Session 2 report and presentations

In the second session (13th June am), the perspective of Public Authorities was addressed. The discussion was focused on the findings of the transversal study into public body’s uptake of EO services.  Before the panel discussion, Marit Undseth from the OECD provided a perspective on the barriers for use of satellite data by public sector users. Key steps to be addressed involve greater co-operation between users for technical understanding, exchange of knowledge and best practices and consideration of co-operative procurement.

A panel of 3 regions from the NEREUS network plus a commercial supplier of EO services then discussed the barriers. Roya Ayazi, secretary general of NEREUS moderated the discussion with Carlo Masetto (Veneto region), Duarte Cota (Azores), Ana Sanchez Lofficial (Atlantique and Brittany) and Marc Tondriaux (TerraNIS). Each identified different ways of working with varied success at stimulating uptake by public regional administrations.

Veneto has established a spatial planning directorate which has overall responsibility for the use of EO data within the region administration. This has a number of benefits including better planning policy, cost savings and the stimulation of small service businesses in the region. The necessary skills are gathered into one department. Nevertheless, uptake would be improved if a national initiative could establish a common procurement approach and knowledgeable resource.

The Azores has identified a number of applications of interest but has so far not been able to adopt them as operational services. Examples were given of coastal algae blooms, air quality and marine debris. The latter was part of a project looking at pre-competitive procurement. A platform (an expert, multi-disciplinary, advisory council) was set up to address the challenges but has been frustrated through changes to the government and new membership of the council.

IMT Atlantique, a technical university covering the regions of Atlantique and Brittany,  has established a support group to help overcome technical difficulties to adopt services by local authorities in the regions. One product for coastal vegetation monitoring has proved successful and has been introduced as an operational service. It has also been adopted by a region outside Brittany so helping to create new business for the supplier company concerned.

Marc Tondriaux talked about the need to make users aware that the services are now sustainable, thanks to large volumes and diversity of EO data. Most importantly, a closer intimacy is necessary between companies and the regional users. In this respect, EUGENIUS is a platform comprising a network of EO service providers, set up to help achieve this and he called for an effort to develop the platform further.

In the short time available for discussion, 2 questions were raised about the need to take this dialogue further and how to do so. Companies cannot address all the regional users and support from space agencies, or other bodies, is necessary to overcome many of the barriers identified. ESA was called upon to help to take the appropriate measures to help non-expert public administrations make better use of the tools which EO services can provide.