Keywords
Citation
(1998), "'One stop shop' search engine for Internet satellite fans", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 70 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.1998.12770fab.016
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 1998, MCB UP Limited
'One stop shop' search engine for Internet satellite fans
"One stop shop" search engine for Internet satellite fans
Keywords Internet, Logica, Satellite, Software
Logica, the independent IT consultancy reports that it has created the first software system the INFEO (Information about Earth Observation) search engine that allows Internet users to search easily for satellite data on the World Wide Web.
The search engine is part of the greater INFEO system developed for the European Commission's Centre for Earth Observation (CEO) Programme. It provides users looking for satellite data and services with a "one stop shop" for information from a variety of sources.
Systems in the past were often available only to select users through a specific company or organisation or, if Internet access was available, users had to know where to look and query each catalogue in turn. With Logica's search software, any Internet user can pose simple queries via the World Wide Web interface and will be routed seamlessly to relevant catalogues and services.
"One of the barriers for seekers of satellite data is knowing where to look", says CEO project manager, Peter Churchill. "A plethora of systems and services are available, but until now you had to be an expert to understand where to go."
The research, development and systems implementation for the £1 million project were managed by Logica, whose project team developed the specification for the operating protocols behind the INFEO search engine, in conjunction with the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS), an international forum comprising the world's major space agencies.
"The project has been a very exciting development for Logica and represents a real first for the space industry", says Zofia Stott, account manager in Logica's space division. "Technically, it was a very challenging project, because it had never been done before. The CEO funded Logica to carry out a demonstrator project and the lessons learned from this were transferred directly to the INFEO search programme.
"Completing the work has put us at the forefront of a significant new technology. Having spent a number of years developing the system specifications, we are delighted to deliver the first operational system", she said.
INFEO is one component of the European Commission's CEO Programme to increase the number of customers using earth observation data, but is far from limited to that arena, according to Zofia Stott.
"Any organisation or programme which holds data archives and related information in a range of heritage systems could benefit from the INFEO programme development", she said.
Further information is available from Logica. Tel: +44 (0) 171 446 1569.