Raising awareness about the health of the planet
Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) is a complex area of research dedicated to gathering information about the health and security of the Earth. It uses satellites in space as well as ground-based and airborne stations to collect data about the surface of the Earth, our oceans and the atmosphere. Until recently, it was difficult to convey the importance of this research because of the highly technical science behind it. The GMES project forms part of the Seventh Framework Programme's (FP7) flagship Space Programme. It has generated several products and services that have made the science tangible for both policymakers and EU citizens. Now, thanks to the EU-funded 'Supporting awareness and information dissemination activities for GMES fast track services' (SWIFT) initiative, awareness of these products and services has drastically improved. SWIFT produced leaflets, posters and roll-up banners that cover various aspects of GMES for display and dissemination at conferences. Some of the topics included 'Space for a safer world' and 'Adapting to climate change'. However, the project's biggest success lies in a GMES website that has published over 600 news items, promoted more than 240 events and recorded over 250 projects. Project topics include air quality, soil moisture, pollution, urban planning, marine environments and emergency responses. The website also has sections dedicated to providing direct access to online GMES services. For example, as part of the services related to emergency responses, disaster maps can be created and updated using GMES-generated data. With several hundreds of thousands of downloads and more than 500 000 visits since the start of the SWIFT project, the website has become a hub for GMES information. This means it has contributed to a better informed society that will be better able to debate environmental policies and strategies.
