Abstracts for papers presented
at the
5th EEOS Workshop
14-15 Oct 1998
DIGITAL DATA ARCHIVES FOR EO:
AN AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE
John Faundeen
U.S. Geological Survey
EROS Data Center
Sioux Falls, SD 57198 USA
Tel: 605-594-6092
Fax: 605-594-6150
E-mail: faundeen@usgs.gov
Organization And Legislation
The EROS Data Center (EDC) reports to the National Mapping Division which is part of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The USGS is one agency within the Department of the Interior. The Earth observation (EO) holdings of the EDC include over two million images obtained from satellites and over ten million frames of aerial photography. While the satellite imagery has legislative mandates, the aerial photography migration has followed a non-legal path that included, originally, only the Department of Interior photography.
Satellite And Aerial
Recognizing that all of the Landsat data residing on high density tape (HDT) needed to be migrated to a newer media to preserve the imagery, the EDC assembled the resources necessary to build and operate a TM and MSS archive conversion system. Access to that historical and the planned Landsat 7 imagery became a requirement for a consortium of users within the state of Ohio. A pilot project was conceived to provide quick access and distribution of the historical and planned Landsat imagery to this group of users. The aerial photography holdings at the EDC also require some special attention. Efforts related to generating coordinate information, scanning indexes, and copying older film to newer and safer film are all under way.
Arching And Distribution
The EDC is planning three archive conversion projects to begin in 1999. The first will be a partnership with the SPOT Imaging Corporation. The second will involve Landsat TM dating from 1992 to the present and the third will tackle migrating the 1972 to 1979 wide-band video tape (WBVT) imagery to a newer archive media. While these conversion activities are being worked on, the EDC will also be preparing for the transition of the Landsat 7 and EOS MODIS and ASTER imagery from a NASA archive to a USGS archive. Related to these efforts, the archive of Landsat imagery will be utilized by NASA to support an aggressive effort entitled the Global Landsat Mapping Project. Rounding out our EO archive activities for the next few years is an initiative that will hopefully bring new base funds to the EDC for satellite archive and data management needs. To access these and other EO data in a new fashion, a team has been assembled to formulate a methodology for providing access and distribution to imagery presented in a seamless fashion.
Working towards legislation that supports and dictates the establishment of EO archives would provide great benefits for future generations. That support could be used to ensure base funding for ongoing EO archive activities as well as fund specific initiatives such as media conversion tasks. Getting legislative bodies to realize that the value of an EO archive increases with time will be the challenge for us all, but this is the path that appears to be the most promising in America to safeguard our international treasures.
THE 1997 FEASIBILITY STUDY PERFORMED FOR CEO BY AN INDUSTRIAL CONSORTIUM
Stefan Zenker
Swedish Space Corporation
P.O. Box 4207
S - 171 04 SOLNA, Sweden
Email: sz@ssc.se
ABSTRACT
This paper will present the work performed during 1996 - 1997 by an industrial consortium under the CEO study contract "Rationale for and implications of a long-term European Digital Data Archive (EDDA) for Earth observation". Although slightly dated, it is thought that the work carried out in this study holds continued relevance for the ongoing debate on how to preserve valuable historical Earth observation data sets.
The Consortium consisted of Swedish Space Corporation (prime), CNES, ESYS, Matra CAP Systèmes, Spot Image, and SSC Satellitbild. The team was asked to assess the need for archived EO data, to analyse the status of the present archives, to suggest how EDDA might be implemented, and to consider the implications it might have.
Some of the key findings were:
The presentation will give further details of the work performed. It will not address developments since the Study was completed in 1997.
LONG TERM EO DATA ARCHIVING FROM AN APPLICATION POINT OF VIEW
Volkmar Wismann, Neil Hubbard
Strategy & Systems for Space Applications Unit
Space Applications Institute
Joint Research Centre
Ispra,
21023 VA, Italy
Email: volkmar.wismann@jrc.it, neil.hubbard@jrc.it
ABSTRACT
The work presented in this paper is part of on-going study work to consider the strategy in Europe towards long term preservation of EO satellite data. The work of previous studies is extended in two areas. Firstly, the need for long term EO data sets in Europe is expanded to cover the policies of the European Union and also recent international treaties. Secondly, an up to date appraisal of the current practises and policies for archiving EO data has been established, both within Europe and the rest of the world.
The main work presented here is to show the results of some empirical tests to obtain older satellite data. Based on the needs identified, current archives were investigated to find older satellite data acquired in the period 1972-1990. Results showed that for all data sources that were originally available (for example, excluding missions such as from China when the data has never been available) the datasets could be found. Data could be fairly easily obtained from all of these, with the one exception of Landsat 3 RBV data.
Most data sets had no explicit guarantee of long term preservation but most data owners either had plans or were in the process of transcribing to newer media. Furthermore, it was found that all older data is adequately catalogued, and can usually be found by a scientist querying the WWW. When electronic enquiries were not successful, the human link proved extremely useful, with most data sets having at least one expert who could provide full details of how to get the data.
The goal of the study work is to produce "guiding principles" for discussion. The strategy for long term archiving of EO data will then be considered within the Services of the Commission, within the Member States and with appropriate organisations in Europe. The results of this empirical study work indicate that scientific and technical arguments give little basis for changing the current situation. However, considerations from a strategic point of view may provide a different influence, but currently in Europe there is no champion for this role and the long term nature of any commitment is very difficult to handle.
SATCOMS SURVEY 1998 : SYSTEMS & EO APPLICATIONS
Maria Efthimerou
INTRACOM S.A.
GR- 190 02 Peania, Attika, Greece
Phone : +30 1 6860485, Fax : +30 1 6860258
e-mail : meft@intranet.gr
Within the frame of the strong European interest in the space sector, the DG JRC, SAI/CEO had the initiative, in autumn 1996, to survey the developments in the satellite communications sector and to investigate the synergy of satcoms with EO applications. A second study followed (completed last August), incorporating all recent developments in the satcom sector and a new group of potential European environmental applications.
It is widely accepted that the satellite communications industry is evolving with a high rate of growth and that it will expand further into the next century.
Satellite communications are in commercial use since the beginning of the 1960s, however it was a PTT oriented service targeted to big customers like governments and public telecommunications organizations and, later, to television broadcasters.
In the beginning of the 80’s the satellite industry started to address the end-user market for fixed and mobile communications (VSAT and mobile systems). In the last 10 years, along with the emergence of the information society, the developments in the satellite communications field have been remarkable. In the 90’s new digital systems have come into commercial operation, and tens of proposals for the implementation of new global and regional systems both in the Mobile Satellite Service/ MSS (Personal Communication Services/PCS) and the Fixed Satellite Service/FSS (broadband multimedia) sectors.
The implementation of some of the new generation systems will transform the market of global communications providing a wide range of communications capabilities globally.
Satcom systems address a wide range of applications especially applications is related to either of : wide geographical area coverage, remote area activities, broadcasting capability to large numbers of dispersed users, mobility / portability, integrated and uniform communications infrastructure, and fast information transfer.
A number of EO/environmental applications, related to European projects, have been identified that can be supported by satcoms effectively.
THE VALUE OF SATCOMS FOR DISTRIBUTING EO DATA : ESA RELEVANT PROGRAMS AND DEMONSTRATIONS
Emmanuel Rammos - APP-CSP, Roberto Viola - APP-TSF
EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY (ESTEC)
P.O.Box 299, 2200 AG Noordwijk, The Netherlands
e-mail : erammos@estec.esa.nl, rviola@estec.esa.nl
Activities relevant to the Distribution of Earth Observation information via SatComs are included in ESA's Advanced Research in Telecommunication Systems (ARTES).
THE ESA ARTES-3 MULTIMEDIA INITIATIVE
The programme mission is to put Member States' industry in a position to acquire as large a share as possible of the world market in satellite based communications services and to promote advanced applications and thereby assist with the development of new markets . ARTES 3 is designed as a partnership between ESA, National agencies and Industry. In 1997 the first phase of the ESA multimedia programme has been started with an initial 70 Millions ECU investment plan in satellite internet applications and systems. Examples of application projects are the SHARED (Tele-Medicine), ESPRESSO (Interactive Learning), MultiMED (Tele-Medicine and Tele-Care), HERMES (Tele-Education and Tele-Medicine). ESA plans to start the second phase of the programme will be started in 1999 with an envelope of around 250 Millions of ECU.
ARTES 5 DEMONSTRATIONS
In ARTES 5, the EMERGSAT and REMSAT projects aim to demonstrate the use of Space Techniques for Emergency Management and help bridging the gap between space data and service providers and the "End Users" - civil and governmental Authorities involved in risk management. EMERG-SAT will demonstrate the use of near real-time combination of Earth Observation, meteorological and GIS info, delivered via satellite links in aiding decision making processes. A Pilot Network will be implemented and used in floods and forest fires demos. REMSAT objective is to demonstrate the use of real time SatComs and localisation, using hand-held terminals, via a pilot demonstration involving end-users and making maximum use of existing technologies. The selected emergency application is Forest Fires.
CURRENT AND FUTURE DATA DISTRIBUTION MECHANISMS OF EO PROVIDERS
Christian Hoffmann
GeoVille GmbH
Rinnerstr. 1
A–6071 Innsbruck – Aldrans
Email: hoffmann@geoville.com
ABSTRACT
The presented paper is based on a study produced in the frame of ASTRON (Applications on the Synergy of satellite Telecommunications, eaRth Observation and Navigation) for the Unit on Strategy and Systems for Space Applications of the European Commission.
Within the work programme a technical report and a high level overview is produced. Current and next generation systems are presented. A number of key application examples for the different sensors are illustrated as well.
Major EO data providers were in the frame of the study contacted to discuss their current and planned data distribution mechanisms. They were asked to identify potential applications within their distribution chain where Satcoms could play a role.
The integrated use of spaceborne EO and telecommunication (SATCOMS) is illustrated. In this context the potential of Satcoms - to transfer large amounts of data - at relatively low cost - within a short period of time - to a large number of users - is shown. The potential role of Satcoms for granting immediate access to up-to-date EO derived information is also presented.
Issues of rapid information broadcasting (e.g. for data distribution) and real time access to EO derived information are discussed as well. The level of urgency for data access within a number of applications (e.g. disasters, natural hazards, nuclear accidents, crop monitoring) is also presented. The study puts emphasis on the end user requirements within the respective applications.
VEGETATION DATA DISTRIBUTION and SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
by
TRASYS Space
Abstract
Present distribution of Vegetation products from the processing centre CTIV is organised by using Internet, leased lines, ISDN, magnetic supports, CD-ROMs. But alternative distribution mechanisms based on satellite communications could be of great interest.
Expected benefits are: more efficient and cheaper dissemination of the same data to multiple users, coverage of poor infrastructure areas, improved access to metadata and data, collection of monitoring data (sea buoys,…), etc.
The scope of the study in progress consists on the one part, in investigating the user requirements regarding the delivery time and mechanism of Vegetation products, on the other part, assessing the potential satellite communications solutions. Then the most feasible solutions of Vegetation products distribution will be selected for test purpose.
EUMETSAT DATA DISTRIBUTION OVER
COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITES
A. Middleton, D. J. Bestwick and A. J. Harrison
Avanti Communications Ltd, 1 Catherine Street,
St. Albans, Hertfordshire AL3 5BJ, United Kingdom
(phone: +44-1727-811616, e-mail; avanti@avanti-communications.com)
ABSTRACT
Data collected by EUMETSAT from the current Meteosat satellites are processed on-ground and re-transmitted in near real-time through the satellites to the meteorological user community. Meteosat’s dual role as a geostationary Earth observation satellite and communications satellite will be continued with the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) system which starts operations in 2001.
In parallel with MSG, EUMETSAT has embarked on the development of the EUMETSAT Polar System (EPS), with a series of METOP satellites to be launched into low-Earth polar orbit from 2003. EPS will produce a wealth of data from the instruments carried on-board the METOP satellites and will provide for the distribution of meteorological and climate monitoring products to the end-users.
This paper begins with a summary of the types of data which are available from EUMETSAT today and which will become available when the new geostationary and polar systems become operational within the next 5 years.
In addition to the current data dissemination system used by EUMETSAT, the possibilities of using future commercial communications satellite services are considered from the perspective of the end-user of the data. These future services include geostationary broadcast and fast-delivery systems, low-Earth orbit networks and broadband multi-media systems. The basic characteristics of each of these services are outlined and their suitability assessed for dissemination of near real-time and archive data.
The paper concludes by focusing on the near-term alternatives which could be followed for data distribution by satellite using current technologies such as digital packet delivery and high-speed Internet.
Distribution of EO data via satellites links
The M E T E O R project
Hubert DIEZ hubert.diez@cnes.fr
Gérard BLONDEAU gerard.blondeau@cnes.fr
C.N.E.S - 18, Av Edouard BELIN 31401 Toulouse Cedex France -
According to planners, space based geographic information is of upmost importance for the easy evolution of many development programmes on local, national and regional scale.
However, while significant effort has been made to improve the recovery and processing time of the image data, the end user still has to go through a complicated stage of selecting and ordering the data relevant to his needs, with an unforeseeable delivery time. This situation is inconsistent with regard to the monitoring of fast phenomenon and to the now "on line" requirement of the information society, and prevents many people from using valuable and already available data. Today, this difficulty may be overcome.
With the new telecommunication capabilities (associating terrestrial and spatial), we are entering the era of interactivity, accessibility - even for isolated users -, and high level of data rate transmission. The new communication links enable us to draw up the distribution services of Earth observation information for the benefit of end users in both private and public sectors (planners, thematicians, scientists), and towards business oriented activities as well (distributors, value added companies).
This programme is not technology development oriented since such telecommunication "tools" have been being develop for several years. Some products are already on the shelves, and demonstrations have already proved their feasibility.
It aims at meeting the needs and the requirements of end users, by providing easy access to geographic information for ongoing or planned projects in important fields:
- agriculture modernisation (crop inventory, harvest forecasting,...),
- water policy and management,
- early warning, monitoring, mitigation of hazards (floods, pollution, drought, forest fires,...),
- coastal planning and management,
- urban pressure monitoring,
- topographic mapping,
- cultural heritage - tourism development,
- professional training (water management, coastal planning, natural hazards),
- ...
It consists of the joint definition and specification of the necessary distribution, tele-training and assistance services, which are considered to be the operational "tools" of the future. Tentatively put, this means:
- electronic service offers: interactive customer assistance, catalogue offers (products and services) ,
electronic orders (quotations, orders, invoicing),
- electronic products delivery: earth observation imagery, topographic and thematic maps, more
elaborate geographic information
- on-line services: distance learning, real time hazards management, direct access to servers of data
and services (image subarea selection, digital image processing, ...).
The service network, which is anticipated to be established, will link various partners: content providers, information distributors (intermediate node), and end-users. In order to ensure success and continuity, it will be designed on a necessary basis of affordability for the end user, cost-effectiveness and self-sustainability after it becomes operational.
Built up on a socio-economical basis, this programme might hopefully bring a significant contribution to the development of key sectors and encourage the communication process among different countries.
Due to already existing links between Mediterranean countries, the first implementation of this program is proposed in this region.
The aim of this project and its telecommunication open network will be presented in details
EARTH OBSERVATION DATA AND INFORMATION ACCESS
TO AND FROM AREAS WITH POOR INFRASTRUCTURE
Gunter Schreier, Susan Giegerich, Klaus Reiniger
German Remote Sensing Data Center DFD, D-82234 Wessling, Germany
Gunter.Schreier@dlr.de, Susan.Giegerich@dlr.de, Klaus.Reiniger@dkr.de
THE ISSUES
Some of the hindrances preventing users in developing countries from obtaining timely, efficient and appropriate access to the fruits of satellite-based earth observation, and from making their own important contributions to increasing the global database of environmental metadata, are listed. Ideas are presented for new systems which combine data reception from, and information delivery to, remote areas.
A RESPONSE: CEOS INFORMATION LOCATOR SYSTEM (CILS)
CILS is a metadata information system which has been designed to make it easier for people in developing countries to have access to information about remote sensing activities, especially in other developing countries. This demonstration project is currently testing the usefulness of a service partial to the interests of developing countries, the acceptability of an approach which essentially depends on the initiative of users in developing countries, and the accessibility of the World Wide Web as a carrier of information for this purpose. The presentation briefly described the CILS approach as to the technology chosen, the user interface, the content, international acceptability, structural overview and the method of sharing information. User reactions to date, sustainability requirements, and current negotiations toward their realization are summarized.
A RESPONSE: DFD’S MOBILE RECEIVING STATIONS
The characteristics of traditional ground stations often preclude their provision of timely and relevant data for developing countries. DFD has analyzed this situation and designed a fleet of mobile stations to meet a variety of heretofore unmet data reception needs, such as supplementary or replacement capacity, reception in remote areas or as a response to diverse types of catastrophes, or for demonstration and training purposes. Design considerations for mobile stations which meet these reception requirements are briefly described, as is DFD’s experience to date with siting and operating these stations in a variety of locations on three continents.
EEIS: Facilitating Common Catalogue Access
for EEA and CEO Users
Ralf Kramer, Claudia Rolker
Forschungszentrum Informatik (FZI)
Haid-und-Neu-Str. 10-14
D-76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
kramer@fzi.de, rolker@fzi.de
Environmental catalogue systems provide information about environmental data that is available on-line or off-line. Not surprisingly, there are several catalogues and catalogue systems available that cover, e.g., different geographical areas and different subjects. Among them are systems such as the German/Austrian environmental data catalogue Umweltdatenkatalog (UDK) and the Catalogue of Data Sources (CDS) of the European Environment Agency (EEA) that cover aspects of the (European) environment fairly broadly and more subject specific systems such as the INFEO system of the EU’s Joint Research Center (JRC) that focuses on earth observation data.
Usually, people solving an environmental question need access to diverse information from several sources. Hence, general environmental data together with satellite images will facilitate this process. Currently, to access both general environmental information and earth oberservation data, a user has to work with WebCDS, the WebTool for searching the CDS, and with INFEO in order to get information from both sources.
In the EU-funded (under the Telematics Application Program TAP) project European Environmental Information Services (EEIS) we currently address the interoperability of the EEA’s CDS and the emerging INFEO software. WebCDS users will be able to access the INFEO data without any major changes in the WebCDS look and feel. The EO users will be able to access the CDS database with the help of the INFEO software.
In a first step, we analyzed the static and the dynamic differences between these two systems. The static comparison concerns the catalogues’ data and data models. The dynamic comparison deals with the way the search and retrieval functionality and the access to the underlying data is realized. WebCDS offers direct access to the underlying data via URLs. Data sources that are not available via URL have to be ordered via telephone or mail. INFEO will include a fairly complex ordering process in future releases.
In the presentation we will highlight the major differences between the two systems. We will present the architectural, i.e., technical, approach for supporting mutual access for both user groups including access to base data. Then we explore for opportunities and limitations of semantic interoperability. We illustrate the potential for future enhancements with respect to on-line access to base data using the German/Austrian WWW-UDK developed at FZI as an example.
Session 7
Peter Vaughan: CCSDS/ISO
CLRC
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
Chilton
Didcot
Oxon
OX11 OQX
UK
This talk outlines the role of ISO and the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) and their relationship in the production of standards relevant to archives and information interchange.
See URL:
Neil Beagrie: National Heritage Perspectives
Arts and Humanities Data Service Executive
King's College London, Strand
London
WC2R 2LS
UK
Digital information forms an increasingly large part of our cultural and intellectual heritage and offers significant benefits to users. The use of computers is changing forever the way information is being created, managed and accessed. The ability to generate, easily amend and copy information in digital form; to search texts and databases; and to transmit information rapidly via networks world-wide has lead to a dramatic growth in the application of digital technologies.
This talk is based on a study which addresses the critical issue of developing a strategic policy framework for the creation and long-term preservation of those digital resources which will form our future cultural and intellectual heritage.
See URL:
http://ahds.ac.uk/manage/framework.htm
Session 8:
David Giaretta: ISO Reference Model for Open Archival Information Systems
CLRC
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
Chilton
Didcot
Oxon
OX11 OQX
UK
This talk will outline to work being done on the ISO Reference Model for Open Archival Information Systems by CCSDS Panel 2 and others.
See URL:
http://ssdoo.gsfc.nasa.gov/nost/isoas/overview.html
David Holdsworth: CEDARS
http://www.personal.leeds.ac.uk/~ecldh/
CEDARS is an eLib funded project producing demonstrators of long-term preservation, with the intention of providing guidance to UK academic libraries concerning the retention of electronic materials. The project is operated by CURL (the Consortium of Research Libraries) and brings together expertise from libraries and computer centres. The 3 lead sites are Cambridge, Leeds and Oxford.
See URL:
http://www.curl.ac.uk/cedarsinfo.shtml
Wyn Cudlip: CEOS and standards
The relationship between CEOS, CCSDS and other standards bodies is described.
See URL:
http://earth1.esrin.esa.it/eeonline/eeo6
Session 9
EOS Ltd: Data Mining: Earth Observation Products on demand
Broadmede, Farnham Business Park
Farnham
Surrey
GU9 8QT
England
The extent to which the marketplace for Earth Observation (EO) data is underdeveloped is now widely recognised with returns on public and private investment falling short of expectations. Should this situation persist it is evident that it will have serious implications for future investment in EO technology and capability. One major difficulty has been the very slow rate at which market sectors not traditionally associated with EO activities have adopted EO products. While many factors contribute to this problem a dominant one is the lack of transparent means by which potential consumers of EO data can gain access to appropriate products. Ideally, obtaining such products should be as easy as obtaining other forms of data stored in electronic form, e.g. bank account details, music recordings on CDs, or films on videotape. Ultimately there is no reason not to conceive of EO as being another potential source of digital information available to a mass market of individual consumers with access to the Internet.
Recent technological developments such as greatly improved hardware performance, storage capacity, and access capabilities such as the Web have effectively removed many of the infrastructure barriers that have hitherto represented impediments to achieving mass distribution of EO data. The deficiency that must now be overcome is the provision of intuitive and flexible strategies for providing individual consumers with the products they seek. The notion of EO information on demand runs counter to current approaches to the retrieval of data which emphasize the technical, and frequently labour intensive nature of the procurement process. For true universal availability it is clear that substantially improved techniques for accessing and generating data products will be necessary.
For several years EOS has been actively addressing these issues in an effort to better understand the means by which intelligent strategies can be utilised to relieve prospective consumers of much of the effort necessary to identify and obtain an appropriate product. Fundamental to the EOS effort has been the concept of "Archive Mining". As a technology archive mining addresses the need for potential users to pose meaningful questions of EO data archives, for example:
More often than not queries of EO archives posed in the language of the potential consumer fail to elicit accurate or useful responses as archives have no means of translating such requests into forms more appropriate to the data storage systems. Through the development of intelligent systems capable of interfacing and translating from end user requirements to archive-centred requests, archive mining offers the potential of delivering high quality information relating to the needs of individual customers. How these objectives can be achieved will form the basis of the presentation.
David Giaretta: New ISO standards for Archiving,
CLRC
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
Chilton
Didcot
Oxon
OX11 OQX
UK
Following the OAIS Reference Model CCSDS Panel 2 intends to produce standards in the context of that model, supplementing any existing relevant standards.
See URL:
http://ssdoo.gsfc.nasa.gov/nost/isoas/overview.html
SATCOMS SURVEY 1998 : SYSTEMS & EO APPLICATIONS
Maria Efthimerou
INTRACOM S.A.
GR- 190 02 Peania, Attika, Greece
Phone : +30 1 6860485, Fax : +30 1 6860258
e-mail : meft@intranet.gr
Within the frame of the strong European interest in the space sector, the DG JRC, SAI/CEO had the initiative, in autumn 1996, to survey the developments in the satellite communications sector and to investigate the synergy of satcoms with EO applications. A second study followed (completed last August), incorporating all recent developments in the satcom sector and a new group of potential European environmental applications.
It is widely accepted that the satellite communications industry is evolving with a high rate of growth and that it will expand further into the next century.
Satellite communications are in commercial use since the beginning of the 1960s, however it was a PTT oriented service targeted to big customers like governments and public telecommunications organizations and, later, to television broadcasters.
In the beginning of the 80’s the satellite industry started to address the end-user market for fixed and mobile communications (VSAT and mobile systems). In the last 10 years, along with the emergence of the information society, the developments in the satellite communications field have been remarkable. In the 90’s new digital systems have come into commercial operation, and tens of proposals for the implementation of new global and regional systems both in the Mobile Satellite Service/ MSS (Personal Communication Services/PCS) and the Fixed Satellite Service/FSS (broadband multimedia) sectors.
The implementation of some of the new generation systems will transform the market of global communications providing a wide range of communications capabilities globally.
Satcom systems address a wide range of applications especially applications is related to either of : wide geographical area coverage, remote area activities, broadcasting capability to large numbers of dispersed users, mobility / portability, integrated and uniform communications infrastructure, and fast information transfer.
A number of EO/environmental applications, related to European projects, have been identified that can be supported by satcoms effectively.
THE VALUE OF SATCOMS FOR DISTRIBUTING EO DATA : ESA RELEVANT PROGRAMS AND DEMONSTRATIONS
Emmanuel Rammos - APP-CSP, Roberto Viola - APP-TSF
EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY (ESTEC)
P.O.Box 299, 2200 AG Noordwijk, The Netherlands
e-mail : erammos@estec.esa.nl, rviola@estec.esa.nl
Activities relevant to the Distribution of Earth Observation information via SatComs are included in ESA's Advanced Research in Telecommunication Systems (ARTES).
THE ESA ARTES-3 MULTIMEDIA INITIATIVE
The programme mission is to put Member States' industry in a position to acquire as large a share as possible of the world market in satellite based communications services and to promote advanced applications and thereby assist with the development of new markets . ARTES 3 is designed as a partnership between ESA, National agencies and Industry. In 1997 the first phase of the ESA multimedia programme has been started with an initial 70 Millions ECU investment plan in satellite internet applications and systems. Examples of application projects are the SHARED (Tele-Medicine), ESPRESSO (Interactive Learning), MultiMED (Tele-Medicine and Tele-Care), HERMES (Tele-Education and Tele-Medicine). ESA plans to start the second phase of the programme will be started in 1999 with an envelope of around 250 Millions of ECU.
ARTES 5 DEMONSTRATIONS
In ARTES 5, the EMERGSAT and REMSAT projects aim to demonstrate the use of Space Techniques for Emergency Management and help bridging the gap between space data and service providers and the "End Users" - civil and governmental Authorities involved in risk management. EMERG-SAT will demonstrate the use of near real-time combination of Earth Observation, meteorological and GIS info, delivered via satellite links in aiding decision making processes. A Pilot Network will be implemented and used in floods and forest fires demos. REMSAT objective is to demonstrate the use of real time SatComs and localisation, using hand-held terminals, via a pilot demonstration involving end-users and making maximum use of existing technologies. The selected emergency application is Forest Fires.
CURRENT AND FUTURE DATA DISTRIBUTION MECHANISMS OF EO PROVIDERS
Christian Hoffmann
GeoVille GmbH
Rinnerstr. 1
A–6071 Innsbruck – Aldrans
Email: hoffmann@geoville.com
ABSTRACT
The presented paper is based on a study produced in the frame of ASTRON (Applications on the Synergy of satellite Telecommunications, eaRth Observation and Navigation) for the Unit on Strategy and Systems for Space Applications of the European Commission.
Within the work programme a technical report and a high level overview is produced. Current and next generation systems are presented. A number of key application examples for the different sensors are illustrated as well.
Major EO data providers were in the frame of the study contacted to discuss their current and planned data distribution mechanisms. They were asked to identify potential applications within their distribution chain where Satcoms could play a role.
The integrated use of spaceborne EO and telecommunication (SATCOMS) is illustrated. In this context the potential of Satcoms - to transfer large amounts of data - at relatively low cost - within a short period of time - to a large number of users - is shown. The potential role of Satcoms for granting immediate access to up-to-date EO derived information is also presented.
Issues of rapid information broadcasting (e.g. for data distribution) and real time access to EO derived information are discussed as well. The level of urgency for data access within a number of applications (e.g. disasters, natural hazards, nuclear accidents, crop monitoring) is also presented. The study puts emphasis on the end user requirements within the respective applications.
VEGETATION DATA DISTRIBUTION and SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
by
TRASYS Space
Abstract
Present distribution of Vegetation products from the processing centre CTIV is organised by using Internet, leased lines, ISDN, magnetic supports, CD-ROMs. But alternative distribution mechanisms based on satellite communications could be of great interest.
Expected benefits are: more efficient and cheaper dissemination of the same data to multiple users, coverage of poor infrastructure areas, improved access to metadata and data, collection of monitoring data (sea buoys,…), etc.
The scope of the study in progress consists on the one part, in investigating the user requirements regarding the delivery time and mechanism of Vegetation products, on the other part, assessing the potential satellite communications solutions. Then the most feasible solutions of Vegetation products distribution will be selected for test purpose.
EUMETSAT DATA DISTRIBUTION OVER
COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITES
A. Middleton, D. J. Bestwick and A. J. Harrison
Avanti Communications Ltd, 1 Catherine Street,
St. Albans, Hertfordshire AL3 5BJ, United Kingdom
(phone: +44-1727-811616, e-mail; avanti@avanti-communications.com)
ABSTRACT
Data collected by EUMETSAT from the current Meteosat satellites are processed on-ground and re-transmitted in near real-time through the satellites to the meteorological user community. Meteosat’s dual role as a geostationary Earth observation satellite and communications satellite will be continued with the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) system which starts operations in 2001.
In parallel with MSG, EUMETSAT has embarked on the development of the EUMETSAT Polar System (EPS), with a series of METOP satellites to be launched into low-Earth polar orbit from 2003. EPS will produce a wealth of data from the instruments carried on-board the METOP satellites and will provide for the distribution of meteorological and climate monitoring products to the end-users.
This paper begins with a summary of the types of data which are available from EUMETSAT today and which will become available when the new geostationary and polar systems become operational within the next 5 years.
In addition to the current data dissemination system used by EUMETSAT, the possibilities of using future commercial communications satellite services are considered from the perspective of the end-user of the data. These future services include geostationary broadcast and fast-delivery systems, low-Earth orbit networks and broadband multi-media systems. The basic characteristics of each of these services are outlined and their suitability assessed for dissemination of near real-time and archive data.
The paper concludes by focusing on the near-term alternatives which could be followed for data distribution by satellite using current technologies such as digital packet delivery and high-speed Internet.
Distribution of EO data via satellites links
The M E T E O R project
Hubert DIEZ hubert.diez@cnes.fr
Gérard BLONDEAU gerard.blondeau@cnes.fr
C.N.E.S - 18, Av Edouard BELIN 31401 Toulouse Cedex France -
According to planners, space based geographic information is of upmost importance for the easy evolution of many development programmes on local, national and regional scale.
However, while significant effort has been made to improve the recovery and processing time of the image data, the end user still has to go through a complicated stage of selecting and ordering the data relevant to his needs, with an unforeseeable delivery time. This situation is inconsistent with regard to the monitoring of fast phenomenon and to the now "on line" requirement of the information society, and prevents many people from using valuable and already available data. Today, this difficulty may be overcome.
With the new telecommunication capabilities (associating terrestrial and spatial), we are entering the era of interactivity, accessibility - even for isolated users -, and high level of data rate transmission. The new communication links enable us to draw up the distribution services of Earth observation information for the benefit of end users in both private and public sectors (planners, thematicians, scientists), and towards business oriented activities as well (distributors, value added companies).
This programme is not technology development oriented since such telecommunication "tools" have been being develop for several years. Some products are already on the shelves, and demonstrations have already proved their feasibility.
It aims at meeting the needs and the requirements of end users, by providing easy access to geographic information for ongoing or planned projects in important fields:
- agriculture modernisation (crop inventory, harvest forecasting,...),
- water policy and management,
- early warning, monitoring, mitigation of hazards (floods, pollution, drought, forest fires,...),
- coastal planning and management,
- urban pressure monitoring,
- topographic mapping,
- cultural heritage - tourism development,
- professional training (water management, coastal planning, natural hazards),
- ...
It consists of the joint definition and specification of the necessary distribution, tele-training and assistance services, which are considered to be the operational "tools" of the future. Tentatively put, this means:
- electronic service offers: interactive customer assistance, catalogue offers (products and services) ,
electronic orders (quotations, orders, invoicing),
- electronic products delivery: earth observation imagery, topographic and thematic maps, more
elaborate geographic information
- on-line services: distance learning, real time hazards management, direct access to servers of data
and services (image subarea selection, digital image processing, ...).
The service network, which is anticipated to be established, will link various partners: content providers, information distributors (intermediate node), and end-users. In order to ensure success and continuity, it will be designed on a necessary basis of affordability for the end user, cost-effectiveness and self-sustainability after it becomes operational.
Built up on a socio-economical basis, this programme might hopefully bring a significant contribution to the development of key sectors and encourage the communication process among different countries.
Due to already existing links between Mediterranean countries, the first implementation of this program is proposed in this region.
The aim of this project and its telecommunication open network will be presented in details
EARTH OBSERVATION DATA AND INFORMATION ACCESS
TO AND FROM AREAS WITH POOR INFRASTRUCTURE
Gunter Schreier, Susan Giegerich, Klaus Reiniger
German Remote Sensing Data Center DFD, D-82234 Wessling, Germany
Gunter.Schreier@dlr.de, Susan.Giegerich@dlr.de, Klaus.Reiniger@dkr.de
THE ISSUES
Some of the hindrances preventing users in developing countries from obtaining timely, efficient and appropriate access to the fruits of satellite-based earth observation, and from making their own important contributions to increasing the global database of environmental metadata, are listed. Ideas are presented for new systems which combine data reception from, and information delivery to, remote areas.
A RESPONSE: CEOS INFORMATION LOCATOR SYSTEM (CILS)
CILS is a metadata information system which has been designed to make it easier for people in developing countries to have access to information about remote sensing activities, especially in other developing countries. This demonstration project is currently testing the usefulness of a service partial to the interests of developing countries, the acceptability of an approach which essentially depends on the initiative of users in developing countries, and the accessibility of the World Wide Web as a carrier of information for this purpose. The presentation briefly described the CILS approach as to the technology chosen, the user interface, the content, international acceptability, structural overview and the method of sharing information. User reactions to date, sustainability requirements, and current negotiations toward their realization are summarized.
A RESPONSE: DFD’S MOBILE RECEIVING STATIONS
The characteristics of traditional ground stations often preclude their provision of timely and relevant data for developing countries. DFD has analyzed this situation and designed a fleet of mobile stations to meet a variety of heretofore unmet data reception needs, such as supplementary or replacement capacity, reception in remote areas or as a response to diverse types of catastrophes, or for demonstration and training purposes. Design considerations for mobile stations which meet these reception requirements are briefly described, as is DFD’s experience to date with siting and operating these stations in a variety of locations on three continents.
EEIS: Facilitating Common Catalogue Access
for EEA and CEO Users
Ralf Kramer, Claudia Rolker
Forschungszentrum Informatik (FZI)
Haid-und-Neu-Str. 10-14
D-76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
kramer@fzi.de, rolker@fzi.de
Environmental catalogue systems provide information about environmental data that is available on-line or off-line. Not surprisingly, there are several catalogues and catalogue systems available that cover, e.g., different geographical areas and different subjects. Among them are systems such as the German/Austrian environmental data catalogue Umweltdatenkatalog (UDK) and the Catalogue of Data Sources (CDS) of the European Environment Agency (EEA) that cover aspects of the (European) environment fairly broadly and more subject specific systems such as the INFEO system of the EU’s Joint Research Center (JRC) that focuses on earth observation data.
Usually, people solving an environmental question need access to diverse information from several sources. Hence, general environmental data together with satellite images will facilitate this process. Currently, to access both general environmental information and earth oberservation data, a user has to work with WebCDS, the WebTool for searching the CDS, and with INFEO in order to get information from both sources.
In the EU-funded (under the Telematics Application Program TAP) project European Environmental Information Services (EEIS) we currently address the interoperability of the EEA’s CDS and the emerging INFEO software. WebCDS users will be able to access the INFEO data without any major changes in the WebCDS look and feel. The EO users will be able to access the CDS database with the help of the INFEO software.
In a first step, we analyzed the static and the dynamic differences between these two systems. The static comparison concerns the catalogues’ data and data models. The dynamic comparison deals with the way the search and retrieval functionality and the access to the underlying data is realized. WebCDS offers direct access to the underlying data via URLs. Data sources that are not available via URL have to be ordered via telephone or mail. INFEO will include a fairly complex ordering process in future releases.
In the presentation we will highlight the major differences between the two systems. We will present the architectural, i.e., technical, approach for supporting mutual access for both user groups including access to base data. Then we explore for opportunities and limitations of semantic interoperability. We illustrate the potential for future enhancements with respect to on-line access to base data using the German/Austrian WWW-UDK developed at FZI as an example.
Session 7
Peter Vaughan: CCSDS/ISO
CLRC
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
Chilton
Didcot
Oxon
OX11 OQX
UK
This talk outlines the role of ISO and the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) and their relationship in the production of standards relevant to archives and information interchange.
See URL:
Neil Beagrie: National Heritage Perspectives
Arts and Humanities Data Service Executive
King's College London, Strand
London
WC2R 2LS
UK
Digital information forms an increasingly large part of our cultural and intellectual heritage and offers significant benefits to users. The use of computers is changing forever the way information is being created, managed and accessed. The ability to generate, easily amend and copy information in digital form; to search texts and databases; and to transmit information rapidly via networks world-wide has lead to a dramatic growth in the application of digital technologies.
This talk is based on a study which addresses the critical issue of developing a strategic policy framework for the creation and long-term preservation of those digital resources which will form our future cultural and intellectual heritage.
See URL:
http://ahds.ac.uk/manage/framework.htm
Session 8:
David Giaretta: ISO Reference Model for Open Archival Information Systems
CLRC
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
Chilton
Didcot
Oxon
OX11 OQX
UK
This talk will outline to work being done on the ISO Reference Model for Open Archival Information Systems by CCSDS Panel 2 and others.
See URL:
http://ssdoo.gsfc.nasa.gov/nost/isoas/overview.html
David Holdsworth: CEDARS
http://www.personal.leeds.ac.uk/~ecldh/
CEDARS is an eLib funded project producing demonstrators of long-term preservation, with the intention of providing guidance to UK academic libraries concerning the retention of electronic materials. The project is operated by CURL (the Consortium of Research Libraries) and brings together expertise from libraries and computer centres. The 3 lead sites are Cambridge, Leeds and Oxford.
See URL:
http://www.curl.ac.uk/cedarsinfo.shtml
Wyn Cudlip: CEOS and standards
The relationship between CEOS, CCSDS and other standards bodies is described.
See URL:
http://earth1.esrin.esa.it/eeonline/eeo6
Session 9
EOS Ltd: Data Mining: Earth Observation Products on demand
Broadmede, Farnham Business Park
Farnham
Surrey
GU9 8QT
England
The extent to which the marketplace for Earth Observation (EO) data is underdeveloped is now widely recognised with returns on public and private investment falling short of expectations. Should this situation persist it is evident that it will have serious implications for future investment in EO technology and capability. One major difficulty has been the very slow rate at which market sectors not traditionally associated with EO activities have adopted EO products. While many factors contribute to this problem a dominant one is the lack of transparent means by which potential consumers of EO data can gain access to appropriate products. Ideally, obtaining such products should be as easy as obtaining other forms of data stored in electronic form, e.g. bank account details, music recordings on CDs, or films on videotape. Ultimately there is no reason not to conceive of EO as being another potential source of digital information available to a mass market of individual consumers with access to the Internet.
Recent technological developments such as greatly improved hardware performance, storage capacity, and access capabilities such as the Web have effectively removed many of the infrastructure barriers that have hitherto represented impediments to achieving mass distribution of EO data. The deficiency that must now be overcome is the provision of intuitive and flexible strategies for providing individual consumers with the products they seek. The notion of EO information on demand runs counter to current approaches to the retrieval of data which emphasize the technical, and frequently labour intensive nature of the procurement process. For true universal availability it is clear that substantially improved techniques for accessing and generating data products will be necessary.
For several years EOS has been actively addressing these issues in an effort to better understand the means by which intelligent strategies can be utilised to relieve prospective consumers of much of the effort necessary to identify and obtain an appropriate product. Fundamental to the EOS effort has been the concept of "Archive Mining". As a technology archive mining addresses the need for potential users to pose meaningful questions of EO data archives, for example:
More often than not queries of EO archives posed in the language of the potential consumer fail to elicit accurate or useful responses as archives have no means of translating such requests into forms more appropriate to the data storage systems. Through the development of intelligent systems capable of interfacing and translating from end user requirements to archive-centred requests, archive mining offers the potential of delivering high quality information relating to the needs of individual customers. How these objectives can be achieved will form the basis of the presentation.
David Giaretta: New ISO standards for Archiving,
CLRC
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
Chilton
Didcot
Oxon
OX11 OQX
UK
Following the OAIS Reference Model CCSDS Panel 2 intends to produce standards in the context of that model, supplementing any existing relevant standards.
See URL: