September 29, 2004 | September 29, 2004

German Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD) wins ESA tender

ESA currently operates receiving systems for various types of satellite missions. These include the European systems ERS-1 and ERS-2 and - since 2002 - ENVISAT, currently the largest satellite for Earth observation. In addition, ESA also receives, archives and processes data from so-called "third party missions" - i.e. from satellites of other nations. For example, from Landsat and MODIS in the USA.

The reception systems for the future Earth Explorer and Earth Watch missions are currently being planned or set up.

In the past, an infrastructure specially designed for the respective satellite was generally created for receiving, processing and archiving the data. This led to incompatible systems with high maintenance costs. It has therefore been very difficult or even impossible to integrate new missions. This is particularly problematic when it comes to ordering, archiving and delivering data. The additional work involved in operating different systems in parallel leads to high operating costs.

To counter this problem, ESA began standardizing its central systems for order handling and cataloguing some time ago. A standard solution has now also been created for archiving. With FEOMI, the existing systems are to be combined with a new and standardized interface for data input, processing and delivery to form a complete system. The focus here is on the migration of the ENVISAT ground segment within one year.

DFD, Werum and Datamat can contribute their expertise to FEOMI in a special way. Together with Werum, DFD has created a comparable information technology infrastructure - DIMS - for the management of remote sensing products for the multi-mission area. DIMS has been in operational use since 2000. DFD is also entrusted with the engineering and operation of ESA ground segments and Datamat with their integration. The knowledge and experience of the consortium are ideal prerequisites for FEOMI.

The project will run for 16 months. The aim is to implement the new system at the ESA sites in Frascati and Kiruna (Sweden) as well as at the national DLR facilities in Oberpfaffenhofen, Farnborough (UK), Matera (I) and Maspalomas (ES)