EOX implements European Space Imaging's IKONOS-2 data archive linkup to ESA's GSC-DA system

EOX has been chosen to implement the data ordering and delivery mechanisms to connect the European Space Imaging (EUSI) IKONOS-2 data archive to ESA's GMES Space Component Coordinated Data Access (GSC-DA) system. The final implementation shall allow approved users to search the EUSI catalogue, to order IKONOS-2 data sets available at EUSI and to to provide these data sets online to GMES approved users and projects (e.g Core Service, Fast-Track Services, etc.).

The European Program Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) pursues the ambitious plan to provide an up-to-date basic set of Earth Observation (EO) data to create the relevant information required by authorities in a timely fashion. This includes base cartographic maps as well as near-real-time (NRT) data in case of emergency scenarios. To achieve this striving plan the European Commission (EC ) has instructed the European Space Agency (ESA) to organize the harmonization effort to enable the online access to the required EO missions, including Third Party Missions (TPM). Therefore, ESA has designed the GMES Space Component Coordinated Data Access system (GSC-DA) to provide access to the GMES Earth Observation products and services during the pre-Sentinels era.
The linking of the European Space Imaging (EUSI) IKONOS-2 archive to the GSC-DA system shall enable the access to the Very High Resolution (VHR) datasets of the TPM IKONOS-2. Although EUSI now may only provide access to archived IKONOS-2 data, these still serve as input for VHR based information products (eg. applications related to urban areas) and as a valuable background information in the case of emergencies (before-after).