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2011-10-06. Abstracts for 5th International Conference “Earth from Space…” are accepted until October 15
2011-10-06. Icebergs are being watched from space
2011-10-05. Hitachi Solutions, Ltd. — the Operator of RS satellites – is the Silver Sponsor of the 5th International Conference “Earth from Space…”
2011-10-05. Satellite-based meteorology issues to be discussed at the 5th International Conference “Earth from Space…”
2011-10-05. “Skolkovo” fund activities in space technology development to be discussed at the 5th International Conference “Earth from Space…”

2011-09-30. NPP satellite: access to data and free direct broadcasting principle to be discussed at the 5th International Conference “Earth from Space…”
2011-09-30. Russian ScanEx RDC is recognized as GeoEye’s top international performer
2011-09-28. “University-based geoportal” consortium expanded its geography during the International Forum “The Arctic – Territory of Dialogue”
2011-09-21. Satellites keep detecting oil spills from ships in Black Sea
2011-09-20. First time ever: space images from UK-DMC2 in the mode of direct downlink to a distributed network of ground stations
2011-09-19. Astrium wins Strategic Partnership of the Year award with ScanEx
2011-09-16. Space technologies for the Arctic Region studying, mastering and conservation: 10th issue of the “Earth from Space…” magazine released
2011-09-14. “Yandex” to replenish its maps with 10 mln sq.km of satellite images
2011-09-14. 5th International Conference “Earth from Space…”: October 1 is the deadline for participants’ abstracts submission
2011-09-08. Satellite imagery helped detecting walrus rookery on Vaigach
2011-09-06. GeoEye — Platinum Sponsor of the 5th International Conference “Earth from Space — the Most Effective Solutions”
2011-09-06. Satellite monitoring has not detected any violations in shipment and installation of “Prirazlomnaya” platform
2011-09-02. SCANEX ADPS — a system of automatic RS data processing

News about … Iunctus Group Acquires Assets of RapidEye AG, and NGA Contract Awarded to RapidEye


Iunctus Group Acquires Assests of RapidEye AG: New Corporate Vision More Customer Focused

Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany, September 1, 2011 – RapidEye Canada Ltd., an affiliate of Iunctus Geomatics Corp., the leading supplier of optical satellite imagery in Canada, announced today that it has aquired the assets of RapidEye AG of Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany, a global provider of high-resolution imagery and geospatial solutions. The purchase was finalized on Monday, August 29, 2011 in Potsdam, Germany.

“RapidEye will continue to operate as an independent company, leveraging a new strong German management team in order to maintain its successful brand and relationships,” commented Ryan Johnson, President and CEO of Iunctus Geomatics. “Iunctus will continue to invest in RapidEye as we focus on creating a more customer-focused approach and additional value for our customers through our reorganization activities.”

The purchase of RapidEye further increases Iunctus Geomatics’ presence in the worldwide geo-information market. The acquisition combines one of the world’s largest commercial archives of satellite imagery with Iunctus’ already extensive distribution channels for satellite data and value-added solutions.

“This acquisition gives our clients an excellent choice of satellite imagery, meeting their high resolution and large area coverage requirements. This also provides an avenue for Iunctus to expand into an international distribution network for many of our products and services,” added Johnson.

Dr. Manfred Krischke will be returning to RapidEye after co-founding the company in 1998. “During the next month we will review the current organization with the most important goal of continuing and improving our service to existing and future clients and partners.” commented Dr. Krischke. “I will consider it a positive sign that we acquired RapidEye on the anniversary of the launch of the satellites.”

RapidEye’s five identical Earth Observation satellites were launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on August 29, 2008.

RapidEye and Iunctus will now provide a complete geoinformation value chain and will focus on customer relationships and developing strong partnerships.

NGA Contract Awarded to RapidEye

Washington, DC, September 6, 2011 – RapidEye USA announced today that it has been awarded an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). RapidEye is a leader in wide area, repetitive coverage of Earth through its constellation of satellites and advanced remote sensing-based services.

“We’re pleased to be providing our imagery to NGA,” commented Clint Graumann, of RapidEye USA. “This contract gives NGA the opportunity to procure our data, experience the advantages of our very fast acquisition and high revisit capabilities, and to integrate our data into their programs.”

The eighteen (18) month contract is valid through December 2012 and has a maximum ordering ceiling of 4.6 million US dollars.

About Iunctus

Iunctus Geomatics Corp. is the leading supplier of optical satellite imagery to government and industry in Canada and the operator of the first commercial ground stations in Canada. Iunctus Geomatics provides a wide range of geomatics products and services for its clients, including satellite data, value added imagery, data management/hosting and satellite tasking. For more information, visit www.terraengine.com

Iunctus Contact
Brett Michelson, Vice President Business Development
401817 4th Avenue South Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada T1J 0P3. brett.michelson@terraengine.com

About RapidEye

RapidEye is a provider of quality high-resolution satellite imagery and derived geo-information products. With a constellation of five Earth Observation satellites, RapidEye images over 4 million square kilometers of Earth every day, and has amassed over 2 billion square kilometers in its archive in just over two years of commercial operation. With an unprecedented combination of wide area repetitive coverage and five meter pixel size multi-spectral imagery, RapidEye is an obvious and cost-effective choice for many industries and government agencies.

Contact
RapidEye AG
Molkenmarkt 30
14776 Brandenburg a. d. Havel,
Germany
press@rapideye.de

News about Lotus (H&R) and PCI Geomatics, Geomatica Software Suite, eoImaging Accelerator Technology


Lotus (H&R) and PCI Geomatics announce exclusive distribution agreement at 2011 ACRS conference

RICHMOND HILL, Ontario, Canada—October 03 , 2011: PCI Geomatics, a world leading developer of geo-imaging software and systems, today announces that it has appointed Lotus (H&R) as its exclusive distributor for Taiwan.

“We are pleased to be working exclusively with Lotus (H&R) for distribution of our Geomatica, GeoImaging Tools and GeoImaging Accelerator (GXL) products in the Taiwanese market,” said Brad Schmidt, Vice President, Sales and Marketing at PCI Geomatics. “Lotus (H&R) is led by the most experienced personnel in Taiwan with outstanding success and technical expertise in the geospatial field.”

more info

PCI Geomatics Releases Next Generation of Flagship Geomatica Software Suite

RICHMOND HILL, Ontario, Canada—September 15, 2011: PCI Geomatics, a world leading developer of geo-imaging software and systems, today announces the release of Geomatica 2012; the latest version of the company’s complete and integrated desktop image processing software featuring tools for remote sensing, digital photogrammetry, geospatial analysis, map production, mosaicking and more.

“Today’s geospatial professionals need tools that allow them to complete their work faster, with data availability and volumes on the rise,” said Peter Hazlett, Product Manager at PCI. “Geomatica 2012 provides leading edge automation, performance and innovation, leveraging the power of multi-core, multi-processor desktop systems to complete image processing tasks in record time.”

more info

PCI Geomatics Releases Next Generation of Flagship Geomatica Software Suite

RICHMOND HILL, Ontario, Canada—September 15, 2011: PCI Geomatics, a world leading developer of geo-imaging software and systems, today announces the release of Geomatica 2012; the latest version of the company’s complete and integrated desktop image processing software featuring tools for remote sensing, digital photogrammetry, geospatial analysis, map production, mosaicking and more.

“Today’s geospatial professionals need tools that allow them to complete their work faster, with data availability and volumes on the rise,” said Peter Hazlett, Product Manager at PCI. “Geomatica 2012 provides leading edge automation, performance and innovation, leveraging the power of multi-core, multi-processor desktop systems to complete image processing tasks in record time.”

more info

PCI awarded contract by RapidEye for its GeoImaging Accelerator Technology

RICHMOND HILL, Ontario, Canada—August 16, 2011: PCI Geomatics, a world leading developer of geo-imaging software and systems, has announced it was awarded a contract and has successfully delivered a GeoImaging Accelerator (GXL) Satellite processing system to RapidEye, based in Germany. The contract represents a major win for PCI Geomatics as it continues to develop and implement leading edge high speed technology for the geospatial market on a global basis.

The GXL system includes support for the automated orthorectification and mosaicking of the imagery collected by the RapidEye satellite constellation. PCI Geomatics has delivered a GXL-Satellite system that integrates locally procured off-the-shelf hardware with PCI’s GeoImaging Accelerator-Satellite high volume multi-CPU/GPU production software. The complete system will enable RapidEye to transform uncorrected imagery into seamless mosaics comprised of thousands of images – thereby automating the production chain. The GXL-Satellite system will boast throughput capability of up to 10 Terrabytes per day.

more info

LASERDATA LIS is a software suite for the management, analysis and distribution of LiDAR data (TLS / MLS / ALS) both in point and raster format. Especially the flexibility of the software is of great importance.

The software is composed of several components and is available in four product versions, combining these components in different ways. Because of the modular structure each product version can be easily extended by further analysis tools matching specific application needs. LASERDATA LIS profits from the usage of free Open Source Software and Laserdata actively contributes to its development. This has numerous advantages, not only the avoidance of license costs.

For more informationen see the following LIS Product Flyers (e) (.pdf)

- LIS componentsLIS LIS VersionLIS DesktopLIS WorkstationLIS DistributionLIS Professional

- Anwendungsartikel von Laserdata in der GIS Business 02/2011

In case of further questions please contact Dr. Martin Sauerbier (F: 031 – 765 5063 or e-mail sauerbier!at!mfb-geo.com?

Source

Eumetsat and Barentswatch contracts or September newsletter


KSPT has won a new contract with EUMETSAT

Kongsberg Spacetec has signed a contract with EUMETSAT for the delivery of a X/L band MEOS™ Polar EARS Ground Station to Hellenic National Meteorological Service (HNMS) in Greece.

The system will be capable of receiving and processing data from the meteorological satellites Metop, NOAA, FY-3 (L- and X- band can be received simultaneously), NPP and JPSS.

For more information about the customer: EUMETSAT and the EARS network

BarentsWatch framework contract to KSPT

The Norwegian Government’s High North strategy states that the government will take the initiative to establish a comprehensive monitoring and warning system for the North. The project has been named BarentsWatch.

The main purpose of the government’s initiative is to secure a civilian monitoring of Norwegian waters, as part of an operational activity, contribute to responsible management of environment and resources, and to support the Norwegian foreign policy.

After the bidding process for prequalification of suppliers, Kongsberg Spacetec reached the highes rate on price and technical quality, and is awarded the contract to deliver the solutions for the technical framework.

“We are very pleased with the solution”, says project manager Frode Kjersem. “Kongsberg Spacetec is a rock solid company with a strong expertise in the areas we need. We look forward to good cooperation and a good result”, he says.

More information

Newsletter

The Kongsberg Spacetec newsletter seeks to inform our customers and contacts about the latest news and product releases from Kongsberg Spacetec.

This issue features the:

EUMETSAT Advanced Retransmission Service (EARS) Network delivered by Kongsberg Spacetec
MEOS™ Capture 4 – New release
MEOS™ Antenna – 3.0 m to 4.3 m L/S/X-Band

in addition to the upcomming events, latest contracts, newest upgrades and latest information from Kongsberg Spacetec.

Source Spacetec

GIM is very pleased to inform you of the launch of a special End of Year Promotion applicable to all GeoEye-1 and IKONOS products

  • From 20% up to 50% Discount for all Archive orders
  • 20% Discount for all Tasking orders

Thanks to this unique promotion, as an example, GeoEye-1 and IKONOS “Geo” products are offered at:

  • Archive: from 8 US$/km2 (25 km2 minimum order size) down to 5 US$/km2 (for large volume orders).
  • Tasking: from 16 US$/km2 (100 km2 minimum order size)

Even better conditions can be offered for country coverages.

Click here for coverage maps of available scenes (Max. cloud cover 20%)

This End of Year Promotion is effective immediately, not retroactively, for all orders submitted to GIM, by November 30th 2011. This promotion cannot be combined with special packages, ad-hoc proposals and already established contracts, while the 30% Academic License Discount is still applicable on top.

Please contact GIM for more information.

Source

A consortium led by GeoVille has been awarded an ESA contract to develop a methodology for the extraction of small linear features from high resolution satellite images (IMAGE2006).

The resulting data will be used for monitoring small landscape elements as part of the EEA’s environmental assessments of ecosystem services and Green Infrastructure.

Source

News about: Support To Topology, Filling the gap in landscape mapping or Gisat contribution to EEA-FOEN report on landscape fragmentatoin in Europe


Support To Topology

How to use topological relationships and rules during image classification?

The need of classifying remotely sensed images and characterize the image informative contents in terms of objects and their characteristics is becoming an urgent problem to solve for Earth Observation discipline, especially with the support of automated tools. The more the resolution of satellite sensors increases and the more the level of detail becomes higher and higher; not only the identification and characterization of the smallest possible object that can be detected in one image is important, but also the possibility to correctly group together small objects to create larger and more complex objects is of paramount importance.

The Support to TOpology (STO) project aims at analysing the latter aspect, identifying from users the needs and the methodologies to group together simple objects, and analysing them with experts in the topology domain to verify how the user requests can be satisfied with the theoretical topological approach.

STO is an research project run in the frame of ESA’s Basic Technology Research Programme (TRP). The project consortia is led by SISTEMA GmbH (Austria) having three research partners: UNIAQ (Department of Electrical and Information Engineering of the University of L‟Aquila, Italy), UBA (Austrian Environment Agency) and Gisat (Czech Republic).

Find more information at ESA project website rssportal

Filling the gap in landscape mapping

Gisat participates in the ESA project aiming at mapping of landscape linear features structure

Thanks to the recent developments in the GMES Land monitoring domain several pan-European mapping projects will be run to complement Corine Land Cover dataset. They have thematic focus to bring more detailed and more accurate spatial information about sealed areas, forest, grassland, wetlands and water bodies. However, none of them deals with monitoring of landscape small linear features (SLF). The missing information about this aspect of the European landscape represents for EEA a considerable data gap in its integrated assessment approach.

Linear features structure landscape in different ways, playing altogether and in different proportions the roles of connector, interface and habitat, and often of barrier. This is true for rivers, the borders of different systems as well as for transport networks. In that respect, the small linear features, natural (small streams, riparian forests) as well as artificial (hedgerows, small walls or lanes bordering fields…) are an important component of landscape diversity and biodiversity.

GeoVille (AT) together with Gisat have responded to the need of European Environment Agency (EEA) to acquire additional land cover dataset with specific focus on landscape small linear features. The proposal has been submitted to the European Space Agency (ESA) in the frame of the Value Added Element of the EO Envelope Programme. The main goal of the project is to set-up prototype mapping service to detect and categorize small linear features based on EO imagery. The products will be developed in close collaboration with EEA so that they may be directly ingested into the analysis and environmental models run by the EEA’s experts.


Example of the grid based Landscape heterogeneity index

The pilot mapping will be run on several test sites in different bio-geographic regions selected by EEA. From the temporal point of view, change potential of service will be demonstrated using IMAGE2006 and IMAGE2009 datasets. The service aims to allow consistent and comparable temporal analysis on user defined analytical units by change indicator. Small linear features project results are expected to play an important role in the EEA activities related to the land monitoring information system and in land and ecosystem accounting.

Fragmented Europe

Gisat participated on the award winning EEA-FOEN report on ‘Landscape fragmentation in Europe’.

Gisat has cooperated, in the frame of the European Topic Center for Spatial Information and Analysis (ETCSIA), in three years project recently published as the joint EEA-FOEN report by EEA in September. This report is the result of collaboration between the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) and the European Environment Agency (EEA). The Swiss FOEN provided funding for the work on this report, with contributions from the EEA via ETCSIA. The report takes the method of fragmentation analysis that has previously been applied to Switzerland, where the results are used in various monitoring systems, and applies it to 28 countries in Europe. For the first time, this report presents the extent of landscape fragmentation across an entire continent using a scientifically sound method. It also reveals the most relevant driving forces behind fragmentation, demonstrating that varying factors are relevant in different parts of Europe. This report provides a foundation for environmental monitoring and protective measures for those landscapes that are not yet fragmented. The problem of landscape fragmentation is considered by the recently-adopted European Union Strategy on Biodiversity and Ecosystems, where green infrastructure features prominently

More about the EEA Report No 2/2011

Meanwhile, the report has been already awarded with the Infra Eco Network Europe (IENE) Project Award 2011. IENE is a European network of authorities, institutes and experts involved in the phenomena of habitat fragmentation caused by the construction and use of linear transport infrastructure, especially roads, railways and canals (waterways). It addresses decision makers, planners and researchers as well as the public, by providing an international and interdisciplinary arena to encourage and enable cross-boundary cooperation in research, mitigation and planning. More information concerning the award can be found on CBM.

Source Gisat

In the middle of September 2011 ReSAC won a tender and signed a contract with the Basin Directorate for Water Management in the Danube region to the Bulgarian Ministry of Environment and Water

The task of the contract is to consult the institution in preparing the preliminary assessment of the flood risk, in reference to the Directive 2007/60/EC for flood risk estimate and management, that entered into force on the 26th of November in 2007.

The first step in preparation of the management plans is a preliminary assessment of flood risk. It does include description of floods, occurred in the past, with significant disadvantageous impacts on human health, environment, cultural heritage, technical infrastructure and economic activities, which can be expected to occur in the future.

Besides the conclusions of the preliminary assessment of the flood risk along with maps of area with possible flood risk including maps under current flood risk, the Management plans regarding the flood risk in the Danube region will contain a description of the purposes of flood risk management, and short performance of the measurements for achieving the related purposes.

After the Water Amendment Act, the Basin Directorates to the Ministry of Environment and Water will prepare Management plans of flood risk. With these amendments, the aim is to create conditions to prevent or reduce harmful effects on human life and health, environment, cultural heritage and economic activities, related to the harmful effects of water.

The Danube River Basin Directorate administrates the following catchment areas of the rivers – Iskar river, Erma river, Nishava river, Ogosta river and west of Ogosta river, Vit river, Osum river, Yantra river, Russenski Lom river and other rivers in Dobrudzha region, which are the main area or interest of the contract.

During contract implementation, not only the requirements of the European and National legislation will be followed, but the documentary of ICPDR and the results of the project “Danube Floodrisk” also. The collected data and analysis, will be used in the Danube strategy in terms of its further development.


Project Unities of the Basin Directorate for Water Management in the Danube region

Source RESAC

September 22, 2011 – Industry pays tribute to winners at Symposium on Earth Observation as part of World Satellite Business Week

(Paris, September 22, 2011) – Euroconsult, the leading global research and analyst firm specializing in the satellite sector, announced the recipients of its Annual Awards for Excellence in Earth Observation Business during the Symposium on Earth Observation Business (Sept 15/16).

The annual international event features leading executives of satellite operators, data distributors, manufacturers, and government and private users.

These awards are bestowed upon leaders and their companies for outstanding accomplishment in the sector. Euroconsult pays tribute to the winners each September in Paris during the World Satellite Business Week, the industry’s annual senior executive event, now in its 15th year. Our industry experts use rigorous quantitative_1_ and qualitative_2_ standards to select the winners. This year, winners from the Earth observation community were celebrated from the following three categories during the Symposium:

Earth Observation Operator of the Year – DigitalGlobe
Strategic Transaction of the Year – GeoEye
Strategic Partnership of the Year – Astrium Services & ScanEx

“The Euroconsult awards recognize companies and their leaders who, through their vision, innovation, and performance have significantly impacted the industry in the past year,” said Pacôme Revillon, CEO of Euroconsult. The Earth observation comes together at the Symposium on Earth Observation as part of the World Satellite Business Week to recognize the winners and the achievements shaping the industry.”

The distinguished winners shared their thoughts:

Earth Observation Operator of the Year

Jeffrey R. Tarr, President & CEO, DigitalGlobe

“From all of us at DigitalGlobe, I’d like to extend ou thanks to the committee and to Euroconsult for this honor. Receiving this award sends a clear message that we are succeeding where it matters most — using our leading-edge satellite imaging and analysis capabilities to help our customers save time, save resources and save lives.”

*Strategic Transaction of the Year *

Matthew O’Connell, President & CEO, GeoEye

“I would like to thank Euroconsult for this award recognizing GeoEye’s acquisition of Spadac – a brilliant team of predictive analytics experts. It’s exciting to offer our customers a full range of costeffective geospatial solutions. Our ability to collect, process and analyze massive amounts of geospatial data allows our customers to quickly see precise changes on the ground and anticipate where events may occur.”

Strategic Partnership of the Year

Eric Béranger, CEO, Astrium Services

“I am honoured to receive this prestigious award alongside our partners ScanEx, whom I thank for their confidence in our EO capabilities. It recognises our long term commitment to partnership with the geo-information services marketplace and delivering it unrivalled levels of service. By partnering with a leading player like ScanEx, we will achieve one of our key objectives of developing the footprint of our ever improving geo-information services and products offering across the whole Russian federation in a strong mutually beneficial relationship.”

Olga Gershenzon, Vice-President & co-owner, ScanEx

“It is a great honour for us to receive this strategic partnership award. We thank Euroconsult and other industry experts for this recognition of our recent efforts and achievements. For us, as data and end-solutions provider, partnerships are all that our business is about. And this particular deal with Astrium is true progress in our mutual relations and is generating very important opportunities for both companies on the regional market.”

About ‘World Satellite Business Week’ & ’Symposium on Earth Observation Business’

The World Satellite Business is the unique executive meeting place for the global satellite business. It includes Euroconsult’s flagship World Summit for Satellite Financing and the Symposium on Earth Observation Business. Throughout the week, the summit brings together over 120 top-level speakers and 600 senior executives from the industry and the financial community.

Top business leaders participate in this must-attend summit to discuss strategy, make deals and strike partnerships. www.satellite-business.com

About Euroconsult

Euroconsult is the leading international consulting and analyst firm specializing in space applications, satellite communications and Earth observation. Euroconsult provides strategic consulting and analysis, develops comprehensive research reports and forecasts, and organizes events including the annual World Satellite Business Week, the industry’s leading executive-level gathering, including the World Summit for Satellite Financing and the Symposium on Earth Observation Business (www.satellite-business.com).

With 25 years of experience Euroconsult has over 560 clients in 50 countries, including leaders throughout the satellite industry; satellite operators and service providers; government agencies; satellite manufacturers and launch service providers; equipment providers and integrators; media and broadcasting companies; and banks and investors.

The company has completed 500 satellite-related consulting projects. Euroconsult is based in Paris with offices in Montreal and Washington, DC. www.euroconsult-ec.com.

1 Financial performance indicators, such as overall revenue & revenue growth, commercial or export revenue
2 Innovation, strategic initiatives, impact Strategic Transaction of the Year

Source Euroconsult