Providing Satellite Data to Mobile Developers Using Semantic Technologies and Linked Data

Copernicus is the European program for monitoring the Earth. It consists of a set of complex systems that collect data from satellites and in-situ sensors, process it, and provide users with reliable and up-to-date information on a range of environmental and security issues. Information extracted from Copernicus data is made available to users through Copernicus services addressing six thematic areas: land, marine, atmosphere, climate, emergency and security. The data processed and disseminated puts Copernicus at the forefront of the big data paradigm and gives rise to all relevant challenges: volume, velocity, variety, veracity and value. In this paper we discuss the challenges of big Copernicus data and how the Copernicus program handled them. We also present lessons learned from our project Copernicus App Lab, which takes Copernicus services information and makes it available on the Web using semantic technologies to aid its take up by mobile developers.