ABSTRACT

In the context of this chapter, we mainly refer to satelliteborne EO techniques, whose general assets as compared to conventional terrestrial ¤eld mapping are summarized in Table 19.1.

Ÿe growing need for the civilian use of satellite remote sensing and other EO technologies has born the European program Copernicus,‡ formerly known as global monitoring for the environment and security (GMES), as a conjoint initiative between the European Commission (EC) and the European Space Agency (ESA). Copernicus is considered the European contribution to GEO fostering the provision of geospatial information and monitoring services in six principal domains, that is, land, water, atmosphere, climate change, emergency response, and human security. It builds on European space infrastructure and the technological capability to turn data into information services. Ÿe new Sentinel family of EO satellites, developed by ESA, will provide global coverage with radar and optical data ranging from 10 to 20 m and 60 m “spatial resolution” (in the visible [VIS] and near-infrared [NIR] to shortwave infrared [SWIR] spectral range). Additional data from satellites of the so-called contributing missions will increase both the variety of available data types and the temporal coverage with remotely sensed data. But next to the provision of frequently updated satellite data, we also require the adequate means for an intelligent usage of such data and an e¶cient analysis of them (Lang 2008). Ÿe Copernicus initiative

has opened new ¤elds of activity to industry (including small and medium enterprises) and research organizations. Ÿe ¤nancing of so-called core services and GMES initial operations as fundamental information services in all Copernicus domains has led (and will continue to do so) to the stimulation of downstream services in new emerging areas. A key prerequisite for the creation of versatile application domains and related business cases is the provision of the EO data at no cost. Ÿe Sentinel program has been designed in such a way that satellite data will be distributed for free and with no limitation for whatsoever (civilian) use.