Chapter 4
NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR DEVELOPING
EARTH OBSERVATION APPLICATIONS IN
FINLAND
K. Tilli
Director (Space Technology), Technology Development Centre (TEKES), Finland.
1.
INTRODUCTION
Earth Observation and satellite geodesy are used extensively in Finland.
Utilization of these technologies has been studied in Finland since the
1960’s. Today about 6 universities, 11 research centers, 15 companies and
12 end-user companies do research or use these methods in practical
applications. The most important application areas are forestry, sea ice and
snow, agriculture, meteorology and atmosphere, environment, geodesy and
mapping. The quality of the research done and of the expertise acquired in
this field both meet international standards. Since becoming first an
Associate Member and later a full Member of the European Space Agency
and a member of the European Union, Finland has systematically increased
participation in international programs and correspondingly broadened the
scope of national research in the field of Earth Observation (EO).
This paper describes the framework for Finnish research and
development in the EO area. The objectives and strategies for developing
EO applications will be presented together with results and experience
gained from the national technology program, which plays an important role
in the implementation of strategies.
29
M.M. Verstraete et al. (eds.), Observing Land from Space: Science, Customers and Technology, 29–33.
© 2000 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands.
NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR DEVELOPING
EARTH OBSERVATION APPLICATIONS IN
FINLAND
K. Tilli
Director (Space Technology), Technology Development Centre (TEKES), Finland.
1.
INTRODUCTION
Earth Observation and satellite geodesy are used extensively in Finland.
Utilization of these technologies has been studied in Finland since the
1960’s. Today about 6 universities, 11 research centers, 15 companies and
12 end-user companies do research or use these methods in practical
applications. The most important application areas are forestry, sea ice and
snow, agriculture, meteorology and atmosphere, environment, geodesy and
mapping. The quality of the research done and of the expertise acquired in
this field both meet international standards. Since becoming first an
Associate Member and later a full Member of the European Space Agency
and a member of the European Union, Finland has systematically increased
participation in international programs and correspondingly broadened the
scope of national research in the field of Earth Observation (EO).
This paper describes the framework for Finnish research and
development in the EO area. The objectives and strategies for developing
EO applications will be presented together with results and experience
gained from the national technology program, which plays an important role
in the implementation of strategies.
29
M.M. Verstraete et al. (eds.), Observing Land from Space: Science, Customers and Technology, 29–33.
© 2000 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands.