GMES
Encyclopedia
Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) is a joint initiative of the European Commission
and European Space Agency
, which aims at achieving an autonomous and operational Earth observation capacity.
The objective is to rationalize the use of multiple-sources data to get a timely and quality information, services and knowledge, and to provide autonomous and independent access to information in relation to environment and security. In other words, it will pull together all the information obtained by environmental satellite
s, air and ground stations to provide a comprehensive picture of the "health" of Earth
.
Main users of GMES will be policy-makers. GMES should allow them to prepare national, European and international legislation on environmental matters (including climate change) and to monitor the implementation of this legislation.
GMES builds upon 4 pillars:
The geo-spatial information services offered by GMES can be grouped into six main interacting themes: land, ocean, emergency response, atmosphere, security and climate change. The first three GMES services under the land, ocean and emergency response themes and two additional services addressing the atmosphere and security themes were unveiled at the GMES Forum held in Lille in September 2008. Currently in their pre-operational phase, it is foreseen that these services enter into a EU-wide operational phase by 2011, with the objective to be fully operational by 2014.
GMES is fast moving towards an operational phase. The key to providing operational GMES services is to have an appropriate governance and business model structure in place which supports provisioning of these services.
GMES is the European Union
contribution to the Global Earth Observation System of Systems GEOSS.
Year 1999: the name is changed to "Global Monitoring for Environment and Security", thus illustrating that the management of the environment also has security implications.
Year 2001: at the occasion of the Gothenburg Summit, the Heads of State and Government request that "the Community contribute to establishing by 2008 a European capacity for Global Monitoring for Environment and Security".
October 2002: the nature and scope of the "Security" component of GMES are defined as addressing prevention of and response to crises related to natural and technological risk, humanitarian aid and international cooperation, monitoring of compliance with international treaties for conflict prevention, humanitarian and rescue tasks, peacekeeping tasks and surveillance of EU borders.
February 2004: the Commission Communication "GMES: Establishing a GMES capacity by 2008" introduces an Action Plan aimed at establishing a working GMES capacity by 2008. In 2004, a Framework Agreement is also signed between EC and ESA, thus providing the basis for a space component of GMES.
May 2005: the Commission Communication "GMES: From Concept to Reality" establishes priorities for the roll-out of GMES services in 2008, the initial focus being on land monitoring, marine monitoring and emergency response services, also known as Fast Track Services (FTS). Later services, also known as Pilot Services, are expected to address atmosphere monitoring, security and climate change.
June 2006: the EC establishes the GMES Bureau, with the primary objective of ensuring the delivery of the priority services by 2008. Other objectives of the GMES Bureau are to address the issues of the GMES governance structure and the long-term financial sustainability of the system.
May 2007: adoption of the European Space Policy Communication, recognising GMES as a major flagship of the Space Policy.
September 2008: official launch of the 3 FTS services and 2 Pilot services in their pre-operational version at the occasion of the GMES Forum held in Lille, France.
November 2008: the Commission Communication "GMES: We care for a Safer Planet" establishes a basis for further discussions on the financing, operational infrastructure and effective management of GMES.
May 2009: the Commission Proposal for a Regulation on "the European Earth Observation Programme (GMES) and its initial operations (2011-2013)" proposes a legal basis for the GMES programme and EC funding of its initial operations.
November 2010: the regulation on "the European Earth Observation Programme (GMES) and its initial operations (2011-2013)"
entered into force.
GMES has been conceived to move from R&D to operational services. The transition to operational services follows a phased approach:
The development of the five services is being realised by a series of projects launched by the European Commission and partly funded through the EU's 7th Framework Programme (FP7). These projects are geoland2 (land), MyOcean (marine), SAFER (emergency response), MACC (atmosphere) and G-MOSAIC (security).
Before the Sentinel missions provide data to GMES, numerous existing or planned space missions provide or will provide data useful to the provision of GMES services. These missions are often referred to as "GMES Contributing Missions (GCMs)".
ERS
: The European Remote Sensing Satellite ERS-1 (1991-2000) was ESA's first Earth observation satellite. ERS-2, launched in 1995, provides data related to ocean surface temperature, winds at sea and atmospheric ozone.
ENVISAT
: Launched in 2002, Envisat is the largest Earth Observation spacecraft ever built. It carries sophisticated optical and radar instruments among which the Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (ASAR) and the Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS). Envisat provides continuous observation and monitoring of the Earth's land, atmosphere, oceans and ice caps. ESA Member States have unanimously voted to extend the Envisat mission through to 2013.
Earth Explorers
: Earth Explorers are smaller research missions dedicated to specific aspects of our Earth environment. Earth Explorer missions focus on the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere and the Earth's interior with the overall emphasis on learning more about the interactions between these components and the impact that human activity is having on natural Earth processes. There are 6 missions selected for implementation:
MSG: the Meteosat Second Generation is a joint project between ESA and EUMETSAT.
MetOp
: MetOp is Europe's first polar-orbiting satellite dedicated to operational meteorology. MetOp is a series of three satellites to be launched sequentially over 14 years from October 2006. The series will provide data for both operational meteorology and climate studies.
SPOT
: SPOT (Satellite Pour l'Observation de la Terre) consists of a series of earth observation satellites providing high resolution images of the Earth. SPOT-4 and SPOT-5 include sensors called VEGETATION able to monitor continental ecosystems.
TerraSAR-X
: TerraSAR-X is an Earth observation satellite providing high quality topographic information. TerraSAR-X data has a wide range of applications (e.g. land use / land cover mapping, topographic mapping, forest monitoring, emergency response monitoring and environmental monitoring)
COSMO-SkyMed
: the COnstellation of small Satellites for the Mediterranean basin Observation is an Earth observation satellite system which will include four satellites equipped with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensors. Applications include seismic hazard analysis, environmental disaster monitoring and agricultural mapping.
DMC
: The Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC) consists of five remote-sensing satellites. The constellation provides emergency Earth imaging for disaster relief under the International Charter for Space and Major Disasters.
JASON-2
: The JASON-2 satellite provides precise measurements of ocean surface topography, surface wind speed and wave height; as this type of measurement is a crucial requirement for the GMES Marine Services the European Commission has included this type of mission in its latest communication on the future GMES Space Component as Sentinel 6
PLEIADES
: The PLEIADES constellation consists of two satellites providing very high resolution images of the Earth
Data provided by non-European satellite missions (e.g. LANDSAT, GOSAT, RADARSAT-2
) can also be used by GMES.
(EEA).
In-situ data are all data from sources other than Earth observation satellites. Consequently all ground-based, air-borne, and ship/buoy-based observations and measurements that are needed to implement and operate the GMES services are part of the in-situ component. In-situ data are indispensable; they are assimilated into forecasting models, provide calibration and validation of space-based information, and contribute to analysis or filling gaps not available from space sources.
The goal of GISC is to develop an innovative and sustainable framework for open access to in-situ data for GMES.
GISC objectives will be achieved by:
GISC is undertaken with reference to other initiatives, such as INSPIRE (Infrastructure for Spatial Information in Europe) and SEIS (Shared Environmental Information System) as well as existing coordination and data exchange networks. The coordinated access to data will retain the capacity to link directly data providers and the service providers because it is based on the principles of SEIS and INSPIRE. The implementation of INSPIRE is embedded in the synergies and meta-data standards that are used in GISC. Data and information will aim to be managed as close as possible to its source in order to achieve a distributed system, by involving countries and existing capacities which maintain and operate the required observation infrastructure.
GMES is one of three related initiatives that are the subject of the GIGAS (GEOSS, INSPIRE and GMES
an Action in Support) harmonization project under the auspices of the EU 7th Framework Programme.
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
and European Space Agency
European Space Agency
The European Space Agency , established in 1975, is an intergovernmental organisation dedicated to the exploration of space, currently with 18 member states...
, which aims at achieving an autonomous and operational Earth observation capacity.
The objective is to rationalize the use of multiple-sources data to get a timely and quality information, services and knowledge, and to provide autonomous and independent access to information in relation to environment and security. In other words, it will pull together all the information obtained by environmental satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
s, air and ground stations to provide a comprehensive picture of the "health" of Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
.
Main users of GMES will be policy-makers. GMES should allow them to prepare national, European and international legislation on environmental matters (including climate change) and to monitor the implementation of this legislation.
GMES builds upon 4 pillars:
- the space component (observation satellites and associated ground segment with missions observing land, atmospheric and oceanographic parameters) This comprises two types of satellite missions, ESA's five families of dedicated Sentinel (space missions)Sentinel (satellite)Sentinel is a series of future space missions currently being developed by ESA under the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security programme...
and missions from other space agencies, called Contributing Missions. - in-situ measurements (ground-based and airborne data gathering networks providing information on oceans, continental surface and atmosphere)
- data harmonization and standardization, and
- services to users.
The geo-spatial information services offered by GMES can be grouped into six main interacting themes: land, ocean, emergency response, atmosphere, security and climate change. The first three GMES services under the land, ocean and emergency response themes and two additional services addressing the atmosphere and security themes were unveiled at the GMES Forum held in Lille in September 2008. Currently in their pre-operational phase, it is foreseen that these services enter into a EU-wide operational phase by 2011, with the objective to be fully operational by 2014.
GMES is fast moving towards an operational phase. The key to providing operational GMES services is to have an appropriate governance and business model structure in place which supports provisioning of these services.
GMES is the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
contribution to the Global Earth Observation System of Systems GEOSS.
History
19 May 1998: institutions involved in the development of space activities in Europe give birth to GMES through a declaration known as "The Baveno Manifesto". At that time, GMES stands for "Global Monitoring for Environmental Security"Year 1999: the name is changed to "Global Monitoring for Environment and Security", thus illustrating that the management of the environment also has security implications.
Year 2001: at the occasion of the Gothenburg Summit, the Heads of State and Government request that "the Community contribute to establishing by 2008 a European capacity for Global Monitoring for Environment and Security".
October 2002: the nature and scope of the "Security" component of GMES are defined as addressing prevention of and response to crises related to natural and technological risk, humanitarian aid and international cooperation, monitoring of compliance with international treaties for conflict prevention, humanitarian and rescue tasks, peacekeeping tasks and surveillance of EU borders.
February 2004: the Commission Communication "GMES: Establishing a GMES capacity by 2008" introduces an Action Plan aimed at establishing a working GMES capacity by 2008. In 2004, a Framework Agreement is also signed between EC and ESA, thus providing the basis for a space component of GMES.
May 2005: the Commission Communication "GMES: From Concept to Reality" establishes priorities for the roll-out of GMES services in 2008, the initial focus being on land monitoring, marine monitoring and emergency response services, also known as Fast Track Services (FTS). Later services, also known as Pilot Services, are expected to address atmosphere monitoring, security and climate change.
June 2006: the EC establishes the GMES Bureau, with the primary objective of ensuring the delivery of the priority services by 2008. Other objectives of the GMES Bureau are to address the issues of the GMES governance structure and the long-term financial sustainability of the system.
May 2007: adoption of the European Space Policy Communication, recognising GMES as a major flagship of the Space Policy.
September 2008: official launch of the 3 FTS services and 2 Pilot services in their pre-operational version at the occasion of the GMES Forum held in Lille, France.
November 2008: the Commission Communication "GMES: We care for a Safer Planet" establishes a basis for further discussions on the financing, operational infrastructure and effective management of GMES.
May 2009: the Commission Proposal for a Regulation on "the European Earth Observation Programme (GMES) and its initial operations (2011-2013)" proposes a legal basis for the GMES programme and EC funding of its initial operations.
November 2010: the regulation on "the European Earth Observation Programme (GMES) and its initial operations (2011-2013)"
entered into force.
From R&D to operational services
Over the last decades, European and national institutions have made substantial R&D efforts in the field of Earth observation. These efforts have resulted into tremendous achievements but the services and products developed during this period have limitations which are inherent to R&D activities (e.g. lack of service continuity on the long-term).GMES has been conceived to move from R&D to operational services. The transition to operational services follows a phased approach:
- 2008 – 2010: GMES pre-operational services (FTS and Pilot services)
- 2011 – 2013: GMES initial operations
- From 2014: GMES fully operational services
The development of the five services is being realised by a series of projects launched by the European Commission and partly funded through the EU's 7th Framework Programme (FP7). These projects are geoland2 (land), MyOcean (marine), SAFER (emergency response), MACC (atmosphere) and G-MOSAIC (security).
- geoland2 started on 1 September 2008. The project covers a wide range of domains such as land use, land cover change, soil sealing, water quality and availability, spatial planning, forest management, carbon storage and global food security.
- MyOcean started on 1 January 2009. It covers themes such as maritime security, oil spill prevention, marine resource management, climate change, seasonal forecast, coastal activities, ice survey and water pollution.
- SAFER started on 1 January 2009. The project addresses three main domains: civil protection, humanitarian aid and Security crises management.
- MACC started on 1 June 2009. The project will continue and refine the products developed in the projects GEMS and PROMOTE.
- G-MOSAIC started on 1 January 2009. Together with the LIMES projectLIMES Project- Objectives and Services :LIMES is an Integrated Project that provides to the GMES Program expertise in the security area through the development of applications and services applying innovative solutions based on Earth Observation systems and satellite Communication and Positioning technologies...
http://www.fp6-limes.eu/ (co-funded by the European Commission under FP6), G-MOSAIC specifically deals with the Security domain of GMES addressing topics such as Support to Intelligence & Early Warning and Support to Crisis Management Operations operations.
Space missions
ESA is currently developing five types of new satellites called Sentinel to meet the needs of the GMES programme. The Sentinel missions include radar and super-spectral imaging for land, ocean and atmospheric monitoring. The Sentinel missions will have the following objectives:- Sentinel 1Sentinel 1Sentinel 1 is a future space mission from ESA of GMES program.The payload of Sentinel 1 is a Synthetic Aperture Radar in C-band which provides continuous imagery ....
will provide all-weather, day and night radar imaging for land and ocean services. The first Sentinel-1 satellite is planned for launch in 2013; - Sentinel 2Sentinel 2Sentinel 2 is a future space mission from ESA, the second in GMES program.It will provide multispectral earth observation data providing data continuity of Landsat and SPOT-type missions....
will provide high-resolution optical imaging for land services (e.g. imagery of vegetation, soil and water cover, inland waterways and coastal areas). Sentinel-2 will also provide information for emergency services. The first Sentinel-2 satellite is planned for launch at the end of 2012; - Sentinel 3Sentinel 3Sentinel 3 is a future space mission from ESA, the third in the GMES program.It will provide medium resolution optical and radar altimetry Earth observation data...
will provide ocean and global land monitoring services. The first Sentinel-3 satellite is planned for launch at the end of 2012; - Sentinel-4, embarked as a payload upon a Meteosat Third Generation Satellite, will provide data for atmospheric composition monitoring. It will be launched in 2017;
- Sentinel-5 will also provide data for atmospheric composition monitoring. It will be embarked on a post-EUMETSAT Polar System (EPS) spacecraft and launched in 2019;
- Sentinel-6 is the intent to sustain high precision altimetry missions following the Jason-2 satellite.
Before the Sentinel missions provide data to GMES, numerous existing or planned space missions provide or will provide data useful to the provision of GMES services. These missions are often referred to as "GMES Contributing Missions (GCMs)".
ERS
European Remote-Sensing Satellite
European remote sensing satellite was the European Space Agency's first Earth-observing satellite. It was launched on July 17, 1991 into a Sun-synchronous polar orbit at a height of 782–785 km.-Instruments:...
: The European Remote Sensing Satellite ERS-1 (1991-2000) was ESA's first Earth observation satellite. ERS-2, launched in 1995, provides data related to ocean surface temperature, winds at sea and atmospheric ozone.
ENVISAT
Envisat
Envisat is an Earth-observing satellite. It was launched on 1 March 2002 aboard an Ariane 5 from the Guyana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guyana into a Sun synchronous polar orbit at an altitude of...
: Launched in 2002, Envisat is the largest Earth Observation spacecraft ever built. It carries sophisticated optical and radar instruments among which the Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (ASAR) and the Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS). Envisat provides continuous observation and monitoring of the Earth's land, atmosphere, oceans and ice caps. ESA Member States have unanimously voted to extend the Envisat mission through to 2013.
Earth Explorers
Living Planet Programme
The Living Planet Programme is a programme within the European Space Agency which is managed by the Earth Observation Programmes Directorate...
: Earth Explorers are smaller research missions dedicated to specific aspects of our Earth environment. Earth Explorer missions focus on the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere and the Earth's interior with the overall emphasis on learning more about the interactions between these components and the impact that human activity is having on natural Earth processes. There are 6 missions selected for implementation:
- GOCEGoceGoce is an opera composed by Kiril Makedonski in tribute to Gotse Delchev. The work was commissioned to be the very first opera performed by the Macedonian National Opera Company. It premiered on May 24, 1954 and it is the first opera to be written in the Macedonian language....
(Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Explorer), launched on 17 March 2009 - SMOSSoil Moisture and Ocean Salinity satelliteThe Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity Satellite is a part of ESA's Living Planet Programme intended to provide new insights into Earth's water cycle and climate...
(Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity), launched on 2 November 2009 - CryoSat-2CryoSat-2CryoSat-2 is a European Space Agency environmental research satellite which was launched in April 2010. It provides scientists with data about the polar ice caps and tracks changes in the thickness of the ice with a resolution of about . This information is useful for monitoring climate change...
(measurement of the thickness of floating ice), launched on 8th April 2010. - SwarmSwarm (ESA mission)Swarm is a European Space Agency mission to study the Earth's magnetic field.The Swarm concept consists of a constellation of three satellites in three different polar orbits between 450 and 550 km altitude...
(high-precision and high-resolution measurements of the strength and direction of the Earth's magnetic field), scheduled for launch in 2011 - ADM-AeolusADM-AeolusADM-Aeolus, or, in full, Atmospheric Dynamics Mission Aeolus, is an ESA satellite that is due for launch in 2013.ADM-Aeolus will be the first equipment capable of performing global wind-component-profile observation and will provide much-needed information to improve weather forecasting.The Aeolus...
(Atmospheric Dynamics Mission), scheduled for launch in 2011 - EarthCAREEarthCAREEARTHCARE is a planned space mission by the European and Japanese space agencies. In May 2008 ESA signed a contract worth €263 million with EADS subsidiary Astrium. As the prime contractor, Astrium is responsible for the satellite’s design, development and integration...
(Earth Clouds, Aerosols and Radiation Explorer), scheduled for launch in 2013
MSG: the Meteosat Second Generation is a joint project between ESA and EUMETSAT.
MetOp
MetOp
MetOp is a series of polar orbiting meteorological satellites operated by the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites. The satellites are all part af the EUMETSAT Polar System. It is intended to replace the soon to be retired TIROS network...
: MetOp is Europe's first polar-orbiting satellite dedicated to operational meteorology. MetOp is a series of three satellites to be launched sequentially over 14 years from October 2006. The series will provide data for both operational meteorology and climate studies.
SPOT
SPOT (satellites)
SPOT is a high-resolution, optical imaging Earth observation satellite system operating from space. It is run by Spot Image based in Toulouse, France...
: SPOT (Satellite Pour l'Observation de la Terre) consists of a series of earth observation satellites providing high resolution images of the Earth. SPOT-4 and SPOT-5 include sensors called VEGETATION able to monitor continental ecosystems.
TerraSAR-X
TerraSAR-X
TerraSAR-X, a German Earth observation satellite, is a joint venture being carried out under a public-private-partnership between the German Aerospace Center DLR and EADS Astrium GmbH; the exclusive commercial exploitation rights are held by the geo-information service provider Infoterra GmbH....
: TerraSAR-X is an Earth observation satellite providing high quality topographic information. TerraSAR-X data has a wide range of applications (e.g. land use / land cover mapping, topographic mapping, forest monitoring, emergency response monitoring and environmental monitoring)
COSMO-SkyMed
COSMO-SkyMed
COSMO-SkyMed is an Earth observation satellite system funded by the Italian Ministry of Research and Ministry of Defence and...
: the COnstellation of small Satellites for the Mediterranean basin Observation is an Earth observation satellite system which will include four satellites equipped with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensors. Applications include seismic hazard analysis, environmental disaster monitoring and agricultural mapping.
DMC
Disaster Monitoring Constellation
The Disaster Monitoring Constellation consists of a number of remote sensing satellites constructed by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd and operated for the Algerian, Nigerian, Turkish, British and Chinese governments by DMC International Imaging...
: The Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC) consists of five remote-sensing satellites. The constellation provides emergency Earth imaging for disaster relief under the International Charter for Space and Major Disasters.
JASON-2
Ocean Surface Topography Mission
The Ocean Surface Topography Mission on the Jason-2 satellite is an international Earth observation satellite mission that continues the sea surface height measurements begun in 1992 by the joint NASA/CNES TOPEX/Poseidon mission and followed by the NASA/CNES Jason-1 mission launched in 2001.Like...
: The JASON-2 satellite provides precise measurements of ocean surface topography, surface wind speed and wave height; as this type of measurement is a crucial requirement for the GMES Marine Services the European Commission has included this type of mission in its latest communication on the future GMES Space Component as Sentinel 6
PLEIADES
Pleiades satellites
The Pléiades constellation is composed of two very-high-resolution optical Earth-imaging satellites. Pléiades 1 and Pléiades 2 will provide coverage of Earth’s surface with a repeat cycle of 26 days ....
: The PLEIADES constellation consists of two satellites providing very high resolution images of the Earth
Data provided by non-European satellite missions (e.g. LANDSAT, GOSAT, RADARSAT-2
RADARSAT-2
Radarsat-2 is an Earth observation satellite that was successfully launched December 14, 2007 for the Canadian Space Agency by Starsem, using a Soyuz FG launch vehicle, from Kazakhstan's Baikonur Cosmodrome....
) can also be used by GMES.
In-Situ Coordination
GMES In-Situ Coordination (GISC). GISC is a FP7 funded initiative, will last for three years (January 2010 – December 2012) and is coordinated by the European Environment AgencyEuropean Environment Agency
European Environment Agency is an agency of the European Union. Its task is to provide sound, independent information on the environment. It is a major information source for those involved in developing, adopting, implementing and evaluating environmental policy, and also the general public...
(EEA).
In-situ data are all data from sources other than Earth observation satellites. Consequently all ground-based, air-borne, and ship/buoy-based observations and measurements that are needed to implement and operate the GMES services are part of the in-situ component. In-situ data are indispensable; they are assimilated into forecasting models, provide calibration and validation of space-based information, and contribute to analysis or filling gaps not available from space sources.
The goal of GISC is to develop an innovative and sustainable framework for open access to in-situ data for GMES.
GISC objectives will be achieved by:
- documenting the in-situ data needs and data requirements
- cooperating with the users, stakeholders, and service providers
- exploring and determining methods to enable networks to provide the required in-situ data for GMES
- exploring approaches to the integration of in-situ assets and networks into long-term sustainable frameworks for GMES services
- providing 'quick-wins'
GISC is undertaken with reference to other initiatives, such as INSPIRE (Infrastructure for Spatial Information in Europe) and SEIS (Shared Environmental Information System) as well as existing coordination and data exchange networks. The coordinated access to data will retain the capacity to link directly data providers and the service providers because it is based on the principles of SEIS and INSPIRE. The implementation of INSPIRE is embedded in the synergies and meta-data standards that are used in GISC. Data and information will aim to be managed as close as possible to its source in order to achieve a distributed system, by involving countries and existing capacities which maintain and operate the required observation infrastructure.
Other relevant initiatives
Other initiatives will also facilitate the development and functioning of GMES services:- INSPIRE: this initiative aims at building a European spatial data infrastructure beyond national boundaries.
- Urban Atlas: Compiled from thousands of satellite photographs, the Urban Atlas provides detailed and cost-effective digital mapping, ensuring that city planners have the most up-to-date and accurate data available on land use and land cover. The Urban Atlas will enable urban planners to better assess risks and opportunities, ranging from threat of flooding and impact of climate change, to identifying new infrastructure and public transport needs. All cities in the EU will be covered by the Urban Atlas by 2011.
- SEIS: The Shared Environmental Information System (SEIS) is a collaborative initiative of the European Commission and the European Environment Agency (EEA) to establish together with the Member States an integrated and shared EU-wide environmental information system.
GMES is one of three related initiatives that are the subject of the GIGAS (GEOSS, INSPIRE and GMES
GMES
Global Monitoring for Environment and Security is a joint initiative of the European Commission and European Space Agency, which aims at achieving an autonomous and operational Earth observation capacity....
an Action in Support) harmonization project under the auspices of the EU 7th Framework Programme.