ESRIN to host two workshops in October
ESA’s European Space Research Institute (ESRIN) is to host two workshops in October, in Frascati, Italy. The first, on the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters, will take place on 10 October and will be immediately followed by a workshop on activities for Earth Observation Market Development (EOMD).
EOMD Workshop
It is now a year since a new ESA programme on EOMD was launched. This three-year programme aims to increase the prospects for commercial geo-information services based on Earth observation satellite data. Approximately 20 activities have commenced to date, mostly with small companies from the value-adding sector in Europe and Canada.
The EOMD workshop, which will take place from 11 to 12 October, is of interest to companies and organisations concerned with Earth observation services, both suppliers and consumers. It will focus on the results and benefits achieved to date, and will include presentations from the companies involved.
At the workshop, Earth observation market trends, developments and other important issues will be discussed. Participants at the workshop will be encouraged to voice their views in open discussions on what further actions are needed to increase the market for Earth observation data, in both the short and medium term.
Workshop on the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters
The workshop on EOMD will be preceded by the workshop on the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters. This important charter came into force in June 2000 upon its signature by representatives of the French Space Agency CNES and ESA.
Membership has now been extended to include the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). All these organisations have agreed to put their Earth observation satellites at the disposal of any country requesting help to deal with a major disaster. For example, just a few weeks ago data from ESA’s ERS, CNES’s SPOT and CSA’s Radarsat-1 satellites were used to monitor and provide information on the eruption of Mount Etna in Italy.
Representatives of companies working in the Earth observation sector in Europe and Canada will attend the workshop. This will help to strengthen ties with the service sector and increase awareness of the important role the charter plays in disaster management.
More information on both workshops can be obtained from the following site: EOMD Workshop
