The NextGEOSS project proposes to develop the next generation centralized hub for Earth Observation data, where users can connect to access data and deploy EO-based applications.
The University of Twente’s Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation ITC is one of the participants in the project, as one of the 27 partners from 11 countries. NextGEOSS is funded by the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme.
Accessibility of Earth Observation Data
The aim of the project is to develop the next generation of the GEOSS (Global Earth Observation System of Systems) initiative, enabling global access to earth observation data using a single search interface. The concept revolves around providing remotes sensing data and resources to user communities, together with Cloud resources, seamlessly connected to support applications.
The project will focus on encouraging and stimulating data exploitation by businesses by engaging end-users, delivering technological developments and promoting the use of GEOSS to support the creation and use of EO activities and commercial services. The project will also identify training needs to encourage wider user-engagement with Earth observation data and its commercial potential.
Demonstrative pilots
NextGEOSS includes a set of demonstration pilot activities, which will showcase the system’s capabilities, and a number of initiatives devoted to engaging GEO and other EO-related communities. The ITC Faculty works together with Alterra-Wageningen University and GEOBON in a pilot study to demonstrate how Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs), as a layer between biodiversity observation and biodiversity indicators, can be used in policy.
The pilot study will demonstrate the use of the European data hub for high resolution essential biodiversity variables generated from remote sensing for habitat monitoring, with a special emphasis on the Netherlands. Companies, government and the general public will be able to access information about the state and change in biodiversity habitat from the NextGEOSS portal. ITC staff involved in the project include Prof Andrew Skidmore, Dr Roshanak Darvishzadeh and Dr Tiejun Wang.
More information: http://nextgeoss.eu/
