Guest GMES ERS toolbox

ERCS products

The following paragraphs show examples of the three main categories of emergency response service products:

• Reference Maps,

• Assessment Maps

• Thematic Maps

Reference maps

Reference maps are maps, derived from pre-existing satellite data, containing basic cartographic information. They may also include information about population (location and density), urban and rural habitat, economic assets, main infrastructures (dam, bridges, industrial plants, airports, bus and railway stations, hospitals, stadiums, refugee camps,…), networks (roads, railways, power and water, etc.). Different levels of products can be available, from standard cartographic products to more complex “assets mapping” products such as population maps The products can be used in a geo-information system (GIS) and may be combined with digital elevation model (DEM) data The scales vary from the overview scale (typically 1:100.000) to the tactical one (1:25.000). Reference maps will be produced routinely for potential crisis “hot spot” areas with the objective being to have an online database available of reference maps that can be delivered within 6 hours of a user request. The reference maps will be updated as necessary based on current information Where reference maps are not available in the data base, they will be produced if possible within 24 hours

Assessment maps

Assessment maps are based on data acquired during/after a crisis, and aim to provide an assessment of crisis damage, and/or the evolution of the situation. They provide information about the event timing, location, extent, level of hazard and damage. The scales vary from detailed tactical (1:10,000- 1:25,000) to overview (1:50000- 100,000). Assessment maps would be provided “on-demand”, together with the required Reference maps. Assessment maps are expected to be delivered within 24 hours from data request in rush mode (rapid assessment maps), and then over the days or possibly weeks of the crisis duration to monitor its evolution.

Thematic maps

Beyond the reference and assessment maps, which are the “minimum” information contenttargeted for the ERCS, the term “thematic map”designates a large diversity of possible supplementaryproducts and information services,which provide enriched information content.

A set of future “thematic maps” of ERCS have been selected based on the results of previous and on-going pre-cursor projects, developing satellite basedEmergency Response Services both within Europeand outside of Europe.(RISKEOS, RESPOND,TERRAFI RMA, PREVI EW). These informationproducts will be further developed according touser requirements, delivered in pilot areas, andqualified, with the objective of integrating theminto the operational ERCS service in 2011.The further development, qualification and integrationof these products operationally into theERCS is dependent upon a strict qualification procedure undertaken within SAFER in close cooperation with users.

National and End User Focal Point in ERS

The User Focal Point is the contact point in each country and in the EC services establishing the user needs and requirements of the civil protection community and EC services.
During the initial project phase all User Focal Points will be supported in identifying, whenever needed, their capacity to:
• convey information/mapping orders (area of interest, product type, constraints, maximum delivery times, tolerances, etc...)
• browse map/product catalogues
• express alternative information/mapping needs
• take responsibility for delivered map and information products, by integrating them in the operational disaster/crisis response workflows at European or  national level of the first and second line responders at strategic, tactical and operational levels.
The User Focal Point should as well facilitate the local organisation of training sessions offered by the Commission and the service providers to the user community.
You are hereby kindly invited to join this initiative and benefit from the ERCS development of free-of-charge products and services! It will be a challenge and a great opportunity to cooperate with all partners and other users involved in the realisation of a future operational satellite and airborne Emergency Response Core Service across Europe.

 Procedures and techniques for requesting and retrieving data

 Whilst the ERCS products are requested and delivered to Users via the ERCS “Gateway”, linkER will develop a set of customised applications/tools that will aid the User Focal Point in accessing the ERCS, and utilisation of products within the user community workflows and practices.
A set of functions devoted to the specific utilisation of standard ERCS products into the operational environments of each specific user community will be developed. From past experiences, the limitations in the use of ERCS products in real life situations are generally related to data formats, the possibility of using local projections, language constraints, etc. The main function of linkER application/toolbox is exactly to overcome such limitations with a state of the art technological solution fully integrated in each User Focal Points current working environment.

This is illustrated in the diagram above, where the red dotted box represents the user Focal Point.

As previously mentioned the User Focal point is currently envisaged to be responsible for receiving a request from authorised members of its own user community, translation of that request into a standard ERCS request submitted via the “Gateway”, receipt of ERCS products via the Gateway and to disseminate customised products tailored for their user community to their user community.( e.g. products translated into a specific GIS format, local map projection and in the local language etc.).

Interactions between ERCS and user Focal Points

During the overall period of the ERCS implementation (from 2009 to 2011) interaction with the National and EC Focal Points will be a key element for the successfull implementation and operational use of ERCS products in user systems and practices for the maximum benefit for users.

Such interactions are essential to collect the necessary information about operational workflows in each National and EC FP to ensure the most effective
use of ERCS products in these workflows.

A number of types of interaction and information exchange practices are envisaged in order to adequately prepare National and EC Focal Points to access and exploit ERCS products to their full potential. It is envisaged that User Focal Point’s will be engaged during the next three years in the following
ways:
• Face-to-face meetings: organised at the start of the process in order to gather knowledge on each National and EC Focal Point’s specific working  environment and gather the specific user Focal Point requirements in order to design the linkER application/toolbox. Visits will be replicated, if necessary, when installing and testing the application.
• Workshops: organised throughout the implementation period of the ERCS. Small group workshops are intended to stimulate the circulation of best practices in the operational use of ERCS products in real life situations among Users.
• Training sessions: centrally as well as regionally organised throughout the implementation period of the ERCS. Training will be given on the ERCS products , how to access them and use them within the user workflows. Information and feedback gathered from these sessions on potential product improvements or enhancements will be fed back to the ERCS Focal point and ERCS Service Providers .
• Exercises: organised at a mature stage of the implementation period, utilising both real and simulated emergencies. These exercises will cover different thematic domains (e.g floods, earthquakes, volcanoes, etc.) and will be used as test beds for the verification of the overall ERCS, from the data request to the final integration of products in the user’s decision system.
• Web tools: Wikis, blogs, FAQs, etc. will be made available in order to facilitate autonomous and easy access to relevant information and to speed up common problem solving.
For the development of the linkER application each user focal Point will assigned an specific contact point to facilitate information flow. Every event will be carefully prepared in advance in order to be maximise the time spent as effective as possible to achieve the maximum benefit for Users.

For a complete reference on GMES Emergency Response Services, please refer to the brochure