Remote Sensing in Support of the Geo-information in Europe

European policy aims, wherever possible, to safeguard and improve the citizens’ quality of life through directives and regulations. Protection of the environment is a high priority, which involves the rational usage of resources through risk assessment and threat reduction with increasingly important focus areas being food and water security. The delivery of policy requires Information Services that are based on a combination of data analysis and modelling from Earth Observation satellites as well as ground-based in-situ sensor networks. These Services need to operate in an integrated manner to provide geographically wide-area and cross border harmonized products. Remote Sensing is a key element of the Service, especially with the requirement for near real time information together with monitoring changes and supporting/testing future scenarios. An overview of European initiatives is provided, primarily enacted through the Copernicus programme, focusing on the land monitoring. It outlines both the potential and limitations of existing approaches, including existing service specifications and operational requirements.