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Earth Observation A New Perspective for

- The Oxygen (02) Project

José Achache Director of Earth Observation, ESA, Paris

Introduction

Europe has achieved worldwide leadership in many scientific areas of Earth Observation with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery, interferometry, oceanic altimetry, atmospheric chemistry, to name just a few. On the other hand, Earth Observation has so far failed to evolve into a mature and self-sustainable operational or commercial activity. Hence, it has not allowed the development of a service industry of any economic significance. We believe that the causes for these drawbacks are rooted in a number of characteristic features of the current approach to operational Earth Observation. Drawing lessons from the failure at the Ministerial Conference in Edinburgh to coordinate national initiatives, we are proposing a new implementation strategy for the Earth Watch missions, which shifts from the current technology-pushed to a market-pulled, user-oriented approach. In the mid-term, this strategy should provide full interoperability of all European Earth-observing space systems. In the longer term, it aims at building up the necessary rationale, momentum and resources for the definition, deployment and operation of the next generation of European operational satellites. This strategy calls, in the short term, for the complete overhaul of current policies and the introduction of advanced technologies for distributing Earth Observation data from the existing space infrastructure. We believe that the fostering of operational services requires the development of an integrated, transparent and user-friendly infrastructure to access information from Earth Observation missions in Europe. In this new paradigm, easy and inexpensive access to Earth Observation data is seen as the critical element and should be granted to any partner willing and capable of developing new applications and services. This strategy is perceived as an enabling mechanism to allow the development of a powerful

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A New Perspective Earth Observation

A mosaic of satellite images from Envisat (MERIS) showing a cloud-free Europe © ESA 2003

service industry in Europe, which would facilitate and encourage future investments in Earth Observation satellites. It is also considered critical for the implementation of the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) programme. Last but not least, the proposed approach is also intended to provide opportunities for turning one-off Earth Explorer missions into operational systems, and it responds to requirements expressed in the Living Planet Programme for long-term scientific observations.

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The MSG-1 spacecraft shortly before launch

Earth Observation Today

Europe’s successes Europe has gained clear leadership in several critical technologies and in the scientific use of Earth Observation. The last 25 years have seen substantial, often unique, European contributions to such different sectors as operational meteorology, radar imaging, radar altimetry, oceano- graphy, glaciology, radar interferometry, climatology, atmospheric chemistry, geodesy and others. From the very beginning, the Meteosat series of satellites has put Europe at the forefront of operational meteorology. The recent launch of MSG provides the most advanced capability from geostationary orbit. The forthcoming EPS/MetOp will The extraordinary accuracy achieved with offer unique capabilities in advanced this technique has been inherited from the atmospheric sounding. Europe has gained expertise developed in geodesy/orbitography, undisputed worldwide leadership both in which has also led to a number of the technologies and applications of SAR advanced geodetic missions (Grace, (C-band in ESA and Canada, X-band in Champ, GOCE). Germany and Italy). The best-known SAR Envisat is carrying the three most applications include ocean and ice advanced instruments to date to study monitoring, and the most sensational atmospheric chemistry (MIPAS/GOMOS/ results are associated with the use of Sciamachy). The international Earth- interferometry. Displacements associated science community will access the data with earthquakes, inflation of volcanoes from these instruments to better before eruption, subsiding areas in urban understand and model the complex environments as a consequence of major processes taking place in the Earth’s works or water/oil/gas extractions - these atmosphere, which are believed to be are just a few examples of the extra- critical in understanding increases in the ordinary detection potential of SAR greenhouse effect. interferometry. It is also worth recalling that the ATSR Europe is also at the forefront of Earth instrument on ERS-1 and 2 and Envisat is Observation from space in the optical/ the most accurate source of sea-surface multispectral imaging domain, thanks to temperature measurements from space, the Spot family of satellites. The MERIS and the only one available that has the instrument on Envisat is internationally potential required to study long-term recognized as providing unprecedented climate change by virtue of its accuracy spectral resolution in support of land and and continuity over up to 18 years in orbit. ocean science and applications. A new strategy should capitalize on Ocean altimetry is another major available assets and maintain Europe’s European achievement thanks to Radar world-leading role in the development of Altimeter instruments on ERS-1/2, operational environmental and security Topex-Poseidon, Envisat, and Jason. services based on Earth Observation.

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Earth Observation business: a disappoint- In 1998, the industry itself forecast that the fact that space agencies worldwide ment? its revenues would rise to between 245 and have put their focus on the development An Earth Observation service industry 340 MEuro by 2000. In the event, the total of space hardware rather than the came into existence (thanks in particular to European revenues had by then reached development of services. This lack of the efforts of the French company Spot only 216 MEuro. This is equivalent to an substantial public investment in the Image) in the late 1980s and grew steadily annual growth of only 1.4% over 1998- downstream sector was matched by in the 1990s, riding a wave of optimism 2000, which represents a decline if annual industry, given the bleak perspective and resulting from the initial availability of inflation is taken into account. Revenues the disappointing market pull by the user data from the first commercial high- are coming from the sale of data and data community. Indeed, users, customers and resolution satellites. The total annual rights (20%), sales of ground-segment market owners have been reluctant to revenue of the European Earth Observa- equipment and software (26%) and sales of express requirements and to integrate tion industry at the end of 1997 was 207 services and value-added products. It is Earth Observation information sources MEuro, representing an annual growth of estimated that over the period 1998-2000, into their business practices. The 6% over 1995-96. While the private market public monies of the order of 25 validation of new information sources and has been continuously strengthening, it MEuro/year was injected into the sector of new services is not a one-off operation remains much smaller than the public- for the development of services and value- and needs to be supported over a sufficient sector market, mostly defence, which still added products. All together, the value- term to encourage users to adopt new represents 64% of the total market. The adding industry has remained small, business practices. Finally, many potential private-sector growth came mainly from dispersed and fragile and heavily dependent users and customers of space information the telecommunications sector (infra- on income from government programmes. are simply not aware of the benefits structure deployment for cellular phones), There may be several reasons for this they could accrue from using Earth followed by oil and gas exploration. disappointing performance. One is, possibly, Observation.

Facets of planet Earth to be addressed by the GOCE mission

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Image of the Iberian Peninsula acquired with Envisat’s MERIS instrument. The instrument’s 300 m imaging resolution and outstanding radiometric accuracy allow continuous monitoring of continental areas. Envisat can therefore help scientists and environmental agencies greatly in understanding the causes and consequences of soil erosion, river pollution, deforestation and other environmental threats

In this context, the two major causes that can be identified are the barrier of data cost and the hurdle of data access. We have daily reports of academic groups and small private service companies developing prototype applications using SAR and MERIS data. The validation at full scale of these services would require amounts of data that they just cannot afford under the current ESA data-policy conditions. These actors are left with the alternatives of either giving up their spin-off projects, or using US scientific data that are available free of charge. It should be recalled that GPS and Internet applications could be developed by millions from academic spin- offs and private initiatives because the system was freely and easily accessible. Inexpensive, or even free access to data is certainly a necessary, if not sufficient, condition for the development of a mature service industry.

A need for information and services, not for data Services, whether commercial or public, information, and they require a knowledge- The successful, mature uptake of Earth are about the provision of the right based approach making full use of Observation will require the integration of information at the right moment to the European expertise in Earth sciences, European capabilities in modelling, data proper person. High-level operational information technologies, economics and management and service delivery to information services are needed, and not social sciences. The complexity of this describe the state of our environment and simply space data or satellite images. next generation of integrated services may to predict responses to actual and potential Scenarios, estimates of socio-economic also require a network of partners who will change. impacts, quantitative statistics, trends and contribute to the production of information forecasts are demanded at various services. This will also require that Earth The potential for synergy of Earth geographical and temporal scales in Observation data reach out as far as Observation missions support of European policies, and this will possible away from the space community. Among the inadequacies of existing Earth be the purpose of GMES. Quantitative It is currently very difficult and Observation systems that are often cited, assessment and control are required in expensive to access and integrate Earth one of the most important is the lack of support of industrial and commercial Observation data from several different timeliness and the insufficient frequency activities (agriculture, insurance, con- sources. It is therefore necessary to of observations. For example, in order to struction, tourism). develop tools to allow operational data provide useful information to support Future information services will be acquisition and handling in coherent prevention, assessment and remedial characterised by a stronger integration of formats and through a coordinated access actions in cases of natural disasters, space data with all kinds of other data and chain. frequent coverage and near-real-time

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more than 150 instruments, of which satellites which are deemed to be relevant approximately 20% are operated by to the GOS”, but should also include European space agencies (ESA, Eumetsat, “high-resolution optical and radar space CNES, DLR, SNSB). Among those, there imagery [for which] access to data are about 15 civilian Earth Observation remains an issue.” satellites available, which provide imaging “The aim is to bring about a very data in the 3-30 metre resolution range significant increase in the availability and using optical, infrared or radar sensors. utilisation of data, products and services, Each of these instruments has its own not only in terms of volume and variety, but specific purpose, but there is a clear lack also in the geographical spread of the of an integrated and synergistic approach users. The increases already promised by to fully exploiting the very large volume of the upcoming satellite systems in terms, for available measurements. The ESA Executive example, of higher spatial resolution, more believes that there is a major opportunity frequent observations and the availability within reach at this moment in time to of more spectral bands, are not simply overcome the individual shortcomings of minor improvements, but represent in each mission by jointly operating and many cases step changes. Making these exploiting this multitude and variety of significantly improved data, products and instruments and thus easing the task of services available and at the same time building and providing operational services. aiming to increase the number and This potential benefit has also been geographical spread of the users, will recognized by the World Meteorological represent the major challenge for the Organization (WMO) community, which WMO Space Programme in the next states that “space agencies will continue to decade.” The proposed new approach to be encouraged to make their observations ESA’s Earth Watch programme should available to the Global Observing System bring the necessary coordination of (GOS) without restriction. This will existing and future capacity. include data from R&D

access to information, not data, are crucial requirements, indeed a must. Today, after thirty years, Earth Observation still remains largely an R&D tool. Despite the many Earth Observation satellites in orbit, it is not yet possible to get ‘the right information at the right time’. When used separately, few if any of the current in- orbit systems can provide operational information to a wide community of users, whereas used in a cooperative way, as a single interoperable system, they could. Therefore, without waiting for large dedicated satellite constellations, the situation can be improved significantly by better integrating existing satellite sources even of different resolutions, qualities, etc. The first image taken, on Currently, more than 50 Earth Observation 28 November 2002, by the satellites are in orbit worldwide, carrying MSG-1 spacecraft (Courtesy of Eumetsat)

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Duality is everywhere in Earth Observ- 1991 Gulf crisis as well as the Afghanistan military agency, the National Imagery ation campaign are other well-documented Mapping Agency (NIMA), with providing Use of civil space data and services by examples. anchor tenancy for a number of initiatives security/defence customers is common The use of space-borne SAR to support (Space Imaging, Digitalglobe, Orbview). practice in Earth Observation. As an navigation in ice-infested waters or to This policy has not been sufficient to example, meteorology, which relies control maritime traffic in specific areas bring these initiatives to a sustainable extensively on space assets and has a wide are additional examples of dual use. On the level, and the recent Clearview contract range of well-known civil applications, has one hand, civil authorities want to control demonstrates that, in the absence of a been supported and used by the military fishing activities in the European significant civilian service industry, the sector in Europe from the very beginning Economic Coastal Zone or illegal oil institutional role is essential for guaran- in a wide range of applications, from air- discharges at sea, while security authorities teeing the availability of the infrastructure. traffic management to maritime navigation would use the same technique to monitor A single, integrated, dual approach is support, and even to forecast battlefield maritime traffic in strategic areas. practical and the only affordable solution weather conditions. The United States is Derivation of Digital Elevation Models to meet European needs. phasing out the dedicated civilian-only (DEM) from civil optical or SAR sensors (POES) and military-only (DMSP) meteor- is exploited for civil, but also security Sustainability ological satellite systems, converging applications. The idea that defence towards an integrated civil/dual-use system customers should make use of civilian A need for long-term continuity (NPOESS). space Earth Observation data whenever The UNFCCC (United Nations Framework The same scheme existed for altimetric available, while developing dedicated Convention on Climate Change) Report on applications (Geosat), which is now being systems only where the requirement the Adequacy of Global Climate supported by civil sensors (Topex/ cannot be met by civilian systems, is Observations, the GMES Forum and the Poseidon, Jason, ERS-1/2 RA and Envisat becoming common practice and is WCRP (World Climate Research RA-2). Cartographic applications cover presently being formalised as US policy. Programme) are all advocating the need both civil and part of the military needs: The United States has developed this for continuity of Earth Observation the extensive use of Spot data during the approach to the extent that it has charged a sensors for climate observations. Even short-term applications, such as disaster monitoring, require a long-term perspective of data provision to justify the adaptation of the institutional and technical infrastructure in favour of using space technology. For Earth Observation to be a viable information source for policy implementation, continuity should be guaranteed. But continuity cannot be guaranteed until a community of users has expressed a sustainable demand and a mechanism to support the provision of information. This chicken and egg situation has been solved in the cases of meteorology and defence. With a few exceptions, Earth Observation missions are one-time R&D missions with lifetimes of around 5 years. For WCRP, the value of space missions comes mostly from their ability to produce globally integrated, high-quality and reliable climate data products, requiring the merged analysis of measurements from

Map of subsidence (annual rate) in Central London derived from ERS satellite altimeter data (Copyright NPA 2002)

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An Envisat ASAR image, taken on 20 November 2002, clearly delineates the spread of the oil spill from the stricken tanker ‘Prestige’

the whole constellation of operational and achieve sustainability. None of these technology activities and is charged with research/demonstration satellites. models is the universal solution, and a the development of the spacecraft. The WRCP ‘space strategy’ relies upon suitable mix will have to be developed. It should be investigated whether such a the availability of long-term, stable and scheme can be extended to other major high-quality observations as currently The ‘Eumetsat’ scheme institutional users of space data, such as provided by operational satellites (such as An Intergovernmental Conference in the environmental or civil security agencies. the meteorological series), complemented early 1980s agreed to establish a new with innovative, process-oriented observ- meteorological organisation. The Eumetsat The ‘Utilities’ scheme ations as provided by research satellites Convention entered into force in 1986, Earth Observation data are a necessary using new technologies. with Eumetsat inheriting the Meteosat condition to the provision of a large Long-term continuity is linked with programme from ESA. In 1991, it initiated number of information services that sustainability and requires the setting-up a new programme, the Meteosat Second provide economic benefit. of institutional and/or commercial funding Generation Programme, in order to ensure The European Union and its member frameworks, transferring the maintenance continuity of observations from geo- states have signed a large number of of operational systems outside the R&D stationary orbit into the second decade of agreements, both at European and institutions and budget lines. This requires the 21st century. Within a decade, Eumetsat international level. Many of them address the extension of existing mandates of had become a mature organisation with environmental topics, an area which organisations, or the establishment of direct responsibility for the operation of its Europe has identified as a policy priority new ones. It also requires the introduction satellites in orbit and with new programmes among its global partners. Examples where of new schemes for the relationships to ensure the continuity of observations. monitoring of EC legislation is required between institutions and industry (both In such a scheme, public funding comes are the Common Agricultural Policy, the manufacturing and service industry). from sources not necessarily of an R&D environment and development policies, or Sustainability is a key issue in establishing nature. The institutional users are the specific legislation within these such as the operational services. It is recognized as national meteorological offices, which Water Directive, the European Spatial such by the current Earth Watch Strategy fund the procurement of new fleets of Development Perspective, or the 6th and Earth Watch Declaration. satellites, tuned to respond to their specific Environmental Action Plan. The following paragraphs provide a needs, through an operating agency, The space contribution varies from short analysis of the most popular models Eumetsat. ESA, in agreement with minor to essential, but there is no question and schemes considered in the attempt to Eumetsat, takes care of research and about its added value, particularly in

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support of institutional and public-benefit PPP scheme, and not only the space activities initiated through these uses. The information derived is addressing manufacturing industry. instruments will receive increased support several areas of institutional responsibility, in order to generate rapidly representative from weather forecasting to disaster An end-to-end long-term strategy forerunners of operational services. Access monitoring and prevention, to aid to to new data sources will allow an developing countries, to monitoring the The strategy presented here is intended to improvement in the services provided implementation of treaties. provide an alternative approach to and/or enable new services. The satellites and the ground segments developing the future Earth Observation providing these data can be considered as operational infrastructure. While capitalizing Pillar ‘C’: Providing access to current essential infrastructures, like roads, on previous investments and successes, it data sources motorways, electrical distribution networks, should respond to the questions raised Information about Earth Observation etc. Procurement and operation of these in the previous paragraphs regarding services, data availability, project results infrastructures is a public responsibility, the sustainability of Earth Observation and applications is currently accessible better coordinated at European level, initiatives and overcome the current only in a very scattered way through leaving to industry the role of developing fragmented approach. The present lack of different mission operators, scientific and providing services and deriving offers of operational services justifies the institutes, service companies, data commercial benefits. absence of long-term commitments from catalogues, etc. Accordingly, only a limited governments and private investors. community, knowing what to search for, is Still a chance for PPP? Over the long term, this strategy aims at today in a position to collect and compile In Public-Private Partnership schemes, the the creation of a sustainable space infra- the necessary Earth Observation business case becomes a critical element of structure providing information in support information. Easier and timely access to the entire programme, including space of institutional and commercial services in large quantities of primary data is a segment, ground segment and service Europe. This infrastructure should be condition for delivering effective services. sector. Industry is committing itself to tailored to the exploitation requirements The objective of this phase is therefore invest up-front in the programme, in expressed primarily by value-adding to offer European value-adding service anticipation of future revenues. companies and service providers. Therefore, industry straightforward, fast and This was made possible in the United the preparation of a future operational economic access to data from the largest States because major institutional infrastructure relies initially upon the possible range of satellites. It is intended to customers have been open to underwriting successful exploitation of current missions. primarily provide this service from ESA ‘anchor tenancy’ agreements with private- The present strategy proposes to satellites and to progressively enlarge it to sector providers. This approach has not implement changes in the current include other European satellites and, later been very successful, as these entities management and exploitation of Earth on, non-European partners. (IKONOS, QuickBird, etc.) have failed to Observation programmes in order to The current ground segment created for reach other customers. The recent maximize the use of current and planned ERS, Envisat and the Multi-mission User Clearview contract, and the refusal of satellite capacity in orbit in the short- to Services will require upgrading and some of the private investors to support medium-term, and to establish satisfactory streamlining in order to offer users a single further development, is evidence of the operational services in a number of interface and a coherent environment for inherent weakness of this scheme. strategic sectors. It rests on three pillars, programming observations from several The lack of commitment of public which should be built in parallel over the satellites and delivering combined authorities to rely upon information next three years. products and organized data sets. services that include Earth Observation Access to non-ESA satellites will data sources has not encouraged industry Pillar ‘S’: Developing services require the establishment of agreements to engage in this process up to now. This phase was initiated after the Council with the respective satellite operators. Industry will continue to be reluctant in the at Ministerial Level in Edinburgh and They should be negotiated and absence of reasonably guaranteed revenues covers the development of services and implemented in order to preserve existing in the short- to mid-term, and the role of making them operational. It will be national and European capabilities and the institutional sponsor/customer is accelerated. A number of instruments have assets. In addition to ERS and Envisat, central to this scheme, as in the previous already been implemented following the such a system could provide access to ones. decisions taken in Edinburgh, both within Spot, DMC and Radarsat imagery, to other It is worth noting that the successful ESA and the European Commission: the European scientific missions, and possibly development of new services would bring GMES Service Element (GSE), Earth also to non-European scientific and benefits to the service industry and to Observation Market Development operational satellites. market owners. It is therefore this industry (EOMD), Data User Element (DUE) and These activities are a natural extension that should be targeted in the future for a the EC 6th Framework Programme. The of the mandate ESA has received through

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the Earthnet programme, the Envelope and A Precedent: The International Charter on information-processing technologies. It the Earth Watch programmes. They will be Space and Major Disasters requires the education and training of implemented within already allocated adequate personnel for analysing data and funding, in the period 2003-2004. The The International Charter on Space and interpreting results. It requires a drastic deliverables from this activity will consist Major Disasters is a first answer from the expansion in the use of models for of an integrated interface to service space community to facing some of these interpretation and forecasting in several providers and value adders for accessing challenges. The Charter is working domains. The links between the operational satellite data and programming functions. successfully and provides civil-protection users, the aerospace industry and the SME agencies with access to data from a range (Small and Medium-sized Enterprise) Pillar ‘N’: Integrating upcoming Earth of satellites. During 2002, for example, service-provider industry at large, and the Observation national projects in Europe seven major disasters were covered by the science community will need to be A set of Earth Observation missions are Charter. This number was supplemented reinforced. In short, when pursued in its planned at European and national level in by another eight activations for minor entirety, the proposed initiative will have a the next 2 to 8 years. Most of these disasters, out of the about 100 which substantial impact on the evolution of missions provide high-resolution imaging occurred worldwide. In the case of the Europe as an information society. data from radar and optical instruments, Prestige oil spill, where all countries The present strategy raises a number of for civilian and defence applications: concerned made extensive use of ERS, significant challenges. The main ones are TerraSar X, Cosmo-Skymed and Pleiades. Envisat and Radarsat data, the first image the design and implementation of the In addition, TerraSar L and, possibly, Rapid was acquired after three days. Today ERS exploitation segment, the definition and Eye will be considered. and Envisat follow the event at the rate of the role of distributing entities, the creation The ground infrastructure introduced in of operational entities for the provision of pillar ‘C’ should be naturally extended to institutional services, and the coordination support these missions. Again, specific of civilian and defence requirements. agreements will need to be set up with the relevant non-ESA programmes. The Commercial and policy issues mission control and planning function Each operator and/or distributor will will, for several reasons, remain specific retain their own rights for exploitation to each mission or family of missions. but, by licensing to ESA the access to its services and data, will have access The resulting landscape, in the to a larger and integrated market. The timeframe 2007-2008, should present development risk for new missions’ the following picture: ground segments will be reduced, and • A set of institutional and commercial the synergy between the various missions services including, but not limited to, a will be enhanced. The definition and response to GMES requirements. implementation of integrated multi-mission • A data-distributio mechanism common products will be encouraged and supported, to all these missions, including processing, financially and technically, reducing the archiving and distribution and allowing final operations cost for all partners. easy and coherent access to a wealth of Clear rules for accessing data and inter-calibrated data sets. two images every three days. The services are a key issue for this approach to • A complex constellation of satellites in mechanism of the Charter, although succeed. In pillar ‘C’ the individual orbit, resulting from a set of more-or-less successful in giving access to data, suffers policies of the various mission operators independent initiatives. evident shortcomings owing to the lack of will obviously apply. They may be data integration and of association with an modified, at the user end, by financial or

The ‘02’ generation operational service provider. technical compensations negotiated by In parallel with the previous three phases, ESA with the operators. The forthcoming we will pursue the preliminary design of Benefits and Challenges imaging missions, integrated in a an Open and Operational system (the ‘02’ European exploitation approach in the generation), to be deployed as from 2010, The proposed initiative addresses directly course of pillar ‘N’, should offer a comprising a space and ground infra- the way in which information is elaborated coherent access policy, to be negotiated. structure ensuring continuity with the and distributed in Europe. It needs to rely capabilities of current systems, where upon an efficient network for the circulation Technical challenges appropriate and justified by the set of of data and information. It requires the The implementation of this programme services made operational within pillar ‘S’. development and improvement of will pose a number of technical challenges

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in terms of information access and presentation tools, archiving and distribution, information extraction, and mission planning. An Earth Observation access portal linking information, service providers, data and results both on a global and regional scale will be set up. Previous experience (e.g. Infeo, CEOnet and EOSDIS) will be reviewed and developments will be enhanced. Traditional inventories and user catalogues, even multi-mission ones, provide information on availability and quality of data. Earth Observation data and other geographic information need to be presented to potential users in a complete, coherent and consistent form. Current and Application/GRID interfacing future GIS and web-mapping technology using an EO GRID engine and interfaces can ensure immediate composition of different information layers (Earth Observation data sources, in- situ data, maps, results, meteorological operators. An initial coordination of this term, this initiative will offer augmented data, etc.) type has been established through the justifications to currently weakening Maintenance of the rapidly increasing Charter activities. Such a process can be national initiatives, ensuring their Earth Observation data archives is a enhanced by the operational availability of implementation and continuity. The technical challenge in itself. An even coherent mission-planning tools, displaying satellite industry relies heavily on these bigger challenge is the cost-efficient for each mission operator the foreseen and projects. If successful, such a long-term maintenance of a processing capability later the actual acquisition plan of other plan for operational Earth Observation will (hardware, operating system and adaptation missions. create the need for the replacement of at of software to the modern languages) for Finally, service developers in many least one satellite per year. This will add to these historical data. Data will have to be cases do not have the technical and the workload already ensured by ESA with re-processed at regular intervals. GRID- financial resources to maintain their the Earth Explorers, and by Eumetsat with based distributed processing technology services operationally. A framework the operational meteorological satellites. can be applied for such individual, but infrastructure for the support of The combined support of the current resource-intensive, requirements. developments and operations to service initiatives (GSE, EOMD, DUE, 6th An increasing amount of data is stored providers will facilitate the utilization of Framework Programme) will provide on-line and can be distributed via ground Earth Observation data and the acceptance European service industry with a level of or satellite links. Network capacities are by users of improved services. funding never experienced before. More increasing and rapidly allowing the straightforward and cheaper access to improvement of data-access methodologies. The challenges and benefits for industry basic data and products will help the Similar geophysical or environmental This strategy and the resulting industry to develop and provide more parameters are extracted from many implementation approach should be effective and economic services. An different Earth Observation data sources. beneficial to European industry in at least organized approach to exploitation, in Initially comparable, later standardised three domains: satellite manufacturing, particular in the interface to institutional methods, algorithms and even tools will ground-segment and data-processing users, will offer this industry an enlarged improve and facilitate cross-calibration software developments, and service market and a better, less-fragmented, and long-term environmental trend provision. vision of the user requirements. monitoring. The development of multi- This initiative will have a long-term mission products as a basis for more impact on the satellite industry. The Benefits for national programmes reliable information will be supported and building and maintaining of a satellite National initiatives will benefit from the accelerated. infrastructure, with high technology proposed approach in a number of ways: GMES, but also disaster management, content, will ensure the survival first and First of all, by saving in the deployment requires immediate action from many the technological progress later of of the ground segment: the initiative different satellite and ground-segment European satellite industry. In the short proposed here offers to the national

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programmes the implementation of an Benefits for GMES and the ESA/EU technologies addressing the processing, integrated ground segment, with direct relationship management and circulation of information, savings on the ground segments foreseen Environmental monitoring, sustainable regardless of origin. It should contribute to as part of each national programme, and development and resource management bringing together European capabilities in more potential savings on the parts are beginning to benefit from Earth creating measurement instruments, currently not envisaged, but necessary Observation as an information source. The generating data and information and (data distribution, user services, long-term requirements in these domains emanate delivering them. Synergy with European archiving, near-real-time services, etc.). from a wide range of institutional entities scientific teams will be fostered. The Secondly, by reduction of operation at both national and European level. concept of a network of competences and costs: it is not foreseen at this stage to With the GMES initiative, Europe is the associated centres will be brought to integrate the individual mission-control sending a strong signal that it has reality. The approach set out here facilities, but the common approach to recognised the need for integrated complements ongoing ESA Earth ground-segment development and operational information services to Observation programmes to ensure a operations will result in substantial savings support European policies. These services comprehensive approach, including the in the operating costs for the individual will certainly benefit from smoother and understanding of Earth-system processes, missions. An improved exploitation more integrated access to data and relevant technology development, transition segment, with an augmented delivery of programming functions for a wider range to a sustainable service implementation and services, might, depending on the of satellite resources. The present strategic subsequent long-term continuity of data economic scheme selected, result in an approach is essential for the proper availability. improved economic return for satellite implementation of GMES. GMES, in turn, The initiative proposed requires a high operators. This approach will also provide will be instrumental to the identification of level of political support. It requires the substantial support to exploitation: end-user institutional entities and to the recognition by Member States that focusing the various missions on a development and the early delivery of independent and uncoordinated initiatives, common set of services will result in a services to such entities. in particular if targeting global issues and more effective distribution of resources in institutional services, lack justification and support of the exploitation of the missions. Consequences for defence and security are doomed in the short- to mid-term. It Finally, the proposed strategy will Defence authorities are intensive users of requires the recognition that even current provide a major justification for the Earth Observation data and are currently programmes and existing infrastructures mission itself and for its continuity: the the largest customers for commercial need to come to a higher level of continuity of some of the national civilian imagery. Security also has a integration in terms of offerings (data, initiatives is in question, beyond the initial number of implications and constraints, services) in order to exploit synergies and deployment(s). The creation of a unified including shutter control rules and to meet the needs for effective information. approach to exploitation of these initiatives restrictions on the timely diffusion of high- It requires the recognition that the current and the consequent development of long- resolution data. Although it is not in the business model has failed to deliver a term operational services will justify the mandate of ESA to serve the defence dynamic industrial service sector, and that continuity of the various data sources, if community, we believe that the proposed a different open-access approach provides not of the individual missions. approach should be designed to remain a second chance for operational Earth compatible with the requirements of the Observation. Benefits for the scientific community defence community and to accommodate Political authorities should recognize Some scientific issues require operational the necessary constraints. The restrictions that only an initiative of this size and scope data series and are themselves a imposed for security reasons are well- can sustain European industry in both the justification for operational satellites and known, have found solutions in the past manufacturing and service domains and operational information services. Any- with other satellite operators, and will be transform the information and data thing that facilitates the generation and taken into account in the setting up of handling industry in Europe. circulation of information will foster the pillars ‘C’ and ‘N’ and in the deployment Coherent and constant support from

development of Earth Sciences and the of the ‘02 generation’. both Member States and the European better understanding of Earth’s phenomena. Commission is required, as the initiative This will have an immediate impact on will take several years and is based as the development of services, since the Conclusion much on an integration of the offerings as scientific mastering of phenomena is a on the coordination of the demand side: the prerequisite to the development of reliable The strategy presented here should requirements for information from applications. Data from operational encourage a more effective use of institutional users across Europe! s satellites should be made available to information in many domains. It should scientists. favour the improvement in Europe of all

www.esa.int esa bulletin 116 - november 2003 33