multiple functions for society, providing economic, social, and environmental benefits, including serving as a key reservoir of biodiversity, with the greatest assemblage of species found in any terrestrial ecosystem.

However, this valuable natural capital remains under threat, mainly due to human activity. Biodiversity is disappearing rapidly, ecosystems are constantly degrading and their capacity to provide services is compromised. The social and economic costs associated with are often invisible.

The main reason is that the value of natural capital is not measured, and therefore not valued. How can we help?
Land monitoring technologies using data collected through the Sentinels satellite offer valuable information about the nature condition. It provides useful tools for monitoring and assessing the natural resources, and plays an important role in mitigating climate changes impact.

You cannot manage what you don’t measure!

We are pleased to introduce you The Green Lung – an innovative EO service from TERRASIGNA .

“The Green Lung is a wooden vegetation map that measures at national scale the woodlands areas. It identifies and measures forests areas (deciduous and coniferous), but also trees alongside roads or rivers, city park trees, perennial bushes zones, clusters of junipers, orchards of fruit trees etc.”

The service is a novelty in the market, as the woodlands vegetation are measured for the first time from a botanical perspective (as opposed to the administrative one), source of rich and diverse information.

The quantified hectares of woodlands areas are providing valuable data, gathered over one-year period of time. All the phenological stages of vegetation are covered, as well as the complete cycle of seasonal weather changes.

“The Green Lung in action presents above map of Romanian woodland vegetation – total measured of 7,48 millions hectares. The service has identified Caras-Severin, Suceava and Hunedoara counties as the largest wooden areas. Inside detailed measurements can be done at regional, county or other distribution type levels.”

Benefits from monitoring & assessment:

  • provides vital information about the wood mass energy;
  • supports biodiversity conservation in forests and woodlands;
  • contribution to healthy forest ecosystems;
  • management support for forests and woodlands conservation.

The Green Lung service is using Sentinel2 mutispectral optical imagery and big data processing algorithms, developed in-house. The map accuracy was measured to be over 95%, and the production technology benefits from the company’s expertise and its distinctive capabilities in EO data processing.

TERRASIGNA is Romanian rooted company, with locally developed competences, validated and appreciated by reputable international partners – European Space Agency, NASA, World Bank, German Aerospace Center, etc.
Forests ecosystems are part of our cultural and historical heritage, and wooded lands represents a privileged place for outdoors recreation and leisure.
Can we put a monetary value on hearing birds singing or seeing breath-taking landscapes? Probably, not.
But can we measure the natural capital and the impact of actions to limit its loss? Certainly, yes.

Athens, Greece – July 04th, 2017. Planetek Hellas and Planetek Italia have signed a framework contract with the European Union Satellite Center (SatCen), for the provision of Earth Observation based Very High Resolution Reference Mapping products in support to FRONTEX, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency.

The information products to be provided will enhance border surveillance, a current challenge for the European Union as regards migration and security. The Reference Mapping Service aims at providing a background of geographical context, including relevant information on hydrography, topography, land cover, infrastructure and population. The service will support the monitoring of border areas and the improvement of decision-making and response capabilities of the authorities responsible for controlling and monitoring European borders.

“Being the only SME’s within this group of large companies that have signed the same framework contract is certainly a challenge for us”, said Giovanni Sylos Labini, CEO, Planetek Italia and Planetek Hellas. “We are thankful to SatCen for the trust that has shown to Planetek Group and we are committed to provide the best possible services to this highly esteemed EU Entrusted Entity”, he concluded.

“We are very pleased and at the same time very conscious about the responsibility we undertake, to be able to contribute to such a delicate issue for the European Union. The fact that our countries, Greece and Italy, are among the most affected ones from the situation in the wider neighbouring region, increases the level of our commitment to perform well,” said Stelios Bollanos, Director of Planetek Hellas, who is the leading company of the consortium.

About Planetek Hellas
Planetek Hellas is an SME company founded in 2006, in Athens, Greece, which operates in the field of Earth Observation, Science Data Exploitation, INSPIRE compliant Spatial Data Infrastructures and software development for the on-board and the Ground Segment. The company’s applications and solutions are developed within the most important European programs in the field of Space-related applications and integrated satellite systems for the management, analysis and sharing of coastal and land-related information. Planetek Hellas has now in its own portfolio a variety of successful contracts with the European Commission, the European Space Agency and EU Entrusted Entities, which allow an excellent knowledge of the European procedures and high quality requirements.
Media Contact: Elia Mavrodonti – Phone: +30 6977569765 – Email: news @ planetek.gr

About Planetek Italia
Planetek Italia is an Italian company founded in 1994 specialised in Earth observation, Space solutions and geoservices. The company provides solutions to exploit the value of geospatial data through all phases of data life cycle from acquisition, storage, management up to analysis and sharing. Planetek Italia operates in many application areas ranging from environmental and land monitoring to open-government and smart cities, and including defence and security, as well as scientific missions and planetary exploration.
Media Contact: Antonio Buonavoglia – Phone: +39 0809644200 – Email: news @ planetek.it

Water and sewer network risks can be accurately identified, today, using RADAR satellites, which monitor millimeter displacements on ground surface that could indicate leaking pipes. Planetek Italia has developed Rheticus® Network Alert is a new Smart M.App, designed for organizations and professionals working in utilities network, engineering and network operations, to get accurate information about infrastructures stability.

Available on the store of Hexagon Geospatial, Network Alert identifies up-to-date risks in water and sewage networks by using RADAR satellite data to identify areas of ground instability that could indicate leaking pipes. With Network Alert, you can quickly determine the locations of concern and act upon the information.

Warning alerts and geo-analytics let operators prioritize inspection and maintenance activities, increasing efficiency and lowering total management costs.

Using the power of the Hexagon Smart M.App, Planetek Italia has developed this unique service, to deploy Rheticus®, its cloud-based platform that delivers automatic geo-information services, designed to provide accurate data and up-to-date information about our changing world.

The Rheticus geoinformation service uses a series of industry-focused Hexagon Smart M.Apps to deliver timely and accurate information to professionals and decision makers for their operations. Whether monitoring vertical displacement on the ground to identify potential problems in water and sewage pipelines or keeping track of coastal seawater quality, the Smart M.Apps delivered by Rheticus provide industry-focused answers and present information in a visual and compelling way.

Features and Benefits of Rheticus® Network Alert:

  • Immediate Insight: Warning alerts let you easily assess the level of displacement in each segment of your network.
  • Reduced Costs and Increased Efficiency: Network Alert optimizes pipeline inspection planning, letting you send field crews to areas of concern.
  • Continuous Monitoring & Frequent updates: Based on the continuous satellite monitoring of ground movements and displacements, Network Alert provides accurate and updated information on a monthly or quarterly basis.
  • High Precision Measurements: Millimetric measurements of ground displacement also record movement velocity and rate of acceleration
  • Total area monitoring: Network Alert uses satellite imagery to monitor water and sewer networks across your entire area, optimizing field inspections across vast expanses.
  • Satellite images: Displacements are measured by satellite, so there is no need for additional devices in the field. This highly reliable RADAR satellite data is collected frequently and quickly converted into business intelligence insights.
  • Displacement trend analysis: Combined archive and current satellite data identify trends in ground displacement.
  • Actionable information: After detection of an alarm on a segment, use reports to send technical teams to the field with the information they need to respond quickly.
  • Subscription updates: A subscription service ensures that your information is always up-to-date. The service provides periodic updates (monthly or quarterly) for your area of interest. Subscribed users get immediate access to network stability as measured through the last year of satellite images, plus timely image updates.

More info

Geo4i company is proud to announce the achievement of its geospatial platform. This SaaS is dedicated to the integration, exploitation, displaying, analysis and sharing of geolocated timestamped mass data from multiple sources.

Multi sources platform: Make timestamped analyzes by comparing all databases available and the timeline.

Mass data exploitation: the system instantly displays more than 5 million points on the map.

Dataviz tool: on the fly heatmap treatment on data.

Classification of a database: display and discriminate useful information from your database.

Quick integration et vectorization: thanks to its specific data models and input information guide, it’s very easy and fast to describe any element of interest like site (airfield, harbor, nuclear site…) or activity (ship, aircraft, land vehicle…).

Automated treatments: from the platform, order products by defining dates and areas of interest. Calculation and integration are fully automated.
Products available are generation of coherence map, detection of active fires, detection of ships on sea.

Raster displaying: On the fly spectral bands mix and calculation from satellite images.