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From the
Publisher
By Roland Mangold
Is Europe Developing an Earth Observation Industrial Policy?
Europe has a diversity of opinions on Earth observation data policy in
part because of the differing national objectives of its member states.
The different approaches to Earth observation data policy often originate
with the lead department for Earth observation within national governments,
and opinions are often divided and are poorly developed from the user
side.
In order to address the myriad unresolved
issues related to the European Earth observation industry, the European
Commission sponsored a project under Framework IV entitled Earth Observation
Data Policy and Europe (EOPOLE). The two primary objectives of the EOPOLE
project are: To review and coordinate relevant European national research
in Earth observation data policy with a strong user perspective. And,
to identify and recommend improvements to Earth observation data policy
with a distinctly European perspective in order to provide better conditions
for the expansion of the Earth observation sector.
The final report of EOPOLE was completed
last fall and can be found at www.geog.ucl.ac.uk/eopole,
it stated, "Europe has strategic objectives in supporting Earth observation,
including the contribution made by Earth observation to environmental
security, defense security and independence. There is a case for European
funding to be used to contribute positively to these broader European
strategic objectives. Because of the prospective and increasing economic,
social and public benefits of Earth observation, the sector is a likely
and logical element of the Internal Market being developed further in
the context of the European Union. Involvement of the European Union,
and more specifically of the European Community legal order, is justified
because it enhances the competitiveness of European Earth observation
and related industries in global markets."
"The market for Earth observation data
and products is relatively small, fragmented, immature and complex. A
report produced by ESYS for the European Commission showed that the European
market for Earth observation data, products and services in 1998 was 207
million euros. A recent report by Merrill Lynch has forecast the growth
of the Earth observation market to US$6.5 billion by 2007, mainly based
on the introduction of very high resolution (VHR) data. Increasing the
size of this immature market is still the key to developing Earth observation
into a sustainable sector, where 'sustainable' in this context means funding
by customers and users rather than sponsors," EOPOLE reports.
Europeans, as well as North Americans,
who are involved in, or considering involvement in, Earth observation
are racking their collective and individual consciousness to figure out
how they are going to get a piece of the famous, albeit mythical Merrill
Lynch Earth Observation market figures.
EOPOLE provides some insight to Europe's
Earth Observation aspirations, "Europe at large has strategic objectives
in supporting Earth observation, including the contribution made by Earth
observation to environmental security, technology security and independence.
There is a case for the European Commission Structural Funds to be used
to contribute positively to these broader European strategic objectives
by a rebalancing of government funding. At present in Europe funding for
Earth observation is provided by governments largely for the building
and operation of Earth observation satellites. An alternative model is
to provide funds to local and regional users, in this case via the European
Structural Fund, or via support to global scale environmental monitoring,
who then buy Earth observation data, products and services and so assist
the growth and maturity of the Earth observation market, including the
construction of satellites."
Europe has a huge vested interest in Earth
observation, not limited to the reasons laid out herein, and not the least
of which is good old fashioned greed. For the last three or four centuries,
Europe has led the charge in global economic development (it used to be
called imperialism) and you can count on some European consortiums playing
very major roles on the global Earth observation stage.
Sometimes we can get a little myopic in
our perspective, but the USA is by no means alone in this industry. And,
where the US Government avoids getting embroiled in industrial policy,
Europe takes a much more long-term, strategic approach to these types
of issues. As opposed to the U.S.'s haphazard, shortsighted, reactive,
proprietary, idiosyncratic, government bureaucratic and corporate empire-building
approach. Hey, it may not be perfect, but it's the best system in the
world. US remote sensing and GIS companies are world leaders in technology
and market presence. But, we need to be vigilant of others lurking out
there creating industrial policy to take advantage of the opportunities
being presented in this industry. I just hope our approach allows us to
maintain our competitiveness.
Until next time . .
Cheers!
Roland Mangold
Publisher, Earth Observation Magazine
E-mail: [email protected]
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