GREENTOP – Gamification of cRowdcomputing to ENhance EarTh Observation data Processing is feasibility study performed by one of the leading eGovernment software providers in Romania, aiming to diversify its portfolio with Earth Observation (Copernicus) specific services (data processing). Mainly targeting the company’s expert area, new services for public authorities are first to be provided, followed by downstream applications for Environment NGO’s, supporting the processing of EO Big Data. The goal is to promote usage of space technologies (i.e. space imagery) amongst large masses of users and produce processed data in near-real-time, thanks to large community involvement, whilst developing a new business model for the company.
The GREENTOP work aims to identify market opportunities and barriers against implementing a gamification process that brings (free) ESA Earth Observation data and its processing closer to End-users. The approach for the feasibility study is to identify markets, assess technical specifications for the technology, define the gamification process and create an action plan or business plan. The impact of the Phase 1 work on the company is described in the end of the deliverable.
The initial business plan for GREENTOP was to create a simple browser plugin that users install and which uses their spare processing power to seamlessly process Sentinel 1 and 2 data, to achieve land use monitoring.
The purpose is involving masses (communities) in EO Data Processing and creating crowdprocessed databases of landuse.
The importance for society comes from the main market issues in Europe concerning Earth Observation Data Usage:
The European Market for Earth Observation (and Satellite Data in general) is very fragmented. The most important clients are still in the public sector (>50% market share). SME’s offer limited solutions in Space Research and Development due to several factors, such as data costs, low resolution of free available data, aggressive competitiveness with large companies such as Google, Esri or Microsoft, which provide high resolution data for free (although not relevant in scientific environments).
Free satellite data (mainly from Copernicus) is useful for prototyping, but high accuracy products such as consumer-oriented applications, building management, urban planning and landscaping, etc. require higher resolution to be competitive.
The expected prices drop for high resolution data in the following years and constant increase in satellite constellations will enable SME’s in Europe to create small-scale applications and consumer-driven tools.
Therefore, the period 2017-2020 is the best period to invest in EO data R&D and product design.
Another issue of the EO Data Market is the lack of awareness, both amongst public administrations (especially, but not limited to Eastern Europe), universities and SME’s, which, in turn, generates a limited number of data scientists and ICT experts capable of creating and delivering applications.
Earth Observation Data Processing is the final objective of GREENTOP. Via community efforts, vast amounts of data can be observed, analyzed, processed and validated. Data processing can be performed both via automatic processing and semiautomatic processing. Automatic processing has a lower degree of accuracy, but requires practically no human effort, while semiautomatic processing implies that human contributors input some reference points that artificial intelligence algorithms use to classify EO data. Hybrid solutions are the best road to take.
The project’s objectives (correlated with the work programme) are to
• engage small and medium enterprises in space research and development, especially those not traditionally involved in it
• cover any aspect of the Specific Programme for Space […] especially in connection to the flagship programmes Galileo and Copernicus
• produce processed data in near-real-time, thanks to large community involvement,
• develop a new business model for the company
