GMES and Earth Observation with Position-based Image and sensor Communications Technology for Universal Rescue, Emergency and Surveillance management (GEO-PICTURES)

Framework: FP7 — Cooperation
Programme: Space
Destination: Space-based applications at the service of the European Society
Action type: Collaborative project
Countries involved: Norway,Switzerland,Spain,Germany,Brazil,Austria
Call:  (FP7-SPACE-2009-1, 2009)
Start date: 2010-03-01
End date: 2012-04-30
Duration (months): 26.0
Total project cost (EUR): 3162081.6
EU funding (EUR): 2385871.4
Participants: 9
Project status: CLOSED

Targeted for use in emergencies, GEO-PICTURES will save lives and mitigate disaster effects on environment. In emergency situations striking humanity, environment and the civil public, it is of paramount importance to communicate from the field what has happened and where as quickly and accurately as possible so that appropriate actions can be taken. One cannot rely on an existing infrastructure except satellite communications for global coverage. GEO-PICTURES provides near-real-time input of pictures, video, sensors and assessment results worldwide. GNSS provides position-tagging, and field data is integrated with GMES in a seamless solution hosted by United Nations on the CERN campus in Geneva. Partners with specific expertise in both rapid and on-line mapping will produce real-time situational maps with a combination of GMES, terrestrial visual and sensor information. Completely new and a missing link in operations this provides a significant contribution to larger scale emergency management. GEO-PICTURES combines state of the art in satellite communication, navigation and earth observation, based on a core technology with geo-tagged image and sensor communication combined with latest satellite earth observation. A main challenge is high resolution photo communications without broadband infrastructure. An innovation award winning core concept already tested forms an excellent basis for enhancement, further integration and direct use in operations. GEO-PICTURES allows a large number of accurate optical field observations, tagged with position, transferred via satellite-optimized protocols to a control center. Optical observations are extended to video, audio and sensors that measures temperature, moisture, wind etc. Such data is helpful in emergency/disaster management and for improving interpretation of GMES data. GEO-PICTURES will also design small lightweight equipment a disaster management expert comments pictures directly on scene pictures and main needs according to the assessment, sending them immediately to the Operation Center. Equipment can be used for disaster management worldwide. GEO-PICTURES will develop a location-based content multicast/multi-receiver distribution system for efficient distribution of large image files and GMES data over satellite channels. Content will be distributed to have higher quality in the areas of interest, with an integrated a location-based image coding and distribution system. A novel JPEG2000 compression technology will be developed supporting rapid efficient distribution of images and GMES data. The consortium is highly user driven, including target users United Nations, EU Community Mechanism for Civil Protection and the Amazonas Government. R&D is by UAB in satellite communications and image compression, UEA in environmental research. AnsuR does satellite communications, system aspects and implementation. Integration is with CERN in Geneva. KSAT provides GMES.

Keywords: geo-pictures gmes emergency satelitte communications united nation earth observation civil protection