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Through satellite-bases research, the Algerian Space Agency ASAL has found a positive vegetation recovering of the forest areas located in the Aïn Témouchent province after the damages caused by wildfires in 2014.

The forest fires of summer 2014 devastated around 180 hectares, with Beni Ghenam being the most affected region, as Algérie1 reported. The main cause of the fires was human negligent behaviour while visiting the forests.

The analysis and comparison of images compiled by the Alsat-2A satellite in August 2014 and March 2015 has shown a growing chlorophyll activity related to the increase of vegetation along the burned areas.

This result helps to better understand the process of forest recovery after wildfires by assessing the presence of green biomass.

ASAL also hosts UN-SPIDER’s Regional Support Office in Algeria.

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(29 May 2015) The Open Source Geospatial Foundation (OSGeo) and the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a collaborative relationship between the photogrammetry and remote sensing communities with the open source geospatial community. The ISPRS is a non-governmental organisation devoted to the development of photogrammetry and remote sensing through international cooperation. OSGeo is a not-for-profit organisation that aims to support and promote the collaborative development of open source geospatial technologies and data.

The goal of this agreement is to promote the distribution and use of open geo-data sets in all communities, promote the development of related photogrammetry and remote sensing open source software, and to organise joint international workshops on global geo-information sharing through the use of open geo-data sets and open source geospatial software. It also aims to work closely with the “Geo for All” initiative, to help promote openness in education and research. Prof. Chen Jun, president of the ISPRS, is also an advisory board member of the “Geo for All” initiative, which aims to make geospatial education, software, and opportunities accessible to all.

Prof. Jun said that society has a long tradition in open data and open software in photogrammetry and remote sensing. According to Jun, one of the most recent changes in the field is the open access of GlobalLand30 dataset which was recently donated to the United Nations. With this MoU signed, ISPRS is looking to move forward in this field with an advantageous collaboration with OSGeo and ICA.

Commenting on the MoU, Jeff McKenna, president of OSGeo, said that remote sensing data is a huge part of OSGeo’s projects and that the agreement will allow the open geospatial community to work closely with the ISPRS community to discover and share these geodata sets. The hope is also that specific open software for the photogrammetry and remote sensing community can be expanded and developed with the help of the OSGeo community members.

Contact Anne Ghisla, OSGeo, a.ghisla@gmail.com

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The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite collected this natural-color image which detected dozens of fires burning in southwestern Africa on May 21, 2015.

The location, widespread nature, and number of fires suggest that these fires were deliberately set to manage land. Farmers often use fire to return nutrients to the soil and to clear the ground of unwanted plants.

While fire helps enhance crops and grasses for pasture, the fires also produce smoke that degrades air quality. Each hot spot, which appears as a red mark, is an area where the thermal detectors on the MODIS instrument recognized temperatures higher than background. When accompanied by plumes of smoke, as in this image, such hot spots are diagnostic for fire. The smoke released by any type of fire (forest, brush, crop, structure, tires, waste or wood burning) is a mixture of particles and chemicals produced by incomplete burning of carbon-containing materials. All smoke contains carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and particulate matter or soot.

This natural-color satellite image was collected by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard the Aqua satellite on May 21, 2015. NASA image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team. Caption: NASA/Goddard, Lynn Jenner

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The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) has unveiled its high-resolution SPOT 6 and 7 National Mosaics and ortho-bundle data.

With a resolution of 1,5m, the SPOT 6 and 7 earth observation satellites, form a small constellation, which were deployed into the same orbit on 9 September 2012 (SPOT 6) and 20 June 2014 (SPOT 7). The two satellites replace a single satellite, SPOT 5, which was decommissioned at the end of March 2015.

“We are very excited to harness the potential benefits of the SPOT 6 and SPOT 7 satellite imagery products to further address national issues, including tackling food security, agricultural issues, energy, rural development and urban
planning, especially at local government level,” says SANSA CEO, Dr Sandile Malinga.

“SPOT 6 and SPOT 7 are crucial decision-supporting tools for South Africa,” he adds. “The Defence, Intelligence and Police departments will benefit greatly from their highly responsive sensors that increase acquisition capacity and simplify data access.”

SPOT 6 and SPOT 7 cover wide areas in record time and their agility capability makes them useful for disaster monitoring. Both products can accommodate last-minute urgent task requests with high levels of data detail.

“Using satellite data provides repetitive, reliable and consistent information about the planet on a global scale. When combined with ‘in-situ’ observations, it’s an extremely powerful tool for monitoring our environment, including low-cost housing mapping, which helps government with future planning and development. More importantly, with the two satellite we are in a position to provide two seasonal mosaics per year,” says SANSA Earth Observation MD, Dr Jane Olwoch.

SPOT 6 will aid agriculture by making available information about vegetation and providing water quality analysis. Among other wide-ranging data, these products are strategically in line with the SANSA goal to collect, assimilate and disseminate earth observation data to support South Africa’s policy making, decision making, economic growth and sustainable development initiatives.

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The IASON FP7 project, a coordination action within the FP7 ENV program, concluded its work in May 2015 having achieved all of the project objectives successfully. IASON project understanding the need to promote use of Earth Observation data for the environment had the ultimate goal to unlock the potential and create a permanent and sustainable network of academic, governmental and industry stakeholders primarily in the Mediterranean and Black sea regions.

The IASON project came to an end this May after the successful final event on April the 222nd 2015. IASON Project had the ultimate goal to establish a permanent and sustainable Network of scientific and non-scientific institutions, stakeholders and private sector enterprises belonging in the EU and third countries located in two significant areas; The Mediterranean and the Black Sea regions. The main focal points of the project were the usage and application of Earth Observation (EO) in the following topics:

  • Actions to address climate changes
  • Research and innovation to improve resource efficiency
  • Raw Material Management

During the last two years, the IASON consortium tried to build on new and existing knowledge in order to push for a more integrated and sustainable use of EO data in the 2 areas for the benefit of the environment. Local networks were identified and approached, regional capacities were assessed and extended and new virtual and on-situ services for training and knowledge spill-over were built. Through the activities of our project we had the opportunity to meet very interesting people from the Black Sea and Mediterranean regions and appreciate their skills and above all their longing for knowledge and expertise. We are confident that the journey of IASON will continue.

By Prof. Petros Patias, IASON project Coordinator
More information on the IASON project results can be found at www.iason-fp7.eu

North Korean space agency officials have said the country is developing a more advanced Earth observation satellite and are defending their right to conduct rocket launches whenever they see fit, despite protests by the United States and others that the launches are aimed primarily at developing military technologies.

North Korea launched its first and only satellite in 2012. The claim that it is working on another, made in an interview last week with an Associated Press television crew in Pyongyang, comes amid a flurry of attention to the country’s fledgling space agency, including a visit by leader Kim Jong-un to a new satellite control centre which was repeatedly broadcast on North Korean TV early in May.

“We are developing a more advanced Earth observation satellite and when it’s complete, before launching it, we will inform international organisations and other countries,” said Paek Chang Ho, vice-director of the scientific research and development department of North Korea’s space agency.

Paek did not provide further details of what the satellite will do, how close it is to completion, when development began or when the next launch might be.

Speculation North Korea may be planning a rocket launch to mark the 70th anniversary this October of the ruling Korean Workers Party heated up after the release of recent satellite imagery at North Korea’s Sohae rocket launch site. Analysts at the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies say the images show significant new construction.

Concern has also been rising over North Korea’s weapons development.

The country recently claimed it tested a new type of missile from a submarine and reiterated that it had built a nuclear warhead small enough to be mounted on a long-range missile. Outside analysts are skeptical about both claims, but they believe the North has built a small but growing nuclear bomb arsenal and advanced its missile program since international nuclear disarmament talks stalled in early 2009.

Paek, echoing the often-repeated public statements about North Korea’s intentions, dismissed any linkage between the space program and weapons development.

“Our National Aerospace Development Administration has peaceful objectives,” he said. “America and its impure allies are always trying to persecute us … We will continue launching satellites in the designated place when necessary and whether it is recognised or not. The high dignity of our republic will be exalted.”
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In Washington, the State Department said any satellite launch using ballistic missile technology would be a clear violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions. It said the resolutions require North Korea to suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile program and abandon the program, verifiably and irreversibly.

“Any rocket capable of placing an object in orbit is directly relevant to the development of long-range ballistic missiles, as many ballistic missile and space-launch vehicle technologies are virtually identical and interchangeable,” spokeswoman Marie Harf told reporters. “So we’ll be watching this.”

North Korea was strongly criticised by Washington and subjected to tougher sanctions by the United Nations after the 2012 rocket launch carrying its first satellite.

Most experts believe that launch did in fact place a satellite into orbit, though it’s unclear whether the spacecraft was able to do anything beyond that.

Opinion is divided over whether the North’s primary goal was to bolster national pride with a high-profile technological achievement or, as Washington maintains, to move a step closer toward being able to field a long-range missile that could threaten US cities. It could be a combination of both, as was the case with the US and the Soviet Union during their own Cold War space-race years.

Either way, there is no doubt North Korea is actively promoting its space program to its people as a symbol of national accomplishment and prestige.

Mock-ups, big and small, of the blue-and-white Unha-3 rocket launched three years ago are common in Pyongyang. Children climb on them in playgrounds; they are featured in amusement parks, assembly halls and even flower exhibitions. One of the catchiest tunes by North Korea’s most popular singing group — the Moranbong Band — commemorated the launch as evidence of how the nation is single-mindedly roaring off into the future.

“The eagerness of our people for space development and conquest is becoming the mainstream of the era and it cannot be dammed up,” Paek said.

Yun Chang Hyok, vice-chief of the space agency’s research institute, said North Korea is also looking into developing and launching a communications satellite, and sees weather satellites as potentially useful for agricultural forecasting and planning. He said Pyongyang believes investment in space technology is good policy, even in a country like North Korea that is strapped for resources, because its ripple effects through the economy bring “eightfold” benefits.

“Outer space is becoming more of crucial part of people’s lives,” he said. “It is impossible to establish a powerful country without the development of space technology.”

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Lisbon: Geospatial technologies are responsive to the societal needs of a wide range of public and private sector policies. Active engagement, collaboration and understanding between geospatial community and its major user domains help in harnessing true value of geospatial information and enhancing awareness of its potential among policymakers. A plenary session held at the INSPIRE_Geospatial World Forum 2015 highlights the best practices that facilitate further development and improvement of geospatial policy framework, and its integration with policies of other major industries at local, national, regional and global levels. The discussion was moderated by Rolando Ocampo Alcantar, Vice President, National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), Mexico.

Prashant Shukle, Director-General, Canada Centre for Mapping and Earth Observation, Natural Resources Canada, believes that geomatics has opened up a plethora of opportunities for the public sector. He says, “Canada’s vast northern geography is our single biggest geospatial policy driver. Since we are one of the world’s richest natural resource bases, there is a huge demand for geospatial information in Canada. It should be noted that 80% of the population lives along the US-Canada border, thousands of miles away from these natural resources.”

Prashant adds, “What is the best way to deploy geospatial technology continues to be a tough question. Various vertical sectors have started using geospatial technology and experienced significant productivity gains. Canada’s GDP grew by C$ 20.7 billion due to productivity improvements from the use of geospatial technology. However, to ensure that GIS is adopted by more and more sectors, we need an integrated policy response, from supply driven by governments to demand driven by end users.”

Karl Falkenberg, Director General of European Commission, DG Environment, Belgium, feels that a substantial transformation in governance is being witnessed in Europe and most parts of the world. He says, “It is very important that not only do we reconsider the legislation, but also that we know how to measure impacts. A good way to start would be to have accurate information on the system. Now, getting this information is difficult. However, regulatory bodies need to collect information not only at regular intervals, but on a similar basis. Through INSPIRE, we collect and share information at the level of member states and make it available not just in the limits of one piece of legislation, but use it wherever required. It is important for the regulators to get more access to data so that we can implement, measure and monitor the impact of our policies.”

Rui Amaro Alves, Director General, Directorate General for Territorial Development, Portugal, tells, “Since its inception in 2012, the Directorate General for Territorial Development has been pursuing spatial planning to promote and support good land management practices, and develop and disseminate guidance and technical knowhow to ensure good organisation, presentation and use of national territory.”

Talking about INSPIRE’s influence on spatial planning policy, he adds, “The first territorial plans came in Portugal in 1765, after the Lisbon earthquake. In 2014, the organisation introduced a new Spatial Planning Act. This year, it has introduced a new law on spatial plans. INSPIRE’s data themes and general approach to protect environment boosts spatial planning. The IGEO – Spatial Open Data – is a new initiative which aims to make available public administration data for society and to research and educational institutes.”

Discussing the German marine data infrastructure and the EU directives, Johannes Melles — Coordinator for Spatial Data, German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH), Germany — quips, “Data providers need to live with the decisions made at policy level. Sometimes, this causes problems. But, on the other hand, what we are trying to do is not only accepting what we get from policy, but also come up with some ideas from our projects and get our influence on the policies. This works two-ways. Eighteen agencies and institutions in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in a 12-mile radius constitute the data providers for the maritime SDI. It is a service-oriented architecture; a decentralised network of data providing services. Data and services are documented with Meta data. The focus is on interoperability. We are looking into open standards defined by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC). The geoportal for Marine SDI is ready. There have been several learnings: partners have to be on the same level (tech and thinking); data has to be interoperable and licensing of the data has to be clear (preferable when data is free); data provision has to meet user requirements (quality, instead of quantity); and a clear task for the use of the data is to be established (theoretical use cases are not sufficient).

Taking the discussion forward, Vanessa Lawrence, Co-Chair, UN Initiative on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM), United Kingdom, adds, says, “The UN-GGIM has been set up for developing a strategic framework for geospatial information at a national, regional and global level. The UN-GGIM, along with the OGC, has developed an international standards document. The UN-GGIM website shares best practices models from around the world. It has also brought out a report on the future trends in geospatial information management. The UN-GGIM has identified legal and policy issues as one of the main challenges facing the geospatial community in the next ten years. It recognises the growing demand for more precise positioning services and the economic importance of a global geodetic reference frame for sustainable development.”

Abe Usher, Chief Technology Officer, HumanGeo, US, believes that two macro trends — evolution of cell phones and evolution of big data — are colliding. He tells, “In 2014, we searched trillions of times. What do these searches say about us? There was no consciousness of big data among people until 2005-06. It is a metaphor for the change that is going on around us. Collective intelligence or aggregated data and analytics provide insight into the trends. Geospatial professionals aggregate billions of weak signals to analyse the world. This technology evolution is creating a policy shift. Today, we do not go to an expert for answers. Instead, we go to google.com. Data consumption today comes from Smartphone users, not the government and institutes.”

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(11 September 2015) In 2015, EUMETSAT will support the commissioning of the Copernicus Sentinel-3A satellite by ESA, following its expected launch in October. EUMETSAT will also start to extract marine products at its multi-mission facilities in Darmstadt and to deliver these, as well as other products from Jason-3, EUMETSAT and other third party missions from the US, China, India, in a unique data stream available across the EU and EUMETSAT’s Member States.

To prepare users to access this unique and integrated Marine data stream, the European Commission and EUMETSAT are pleased to invite you to attend a “Copernicus Users Information Day”, planned to take place at EUMETSAT headquarters (Darmstadt, Germany) on 11 September 2015. A 1-pager presenting the Information Day and its programme is enclosed.

The website and registration page are now available. Please register by connecting on:
http://www.eumetsat.int/marinestream

Please note that participation will be limited to 120 Pax. Early registration is important.

Marinestream-infoprogramme.pdf

On Monday 16 February 2015, the High Representative / Vice President Federica Mogherini visited the European Union Satellite Centre (SatCen) – a Council Agency based in Torrejón de Ardoz near Madrid. The High Representative was hosted by the Satellite Centre’s Director Pascal Legai and met with SatCen specialists.

In his briefing, Director Legai underlined some key aspects of the EU Satellite Centre as a unique asset to support the decision making and actions of the European Union in the CFSP/CSDP (1) field, including EU Crisis Management missions and operations, under the operational direction of the HR. The human dimension of the SatCen operations was also stressed, with its 24/7/365 availability, near real time production – when data and imagery are accessible -, end-user focus and secured analytical and dissemination process.

The main users of the SatCen products and services are EU Member States, the (European External Action Service) EEAS, the High Representative team, the EU Intelligence Analysis Centre (IntCen), the EU Military Staff (EUMS), the Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability (CPCC), various CSDP missions and operations as well as the European Commission. The Centre’s users also include and international organisations such as the United Nations (UN), Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

Director Legai emphasised that, to face a growing and evolving demand, further development of SatCen will rely on COOPERATION, mainly with the Commission (Copernicus, Space Situational Awareness, Frontex), to concretely implement synergies and avoid duplications while building on the SatCen’s 20-year experience in the Earth Observation and space-security domains. In this context, the HR was informed about two important initiatives paving the way for increased cooperation with the Commission: shaping the role of the SatCen in the upcoming Copernicus service in support of EU external Action (SEA), and the consolidation of the cooperation with FRONTEX through an administrative arrangement on Border Surveillance activities.

The HR was also presented with concrete examples of products and services derived from analysis of satellite imagery and addressing current EU Security threats, in particular on geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) for border surveillance and refugee camp monitoring to support sizing of humanitarian aid needs (in the framework of SEA Copernicus activations performed by FP7 projects G-NEXT and G-SEXTANT).

(Source EU SatCen) and Copernicus

(1) Common Foreign and Security Policy / Common Security and Defence Policy

SANSA Earth Observation directorate took an opportunity to exhibit at this year’s Randshow at the Nasrec, Johannesburg. The objective was to take advantage of this popular show (3 April to12 April 2015), and make it a platform for marketing and brand awareness of SANSA because it provides valuable exposure, promotional opportunities and direct engagement with the largest audience available at any community event in the country.

SANSA’s stand attracted a lot of audience, young and old, some of whom did not know that South Africa has a space agency, and were excited at the development.

Participation at the Randshow further boosts SANSA’s strategic Goal 3, which among others, seeks to develop national human capacity and ensure transformation, through developing interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) and increasing science awareness among the youth, improving the overall scientific literacy in society and sharing the immense benefits of space.

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