The Centre for Earth Observation (Ceo) :
An Intiative of European Commission to
Promote the use and Availabolity of Earth Observation Data
P.N. Churchill1, M.J. Sharman2, G. Schreier1, J. Aschbacher1
1European Commission, Joint Research Centre,
Institute for Remote Sensing Applications
I-21020 Ispra (VA), Italy,
Tel : +3-33278 5425, Fax : +39-332-78-5461
E-mail : peter.Churchill@jrc.it,
gunter.schreier@jrc.it,
josef.aschbacher@jrc.it
2European Commission, Directorate General XII-DA, Space Unit
Rue de la loi 200, B-109 Brussels , Belgium,
Tel : +32-2-29-59798, Fax : + 32-2-296058
E-mail : martin.sharman@mhsg.cec.rtt.be
Abstract
The European commission (EC) and the European Space Agency (ESA) have agreed with their Member states to establish a co-ordinated , decentralized Earth observation network, the European Earth Observation System (EEOS). The EC contribution to this is the Centre for Earth Observation (CEO) programme. The objective of the CEO is to promote the use of Earth observation data and services and their costomers. The CEO will be driven by user requirements. It will be decentralized in its approach. It will pay due regart to and take advantage of existing an planned institutions, infrastructure and projects. It will also be designed to evolve and adopt flexibility. This paper outlines the status and objectives of the CEO Programme, and proposes a concept for the CEO.
Ceo Background
The European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Commission (EC) have agreed to work towards a more efficient and cost-effective use of Earth observation data, by combining their expertise with that of their member States and other relevant European organizations such as EUMETSAT to establish a co-ordinated, decentralized Earth observation network called the European Earth Observation System (EEOS.
EEOS will link with international initiatives such as NASA's Earth Observation System DATa and Information System (EOSDIS) and Japan's international satellite data management and information system (EOIS).
In the collaboration ESA and the national space agencies shall take responsibility for receiving data from satellites, and for the pre-processing and supply of these space data.
The EC contribution to EEOS is the Centre for Earth Observation (CEO). The CEO will foster the development of applications of Earth observation data that fulfil the specified information requirements of scientific, operational and commercial users. This will help to ensure that relevant higher level products and information are generated and made available. Associated with the application development are various services These will include services that permit access to data and information, and help preserve the data and information.
Project Organisation and Status
Project Status
The CEO project is divided into 3 phases :
- Feasibility Study 1992-1993
- Pathfinder Phase 1993-1995
- Design and Implementation Phase 1996-1998
The CEO programme is now at the end of the Pathfinder Phase. The goal of the Pathfinder Phase is to produce a project plan for the Design and Implementation Phase containing sufficient information and understanding of the system to bring the CEO successfully into being. The work of the Pathfinder Phase is described in a Project Plan that has been presented to and discussed with the Pathfinder Phase Steering Committee (PPSC).
The Pathfinder Phase is organised by Activities each with contributory deliverables. There are 5 Activities, of which the first two (Activity 1 : Survey and understand the present infrastructure status and Activity 2 : Capture user requirements) take place simultaneously at he start of Pathfinder Phase. The third Activities (synthesis) starts during Activities 1 and 2, and ends when the implications of those Activities are fully assimilated. The fourth Activity (Plane the Design and Implementation phase) then starts. Throughout the Pathfinder Phase, the fifth Activity (Cost and benefits of the CEO elements of the system) maintains an up-to-date estimate of the probable cost of the programme. This work is being supported by practical tests of potential elements of the CEO. These "Proof of Concept" studies will aid in the definition of the plan for the Design and Implementation Phase.
Project Organisation
The Pathfinder phase is overseen by a Steering Committee (PPSC) composed of delegates of the Member States of the European Union (EU) and the European Economics Area (EEA). The PPSC is also observed by the European Environmental Agency (EEA), EUMETSAT, the European Space Agency (ESA) are relevant organizations of the EC such as EUROSTAT, plus other space data providers such as EURIMAGE and SPOT Image.
The Pathfinder Phase is managed and co-ordinated by a Project Team based in the JRC Institute for Remote Sensing Application (IRSA). The Commission's DG XII provides strategic and policy support through its D4 Unit (Space).
Further information is available via a prototype World Wile Web (WWW) information server at the following address :
http://ceo-www.jrc.it/
