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The role of the Earth The role of the Earth Observation Data Centre in Observation Data Centre in

the knowledge economythe knowledge economyBy: Conrad Sebego

Management of Investment and Strategic Technology

CEOS Education, Training and Capacity Building Workshop

2nd – 3rd October 2003,Stellenbosch, SOUTH AFRICA

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TopicsTopics• Goals of this presentation• Inhibiting factors for data access• Dealing with the challenge• Benefits• Conditions for success• Relevance to current initiatives• Message from the Space Summit• SAC response• Legislative environment• Summary and conclusions

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GoalsGoals

• Addressing the establishment of policies that will make remotely sensed and geographic data available for sustained periods– Acquiring appropriate data and infrastructure to

support the development of appropriate skills– Deriving maximum benefits by moving up the value

chain

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Inhibiting factorsInhibiting factors

• Cost (i.e. RF front end, data access fees, ingestion, archiving, software, royalties, etc.)

• Institutional capacity (i.e. availability of skilled workers, continuity, data communications infrastructure, processing and analysis

Need to be understood!

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Dealing with the Dealing with the challengechallenge

• Individually – Business as usual– Paying twice– Survival of the fittest

• OR• Integrated

– Sharing resources and cost– Eliminate duplication– Increase impact– COE

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BenefitsBenefits• Addressing government/industrial challenges in a

multifaceted way, research work directly relating to their mandate

• Appropriate data to support skills development required to make informed decision making resulting in more impact

• Encourages integrated research and sharing of facilities especially if based upon open systems

• Eliminating duplication of data costs• Excellent research support• Supporting technological innovation

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Conditions for Conditions for successsuccess

• Data useability determined by the user needs: supporting strategic skills development or operational activities and therefore relevant

• Reinforce compelling reason to buy from governmental users

• “No payment” required for data access for creation of new IP that is aligned with pertinent challenges

• Data for numerous disciplines, since it can address a critical mass of the research community from one source

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Defining successDefining success

• Implementing• Operationalising• Continuing to make a difference from

initiatives, i.e. delivering impact

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Reasons for an EODCReasons for an EODC

• Not for profit making• Should not be expected for it to be self sustaining• Possible through: national, regional &

international partnerships• COFUR pricing• Analogy

– City library– Global Positioning System

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GPSConstellation

GPSSignal

Applications,Market

•Strategic Intent•Technological Capability (design, launch, operate)•Applications/Market

EOConstellation

EOData

Centre

Applications,Market

USMil

FullyFunded Data availability

dependant onfunding model

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Reflection from Space Reflection from Space SummitSummit

• Optimal usage of the current EO systems• Skills development

– Not in isolation– Not the end– But, means to an end– Don’t re-invent the wheel

• Increase the innovative application of RS & GIS technologies– On World problems that are not possible conventionally– Show visible results– In the short and long term

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SAC FootprintSAC Footprint

CLIENTSGovernment, Academics, Private Sector

National, Regional

Data Access Policy/Portal

NOAA

SeaWifs

MSG (Meteosat)

MODIS

SPOT Vegetation

WAMIS

LANDSAT-5

LANDSAT-7

ERS

ENVISAT

?

?

-NEPAD/public domain data sets-Value added data sets from Govt. projects-Data sets from commercial sources-Training

EODC DATA

Commercial Access

IKONOS IRS

EROS ………

Quickbird LIDAR

SPOT-5 DEMs

SPOT 1, 2, 4

RADARSAT

COMMERCIAL DATA

Product DevelopmentValue Adding

EARTH OBSERVATION DATA CENTRE

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Regional Monitoring Regional Monitoring InitiativeInitiative

• Initiated in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC)

• WAMIS is a satellite based information approach for supporting sustainable development

• Provide data, products and services to users concerned with – Disaster management, – Early warning systems,– Renewable resources and environmental monitoring, – Research, development and training in the southern African region

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WAMIS & Global WAMIS & Global InitiativesInitiatives

• Link up with global initiatives that have similar aims: – GMES (Global Monitoring of the Environment and

Safety), EU/ESA– PUMA (MSG in Africa, EU funded)– AMESD (African Monitoring of the Environment for

Sustainable Development)– GTOS (Global Terrestrial Observing System)– Supports the New Partnership for Africa’s

Development (NEPAD)

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Legislative Legislative environmentenvironment

• National Spatial Information Framework• National Spatial Infrastructure Bill• Workgroup on Space Science and

Technology

The future looks good!

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SummarySummary• Availability of RS and geographic data requires

continued government funding at the correct level-based on user requirements

• Encourage sharing of resources and accessibility• Critical data in support of excellent, useable

research work• Align research with practical challenges• Focus on creating unique applications• Generating revenues from successful spin-offs• Pay for the renewal and maintenance of the EO

database-through taxation

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In conclusion..In conclusion..

"We keep records for the same reason that we build schools, or rear our children, or support our aged parents. It is one of those things that we do without asking ourselves whether or not it represents a profitable investment but simply because it is our innate assumption that civilized people can do nothing else. We know that because we are not barbarians we must keep records. In other words, the keeping of records in a civilized society is primarily an act of faith. We keep records because of our deep emotional and intellectual commitment to the values of the civilization of which we are a part, and to what our ancestors did and to what we hope our children will do."

Herman KahnEconomist1944.

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END!END!

Thank you.