GAF AG, the exclusive supplier in Europe of optical Indian Remote Sensing data from several missions, operationally provides ocean colour data from the Ocean Colour Monitor aboard the Indian Oceansat-2 in near real time to ESA.

After signing respective agreements with ESA and Antrix, the commercial arm of ISRO, GAF as the prime contractor in cooperation with DLR has upgraded the ground station in Neustrelitz to accommodate the reception of data from the Ocean Colour Monitor (OCM) aboard the Oceansat-2 Indian remote sensing (IRS) satellite. The integration and relevant tests were completed in 2015 as planned.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of signing an agreement with Antrix, the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), to receive and distribute Indian EO satellite data on an exclusive basis for European customers. As a consequence of this contract, GAF also entered into a long term cooperation and service agreement with the German Aerospace Center (DLR) regarding the provision, by the latter, of downlink capabilities at its ground station in Neustrelitz. In order to handle the archiving and distribution of the data, GAF formed the wholly-owned subsidiary Euromap and based it on the DLR campus in Neustrelitz. This has resulted in 20 years of close cooperation with DLR and an important presence at Neustrelitz, consisting of a permanent staff that currently numbers 25 scientists and technicians.

As every year the GAF booth (hall A4, E4.021) will form a central point of interest for satellite data, geo-information and associated services.

Together with our partners European Space Imaging, Planet and Verband Runder Tisch GIS (RTG - GIS Round Table Association), we are there to present you latest developments.

Main focus will be our Copernicus- and Emergency Management (24/7) services, new sensors, systems and products as well as 3D visualisation and virtual reality. Join our live-presentation with Oculus Rift glasses and you can experience, what virtual reality means in GIS!

The Copernicus Emergency Management Service (EMS) Rapid Mapping was activated by the Italian Civil Protection in order to support the rapid mapping activities in response to the earthquake that hit on 24 August 2016 in the Abruzzi region (Italy) between Gualdo (Marche Region) and Amatrice (Lazio Region).

The earthquake occurred at 03.36 (local time) with a magnitude of 6.2, and the epicentre was located near Accumoli (Lazio) in the Abruzzi region (Italy) and caused severe damages and hundreds of fatalities.

GAF AG is pleased to announce the successful implementation of the Geo-Data Information Management System (GIMS) for Sierra Leone. GIMS has now been officially launched by the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources and the National Minerals Agency (NMA). With this new information system, Sierra Leone is taking an important step towards further developing its mining sector.

Geological information is one of the cornerstones for attracting new investors to a country’s mining sector. Straightforward and easy access to geological and mineral information is a key element in promoting and developing the sector. GIMS facilitates the management, valorisation, safe storage and dissemination of geological and mineral information for the whole country.

The geo-portal has been designed and implemented by GAF and its partner Sofreco. ​

The Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining in Malawi is establishing a Geological Data Management Information System (GDMIS). GAF has been awarded a contract to design and implement the system at the Geological Survey Department (GSD) in Zomba.

Access to geological information is essential for every government, in order to assess the country’s mineral potential. It is also a cornerstone for attracting new investors to the country’s mining sector. Straightforward and comprehensive access to geological and mineral information is a key element in promoting and developing the mineral resources sector in Malawi.

GAF AG is pleased to announce the successful system extension and training of more than twenty province officers. Hence provincial administrations can manage licenses for exploration and mining of common minerals through real time on-line access to the central repository of the Computerised Mining Cadastre System (CMCS).

Weltweit besteht ein zunehmender Bedarf an Geoinformation für den Katastrophenschutz-, Umwelt- und Sicherheitsbereich. Ein Team der GAF steht im 24/7/365 Modus bereit - und kann somit unverzüglich die Auswertung von Satellitenbilddaten durchführen und Informations-produkte zur Verfügung stellen.  Damit unterstützt die GAF seit mehr als vier Jahren nationale und internationale Krisen- und Katastrophendienste.

GAF AG attended the historic UN Climate Conference COP21 in Paris and supported the European Space Agency (ESA) in organising a Side Event on 3rd December 2015. The objectives of the Side Event was to share experiences on “Supporting National Forest Monitoring with Earth Observation” in the context of the Global Forest Global Forest Observations Initiative (GFOI). The Side Event was chaired by Dr. Stephen Briggs (ESA) and the Opening Note was presented by the Hon. Greg Hunt, Australian Minister for Environment. Two Users from Malawi and Cameroon presented the following service cases which were developed by GAF within the ESA funded Project GSE FM REDD+: