The supply project, with Indra Espacio as main contractor, started in September 2008 and involved the provision of more than 1.2 million km² of very high-resolution satellite imagery to the Cartographic Coordination Service for the Multinational Geospatial Co-production Program (MGCP) initiative.
Twenty-eight countries are working together in this multinational program under the coordination of the US National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). Indra Espacio, in cooperation with European Space Imaging supplies images for 124 1ºx1º cells with quality certificates.
The satellite imagery was provided by European Space Imaging, the only company in Europe that owns and operates regional ground receiving stations for direct tasking and data downlink from commercial, very high-resolution optical satellites.
European Space Imaging supplied more than 13 Terabyte of data. Indra Espacio was in charge of satellite image quality control, using their complete workflow for image acquisition, cataloguing image processing and quality acceptance tests. The Cartographic Coordination Service of the Spanish MoD used the data for vector data extraction in a scale of 1:50,000 according to the MGCP Technical Reference Documentation (TRD) for international interoperability between the different national co-producers of this cartography.
Through multinational cooperation MGCP seeks to provide geospatial information to all participating countries concerning different areas of the planet. This information will be useful for coordinating responses in the event of natural catastrophes or humanitarian crises and will also contribute to the assessment of the natural resources of a given area.
“The Cartographic Coordination Service (CCS) of the Spanish Ministry of Defense is responsible for carrying out the MCGP initiative of Spain. We are very pleased with the timelines and quality of the data delivery through European Space Imaging and Indra Espacio” said Colonel Justo Bernaldo de Quirós, chief of the CCS.
“We have succeeded in this challenge in time and quality thanks to our robust image processing chain and skills” said Indra Espacio’s Remote Sensing Director Victoriano Moreno.
“EUSI is proud to have contributed to yet another key MGCP project in Europe and enjoyed working with the Spanish Ministry of Defense and our close business partner INDRA. The customer’s trust in us emphasizes once again our capability to deliver large volumes of very high resolution satellite imagery in a consistent manner and ahead of schedule.” said European Space Imaging’s General Manager Adrian Zevenbergen.
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. The company was founded in 2002 and is based in Munich, Germany. EUSI is the only European satellite data provider that operates its own very high-resolution satellite ground station for direct satellite tasking and local data downlink.
In 2010, EUSI, its parent company Space Imaging Middle East and DigitalGlobe, a leading provider of commercial high-resolution earth imagery products and services, formed the WorldView Global Alliance. The Alliance was created to provide the best customer service and fastest access to global very high-resolution satellite imagery worldwide, together with the broadest conditions and an extensive product range.
EUSI supports a comprehensive network of commercial partners throughout Europe and North Africa. The company also maintains long-term, direct relations with the major European and international institutions working in disaster management, national and regional security, environmental monitoring and mapping.
About Indra Espacio
Indra Espacio has been active for more than 30 years in the satellite-based communications, teledetection, control and satellite navigation markets. During all these years, it has proved its capacity to manage and plan development, delivery and maintenance of ground complex systems, either for the civil or military sector. The company maintains a growing international presence and has developed projects in more than 20 countries.
Indra Espacio is a subsidiary of Indra, the premier Information Technology company in Spain and a leading IT multinational in Europe and Latin America. Indra is ranked as the second European company in its sector according to stock market capitalisation, and also the second Spanish company with the most investment in R&D. In 2009, revenues reached € 2,513 M, of which a third came from the international market. The company employs more than 29,000 professionals and has clients in more than 100 countries.
About the Cartographic Coordination Service of the Spanish MoD.
The Cartographic Coordination Service (CCS) is responsible for the drawing up of the Armed Forces Cartographic Plan, and coordinates the activities of the cartographic centers in the Army, Navy and Air Forces.
It leads also the participation of the Spanish Ministry of Defense in other geospatial projects carried out in cooperation with other National and International Organizations, and promotes agreements for technical cooperation and exchange of geospatial data and materials between the Spanish Ministry of Defense and geospatial agencies of other countries.