3rd ERS Symposium

Florence

18 - 21 March 1997

Spot Image experience in the commercial distribution of ERS products, and perspectives for the future

Abstract

LF. GUERRE

Spot Image is a member of the ERS Consortium appointed by the European Space Agency (ESA) to insure the commercial distribution of the ERS products. Spot Image started the distribution of ERS products in 1992 and has acquired a significant experience in the knowledge of the market and use of ERS data. This knowledge comes directly from the contact with customers from a great variety of countries but also from other activities related to the development of the market and applications of SAR imagery. We will present a description of the current market for ERS products following 4 years of commercial activities on SAR products, as well as an overview of the trends and perspectives of this market as perceived by Spot Image.

The first years of commercial distribution of ERS products were characterised by an important use of ERS data to develop applications using ERS SAR data. and all types of applications were concerned, with a more important use for mapping and interferometric applications. Commercial users have started to use ERS products for operational activities such as oil exploration. More and more ERS products are now being used for the mapping in frequently cloudy areas.

Through market surveys conducted by Spot Image, other applications using ERS products will use more extensively ERS data. However, important market development efforts still to be done to extend the use of ERS products which include also an evolution of the ERS products and services to better serve user requirements.

Keywords: ESA European Space Agency - Agence spatiale europeenne, observation de la terre, earth observation, satellite remote sensing, teledetection, geophysique, altimetrie, radar, chimique atmospherique, geophysics, altimetry, radar, atmospheric chemistry