The Role of EO Consultants and SMEs within GMES Geoff Smith
Enable clients to deliver useful, accurate and reliable environmental information from EO. Positioned to bridge the gaps between technology development, service provision and user requirements. Skills and expertise ranges from the fundamental physical basis of the measurements to the practical application of such information. Worked in application development. Experience in national / European operational programmes. SME working within GMES.
What are SMEs? Small and medium-sized enterprises, covers consultants. Definitions vary between countries and organisations. Based on head count and turnover. EC definition - < 250 staff, < 50 million turnover. Lots of SMEs in the EO sector. Broad range of organisations. Often niche-oriented. Specto Natura at the bottom end!
What is GMES? Global Monitoring for Environment and Security
Why have GMES? Environmental pressures: Water 20% of all surface water sources seriously threatened by pollution Soil Erosion 17% of total European land area affected, economic loss around 85 per ha Biodiversity 335 species highly endangered in Europe Agriculture intensification leads to water stress, soil erosion and biodiversity decline Urban Settlements and transport networks growing - leads to soil sealing and fragmentation of landscape
Why have GMES? Example EU and National Directives & Regulations: Climate Change -Clearinghouse on Adaptation (EEA, DG-Climate) 72 -UNFCCC LULUCF Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (MS - UNFCCC) -GCOS Essential Climate Variables (MS - WMO) annually Biodiversity Regional Policies, Urban -Habitats and Birds Directive (MS, DG-ENV) -Ramsar Convention (wetlands) (MS) -CITES Convention (MS) -Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) (DG ENV) -SEBI Indicators (EEA) -CAP Rural development reporting (DG-AGRI & MS) -EU Territorial Spatial Perspective (Territorial Agenda) (MS) 2011 -IUME Towards an Integrated Urban Monitoring in Europe (DG Regio, ESTAT, JRC, ESPON, MS)
The answer is GMES. GMES aims to provide operational services supporting European Policies and the related reporting & management tasks by up-to-date and cross-boarder harmonized geoinformation.
GMES structure
GMES structure Sentinel satellites S1 C-Band SAR continue heritage of ERS etc. S2 Super spectral, 10/20/60 m optical S2 Marine S4/5 Atmospheric In-situ / Integration EEA lead / INSPIRE The implementation of GMES began in 2008 with three Fast-Track Services: Land, Marine and Emergency Response and with two additional Pilot Services: Atmosphere and Security.
How have GMES services developed? Began in Baveno in 1998 Adopted by EC and ESA in 2001 A number of funding streams from EC and ESA EC Framework Programme Promote international research collaboration GMES part of 5 th, 6 th and 7 th (current) User driven (European) Large, multi-partner, collaborative projects Broad remit, somewhat variable Part-funded
How have GMES services developed? ESA GMES Service Element User driven (targeted) Smaller, fully funded, focused Develop requirements for the future space segment EC GMES Initial Operations Operational activity Fully funded Tendered Implementation of first land products
How did the GMES Land Service develop? The GMES Land Services have been defined, developed and implemented within the context of a series of projects: GSE Land GSE Forest Monitoring Geoland BOSS4GMES Geoland2 Tension between the centralised / decentralised and top-down / bottom-up models.
Hybrid top-down, bottom-up model
Geoland2 Core Mapping Services: land cover, land use, land cover change and a range of bio-physical parameters Core Information Services: Specific information for European Environmental Policies and international treaties.
Geoland2 Land Core service Global ECVs etc. Continental 1. HR Imperviousness layer 2. HR Forest layer 3. HR Agricultural layer (Grassland) 4. HR Wetland layer 5. HR Water layer Local Urban Atlas
Input data for the HRLs Multitemporal Satellite Data Biophysical Parameters Additional Data Sets IRS-P6 LISS-III, SPOT4-5 (Image2006-2009) 2 temporal coverage 20 m resolution IRS-P6 AWiFS 4-6 temporal coverage 60m resolution NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) fcover (Fraction of Green Cover) fbrown (Brown part of the vegetation or Nonphotosynthetic vegetation, NPV) CSF (Canopy Shade Factor) LAI (Leaf Area Index) Orthophoto VHR imagery Google Earth DEM, LPIS, National Land Cover (if available)
HR Imperviousness degree Berlin 2006
HR Imperviousness degree Berlin 2009
Application: Supporting CLC2006 Change Image2000 Image2006 Change CLC2000 CLC2000 + Changes Change
Application: Dense urban areas. Pan-European monitoring of built-up areas HR Imperviousness layer European Sealing map showing areas with imperviousness degree 80% (spatial resolution 1ha)
HR Forest: Crown cover density Continuous degree of Forest Crown Cover Density ranging from 10-100%. The Forest Crown Cover Density is defined as the horizontal projection of the tree crowns on the earth. HR Crown Cover Density Value [%] High : 100 Low : 0
HR Forest: Type Spatial distribution of Forest Type classes as a continuous range of mixing ratios between Broadleaved and Coniferous tree species. Optionally a discrete classification into Coniferous, Broadleaved, Mixed Forest can be derived.
Application: Forest indicators EU directives & international conventions Fragmentation of large Forest complexes by major roads (P-FO-02b product) UNEP* CBD** indicator Variable size of forest patches * United Nations Environment Programme * *Convention on Biological Diversity EU05 Alpine Transect
GMES Initial Operations To date, only the Imperviousness layer has been produced for the whole of Europe (2006 & 2009). Continuation of the European land service is ensured with GIO funding 2011-2013 (26 M ). Land component will be coordinated by EEA Maintenance and enhancement of services (all 5 layers) to cover all Europe. Users will continue to be highly involved, however key users / acceptance criteria stay at EU level. Specifications have been adapted due to budget compared to those described here.
GMES Initial Operations
GMES Initial Operations Products will be freely available. Consistent within and between MS. Regular updates. Sustainable data and information flows. They will not provide complete answers to all, if any, questions but can provide an important support to on-going monitoring and reporting. Uncertainty over Sentinels
How can GMES be exploited fully This all sounds great How will pan-european data and products reach real users? How can EO consultants and SMEs be involved?
Current situation GMES Data / Information GMES Services Potential users
Develop downstream services Raw materials, demonstration services etc. available at European level, but demand is at the local level. SMEs are the key group which can supply to necessary skills / experience, but in a local context. Op. services GMES Services How do we get everyone on the bus?
Topic: Fostering downstream services and links with EU Regions
GRAAL GMES has always been aimed at local and regional authorities (LRAs) in theory. In practice? GMES has always promoted the idea of downstream services in theory. In practice? LRAs represent a massive potential user community. Current economic climate favours the exploitation of EO to reduce costs. EO SMEs waiting to exploit GMES.
GRAAL Leading Principles Be aware Address the existing as well as potential stakeholders. Shift from `potential user requirements to `real user demands. Help make GMES sustainable Work to develop solid ground for GMES. Produce workforce to use GMES and continue R&D. Connecting people LRAs should be in a position to become a steering force, not just a witness. Think differently Space is a big family but can be insular. Bring in more players and innovation.
GRAAL Approach LRA s needs GMES4Regions LRA weddings Taxonomy Dissemination to your LRA / SME members Communication materials / GMES4Regions Dissemination to Brussels Networks
GRAAL Approach
GRAAL Approach LRA s needs GMES4Regions LRA weddings Taxonomy Dissemination to your LRA / SME members SMEs Communication materials / GMES4Regions Dissemination to Brussels Networks
GRAAL Approach
Single Entry Point Communication «Link» On the Web MMP - benefits of GMES Publications Geoportal for dummies Matching Platform Directory of Service Providers Regional Contact Offices Virtual GMES Academy
Single Entry Point
Single Entry Point
Summary Time of real opportunities for EO applications sector. Core and downstream services of GMES offer a viable model to build EO implementations. The GMES Land Core Services will deliver data and products which can be the foundations for downstream service development. GMES is likely to be a big part of EO-based operational services in the future.
Summary Now is the time for SMEs to show a real interest in GMES. SMEs should look to their client base and see where benefits could be taken from GMES. Recommend getting involved in the opportunities offered by GRAAL. The development of downstream applications in a tight user / service provider context should be more straightforward than get involved in FP. The value of GMES be measured by the impact on all levels of the user domain.
Acknowledgements Planetek Italia and other Geoland2 partners Space-Tec Partners
Contact: Geoff Smith, Specto Natura, Limited geoffsmith@specto-natura.co.uk Web sites www.land.eu www.gmes4regions.eu www.gmes.info www.gmes-geoland.info GMES Land Products Training Detailed background information Demonstration Hands-on workshop