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CONTENTSIGOS Strategic Implementation:Project and Partnership
CEOS Analysis Group Activity
CNES Activities in Relation with User Organizations
News from the Working Group on Information Systems and Services
The CEOS Information Locator System CILS---This page
News from the International Ocean Colour Coordinating Group
Information on the Preparation of the 11th Plenary
The CEOS Information Locator System CILS
Susan Giegerich & Gunter Schreier German Remote Sensing Data Center at DLR Volker Liebig & Thomas Ruwwe DARA, German Space AgencyA service especially designed to meet the requirements of users of earth observation remote sensing data in developing countries
- Many projects using Earth observation data are going on in developing
countries (DC) but nobody really knows where and what or who is a point
of contact. Having recognized that,the German Space Agency, DARA, was asked
to lead an activity to demonstrate a system for providing users in DC with
easier access to project information as well as to relevant auxiliary information.
- the European Union's Centre for Earth Observation, CEO
- the United Nations Environmental Program, UNEP
- Austraiia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, CSIRO
- the European Space Agency, ESA
- Descriptions of ongoing projects, with basic information about what satellite data is currently being put to use for what purpose with which partners
- The names and addresses of institutions with competence ranging from satellite data reception and processing, to developing geographical based information systems or offering training courses in selected aspects of satellite remote sensing in and for developing countries
- satellite data and environmental information services
- A Iist of contact addresses for projects, Individuals. and organizations with experience in applying remote sensing technology in a wide variety of environmental applications in developing countries, from desertification studies to insect control strategies
- A list of upcoming calendar events on issues relating to environmental remote sensing and developing countries
- An online acronym list for selected organizations, programs, instruments and campaigns, with emphasis on their relevance for earth observation and developing countries
During the next Plenary the results of these efforts are to be introduced. An internet based system was designed in a consortium under the German Remote Sensing Data Center of Gerrnany's aerospace research establishment, DLR (Deutsche Forschungsanstalt fur Luft- und Raumfahrt), consisting of Dornier Satellitensysteme GmbH, Kayser-Threde GmbH and WebWeaving m/v, and with the assistance of international partners with extensive experience in addressing the needs of developing countries, including:
What information is available?
CILS is an electronic information service providing access to such
metainformation as:
like CINTEX/lMS, GCMD/IDN and CEO/GELOS
A free advertising service
Registered users have the opportunity to provide information about
their own institutions, programs, projects and expertise, advertise their
own calendar events, or call attention to their own data inventories. CILS
will see to it that this information is promptly made available worldwide
on the Internet.
Not only that, users are able to regularly update and modify this information
from their own workplace, anytime, using either WWW browsers or email.
A free subscription service
Users can stay up-to-date by informing CILS at what regular intervals
they would like to be automatically notified about new information added
to CILS' database. This might include anything from addresses of institutions
in Asia and the Pacific, to information about erosion projects worldwide,
or new satellite data products featuring Namibia.
Notification of the availability of subscribed information will be
sent automatically by email or-for selected users by telefax.
What equipment is needed?
For best service, preferably a World Wide Web connection and an email
address, but an email address and a telefax connection would also be adequate.
What is the technical background?
The CEOS Information Locator System is bases on WWW technology and
add-ons developed for the European Commission's Centre for Earth Observation
(CEO) project, specifically the G7 Global Environmental Information Locator
Syslern (GELOS) (http://enrm.ceo.org).
CILS features information interoperability by supporting the z39,50
protocol, and has built-in gateways to a number of CEOS information systems.
The information itself is stored in a simple structured database, The structure
can be customized according to needs and system requirements.
The various ClLS servers, installed worldwide, feature a distributed,
synchronized information exchange, If a user has opted to submit information,
it is independently copied and shared with all other CILS servers.
to be continued
on Page 7
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