The transformation of earth-system observations into information of socio-economic value in GEOSS

The Group on Earth Observations System of Systems, GEOSS, is a co-ordinated initiative by many nations to address the needs for earth-system information expressed by the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development. We discuss the role of earth-system modelling and data assimilation in transforming earth-system observations into the predictive and status-assessment products required by GEOSS, across many areas of socio-economic interest. First we review recent gains in the predictive skill of operational global earth-system models, on time-scales of days to several seasons. We then discuss recent work to develop from the global predictions a diverse set of end-user applications which can meet GEOSS requirements for information of socio-economic benefit; examples include forecasts of coastal storm surges, floods in large river basins, seasonal crop yield forecasts and seasonal lead-time alerts for malaria epidemics. We note ongoing efforts to extend operational earth-system modelling and assimilation capabilities to atmospheric composition, in support of improved services for air-quality forecasts and for treaty assessment. We next sketch likely GEOSS observational requirements in the coming decades. In concluding, we reflect on the cost of earth observations relative to the modest cost of transforming the observations into information of socio-economic value

Business Models for e-Health: Evidence from Ten Case Studies

An increasingly aging population and spiraling healthcare costs have made the search for financially viable healthcare models an imperative of this century. The careful and creative application of information technology can play a significant role in meeting that challenge. Valuable lessons can be learned from an analysis of ten innovative telemedicine and e-health initiatives. Having proven their effectiveness in addressing a variety of medical needs, they have progressed beyond small-scale implementations to become an established part of healthcare delivery systems around the world

Solving the tasks of subsurface resources management in GIS RAPID environment

Purpose. Solving the tasks of subsurface resources management based on the created GIS RAPID geoinformation technology. Methods. Close spatial relationships of lineament network characteristics and earthquake epicenters were detected in 3 seismically active areas located in the mountainous regions of Central Europe. Digital elevation models (DEM) based on ASTER satellite surveys and earthquake epicenter data were used. The nature of spatial relationship of lineament network and vein ore objects was studied in the territory of Congo DR, in the Lake Kivu area using space imagery. Gold ore objects were searched and forecasted in Uzbekistan in the site of Jamansai Mountains. High- resolution imagery from QuickBird 2 satellite, geophysical field surveys, geological and geochemical data were used. Findings. It was found that a significant number of epicenters are located in areas of high concentration of “non-standard” azimuths lineaments – from 27 to 34% of the total number of lineaments. It was revealed that 59.6% of the epicenters are located within 10% of sites with the highest values of complex deformation maps; 50% of the areas with the highest values of these maps contain, on average, 89% of all earthquake epicenters. It was found that satellite image lineament concentration maps with “non-standard” azimuths reflect the spatial relationship with known deposits much better than the concentration map of all lineaments. It was detected that the total area of gold ore objects perspective sites is about 20 km2. Originality. The use of GIS RAPID in a number of earth’s crust areas has allowed to establish new regularities linking the networks of physical field and landscape lineament characteristics with ore bodies and earthquake epicenters localization. Practical implications. A new technology has been developed for solving geological forecasting and prospecting problems. The technology can be used to solve a wide range of practical problems, especially in difficult geological conditions when searching for deep objects weakly presented in external fields and landscape.Мета. Рішення задач надрокористування на базі створеної геоінформаційної технології ГІС РАПІД. Методика. Виявлення тісних просторових взаємозв’язків різноманітних характеристик мереж лінеаментів і епіцентрів землетрусів проводилося у 3 сейсмоактивних ділянках, розташованих в гірських районах Центральної Європи. Використовувалися цифрові моделі рельєфу (DEM), побудовані за зйомками зі супутника ASTER і дані по епіцентрах землетрусів. Дослідження характеру просторового взаємозв’язку мережі лінеаментів і жильних рудних об’єктів проводилися на території Демократичної Республіки Конго, в районі озера Ківу із використанням космічних зйомок. Дослідження пошуку та прогнозу золоторудних об’єктів виконувалися в Узбекистані на ділянці Джамансайскіх гір. Використовувалися високоточні космічні зйомки зі супутника QuickBird 2, зйомки геофізичних полів, геологічні та геохімічні дані. Результати. Виявлено, що значна частина епіцентрів приурочена саме до ділянок підвищеної концентрації лінеаментів “нестандартних” азимутів, складаючи від 27 до 34% загального числа лінеаментів. Встановлено, що 59.6% епіцентрів знаходяться всередині 10% території ділянок, що володіють найвищими значеннями комплексних карт деформацій; 50% території з найвищими значеннями цих карт вміщають, в середньому, 89% усіх епіцентрів землетрусів. Визначено, що карти концентрації лінеаментів космознімків з “нестанартними” азимутами значно краще відображають просторовий взаємозв’язок з відомими родовищами у порівнянні з картою концентрації всіх лінеаментів. Встановлено, що сумарна площа перспективних ділянок золоторудних об’єктів склала близько 20 км2. Наукова новизна. Застосування ГІС РАПІД на ряді ділянок земної кори дозволило встановити нові закономірності, що зв’язують характеристики мережі лінеаментів фізичних полів і ландшафту з локалізацією рудних тіл та епіцентрів землетрусів. Практична значимість. Розроблено нову технологію рішення прогнозних і пошукових геологічних завдань, яка може застосовуватися для вирішення широкого кола практичних задач, особливо у складних геологічних умовах при пошуках глибокозалягаючих об’єктів, що слабо виявляються в зовнішніх полях і ландшафті.Цель. Решения задач недропользования на базе созданной геоинформационной технологии ГИС РАПИД. Методика. Выявление тесных пространственных взаимосвязей разнообразных характеристик сетей линеаментов и эпицентров землетрясений проводилось в 3 сейсмоактивных участках, расположенных в горных районах Центральной Европы. Использовались цифровые модели рельефа (DEM), построенные по съемкам со спутника ASTER, и данные об эпицентрах землетрясений. Исследования характера пространственной взаимосвязи сети линеаментов и жильных рудных объектов проводились на территории Демократической Республики Конго, в районе озера Киву с использованием космических съемок. Исследования поиска и прогноза золоторудных объектов выполнялись в Узбекистане на участке Джамансайских гор. Использовались высокоточные космические съемки со спутника QuickBird 2, съемки геофизических полей, геологические и геохимические данные. Результаты. Выявлено, что значительная часть эпицентров приурочена именно к участкам повышенной концентрации линеаментов “нестандартных” азимутов, составляя от 27 до 34% общего числа линеаментов. Установлено, что 59.6% эпицентров находятся внутри 10% территории участков, обладающих наивысшими значениями комплексных карт деформаций; 50% территории с наивысшими значениями этих карт вмещают, в среднем, 89% всех эпицентров землетрясений. Определено, что карты концентрации линеаментов космоснимков с “нестанартными” азимутами значительно лучше отражают пространственную взаимосвязь с известными месторождениями по сравнению с картой концентрации всех линеаментов. Установлено, что суммарная площадь перспективных участков золоторудных объектов составила около 20 км2. Научная новизна. Применение ГИС РАПИД на ряде участков земной коры позволило установить новые закономерности, связывающие характеристики сети линеаментов физических полей и ландшафта с локализацией рудных тел и эпицентров землетрясений. Практическая значимость. Разработана новая технология решения прогнозных и поисковых геологических задач, которая может применяться для решения широкого круга практических задач, особенно в сложных геологических условиях при поисках глубокозалегающих объектов, слабо проявляющихся во внешних полях и ландшафте.The work is performed as a part of planned research of the geoinformation systems department of the Dnipro University of Technology. The results are obtained without any financial support of grants and research projects. The authors express appreciation to reviewers and editors for their valuable comments, recommendations, and attention to the work

Satellite sound broadcasting system study: Mobile considerations

Discussed here is the mobile reception part of a study to investigate a satellite sound broadcast system in the UHF or L bands. Existing propagation and reception measurements are used with proper interpretation to evaluate the signaling, coding, and diversity alternatives suitable for the system. Signal attenuation in streets shadowed by buildings appear to be around 29 db, considerably higher than the 10 db adopted by CCIR. With the marriage of proper technologies, an LMSS class satellite can provide substantial direct satellite audio broadcast capability in UHF or L bands for high quality mobile and portable indoor reception by low cost radio receivers. This scheme requires terrestrial repeaters for satisfactory mobile reception in urban areas. A specialized bandwidth efficient spread spectrum signalling technique is particularly suitable for the terrestrial repeaters

Weather and Climate Information for Tourism

The tourism sector is one of the largest and fastest growing global industries and is a significant contributor to national and local economies around the world. The interface between climate and tourism is multifaceted and complex, as climate represents both a vital resource to be exploited and an important limiting factor that poses risks to be managed by the tourism industry and tourists alike. All tourism destinations and operators are climate-sensitive to a degree and climate is a key influence on travel planning and the travel experience. This chapter provides a synopsis of the capacities and needs for climate services in the tourism sector, including current and emerging applications of climate services by diverse tourism end-users, and a discussion of key knowledge gaps, research and capacity-building needs and partnerships that are required to accelerate the application of climate information to manage risks to climate variability and facilitate successful adaptation to climate change

Weather and Climate Information for Tourism

The tourism sector is one of the largest and fastest growing global industries and is a significant contributor to national and local economies around the world. The interface between climate and tourism is multifaceted and complex, as climate represents both a vital resource to be exploited and an important limiting factor that poses risks to be managed by the tourism industry and tourists alike. All tourism destinations and operators are climate-sensitive to a degree and climate is a key influence on travel planning and the travel experience. This chapter provides a synopsis of the capacities and needs for climate services in the tourism sector, including current and emerging applications of climate services by diverse tourism end-users, and a discussion of key knowledge gaps, research and capacity-building needs and partnerships that are required to accelerate the application of climate information to manage risks to climate variability and facilitate successful adaptation to climate change

Weather and Climate Information for Tourism

The tourism sector is one of the largest and fastest growing global industries and is a significant contributor to national and local economies around the world. The interface between climate and tourism is multifaceted and complex, as climate represents both a vital resource to be exploited and an important limiting factor that poses risks to be managed by the tourism industry and tourists alike. All tourism destinations and operators are climate-sensitive to a degree and climate is a key influence on travel planning and the travel experience. This chapter provides a synopsis of the capacities and needs for climate services in the tourism sector, including current and emerging applications of climate services by diverse tourism end-users, and a discussion of key knowledge gaps, research and capacity-building needs and partnerships that are required to accelerate the application of climate information to manage risks to climate variability and facilitate successful adaptation to climate change

STR: a student developed star tracker for the ESA-LED ESMO moon mission

In the frame of their engineering degree, ISAE’s students are developing a Star Tracker, with the aim of being the core attitude estimation equipment of the European Moon Student Orbiter. This development goes on since several years and is currently in phase B. We intend to start building an integrated breadboard for the end of the academic year. The STR is composed of several sub-systems: the optical and detection sub-system, the electronics, the mechanics and the software. The optical detection part is based on an in-house developed new generation of APS detectors. The optical train is made of several lenses enclosed in a titanium tube. The electronics includes a FPGA for the pre-processing of the image and a microcontroller in order to manage the high level functions of the instrument. The mechanical part includes the electronics box, as well as the sensor baffle. The design is optimized to minimize the thermo-elastic noise of the assembly. Embedded on ESMO platform, this Star Tracker will be able to compute the satellite‘s attitude, taking into account the specific requirements linked to a Moon mission (illumination, radiation requirements and baffle adaptation to lunar orbit). In order to validate the design, software end-to-end simulation will include a complete simulation of the STR in its lunar dynamic environment. Therefore, we are developing a simple orbital model for the mission (including potential dazzling by celestial bodies)