Integration of earth observation into information systems
The Space Applications Institute (part of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre) has recently published a call for tenders to address the objective of moving existing earth observation products and services towards operational and commercial use. This will essentially be a progression of work carried out by the Centre for Earth Observation (CEO) during the Fourth RTD Framework Programme (1994-98). Proposals should focus on: - Integrating earth observation products or services into wider information services such as GIS, routing/navigation, mapping and multimedia; - Adopting appropriate business concepts, such as alliances with non-earth observation organisations, new distribution channels, new supply mechanisms and customer service schemes; - Building on previous work undertaken by the CEO programme, focusing on the economic sectors identified as having high potential of agribusiness, insurance, software, travel tourism/leisure and intergovernmental bodies. Other economic sectors may also be proposed, together with a justification of why they have significant economic potential for the use of earth observation information. For further information, please contact: European Commission Joint Research Centre Mr P Churchill TP 261 I-21020 Ispra (VA) Fax +39-0332-785461 E-mail: ceo.helpdesk@jrc.it