European Space Imaging Awarded EU Satellite Service Supply Contract

European Space Imaging GmbH has signed a multi-year framework supply contract with the European Commission for the provision of very high-resolution (VHR) satellite data and associated services in support of the European Union’s (EU) Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

Agricultural landscape imaged by WorldView-3 satellite. Courtesy of EUSI.

This third exclusive framework agreement between the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) and European Space Imaging covers imagery from the most advanced fleet of VHR satellites and grants the JRC and the EU member states access to imagery of the highest spatial and spectral resolution currently commercially available. The contract has an estimated total value of €38 million ($40 million) over a period of up to four years and will be carried out by European Space Imaging, its technology partner GAF AG and in close cooperation with the satellite operators DigitalGlobe and SI Imaging Services.

European Space Imaging will be responsible for providing satellite imagery and associated services directly to the
EU Member States for the Control with Remote Sensing (CWRS) and Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) quality assessment of the CAP. The company will be managing all activities from satellite acquisition planning through to the final imagery delivery, including liaison with all stakeholders involved on EU and national levels.

European Space Imaging has been the most reliable VHR imagery supplier to the European Commission in the CWRS program and has delivered the bulk of the data for a yearly increasing number of control sites since the VHR program’s inception in 2004. The company operates its own satellite ground station with direct access to the leading constellation of five VHR satellites.

Since 1993, the European Commission has promoted the use of CWRS as a system to control agricultural subsidies granted under the EC’s Common Agricultural Policy.

“Our efficiency and set-up allows us to support large and complex European programs such as CWRS,” said Adrian Zevenbergen, managing director of European Space Imaging. “I want to thank our specialized teams and dedicated partners for their great achievement. We keep expanding our capacities to continue offering the best quality and service in the market. Again, in 2017, our company will make a multi-million Euro investment in improving our ground infrastructure technology and hiring additional staff.”

European Satellite Imaging provides high-resolution satellite data and imagery solutions for diverse project requirements.