Copernicus Users Uptake

As the Earth Observation (EO) industry continues to mature it is becoming increasingly apparent that the real value within the sector comes from the application specific information that can be derived from the imagery.  This is especially true for the use of EO in the law enforcement sector. The Satellite Application Catapult has worked closely with law enforcement operations, demonstrating the value of very high resolution optical and SAR imagery. Operation Jaguar was a key example of demonstrating the value of EO data. Using known multispectral techniques to identify a storage container concealed by vegetation and not visible using the photosynthetically active bands.

The reality of satellite remote sensing is that majority of pixels are often “spectrally mixed”, whereby the pixels will contain several features, for example grass and concrete which will contribute to the single pixel value that is detected. Pure” pixels contain only one endmember, a single spectra that represent a pure surface material, extracted using known multispectral techniques. Using satellites, such as WorldView-2 that have 8 spectral bands, helps to address this issue.  There are several techniques which can be used to extract the individual endmembers and their geographic abundance within a dataset.  Within this operation ENVI’s Sequential Maximum Angle Convex Cone (SMACC) was deployed using the Residual Minimization model to identify the pure materials. This particular model allows a greater number of end members than spectral bands to be derived.

Using false colour composites to visualise the output from the endmember extraction it was possible to identify those features which are not visible to the naked eye.  This technique classified two anomalies of interest with spectral properties, and therefore chemical properties, near the area of the perceived location of the container. One of the anomalies is located exactly where the container had been observed in Google Earth imagery from 2011, the second situated 3 meters south. From this endmember visualisation combination it is impossible to distinguish between the two anomalies. However using the spectral profile of both anomalies it is possible to differentiate between the two because of a slight variance of their spectra in the near infrared region.

As the container is believed to be in that position for a number of years it was necessary to prove that the anomaly, picked up in the endmember analysis, was not the bare Earth reveal when the container was moved. Using the known spectral reflectance of the bare ground in the area the Catapult was able to prove that the anomaly was spectrally different to that of the surrounding soil.

From this work it was possible to conclude that an anomaly does exist at the same locality as the container in the Google Earth imagery, which could represent the container. Using Spectral analysis on the anomaly and the surrounding area it is possible to distinguish it from the surrounding bare soil. This analysis would suggest that there is an object/surface which is different to the surrounding which could be the container in question. The anomaly measures 2 meters in length, and “box-like” in nature, before being obscured by the tree.

By chance areal imagery was flown over this area within a week of the satellite data being acquired. The areal imagery was taken an oblique angle in which the container was clearly visible. This data was therefore used to validate the spectral analysis which took place on the satellite imagery, helping to support the methodology.

Companies in Europe are facing an increasing competition from around the world at all points in the value chain from data suppliers to value added service providers. At the same time, European governments are investing into the Copernicus programme with one goal to help develop economic activity and jobs especially within the downstream sector.

But companies in Europe are fragmented with over 95% having 50 or fewer employees and 63% having less than 10. This makes it difficult for companies to develop business as they become restricted by market access and by financing possibilities. Yet, both of these hurdles will need to be overcome if the sector in Europe is to continue to grow.

Access to and use of the data and information coming from Copernicus will be an essential step to achieving the desired growth. Yet this requires a new approach in Europe which can overcome the fragmentation that exists amongst the various actors and build upon the diversity of European skills and competences.

ESA has started to develop a new concept for the ground segment dealing with satellite data which is referred to as EO Innovation Europe. This should be plugged into a wider infrastructure network which will allow data from satellites and from the Copernicus services to be easily integrated and processed with other data sets coming from very diverse sources eg. Socio-economic, health, transportation etc in addition to the in-situ data within Copernicus. This network will serve commercial interests, scientists and government users alike.

To this must be added a marketplace structure which will allow commercial services to develop in a way which allows those offering particular services to be able to exploit them. The marketplace will allow all companies and aspiring entrepreneurs to benefit from their ideas and all forms of products or services which they may offer. It should offer a seamless approach to data storage, data access and data manipulation which can meet the needs of the EO services sector but which most importantly can allow the market to develop.

The paper will explain the concept and how a Marketplace alliance can overcome the fragmentation which exists amongst the service providers. It will explain how the alliance will work and how all the stakeholders will benefit.

While the Copernicus Programme has gradually entered its operational phase, it is essential to ensure the effective and efficient use of available data and information through existing and future users.

The European Commission is currently setting up a comprehensive and integrated architecture engaging with National authorities, Regions and business organizations, to relay information about Copernicus activities, organize awareness events and boost the demand for Copernicus data and information at local level.

A series of facilitating tool is to be launched by the European Commission to maximise socio-economic benefits of the Programme.   

Turning public authorities (national, local and regional authorities), and civil society (e.g. associations of SMEs, economic development agencies) into multipliers will contribute fostering Copernicus user and market uptake all over Copernicus Participating States.  

Copernicus collects, processes, and archives massive amounts of data (approx. 8 Terabyte/day or almost 3 Petabyte/year when Sentinels-1, -2 and -3 are fully operational). Dedicated Sentinel-data and Copernicus information are being made available on a full, open and free-of-charge basis.

The successful dissemination and access to Copernicus data and information for users is essential to achieve positive impacts of the programme on economic growth and the social utility. With technological developments, the ability to make use of Copernicus data is evolving and is likely to increasingly draw on big data technologies for its exploitation.

User access to Sentinel data and to the Copernicus service information in Europe is currently taking place through a rather heterogeneous set of interfaces. Consequently, there is an ongoing reflection on how to achieve a greater degree of rationalisation  by designing and implementing an integrated ground segment, including a role for data access platforms.

The analysis of Copernicus data and information dissemination system is on-going and there potential solutions are being examined to ensure that the Copernicus data access and dissemination system becomes more efficient and embraces big data tools and solutions.

As the Copernicus programme has recently moved from a research to an operational phase, it has become increasingly necessary to implement measures that will maximize the socio-economic benefits of the EU's investment. The space infrastructure is being put in place, and the volume of data from Copernicus is expected to grow dramatically in the coming years (over 8 TB/day). The key challenge is now to turn this large volume of data into an opportunity for public authorities and businesses in Europe. Thus, we need to establish a real internal market for innovative space-based services and ensure maximum uptake by different user groups.

Public authorities have a central role to play in the Copernicus value chain, notably by supporting research and innovation; providing harmonized public services to all EU citizens; driving demand (the public sector still represents 65% of the demand for EO products) and setting the right framework conditions for the private sector, notably in terms of access to data and sustainability of the programme

The socio-economic benefits of the programme cannot be achieved; however, be without a significant involvement of the private sector. Because of their profit-seeking drive, their greater agility and their easier access to market information, businesses could support the uptake of Copernicus by developing tailor-made applications for specific users; reaching out to new users, communities and sectors; reducing the costs and increasing the benefits of existing applications; and selling products in international markets.

This presentation will illustrate the strategy of the Commission to promote Copernicus user and market uptake.

The Copernicus Space Component, coordinated by ESA, comprises two types of satellite missions; the dedicated Sentinel missions, developed by ESA specifically to meet the Earth Observation needs of Copernicus users, and the Contributing Missions, a number of existing and planned Earth observation satellites from other space agencies or organisations which also provide data to the programme.

The Copernicus data policy is based on a free, full and open access to Copernicus dedicated Sentinel data and Copernicus service information by all users. The CSC Ground Segment architecture implements this policy, in particular ensuring fair and equal access to Copernicus data to all users. ESA CSC Data Access features dedicated data access infrastructure solutions, tailored to the needs of the various use typologies. In addition the data access system is in continuous evolution, to adapt to evolving user needs, introduce innovative functions and services, and take stock of latest ICT technology.

This presentation will give an overview of the CSC data access infrastructure. The Sentinel and Copernicus Contributing Missions data access statistics over the first two years of operations will be presented. An outline of the upcoming CSC data access enhancements will be provided.

Furthermore, the objectives of the future Copernicus big data and platforms activities lead by DG-GROW will be presented, together with an overview of their possible implementation.