330
Chapter 31
information on the other. Much effort must urgently be directed to fill
this gap by promoting methodological research and development, and
demonstrating the feasibility and worthiness of remote sensing data
gathered in space. This is particularly important if the field of Earth
Observation is to stimulate, and sustain in the long run, commercially
viable operational activities.
Another major concern of the participants was related to the access to
European and non-European remote sensing data. It was widely
recognized that the distribution of data in Europe would remain the duty
and prerogative of the space agencies and other data providers, both
commercial and non-commercial. The role of the CEO program of the
Space Applications Institute in promoting standards, formats, and
catalog interoperability as well as in organizing the providers and users
of remote sensing data in a large decentralized network was well
recognized and should be pursued.
Nevertheless, many participants suggested that a European institution
should take the lead in providing the R&D necessary to stimulate new
and better products and services, in collaboration with European
universities, national research institutions, space agencies and industry.
Such a research and coordination institution could also play a leading
role in providing or encouraging the provision of ancillary data sets
required for the proper interpretation of the data, in developing and
evaluating new or better tools, techniques and approaches to convert
data into useful information, and in offering calibration, validation and
testing facilities to establish the accuracy and reliability of the
information, products and services.
3.
4.
In his introductory talk, Alan Cross outlined the state of preparation of
the European 5th Framework Programme of Research and Technological
Development, and suggested that specific points be addressed at the
conference. The following points were made in response to these questions:
Methodological research: A much stronger effort should be made in this
category than has been done in the past. The quantitative use of remote
sensing data to address, accurately and reliably, significant climate and
environmental questions has barely been started. Many of the
techniques available so far rely on empirical qualitative approaches.
Indeed, the advent of a new generation of advanced space sensors within
the coming months and years will necessitate urgent developments to
optimally exploit the new spectral, directional and spatial resolutions
afforded by these sensors, as few of the existing algorithms, tools and
techniques will even be appropriate to analyze these data. Similarly,
taking advantage of the synergy between these instruments will also
Chapter 31
information on the other. Much effort must urgently be directed to fill
this gap by promoting methodological research and development, and
demonstrating the feasibility and worthiness of remote sensing data
gathered in space. This is particularly important if the field of Earth
Observation is to stimulate, and sustain in the long run, commercially
viable operational activities.
Another major concern of the participants was related to the access to
European and non-European remote sensing data. It was widely
recognized that the distribution of data in Europe would remain the duty
and prerogative of the space agencies and other data providers, both
commercial and non-commercial. The role of the CEO program of the
Space Applications Institute in promoting standards, formats, and
catalog interoperability as well as in organizing the providers and users
of remote sensing data in a large decentralized network was well
recognized and should be pursued.
Nevertheless, many participants suggested that a European institution
should take the lead in providing the R&D necessary to stimulate new
and better products and services, in collaboration with European
universities, national research institutions, space agencies and industry.
Such a research and coordination institution could also play a leading
role in providing or encouraging the provision of ancillary data sets
required for the proper interpretation of the data, in developing and
evaluating new or better tools, techniques and approaches to convert
data into useful information, and in offering calibration, validation and
testing facilities to establish the accuracy and reliability of the
information, products and services.
3.
4.
In his introductory talk, Alan Cross outlined the state of preparation of
the European 5th Framework Programme of Research and Technological
Development, and suggested that specific points be addressed at the
conference. The following points were made in response to these questions:
Methodological research: A much stronger effort should be made in this
category than has been done in the past. The quantitative use of remote
sensing data to address, accurately and reliably, significant climate and
environmental questions has barely been started. Many of the
techniques available so far rely on empirical qualitative approaches.
Indeed, the advent of a new generation of advanced space sensors within
the coming months and years will necessitate urgent developments to
optimally exploit the new spectral, directional and spatial resolutions
afforded by these sensors, as few of the existing algorithms, tools and
techniques will even be appropriate to analyze these data. Similarly,
taking advantage of the synergy between these instruments will also