Three GMES services have been identified as first candidates for “fast track” treatment, with the objective of being operational by 2008.
This selection has been performed on the basis of the following criteria: their maturity, uptake by user communities and long term sustainability of demand and supply.
As a result, three "fast track" services have been identified:
- A service on emergency response (ERCS - Emergency Response Core Service)
- A service on land monitoring (LMCS - Land Monitoring Core Service)
- A service on marine (MCS - Marine Core Service)
For each of these, a user workshop was organised to kick-start work by identifying service requirements and implementation roadmap. After the workshops, Implementation Groups have been established with the objective to:
- Supervise and validate the implementation of the "fast track" services, in particular by organising regular progress reviews during the development period and to report on its progress to the GMES management structure;
- Help organising workshops and conferences where appropriate during the implementation period in order to improve user awareness of the "fast track" services and consolidate and enlarge their user base, with a specific emphasis on regional issues.
Emergency Response Core Service - ERCS
The Emergency Response Core Service (ERCS) has been selected with the objective to reinforce the European capacity to respond to crises and emergencies associated with natural, technological and humanitarian disasters.
ERCS focus will be on the provision of rapid mapping and assessment services.
ERCS will provide support to Civil Protection and other relief agencies authorities in the form of:
- Provision of geo-spatial database and information (in all forms and for a variety of sources including remote sensing) for region of concern;
- Assessment of events and impacts;
- Access to monitoring tools for the duration of the crisis;
- Delivery of tailored solutions and services.
The ERCS SAFER project, currently under negotiation with the European Commission, is being coordinated by Infoterra SAS, with Infoterra Ltd managing the offline mapping, in which it is planned to produce over 500 background maps. In addition, DLR will lead the rapid mapping element of the project. Many other Respond partners will also be involved as production partners.
 |
||
|
|
|