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Data Manager Software

Once a local ground receiving station has been installed and configured, the satellite and environmental data that is (re-) broadcasted via communication satellites can be received and stored on a storage device (server). Since the data is continuously received through GEONETCast, the “GEONETCast Data Manager” data management system has been developed to manage the data streams. It can be easily configured using a simple ascii text file.

Unzip the file and execute the DataManager.jar file (this requires JAVA). Download the GEONETCast Data Manager user manual and installation guide.

Configuration

The Data Manager software uses ascii configuration files. Download sample configuration files that can be used to move data stream files that are received at the ground station to a storage device here.

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As of January 19, 2013, EUMETSAT started to operationally disseminate images and derived products from MSG-3. Due to the use of this new operational satellite, the file name conventions have changed. A new data manager configuration file has been created in which entries to MSG2 have been changed to MSG?

In April 2013 (see EUMETSAT), MSG2 (used to be MSG1 – METEOSAT-8) will take over the Rapid Scanning Service (RSS). – Further updates on this service will follow if this modification has consequences.

Reception Stations

The data contained in GEONETCast is delivered via communication satellites. For Africa, the EUTELSAT 5 (situated at 5 degrees west) has been selected to disseminate the services. A low cost ground reception infrastructure, basically a C-band parabolic antenna with LNB, pointed to the EUTELSAT 5 and connected to a computer containing a digital video broadcasting (DVB) board, enables one to receive and store the data locally. The DVB board in the system ensures that the data is captured and stored.

Currently the GEONETCast data stream is a one way system, therfore only reception is possible. This is a continuous data stream. Data is broadcasted on a 24 hour – 7 days basis. Non operation of a ground receiving system results in a data gap, as data is broadcasted only once.

Pointing Antennas for GEONETCast reception

GEONETCast is currently disseminating images derived from various geostationary and polar orbiting sensors/platforms, as well as, derived products. As the dissemination system started, it provided the European and African national meteorological centres with relevant and timely information mainly focussing on meteorological applications. Currently, the system is rapidly expanding and is disseminating environmental data from various third party data providers as well. The Group on Earth Observation (GEO) sees the system as the data delivery backbone to provide in-situ, airborne and space borne data as part of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) to the user community. Further details on the images and products the so called “Product Navigator” can be consulted, are available at EUMETSAT.

A single reception station can potentially receive all the data being transmitted from one communications satellite independent of the data provider. A typical reception station comprises a standard PC with DVB card inserted and a satellite off-set antenna fitted with a digital universal V/H LNB for Ku-band, or fitted with a circular polarisation feedhorn, bandpass filter and special LNB for C-band. To decode and decrypt the DVB signal, e.g. for GEONETCast, EUMETCast, Client Software and in some instances, EUMETCast Key Unit (EKU) are also required.

The cost of reception stations is kept to a minimum by utilising industry open standards to the maximum extent possible thus resulting in an adaptable front-end solution to users’ applications.

In addition to the front-end equipment, data processing software will be required. These software applications are provided as free and open source utilities here. Links to other providers can be obtained from EUMETSAT.

Note that from the second half of 2014, the EUMETCast Europe service migrated from DVB-S to DVB-S2. Latest developments are provided by EUMETSAT.

Metadata

Creating new approaches and tools for the creation and maintenance of metadata

Metadata is an essential means for providing access to spatial data and spatial information services. Accordingly metadata is one of the main building blocks of Spatial Data Infrastructures. Today the standards from ISO and OGC represent the state of the art in metadata management. But both requirements and technologies are evolving continuously.

The Metadata Management Community aims at evaluating new techniques for collecting, managing and retrieving metadata as to advance the existing methods and tools.

Software

smartEditor – a web based editor to easily create and update ISO19115/19119 metadata documents on geospatial data sets, services, series and applications and many more resources.
GeoMetaFacet: a web client to explore and visualize geodata. It focuses on a user-friendly and interactive navigation through the metadata and allows the user to quickly get an overview of available data.
GEO label : an interactive visual summary of geospatial metadata to facilitate search and discovery use cases. It is a graphical representation which comprises 8 informational facets: producer profile, lineage information, producer comments, compliance with standards, quality information, user feedback, expert reviews, and citations information. Each informational facet can have an availability states: available, not available, available only at a higher level. This information is encoded with symbols and colours for easy comprehensibility and repeated recognition.

Security

Enabling business and access control processes for geospatial services and spatial data infrastructures

We develop concepts and ready-to-use software, as well as prototype implementations to enable interoperable business and access control processes for geospatial services and spatial data infrastructures. In addition, we participate in standardization organizations of the geo-domain and leverage the use of standards by providing a platform for knowledge transfer and early adopter’s implementations.