T-Systems Partners with the International Charter to Enhance Disaster Response with Advanced IT
The International Charter: Space and Major Disasters is starting a collaboration with T-Systems, a leading provider of IT services including EO based advanced IT. As the prime contractor for the Data Space Ecosystem of the Copernicus program of the European Union (CDSE) T-Systems has experience delivering processing resources which are well suited for exploiting satellite imagery.
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What This Partnership Means for Disaster Relief
The Charter Mapper is a rapid mapping system providing seamless access to data collections from a virtual constellation with 270+ satellites. This large and diverse source of imagery is what the 17 members of the International Charter, and other data contributors working them, provide with the EO missions they operate. The Charter Mapper provides EO services and tools designed to help rapid mapping specialists involved with emergency response and using the EO data from the virtual constellation. The Mapper allows users to visualize and analyze imagery to support damage assessment for various hazard types like for instance hurricanes, floods and wildfires, providing end users with the insights needed to coordinate effective relief efforts.
The Charter Mapper is a Cloud processing environment operated by Terradue, who are now collaborating with T-Systems. The contribution from T-Systems concerns the IT resources to support EO data visualization and processing for the totality of Charter operations on a 24/7 basis. Beyond access and use of Charter data, one of the key advantages of this partnership is the seamless integration of data from the Sentinel missions from the European Union’s Copernicus program. Copernicus is a global Earth Observation initiative that uses a series of satellites to monitor the environment. These satellites contribute to emergency response through capabilities like the Charter as well as the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (EMS). Through the CDSE, the services from T-Systems include co-located access to data and processing power, an efficient way to deliver on-line geoinformation solutions.
A Secure and Scalable Cloud Platform
A major component of this collaboration is the Open Telekom Cloud (OTC), a European-based cloud service developed by T-Systems. A cloud service is a secure, remote processing and storage system that allows organizations to process, store and access large amounts of data over the internet in a provider managed data center instead of relying on dedicated physical storage devices.
The OTC is designed to handle large-scale Earth observation data, offering high-performance computing and advanced storage options. This means that disaster response teams can process and analyze large amounts of satellite data in real time, even in critical time-sensitive situations. With OTC, the International Charter has a secure platform to access and store crucial data, without worrying about security breaches or data privacy issues.
Making Disaster Response More Accessible
In addition to providing the technology infrastructure, T-Systems supports the International Charter by offering cloud resource vouchers for use on the Open Telekom Cloud, contributing to maintaining sustainable operations. Furthermore, data downloads from the cloud are free of charge, allowing users to retrieve critical information at no additional cost. One of the key features of the OTC in the context of the International Charter is its Cold Object Storage. This storage solution is a cost-effective way to store data that isn't needed immediately but may be important in the future. In disaster response, this could mean storing satellite images from past disasters that could offer valuable lessons or provide insights for ongoing crises. Cold Object Storage makes it cheaper to keep this data safe and available for as long as necessary, ensuring the Charter can keep large volumes of Earth observation data accessible, even after the emergency has passed.
Helping the World Respond to Disasters
This new collaboration represents a significant step forward in the Charter's ability to respond quickly and effectively to disasters. With the support of T-Systems, the International Charter will be well equipped to access, store, and process the satellite images delivered from the ever-expanding Charter virtual constellation, helping decision-makers at every level better understand the situation on the ground and coordinate better relief efforts.
T-Systems is committed to supporting global disaster response efforts, and this partnership is just one example of how technology can make a real difference in saving lives and reducing the impact of natural disasters. By providing the infrastructure, tools, and resources needed for efficient data management, T-Systems helps to ensure that those involved in disaster relief can focus on what really matters – helping those in need.
This collaboration also demonstrates the power of satellite technology in today’s world, where rapid response is crucial, and data plays an essential role in guiding relief efforts. Through the continued partnership between T-Systems and the International Charter, the disaster risk reduction community can look forward to a more effective and coordinated approach to disaster management in the future.