Preparing for operational security services

The Copernicus programme's services for security applications, once operational, will significantly enhance the EU's information gathering capabilities to counter existing and new threats. The challenge is to compile a vast amount of satellite observations with in situ measurements collected from ground stations into useable information services.

The 'GMES pre-operational security services for supporting external actions' (G-NEXT) project aimed to supply geospatial intelligence and situational awareness for the European External Action Service (EEAS). Research and development (R&D) work focused on the provision of maps, infrastructure analyses and damage assessments for use in emergency situations.

G-NEXT, funded under the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), built on service components developed within the precursor G-MOSAIC project. Fifteen partners, including industrial service providers and small and medium-sized enterprises, were involved in developing time-insensitive services considered technologically mature.

From July 2013 to December 2014, the G-NEXT team delivered geospatial information to support the work of EEAS stakeholders. Interested users could communicate their needs to each service coordinator, who used this information as a basis for deriving product specifications. The final products were delivered in a timely manner.

The service coordinators collected users' feedback to measure the adequacy of the new security services in crisis management operations. By filling the gap between research-based and fully operational services, G-NEXT has made it possible to support the monitoring of politically or environmentally unstable regions and improve decision making as well as the response of authorities.