Final Report Summary - VGT WORK (VGT work How Space helps to manage ecosystems)
The VGT WORK project followed up the previously elaborated VGT4 project, focusing on the necessary training activities regarding utilisation of research applications for terrestrial development and ecosystems' monitoring and management. VGT trained and supported African partners of the project consortium so that they could reinforce their monitoring and reporting capacity and become fully autonomous in terms of research findings' exploitation. Therefore, the sustainability of the project was ensured after its completion while the available information regarding land uses, agriculture and rangelands increased.
VGT at work built on a number of developments which were relevant to the 'Global monitoring for environment and security' (GMES) European programme. Knowledge was transferred and adapted to African regional needs, enabling the design of useful applications. Experts were then familiarised with the innovations, so that they were capable of successfully disseminating knowledge to the policy makers and end users.
Firstly, the targeted audience of the African partners and the respective information needs were identified, in order to finalise the selection of applications to be developed. Further details, regarding workflows' analysis, communication with end users and utilisation of specific software were also provided. Secondly, African scientists participated in training activities located in Europe as well as in the collaborating African institutions. The actions' concept was rather abstract; nevertheless, it included all software programmes, scripts, batch files and necessary procedures in order to derive conclusions from the available products to assist specific end-users. The acquired knowledge was subsequently integrated in the professionals' working routine, resulting in increased exploitation of the available capacities.
In addition, training was provided to numerous end users and relevant documentation was prepared. This activity was ongoing, anticipated to continue beyond VGT lifetime, and resulted in improved understanding and exploitation of the available options. Therefore, the capacity to monitor the environment and support policies using remote sensing data was increased.
VGT at work included various dissemination activities that mostly communicated knowledge and software which were developed during previous or alternative projects. Furthermore, specific actions were coordinated with numerous European research efforts, all of which were related to vegetation derived products.
VGT at work built on a number of developments which were relevant to the 'Global monitoring for environment and security' (GMES) European programme. Knowledge was transferred and adapted to African regional needs, enabling the design of useful applications. Experts were then familiarised with the innovations, so that they were capable of successfully disseminating knowledge to the policy makers and end users.
Firstly, the targeted audience of the African partners and the respective information needs were identified, in order to finalise the selection of applications to be developed. Further details, regarding workflows' analysis, communication with end users and utilisation of specific software were also provided. Secondly, African scientists participated in training activities located in Europe as well as in the collaborating African institutions. The actions' concept was rather abstract; nevertheless, it included all software programmes, scripts, batch files and necessary procedures in order to derive conclusions from the available products to assist specific end-users. The acquired knowledge was subsequently integrated in the professionals' working routine, resulting in increased exploitation of the available capacities.
In addition, training was provided to numerous end users and relevant documentation was prepared. This activity was ongoing, anticipated to continue beyond VGT lifetime, and resulted in improved understanding and exploitation of the available options. Therefore, the capacity to monitor the environment and support policies using remote sensing data was increased.
VGT at work included various dissemination activities that mostly communicated knowledge and software which were developed during previous or alternative projects. Furthermore, specific actions were coordinated with numerous European research efforts, all of which were related to vegetation derived products.
