European Geomatics Centre

Agriculture, Organic, Sustainable & Precision Farming

In Europe, the importance of food quality is growing from day to day. Common recurrent themes discussed include the movement of agriculture (specifically the growth of the field of organic agriculture), sustainable farming, and precision farming. In the Gers these concepts are present and quite important.

It has recently come to the attention of European citizens that sustainable farming and organic agriculture promote not only individual health and well-being but as well as environmental longevity. Sustainability preaches the importance of meeting today's needs without compromising the needs of future generations.

Meanwhile, a concept strongly associated to sustainable farming, and actively pursued in Gers, is precision farming. In the department, the European Geomatics Centre (EGC) of Gers plays a large role in the advancement of the field of Geomatics. And one thing precision farming greatly relies on is this new technology. With the help of global positioning systems (GPS), sensors, satellites, and aerial images, farmers are able to improve agronomically, technically, environmentally, and economically.

Projects the EGC of Gers has/is participating in that follow this research theme include:

(For more information on each project and its advancements in this research theme click on the project name)

Geomatics& Viticulture

One field of application for the science of Geomatics is in the industry of viticulture. Currently, the demand for new Geomatic technologies is steeply growing due in part to new competition and new markets yet to be conquered. Geomatics can be applied from the initial stages of grape growing all the way to distribution of bottles. "Information management systems using geo-coded data and computational intelligence on-site in the vineyards has intensified in order to gain a more complete understanding of regional factors and influences on production" (Shanmuganathan, Sallis, Pavesi, and Muñoz).

Recently the EGC of Gers has become involved in the research and development concerning this field. As a producer of wine, the department of Gers is very curious as to what influences future developments in Geomatics will have on their crops and their businesses.

Projects the EGC of Gers has/is participating in that follow this research theme include:

(For more information on each project and its advancements in this research theme click on the project name)

Land ,Management

Land management is an important activity for ensuring economic growth. The department of Gers, as one of the most rural and agriculturally dominated departments in France, relies heavily on the continual process of land management. It is a tool that helps the region to properly assess its current situation and the steps it needs to take to integrate modernity within the department. It also greatly aids the residents of the department by providing for them a clear picture of the department's future movements and actions. Land management is a theme that effects both rural and non-rural departments. The advancements made in this theme are of great interest to wide variety of actors.

Projects the EGC of Gers has/is participating in that follow this research theme include:

(For more information on each project and its advancements in this research theme click on the project name)

Food Traceability/ GeoTraceability

Geotraceability is the idea of using the discipline of Geomatics to trace items: in particular food. With a common market shared by 27 countries, food traceability is an important subject regularly discussed. Having a common market is an important principal of the European Union, but not at the expense of human well-being. It is important that all the elements of food products (including animal feed) sold can be traced back to its source. This way accountability can be achieved and the outbreak of diseases can be minimized and perhaps even completely eliminated.

Projects the EGC of Gers has/is participating in that follow this research theme include:

(For more information on each project and its advancements in this research theme click on the project name)

Sustainable Development & Environmental Protection

Sustainable development concentrates on the idea of developing or progressing in a manner which is conducive both to the present and the future. The concept embodies several aspects, one of which is environmental (the others are economical and socio-political). Sustainable development is a very powerful platform adhered to by many politicians and national economic leaders. It is also a large objective of the EU and of France. For these reasons considerable time and research has gone into the subject and each of its embodying aspects.

Projects the EGC of Gers has/is participating in that follow this research theme include:

(For more information on each project and its advancements in this research theme click on the project name)

Geo-Tourism & Sustainable Tourism

"Geo-tourism" is defined as tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place-its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents" (National Geographic). Ultimately, Geotourism is a component of sustainable development which is the idea of promoting tourism (income, employment, economic growth) with as little impact as possible on the environment and local culture. These two concepts are very significant to the department of Gers, who wishes to develop its tourism but not at the expense of its environment or culture. After all, it is the elements of rurality and culture that attract tourists to come in the first place. To learn more about how Gers participates in geo-tourism and sustainable tourism visit http://www.tourisme-gers.com/gers-vacances/uk/home.asp.

Projects the EGC of Gers has/is participating in that follow this research theme include:

(For more information on each project and its advancements in this research theme click on the project name)

Spatial Data Infrastructure & INSPIRE Directive

A spatial data infrastructure (SDI), as defined by the White House, "is the technology, policies, standards, human resources, and related activities necessary to acquire, process, distribute, use, maintain, and preserve spatial data." The INSPIRE Directive, on the other hand, aims to create a European spatial information infrastructure. This infrastructure would allow users to "access spatial or geographical information from a wide range of sources, from the local level to the global level, in an inter-operable way for a variety of uses. The target users of INSPIRE include policy-makers, planners and managers at European, national and local level and the citizens and their organisations" (INSPIRE Directive). As a fairly new and hot topic, many Geomatics centres have started to research the future possibilities of this field, and the EGC of Gers is no exception.