New offerings to support security services in Europe
The Copernicus programme's services for security applications, once operational, will significantly enhance the EU's information gathering capabilities to counter existing and new threats. The challenge is to compile a vast amount of satellite observations with in situ measurements collected from ground stations into useable information services. The EU-funded G-NEXT (GMES pre-operational security services for supporting external actions) project aimed to provide geospatial intelligence and situational awareness for the European External Action Service (EEAS). It built on service components developed within the predecessor G-MOSAIC project. To achieve its aims, G-NEXT supplied 10 tailored geospatial products or services that are ready for use in emergency and crisis situations. They are divided into three main application domains: political or armed conflicts, situational awareness and border survey. Users can integrate these services into their working environments in an effective and reliable manner. Project partners began by demonstrating the benefits of integrating Earth observation products with data and intelligence in response to the needs identified by security stakeholders. They also gathered user feedback and assessed if the services or products are adequate for the future operational phase. G-NEXT created synergies and assessed their potential with future Copernicus projects and initiatives. This led to cooperation for defining the technical specifications of the Copernicus Support to External Action service. The G-NEXT team conducted a cost-benefit analysis of the future services. Results show that for every EUR 1 invested in operational Copernicus services in support of EEAS, a minimum of EUR 2,8 return in socioeconomic benefits can be expected. By filling the gap between research-based and fully operational services, G-NEXT has made it possible to support the monitoring of politically or environmentally unstable regions. It will also improve decision-making and the response of authorities.
Keywords
Security services, Copernicus, G-NEXT, geospatial intelligence, European External Action Service
