• Katharina Mader, M.A.

• Programme

2008 Autumn Conference:
9.–10.10.2008, Palais Fanto, Wien
(Europäische Akademie and the European Space Policy Institute)

Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler/Vienna, 13 October 2008. – Today, satellite-based navigation systems are a permanent feature of everyday life. There are new satellite systems in the planning stage that will open up even more possibilities for earth observation, allowing for a more precise space-based sensing and detection of terrestrial structures. On the one hand, this is working to provide new potentials for a comprehensive early detection of natural or man-made risks and space-based crisis response; on the other hand, questions arise as to the quality and validity of such earth observation data and the protection of sensitive locations and institutions as well as privacy protection. Liability issues in the case of non-achievement and failure of such remote sensing security services also need to be addressed yet.

Against this backdrop, the Europäische Akademie gGmbH (Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler) in co-operation with the German Aerospace Center e.V. (Cologne) and the European Space Policy Institute (Vienna) hosted a conference on “Global Remote Sensing Systems and Security. Emergence of New Security Services?” on 9–10 October in Vienna. European experts discussed technological, societal, and legal issues arising with a view to the expectations users of satellite-based security services may have. Dr. rer. nat. Josef Aschbacher (European Space Agency, Frascati) began by presenting an overview of the wide variety of security-relevant potentials of the European initiative “Global Monitoring for Environment and Security” (GMES), ranging from the detection of natural and environmental dangers all the way to border surveillance and the verification of land use requiring authorisation. The swift provision of processed remote sensing data for crisis management while avoiding the circulation of data collected for military purposes pose a particular challenge (Dr. rer. nat. Monika Gähler, German Aerospace Center, Oberpfaffenhofen). In this context, Professor Dr. iur. Lesley Jane Smith (Riga Graduate School of Law) gave two particular reasons for the necessity of precise and accurately timed regulations: On the one hand, public remote sensing services tend to get increasingly withdrawn for the sake of commercial providers and, on the other hand, discrimination-free access to remote sensing data – for third countries also – has already been agreed upon on the international political stage. At the same time, Priv.-Doz. Dr. phil. Andreas Metzner-Szigeth called for the avoidance of such developments, which are based on security rigorism, in the light of the privacy protection rights. In this context, he demanded a critical reflection of the public and private need for security.

It became evident during the panel discussion that users expect great potentials from the provision of marine services in the near future. However, such earth observation services should be incorporated into integrated security concepts, contain preventive, non-technological elements, and be fashioned in a way acceptable to both users and society at large.

Science conference co-ordinators:

• Dr. rer. nat. Stephan Lingner
  (Europäische Akademie Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler gGmbH)

• Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Rathgeber
  (European Space Policy Institute, Vienna)

Speakers and panelists:

• Dr. rer. nat. Josef Aschbacher
  (European Space Agency, Frascati)

• Dr. rer. nat. Monika Gähler
  (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, Oberpfaffenhofen)

• Univ.-Doz. Dkfm. Dr. Lothar Beckel
  (GEOSPACE International GmbH, Salzburg)

• Dipl.-Geogr. Holger Floeting
  (Deutsches Institut für Urbanistik, Berlin)

• Priv.-Doz. Dr. phil. Andreas Metzner-Szigeth
  (Universität Münster)

• Professor Dr. iur. Lesley Jane Smith
  (Riga Graduate School of Law)

• Professor Dr. phil. Heinz Gärtner
  (Österreichisches Institut für Internationale Politik, Wien)

• Staatsrat Dr. rer. pol. Heiner Heseler
  (Senatskanzlei Bremen)

• Dipl.-Phys. Peter Knopf
  (ehem. Eidgenöss. Departement für auswärtige Angelegenheiten, Bern)

• Dipl.-Kfm. Rüdiger Koppe
  (EADS Astrium GmbH, Taufkirchen)

• Dipl.-Ing. Jürgen K. von der Lippe
  (vdl consult, Hannover)