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DLR’s German Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD) and the Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT) company, Norway, will collaborate even more closely in the future. On 10 February 2014 a corresponding memorandum of understanding was signed in Oberpfaffenhofen near Munich.

This formalized cooperation between the two institutions is particularly intended to create synergies in the operation of their respective polar receiving stations. KSAT operates in Spitzbergen the largest and most northerly Arctic ground station facility worldwide for receiving earth observation data, the Svalbard Satellite Station (SvalSat). DFD operates a ground station in Inuvik Canada.

During his visit to DFD Mr. Rolf Skatteboe, CEO of KSAT, stressed the many areas of activity common to both DFD and KSAT. Professor Stefan Dech, Director of DFD, added, “The possibilities and opportunities arising through cooperation with KSAT are very important for us and open up new prospects for both partners”.

The DFD and KSAT Antarctic ground stations are also to be jointly used during missions. DFD operates a ground station on the Antarctic Peninsula near Chile’s “General Bernado O’Higgins” station. KSAT’s “Troll” station is located on a Nunatak, an exposed rock breaching an ice sheet, in Queen Maud Land. The European facilities operated by KSAT in Tromsö and DFD in Neustrelitz will also expand their cooperation regarding operational and near real-time services in the context of the Copernicus Earth Observation program.

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(April 2014) Kongsberg Spacetec AS (KSPT) has been awarded a contract with Raytheon Company of the U.S. for delivery of parts of the ground segment for the satellite program Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS).

The contract has a significant potential for extensions, maintenance/support and technical updates after 5 years.

JPSS is a consolidated satellite program for weather and climate, and is considered to be the most important source for improved weather reports, civilian preparedness and climate research in the U.S. and the rest of the world in the years to come. Raytheon is the main contractor for building the JPSS ground segment, under this NASA contract. JPSS will be operated by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The contract is based on KSPTs standard products for reception of high-rate satellite data, as well as new development of systems for processing, intermediate storage, and distribution.

KSPT will deliver the systems for data reception on the various ground stations for JPSS (Svalbard, Alaska, New Mexico and Antarctica), as well as the systems for first-level data processing, data storage, and distribution for further processing to end-user data. This constitutes key portions of the JPSS ground segment, with strict requirements for performance and stability.

This contract, along with the contract awarded to KSPT a couple of years ago for delivery of similar systems to the European Space Agency (ESA) for receiving data from the Sentinel satellites, makes Kongsberg Spacetec a world-leading supplier of this type of equipment.

For more information about JPSS:
http://www.jpss.noaa.gov/mission.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Polar_Satellite_System

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(Munich, March 2014) European Space Imaging has a new partner to support their High-Res Challenge which is now called “European Space Imaging & Skybox Imaging High-Res Challenge” and is open worldwide to participants.

Their new partner, Skybox Imaging, located in Mountain View, California, is the new kid on the block in the satellite business. Founded in 2009, it is launching an innovative constellation of more than 20 very high-resolution satellites with sub-meter color imagery and high definition video capability. This satellite constellation affords the option of sub-daily access, meaning it will now be possible to image a site up to 8 times during daylight hours.

“The European Space Imaging & Skybox Imaging High-Res Challenge” is looking for new, viable application ideas for this sub-daily availability of very high-resolution (VHR), multispectral data from the Skybox Imaging satellite. The partners are hoping researchers and developers will think outside the box in proposing ideas that have real future potential. The winner will receive a European Space Imaging data package of Skybox Imaging satellite data valued at EUR 20,000 to apply in realizing their application idea.

“Now the Copernicus Masters has expanded globally, we hope this new partnership will give remote sensing idea developers inspiration and scope to come up with groundbreaking new applications for optical VHR satellite imagery,” says Michaela Weber, Director Sales & Marketing, European Space Imaging.

The unique aspect of this Challenge is the search for viable ideas only. It doesn’t require prototypes or prior testing, just the belief in the idea, an understanding of what makes it different and a justification of why it is possible. Submissions open worldwide on the 15th April until 13 July 2014. Register at www.eusi-skybox.copernicus-masters.com

About European Space Imaging
European Space Imaging (EUSI) is a leading supplier of very high-resolution satellite imagery to customers in Europe and North Africa. It is the only European satellite data provider operating its own multi-mission capable VHR ground stations, enabling optimized collection strategies, flexibility and real-time weather assessments. Since 2002 the Munich based company has provided customers access to the most advanced VHR satellites and services available throughout their region.

About Skybox Imaging
Skybox Imaging (Skybox) empowers global businesses to make better decisions with timely, high fidelity imagery and infinite analytics. By combining the power of web technologies and a constellation of high-resolution imaging satellites, Skybox is generating a unique data source describing daily global activity with timely, accessible, sub-meter color imagery and high definition video of the Earth. Founded in 2009, Skybox Imaging is backed by leading venture firms and comprised of internet and aerospace professionals. For more information, visit www.skybox.com.

To learn more about this project, please contact:
Penelope Richardson, Marketing Manager
European Space Imaging
Arnulfstrasse 199, Munich 80634
Tel: +49 (0) 89 13014255
Fax: +49 (0) 89 13014222
prichardson@euspaceimaging.com
www.euspaceimaging.com

by GIM

FME Desktop

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  • New and improved transformers (Including FeatureMerger, MapNikRasterizer, NullattributeMapper and a set of PointCloud and S3-transformers,…)
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FME Server

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What’s great 2014 – FME Server
What’s great 2014 – FME Desktop
Start page FME 2014
Téléchargez la nouvelle version
Open FME trainings 2014:
FME Desktop (NL, Louvain): 15-20/3/2014 et 9-11/10/2014
FME Server (NL, Louvain): On demand
FME Desktop (FR, Namur): 5-7/6/2014 et 4-6/12/2014
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(11Feb2014) GAF AG has been awarded four new contracts for mining governance consultancy services in Cameroon, Laos, Afghanistan and Sierra Leone

GAF has been awarded four new technical assistance contracts for projects supporting mining ministries in Africa and Asia. Project activities in Afghanistan and Laos have already started, and those in Cameroon and Sierra Leone will soon follow. These projects underline the extensive and comprehensive range of services, capabilities and experience that GAF provides to institutional clients in the mineral domain around the globe – which the company has been doing with great success for many years. The company’s portfolio of services includes the implementation of mining cadastres and geological information systems and the provision of support to mines inspectorates, as well as geological mapping, capacity building and know-how transfer.

The four new contracts deal specifically with:

  • the design and Implementation of a Geodata Information Management Systems (GIMS) for the National Minerals Agency in Sierra Leone,
  • the provision of assistance to the Ministry of Mines and Industry of the Republic of Cameroon for the implementation of a new digital mining cadastre,
  • the drafting of Mines Regulations and provision of assistance regarding mines inspections for the Lao Ministry of Energy and Mines,
  • the continued provision of consulting and capacity building services to the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum in Afghanistan, with a particular focus on mining regulations and contract compliance monitoring.

Funding for each project is provided by the World Bank as part of country-specific mineral resources programmes. Individual project volumes range from 0.25 – 1.0 million euros and project durations range from 6 to 24 months.

GAF receives consistently high client satisfaction feedback – most tangibly in the form of follow-on contracts. Key aspects of this success include the company’s comprehensive service and consulting portfolio in mineral governance together with its technical and thematic skills and experience. GAF combines know-how in fields such as mining, geology and the environment with geo-information technologies, and is a solution-oriented company. The Mining/Geology Department consists of 25 geologists, geophysicists, mining engineers and surveyors and is complemented by GAF’s multidisciplinary teams, including the GAF IT Department with its more than 40 software developers and programmers.

Source GAF AG

(31March2014) German partnership to be the sole provider of VHR satellite data and services to support checks within the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)

European Space Imaging announced today that the company has signed a multi-year framework supply contract with the European Commission for the provision of very high-resolution satellite data and associated services in support of the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

The framework agreement between the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre and European Space Imaging has an estimated total value of 22.3 million EUR over a period of up to 4 years. The contract will be carried out by European Space Imaging and its technology partner GAF AG with the support of the German Aerospace Center (DLR).

European Space Imaging will be responsible for providing very high-resolution satellite imagery directly to the European Union Member States for the Control with Remote Sensing (CwRS) and Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) quality assessment of the CAP. The Munich based Bavarian company will be managing all activities from satellite acquisition planning through to the final imagery delivery, including liaison with all stakeholders involved on EU and national level. Its technology partner GAF, based in the same Munich office building, will contribute its long-term expertise in software development and satellite image processing technology. Besides the above mentioned capabilities, GAF has been involved in using Satellite Remote Sensing technologies for agricultural subsidies control since early 1990s.

GAF is one of the first contractors in this service and has therefore an unprecedented knowledge and experience in this field. “This is an excellent example of perfectly fitting project co-operation facilitated through our close neighborhood and long standing working relationship” states Peter Volk, CEO of GAF AG. European Space Imaging has been the most reliable data supplier to the European Commission in the Controls with Remote Sensing (CwRS) program and has delivered the bulk of the data for a yearly increasing number of control sites since the program’s inception in 2004. With success rates close or equal to 100% every year and contributing more than two thirds of the data in the past ten campaigns European Space Imaging has proven to be a most dependable program partner. The company owns and operates its own satellite ground stations for VHR satellites in partnership with the German Aerospace Centre DLR in Oberpfaffenhofen near Munich.

“European Space Imaging brings its unique 10-year experience in satellite tasking for large projects and its robust customer response together with its strong technology partnerships to enhance outcomes for this project. We look forward to continuing our support to the European Commission and the EU Member States with quality customer care and data supply into the future”, says Adrian Zevenbergen, Managing Director of European Space Imaging.

(Source European Space Imaging and GAF AG)

(31March2014) Following the signing of a merger agreement on 20th February 2014, Euromap GmbH and GAF AG have officially started the process of merging. Once this tie-up has been completed, Euromap GmbH, which has more than 20 employees, will continue to operate as a branch of GAF registered in Neustrelitz, Germany.

The Managing Director of Euromap, Dr. Rupert Haydn, and the CEO of GAF, Dr. Peter Volk, are both convinced that the long-planned merger is not only in line with the ever increasing cooperation between the two companies, but also promotes the utilisation of synergies between the two locations. One of the aims is to expand further the company’s activities in Neustrelitz. Mr. Marcello Maranesi, CEO of e GEOS (an ASI/Telespazio Company), the majority shareholder of GAF, also welcomes the merger as it represents a rationalisation of the company’s activities in order to better face the challenges of growing in an ever more competitive area of business.

Euromap was founded in 1996 in order to act as the exclusive distribution channel in Europe for data from the Indian Remote Sensing IRS-1C and IRS-1D satellites, which at that time had an unprecedented spatial resolution of 5.8 m. On behalf of Euromap, the German Aerospace Centre’s (DLR) technical facilities in Neustrelitz have received and made available the raw data of five Indian satellite missions over the last 18 years. The data acquisition planning, archiving and processing, as well as the European distribution of derived products, is carried out by Euromap. As an SME, GAF was able to use the unique selling point of exclusive data distribution via its wholly owned subsidiary Euromap to achieve above average growth within the course of just a few years of the founding. This helped establish the business as a commercially stable company with a prominent position in Europe.

In addition to data distribution, Euromap has also been managing successful projects in the fields of mass data processing, software development and the thematic analysis of satellite data for several years. These activities will be further developed and expanded at the GAF Neustrelitz office in the future. The exclusive distribution of IRS data in Europe will continue to be carried out as a GAF service using the Euromap brand.

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(February 26, 2014) MUNICH, GERMANY – European Space Imaging (EUSI) today announced their agreement with Emirates Space Imaging (ESI) to host a ground station and deliver products and services from the new Skybox Imaging (Skybox) SkySat constellation.

ESI has given European Space Imaging the distribution rights for Europe, North Africa and CIS countries. EUSI’s parent company Space Imaging Middle East (SIME) has also entered into a similar arrangement for the Middle East region. Both companies will soon start delivering global, timely, sub-meter resolution satellite imagery and high-resolution, high-definition video to a wide range of customers.

Under this agreement, European Space Imaging will host a compact ground station, named SkyNode, that consists of a 2.4 meter antenna and two racks of supporting equipment. European Space Imaging’s SkyNode for the direct tasking of the SkySat satellites is currently under construction at the Oberpfaffenhofen premises of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and is expected to be operational by May 2014.

Directly accessing this small-footprint system through a suite of easy-to-use software applications will enable EUSI to schedule, task, image, downlink, and process imagery and video products captured from the Skybox constellation of up to 24 satellites and deliver to customers with record speed and efficiency.

“Through these partnerships we are pleased to bring Skybox’s capabilities to these pioneers in high resolution imaging and video business to the European, Middle Eastern and North African regions. The vision of Skybox and the future applications and information that it will bring to the market is very exciting,” said Skybox Senior Director, International Sales, Brian Leslie. “Working with these experienced regional data providers will allow us to introduce Skybox’s new generation remote sensing into their regions offering frequent access to full-motion video and imagery.”

“As a leading provider of geospatial solutions in Europe for more than a decade we have a reputation for offering excellent service combined with accessing the most advanced satellite technology available.” said European Space Imaging Managing Director, Adrian Zevenbergen. “This agreement will give a boost to the European market by providing our customers access to a comprehensive suite of satellites offering timely, high-resolution, high-quality imagery and video products and allowing multiple daily access and simplified tasking and ordering services.”

SkySat-1, Skybox’s first satellite of the planned 24-satellite constellation, was successfully launched on November 21, 2013, and is currently undergoing calibration. SkySat-1 captures sub-meter resolution color imagery, as well as high-resolution, full motion video.

SkySat-2 and SkySat-3 are planned for launch in mid 2014 and early 2015, with the first block launch of 6 additional satellites planned for late 2015.

About European Space Imaging (EUSI)
European Space Imaging is the leading supplier of very high-resolution (VHR) satellite imagery across Europe and North Africa. European Space Imaging is the only European satellite data provider operating an own multi-mission capable VHR ground station, enabling optimized collection strategies, flexibility and real-time weather assessments throughout Europe and North Africa. Since 2002 European Space Imaging has provided access to the latest, most advanced VHR satellites available and services to customers throughout their region. For more information, visit www.euspaceimaging.com.

About Emirates Space Imaging (ESI)
Emirates Space Imaging offers geospatial solutions and innovative products, solutions and services from Skybox Imaging in both the Middle East and Europe. It also has a diverse network of technological and commercial partners. For more information, visit www.emiratesspaceimaging.com.

About Skybox Imaging (Skybox)
Skybox Imaging empowers global businesses to make better decisions with timely, high fidelity imagery and infinite analytics. By combining the power of web technologies and a constellation of high-resolution imaging satellites, Skybox is generating a unique data source describing daily global activity with timely, accessible, sub-meter color imagery and high definition video of the Earth. Founded in 2009, Skybox Imaging is backed by leading venture firms and comprised of internet and aerospace professionals. For more information, visit www.skybox.com.

To learn more about this project, please contact:
Penelope Richardson, Marketing Manager
European Space Imaging
Arnulfstrasse 199, Munich 80634
Tel: +49 (0) 89 13014255
Fax: +49 (0) 89 13014222
prichardson@euspaceimaging.com
www.euspaceimaging.com

The global challenge for the future is how to have less impact on the land while supporting the sustainability and improving living conditions.

Penelope Richardson asks how eco-friendly farming techniques can be verified so that they give farmers positive economic benefits in the marketplace
…

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The Hartibaciu Tableland encompasses about 2,500 square kilometers in central Romania and is home to many rare species of birds, flora, and fauna.

It is an area susceptible to flooding and landslides, is subject to development pressure, and is experiencing population growth.
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF), in cooperation with the Danube Carpathian program and European Union, commissioned a geographic survey to create land management plan for the region.

Preserving the Habitat of Unique Species

Nearly 50 percent of Romania is covered by natural and semi-natural ecosystems. The country contains some of the largest undisturbed forest land in all of Europe and is home to about 400 unique species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. At 2,500 square kilometers, the Hartibaciu region is an important site for habitat preservation. The World Wildlife Fund will use the data derived from this survey to create a land management plan to identify preservation strategies for the region moving forward over the next ten years.

Muncons SRL Tapped by WWF for Project

Muncons SRL has been a WorldView Global Alliance reseller for three years. Muncons serves dozens of customers in government, defense and intelligence, mining, natural resources, oil and gas, and humanitarian and conservation agencies. When the WWF was seeking a partner to complete a topographical survey of the Hartibaciu region, it chose Muncons for its deep experience in high-resolution imagery projects. The ultimate goal of the project is to create land management plans and develop territorial planning guidelines in the region by integrating the components of biodiversity, conservation in territorial development, and natural resource use.|

Building a Framework for Land Management

To build the necessary framework for proper management and preservation of the land, species, and habitats, Muncons deployed DigitalGlobe’s WorldView-2 8-band multispectral satellite. The resulting images were used for automatic and semi-automatic habitat classification, including land, water courses, infrastructure, and developed areas such as buildings, roads and industrial zones. Muncons also created an integrated GIS solution to map species and habitats. The supplemental web portal included interactive maps of endangered species distribution, areas of vegetation, agriculture, preservation lands and environmental hazards.


Grassland classificaton map – Hartibaciu, Romania. © European Space Imaging / DigitalGlobe

“The goal was to create a comprehensive solution that the WWF, Nature 2000 and other stakeholders could use to create a far-reaching land management plan that could be used in many ways to promote conservation and preservation,” says Horia Munteanu, Director, Muncons SRL.

A Cost-Effective Solution

The use of WorldView-2’s high-resolution multispectral imagery and automatic image analysis resulted in rapid classification of habitats. The World Wildlife Fund was able to save a significant amount of money because fewer field specialists were required to complete the project.

“We provided authorities, investors and other stakeholders with a tool that allowed them to quickly, easily, and cost-effectively identify areas of endangered animal and vegetative species. We are clearly achieving the goals of increasing the involvement of a variety of stakeholders to create a land management plan to protect the environmental integrity of the region.” Horia Munteanu, Director, Muncons SRL.


Hartibaciu, Romania. © European Space Imaging / DigitalGlobe

About Muncons SRL:
Muncons SRL, a WorldView Global Alliance authorized reseller based in Romania, serves dozens of customers in government, defense and intelligence, mining, natural resources, oil and gas, and humanitarian and conservation agencies for their satellite imagery and analysis needs.

About European Space Imaging:
European Space Imaging is the leading supplier of very high-resolution (VHR) satellite imagery across Europe and North Africa. They are the only European satellite data provider operating a multi-mission capable ground station, enabling optimised collection strategies, flexibility and real-time weather assessments for new collections. Since 2002 European Space Imaging has continued to provide access to the most advanced VHR satellites available and related services to customers throughout their region. They are a founding member of the WorldView Global Alliance. Working closely with government and industry European Space Imaging provide optimised VHR imagery solutions to meet the diverse project requirements of their extended customer base.

CHALLENGE:
Create a solution to provide various stakeholders with the data and tools to create a comprehensive land management plan to protect the sensitive habitat of Romania’s Hartibaciu region.
SOLUTION:
European Space Imaging partner Muncons SRL deployed WorldView-2 high-resolution satellite imagery with an integrated GIS solution and web portal to develop a land management plan used by a variety of stakeholders.
RESULTS:
An accurate, cost-effective solution that has been used by the WWF and Natura 2000, the EU’s nature and biodiversity policy group to raise awareness of the environmental sensitivities of the region.
Source

DG-WWF-CS-WEB_0.pdf