ERCIM Working Group Environmental Modelling
by Achim Sydow
The purpose of the ERCIM Working Group Environmental Modelling is
to build and maintain a network of ERCIM researchers in the field of environmental
modelling and simulation. The working group is open to anybody affiliated
with an ERCIM institute. Since its establishment in 1995, the working group
has undertaken a variety of activities in order to promote the co-operation
and joint research activities of groups working in the field of environmental
modelling and simulation.
To date, the ERCIM Working Group Environmental Modelling has carried
out three workshops. The fourth workshop is already in its preparation
phase.
On 11 October 1996, the kick-off meeting of the Working Group took place
at INRIA Rocquencourt. Points of discussion were the enlargement of the
Working Group through finding new partners and the definition of certain
research topics for future projects.
The Working Group held its first workshop on Air Pollution Modelling
in Berlin, Germany, from 7-8 April 1997. The workshop was hosted by the
GMD Institute for Computer Architecture and Software Technology Berlin.
The workshop chairman was Achim Sydow (GMD). In total 28 participants from
10 European countries attended the workshop and listened to 18 lectures,
presenting recent research results in the field of air pollution modelling
and simulation.
The second workshop of the Working Group on Remote Sensing for Air Pollution
Analysis was held in Strasbourg on 11 September 1997. It was part of the
International Conference Umweltinformatik '97 - Informatique pour l'environnement
'97. The workshop chairman was Isabelle Herlin (INRIA). The lectures and
discussions at the workshop focussed on the usage of data derived from
remote sensing for air pollution analysis and forecast.
The Working Group carried out its third workshop on Air Pollution Modelling
and Measuring Processes on 20-21 April 1998 in Madrid, Spain (see article
on page 4). The workshop was hosted by the Environmental Software and Modelling
Group of the Computer Science School at the Universidad Politecnica de
Madrid (UPM). The workshop chairman was Roberto San José (UPM).
As highlights of the programme, invited lectures were given by representatives
of the local environmental authorities of the State of Madrid and the State
of Brandenburg (Germany). The participation of these invited speakers was
supported by the ERCIM Office.
Submission of Joint Project Proposals
The first project activity of the Working Group was the submission of
the project proposal STEPUP in the TMR Programme of the European Commission
on 15 June 1995. Further activities of the Working Group have led to the
preparation of the second project proposal. The proposal DECAIR - Development
of an Earth Observation Data Converter with Application to Air Quality
Forecast has been submitted to the European Commission Programme Environment
and Climate. Under the coordination of the ERCIM Office, Working Group
members from Germany, France, Spain and the United Kingdom have participated
in the project.
Further activities of the Working Group have led to the preparation
of the third project proposal. The proposal PANDORE - Pollution Analysis
and Modelling with Databases and Observations from Remote Sensing has been
submitted to the European Union-India Economic Cross Cultural Programme.
Under the coordination of the ERCIM Office, Working Group members from
Germany, France and United Kingdom together with a partner from India have
participated in this project.
ERCIM Fellowship
An applicant has been accepted for the first ERCIM Fellowship within
the framework of the Working Group. He has started his fellowship at the
Working Group member team of INRIA Rocquencourt on 1 June 1998 and after
9 months he will continue at GMD Institute for Computer Architecture and
Software Technology.
To date, members from nine research teams of ERCIM institutions in seven
European countries are collaborating within the Working Group. More information
about the ERCIM Working Group Environmental Modelling is available at http://wwwold.first.fraunhofer.de/ercim
Please contact:
Achim Sydow - GMD
Working Group chairman
Tel: +49 30 6392 1813
E-mail: sydow@first.gmd.de
