Calling All Innovators: Competition Seeks Applications Leveraging Data from Space

by | May 19, 2016

T-SYSTEMS OPEN TELEKOM CLOUD CHALLENGE – Handling Big Data with Cloud Computing

Cloud service and big data from space: For the T-Systems Open Telekom Cloud Challenge these key terms are driven with enthusiasm, inventive spirit and are made tangible. As a matter of fact, cloud computing simplifies the operational use of big data, no matter what size or type of the company or organisation. Within the Copernicus Masters competition, this challenge awards the best Copernicus-related idea or service, that uses Sentinel data in combination with other data sources on Telekom’s public cloud platform. Of particular interest are solutions that offer benefits to European citizens and their public administrations, which face challenges in meeting increased demand for mobility, urban logistics, tourism, and more while simultaneously reducing negative environmental impacts.

Space-related Big Data Is Even Bigger – Cloud Computing Can Handle It
Big data from space relates to Earth observation data collected by spaceborne and ground-based sensors. Earth observation data qualifies being called ‘big data’ in regards to the sheer amount of collected data. In addition, multiple software breakthrough developments concerning multi-temporal data analysis, data management and information extraction, are driving the increasing importance of big data from space even more. However, how you extract certain information and apply it to the individual issue at hand is a key to make the best use of this data and profit from it as much as possible. Cloud computing facilitates the commercial use of big data, especially from space. The main benefits cloud computing provides are the systematic evaluation of big data, understanding the collected information and how it relates to each other as well as the near real-time analysis of the collected data. Moreover, the recent increase of free and open access initiatives to big data from space, such as the European Copernicus programme, extends the spectrum of users and offers new opportunities for entrepreneurs and inventors to develop new big data applications.

Every Entrepreneur Can Use Lucrative Sentinel Data
The recent development of big data and cloud services have rapidly changed workflows and professional environments of the industry. However, this development is also a major benefit for startups and inventors, due to the fact that technologies capable of handling huge amounts of information are not only open to institutes and large corporations exclusively anymore. Thanks to new developments in big data, cloud computing, and other digital areas, innovative entrepreneurs can rely on huge amounts of data and implement those into their business idea or service. Within this context, Sentinel satellite data serves as an incredible goldmine for all founders and innovators who use the intelligence of Earth observation data. Sentinel data refers to all kinds of information collected by Sentinels – Earth observation satellites – which as a constellation provide the European Copernicus programme with diverse and huge amounts of information. This information ranges from high resolution imagery to radar monitoring and sea-surface topography. Copernicus is the most ambitious Earth observation programme so far. It will provide accurate, up-to-date and easily accessible information to improve the management of the environment. Thereby the effects of climate change can be alleviated and civil security can be assured. The Copernicus programme is headed by the European Commission (EC) in partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA).

rasdaman Proves Success by Using Big Data from Space
The T-Systems Big Data Challenge winner 2014 elevated the profile of Science SQL and that of rasdaman itself. The evaluation of rasdaman’s idea by an expert jury endorsed its status as the leading service for integrating Earth observation data in terms of high flexibility and scalability. Now, the collaboration of rasdaman GmbH and T-Systems International GmbH focusses on big data, remote sensing, and other data service projects. This cooperation has enlarged the user portfolio of rasdaman GmbH on a huge scale.

Prof Dr Peter Baumann, Jacobs University and rasdaman GmbH, Germany comments the triumph of the Challenge: “The Copernicus Masters competition is very close to the market. As such, winning this Challenge not only makes it easier to establish relevant contacts, it boosts your industry credibility, as well.”

The Science SQL query language allows for users to ask any question at any time on multidimensional datacubes. These datacubes comprise 1D series of measurements, 2D satellite images, 3D image time series and even 4D climate data. This specification resulted from many years of experience gained while inventing and productising the next-generation big data engine: rasdaman. It was developed jointly by rasdaman GmbH and Jacobs University. Expressed in numbers, rasdaman was run on over one thousand cloud nodes and on satellite and climate databases exceeding hundreds of terabytes.

Do You Have What It Takes for the Challenge?
This year’s T-Systems Open Telekom Cloud Challenge is seeking for Copernicus-relevant solutions that provide benefits and innovation for the European citizens and industry. The best Copernicus application or service idea, which is developed during a four-week sandbox period on the public Open Telekom Cloud service will be awarded. The cloud will be able to provide satellite data, analytics tools, standard interfaces, and workflow management to assist the participants in creating new services. The winning idea should possess a certain significance regarding the use of Earth observation data for its realisation.
Submissions for the T-Systems Open Telekom Cloud Challenge are welcome until 13 June 2016.

T-Systems
T-Systems is the corporate customers unit of Deutsche Telekom. Building on a global infrastructure of data centres and networks, it operates information and communication technology (ICT) systems for multinational corporations and public sector institutions. T-Systems is pursuing its mission to shape the future of the connected business world and society by creating added value for customers, employees, and investors through innovative ICT solutions. Detailed information about T-Systems and its wide-ranging portfolio are available at www.t-systems.com.

Copernicus Masters
Earth observation and the big data it produces hold huge potential for the creation of innovative products and services. Myriad industries and areas of public interest stand to profit from the advances of the Copernicus programme. On behalf of ESA, AZO and its world-class partners launched the Copernicus Masters in 2011 as part of its mission to foster user uptake of Copernicus Services.

This international competition annually awards prizes to innovative solutions for business and society based on Earth observation data. Since its inception, the Copernicus Masters has evolved into a unique global initiative for Earth observation by bundling a wide variety of knowledge and expertise.

Now it is your turn: BECOME PART OF THE SUCCESS STORY AND SUBMIT YOUR GROUNDBREAKING IDEA FOR THE T-SYSTEMS OPEN TELEKOM CLOUD CHALLENGE UNTIL 13 JUNE

 

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