This fall will see the release of a new European action plan on space — one that will guide the use of satellite imagery in land-use planning and climate change research. But will scientists embrace the new technology? — By Jerome Simpson   Photo: HADLEY KINCADE SPACEMAN: Gyorgy Buttner of the Hungarian Institute of Geodesy, Cartography and Remote Sensing uses satellites to measure the scope of human impact on nature. One place offers the perfect conditions to enhance our understanding of the earth and to monitor and maintain this unique and fragile ecosystem for future generations -- space. Countless possibilities rise from space technology, such as collecting data on greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, observing land cover changes and monitoring pollution and legal compliance. The European Commission (EC)and European Space Agency (ESA)have recognised the opportunities to use space for the good of the environment. During 2003 they devoted considerable resources to drafting a framework European Space Policy in consultation with the public. It noted three important reasons to be in space:science of space, science in space, and science from space -- placing observatories in earth orbit to study the earth, its climate, atmosphere and so on. A resulting white paper or action plan is due this autumn. Within that document a Global Monitoring for Environment and Security strategy is likely to appear, encouraging a range of coherent solutions for applying space technology to support sustainable development by 2008. According to the Remote Sensing Task Force of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), remotely sensed data offers considerable potential, value and benefits to environmental protection efforts in Europe. It enhances state of the environment reporting by complementing existing ground, and airborne-based data by providing unique time series information showing spatial and physical changes; data on trans-boundary issues; and in selected cases, an affordable and timely alternative to in situ assessments. Remote sensing supports the monitoring of legal compliance and supports the monitoring of progress in the implementation of policy targets. It also enhances the information base of the policy planning process, and quality of resulting decisions made for environmental protection. One organisation closer to home that has long recognised the importance of earth observation is the Hungarian Institute of Geodesy, Cartography and Remote Sensing (FOMI), established in 1967. As a key partner within the European Environment Agency's Topic Centre on the Terrestrial Environment, it has been coordinating the technical update of the Corine Land Cover inventory (CLC 2000) which encompasses the EU and the 10 accession countries. CLC 2000 is a database that provides qualitative and quantitative geo-referenced environmental data on land cover at a scale of 1:100,000. This means layers of environmental information are loaded into a geographic information system database enabling the user to look at key state of the environment facts and figures in a map format. CLC 2000 sets out to provide Europe's policymakers with consistent and comparable information across the continent for the sake of performing integrated environmental assessment. It is based on satellite imagery obtained chiefly from the French Space Agency's SPOT 4 satellite. Vital data "This new data is vital for indicating changes over time with respect to soil quality/erosion, urban developments and environmental pressures," noted Gyorgy Buttner, Head of the Department of Remote Sensing Application in Environment at FOMI. As part of this update, FOMI has been sharing its know-how through training national teams in places like Germany, the UK and Latvia, verifying data sets, and overseeing the integration and validation of the European database. Besides CLC 2000, FOMI has also pioneered the development of a more detailed Hungarian "CLC50" database. It combines more accurate and up-to-date data based on high resolution imagery - where areas as small as four hectares (40,000 square metres) are visible onscreen, or even one hectare (10,000 sq m) for lakes. Considerable information acquired from both SPOT 4 and NASA's LANDSAT 7 satellites, is available for the whole country. The map covers settlements, mines, dumpsites, agricultural areas, forests, wetlands and more. The data sets have various uses, for instance supporting the development of sustainable land use plans, integrated landuse management in conservation areas, creation of a network of environmentally sensitive areas, implementation of the habitats directive and rural development. The driving force for the system's development has been the application of the European Union's acquis communautaire and the need for territorial integration. So besides those users at the Ministry of Environment, interest is now growing in using the database among other ministries, academia and the private sector. It is also being made available to inspectorates, nature protection authorities and local governments. However, a few challenges hinder wide acceptance of the satellite data set. One is the limited awareness and appreciation for the potential uses of such data, especially when the spatial data scale is different to that traditionally used, for instance with regard to local habitat monitoring. One can also cite a resistance to new technologies in the public sector, along with a lack of trained staff, which is often related to low salaries. The high cost of current imagery, image processing software and equipment present hurdles, as does the lack of tried and tested methodologies for using such data for urban planning, the monitoring of environmental pressures such as industrial waste emissions, or for assessing legal compliance. This typically results in sporadic use and the fragmentation of data sets and sources and a lack of harmonisation between those sets at different geographical scales. The infrequency of repeat image data, and the delays encountered in acquiring imagery are also commonly cited as obstacles, not only in Hungary but as far west as in the United States, according to a report on Remote Sensing Data Use by Civilian Fed- eral Agencies, published by the Congressional Research Service. Involving inspectors The secret to success in Hungary was to involve nature protection directorates and agricultural inspectorates in the quality control of land cover data, Buttner explained. This relied on their field knowledge and access to local data to verify satellite images. Handling of the data was not yet common to the offices, therefore hard copy image sheets were provided and transparencies with corrections and comments were collected. This process subsequently not only increased the quality of the database, but raised awareness and understanding of its contents and value. Measures are afoot elsewhere to address the above challenges, including the EU's INSPIRE initiative. INSPIRE stands for Infrastructure for Spatial Information in Europe, which aims to set standards for the use of relevant, harmonised and high-quality geographic information to support EU environmental policy development and implementation with a territorial dimension or impact -- such as the Water Framework Directive. This initiative is expected to result in framework and daughter legislation. Other international organisations such as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, UNEP-GRID, and the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River have already begun promoting the benefits of remotely sensed data. The secret is to bring these efforts closer to those of the EU and in particular the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security initiative. One proposal has already been made in relation to the initiative. Its partners include leading international organisations such as the UNECE, the REC, the European Community's Joint Research Centre, the European Environment Agency, and the United Nations Environment Programme. This sets out to introduce the use of remote sensing data by collecting and updating baseline datasets in areas of critical environmental concern in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia according to key indicators of the European Environment Agency. If accepted, it should help to build capacity, exchange experience, address obstacles and foster networking. A set of guidelines and demonstration of best practice will then enable many more environment agencies and administrations to integrate earth observation data into their daily work, thereby contributing to improved state of the environment reporting and policy-making.

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