Space-based environmental monitoring: 15 new projects approved for EC funding
The European Commission has, at the proposal of Mrs. Edith Cresson, Commissioner responsible for research, education and training, approved funding for 15 new projects in the area of space-based environmental monitoring. A total of ECU 11.8 million has been allocated to these projects under the Community's specific RTD programme in the field of environment and climate. The projects include: - Neural networks for analyzing satellite data on cloud patterns, ocean currents and waves; - Techniques for assessing snow cover (an important factor in, and indicator of, climate change) from satellite data; - Methods to give early warning of hazardous red tides approaching coastal waters. The approved projects were selected from more than 86 proposals submitted under Theme 3 (Space techniques applied to environmental monitoring and research) of the first call for proposals for the Environment and Climate programme, published on 17 January 1995 (OJ No C 12 of 17.1.1995 p. 16). The high level of response to the call means that only 13% of the projects could be funded. Some projects will improve the quality of environmental information required for decision making by public authorities (for example, by monitoring pollution in the European coastal zones), whilst others will provide new information needed for research into environmental change undertaken in both European and national research programmes (for example, by developing new tools to monitor ocean currents). The work will also contribute towards the definition of space-based instruments for possible future development by the space agencies and by industry. In all cases the research will provide the underpinning know-how for companies to develop business in the provision of cost-effective information services, based in part on the exploitation of satellite-derived information. Two education and training measures, due to receive ECU 0.9 million, were also approved under this call. These concern a course in ocean engineering, and a tele-interactive learning system to promote the use of earth observation data.