News

03.2012


A conference - “SPACE EU” was held

On 28 and 29 February 2012, in Brussels, Belgium, a conference - “SPACE EU” was held. Information about the conference can be found - HERE. At the parallel session "FP7 Countries Space activities", the executive director of ASDE - Arch. Christian Milenov made a brief presentation on the priorities of the Bulgarian capacity in space activities, prepared in a cooperation with Remote Sensing Application Center - ReSAC, the Institute for Space Research and Technology and the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the Bulgarian Information Office for GMES - BIOG.

The presentation can be found as follows:

  „Space Activities in Bulgaria“

Presentations shown at SpaceEU now online - HERE.

Search for suitable organisations - HERE.

02.2012


Register of water bodies on the territory of Bulgaria

In connection with the recent crisis events associated with floods in southern Bulgaria and the discussion discussion on the need for register ponds in Bulgaria should inform the relevant authorities and public that have an information system which maintains certain information about water bodies in the territory of Bulgaria, which are about 10 600. They include both large and small dams, as well as lakes and wetlands.

The register has been prepared by specialists of the Remote Sensing Application Center-ReSAC and was completed and upgraded for years, according to the specialists possibilities. All still bodies of water in Bulgaria are attached to a geographical coordinates (Georeferences) and have relevant information applied that is accessable for our experts. Mapping was performed on the basis of satellite images or orthophotos as the scale of GIS is a database between 1:10 000 and 1:25 000. For large dams mapping is in the scale of 1:10 000

Proposals have been prepared for passports for every water body type. Passports include significant geographic, morphometric, hydraulic, physico-chemical and biological parameters. Passports are filled with available data collected from various freely available sources for all the 52 dam complex the territory of Bulgaria. This register is being prepared for 10 years and is periodically submitted to the MOEW, “Fire safety and rescue” Directorate General at the Ministry of interior, Executive Forest Agency, MAF and other with a proposal for jointly use and maintainance.

This development was reported to numerous scientific forums in our country and abroad and was published in 2010 at the 24th newsletter issue of the European Association of Remote Sensing organizations EOMAG, of which ReSAC is a member since 2005.

The last public representative sample of this register was conducted during the 7th Scientific Conference with international participation "SPACE ENVIRONMENT SECURITY" held in Sofia from 9th of November till 1st of December 2011. A joint presentation was made by the Remote Sensing Application Center-ReSAC and the Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Biology, Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski ".
The presentation is represented here:

"Mapping identiffication and establishment of a national database of the still bodies of water and wetlands Bulgarian territory";

The regiser of water bodies in Bulgaria was introduced into the geo-portalBulgarian Spatial Data Infrastructure. The information system allows maintenance of different capacity and content of information for each water body according to the users needs. There is an option ( at a request of the users and in the presence of constantly updated information ) to submit an electronic map of Bulgaria with these water bodies (mainly dams) which have identified problems, whether steps have been taken and whether the pace of critically needed strengthening or repair of facilities.
The following are represented below:

Sample map of standing water bodies in Bulgaria;
Sample passport of a standing water body;

Based on proposed models for passports completion could start for about 10,600 water bodies, which include most problematic micro dams. The passport data can be extended with information about the protective dike and other facilities, regular inspection and disturbing indicators. Experts from the Agency for Sustainable Development and Eurointegration - ASDE and ReSAC have already tested a similar technology when in 2008 sent to several municipalities a simlified format of the passport for completion, a list and a map of water bodies within their administrative borders.

We believe that such a scheme of work would facilitate rapid inventory of water bodies in Bulgaria. ReSAC available database (already mapped objects) expanded with passports’ attributes (from municipal administrations and other departments) could become a national information system for still bodies of water, which may be used by different users, including activities for preventing flood.

More information can be found on ReSAC website.

We are ready to render assistance to state and local authorities on the basis of the register disscussed, and the joint capabilities of the organizations which are members of the Bulgarian Information Office of Earth Observation - GMES.

02.2012


GMES Operational Capacity - Risk Management – Flood simulation model on the village of Biser

The crisis situation which occurs in the early morning of the 6th of February at the village Biser, Harmanli district, due to an alleged breaking off a dam wall of Ivanovo dam lake, consequently flooding along Biserska river, requires rapid mobilization of all available resources to be saved the affected residents. At the same time it shows the need of early warning procedure and previously assessment and modeling of the impact from potential flooding for the preparation of a municipal action plan and rapid measures in order to reduce the impact of the event and overcome the damage.

We offer the available flood simulation models for Biser village, that may be used through the geo-portal - Bulgarian Spatial Data Infrastructure, created as a PPP between public administration, applied science organizations and civil sector and is accessible through the website of Executive Agency “ECNIS” at the Ministry of transport, information technologies and communications (MTITC) – “Daily information about risks, disasters and accidents across the country” – www.esmis.government.bg

On the Internet at: http://bsdi.asde-bg.org and right HERE you can find over 150 simulation models for risk of flooding along the major rivers in Bulgaria. These models are open to free access and any interested municipality or organization could make appropriate assessments or to contact us for further analyzes. Among these models you can track what further flooding might be expected when water level rise along the Maritsa River - settlements Lyubimets and Svilengrad.

The accepted methodology allows obtaining sufficiently useful ( user-oriented) results in a short range of time in order to take prompt action and to assess potential hazards and possible damage. It is prepared to be used even with a minimum available information. If additional data and information is provided, such as cadastre information, building data, distribution of population, significant sites(assets), installations&infrastructure, etc., more accurate and various analysis, estimations and reliable forecasts can be made.

As a very recent and important result, including flood risk modeling, can be presented the report "Preliminary Assessment of the risk of flooding of the rivers Danube region to the database" which is performed by the Remote Sensing Applications Center - ReSAC (member of the Bulgarian information office on GMES – BIOG). The report was ordered by the Ministry of environment and waters and ended successfully these days. The results can be found on the Basin Directorate for water management (BDWM) web pages as follows: BDWM - Dunabe region, BDWM - East Aegean Region, BDWM - Black Sea region, BDWM - West Aegean Region and ReSAC web page. The task is part of the implementation in Bulgaria of Directive 60/2007/EO - Risk of flooding.

Especially for village Biser case, the flood simmulation models :

  • Shows the affected areas in the locality, with the respective levels of water column. Because of lack of information either for buildings or for infrastructure and other facilities, and distribution of the inhabitants of that place, we are not able to provide more accurate assessment of risk maps, even map showing the critical infrastructure. This model is suitable for making quick decisions such as where are the most affected areas, how many houses are affected, how to organize actions in a crisis, accessible streets and important infrastructure objects that are not affected and could be used as temporary shelter, etc.;
  • Represents which other areas of the city would be flooded with continued rise in water level;

The case of this disaster which combines natural event with human negligence allows ouselfs to pay attention to the necessity for asking the administrative structures to prioritize risk management – prevention, strategic planning, forecast models, to estimate the possible damages and casualties, and to inspect and assess the condition of existing facilities and equipment, which could be a potential threat to people, facilities and environment. Public awareness on early warning and measures for fast response to such situations is also fo importance.

No less important is provide access to various databases and spatial information, which are maintained in various state and municipal structures and have to be harmonized under the requirements of the EU Directive 02/2007/EU-INSPIRE.

There are lots of reliable organizations in Bulgaria who are ready to render assistance in terms of better early warning and risk management information on the basis of forecast models, if the responsible institutions provide the basic support for processing and maintenance of the information systems and the necessary preliminary data.

01.2012


ASDE position on the shale gas extraction in Bulgaria

ASDE as an organization with a great experience in the field of environmental protection and sustainable development, which applies best European and foreign experience in the implementation of its projects, relying on scientifically based studies and objective official records in accordance with national and European legislation, agrees with the conclusions published in June 2011 in European Parliament report:

(Quotation)
“At a time when sustainability is a key element that must be taken into consideration in any future actions, we should discuss the question of whether to allow the injection of toxic chemicals into the ground or it should be prohibited because such a practice would reduce or completely would make impossible any further exploitation of the contaminated soil layer (e.g., for geothermal purposes), while a longer lasting impact of such activities is not completely understood. In the area of active extraction of shale gas around 0.1-0.5 liters of chemicals per square meter are injected.
This is a quite serious undertaking, having in mind that the potential of shale gas reserves are too small to have significant impact on gas demand in Europe.
The current study benefits from the deposits of shale gas and oil must be revalued, considering the fact that environmental risks and possible complications could not be offset by any benefits, since the specific yield is very low. ”

The entire report (in English) can be found HERE.

Based on the conclusions of the the European Parliament’s report in relation to the current and important issue for all Bulgarian citizens - "for" or "against" the extraction of shale gas in Bulgaria, ASDE - "Ecoregions" supports the position of refusing hasty and dangerous for the environment and human health research activities, despite of the good intentions for diversification of energy sources, which Bulgaria depends on.


Archive by years

2011

12.2011


“BULCOVER” - Poster for Bulgarian geo-reference database, referring to the UN FAO (LCCS-FAO-UN) land cover classification system

At the end of 2011, we are proud to present a homonymous poster - ”BulCover” - A national database of land cover in Bulgaria, based on the land cover classification system of the UN FAO (LCCS-FAO-UN).

Referent layer - land cover of Bulgaria 2009/2010

Download as ...  

In 2010, Bulgaria was the the first Member State in the EU to build its own land cover database developed as a referent geo - data set with potential of being used for harmonization of data in accordance with Directive 02/2007 - INSPIRE. Even more referent geo - data set can be used for accuracy in leading EU programs, such as GALILEO and GMES or another European directives and regulations in the fields of transport, agriculture, regional development, environment, risk and security management, and others.

11.2011


Project for cooperation between the State Agency "Archives" and the State Archive of Baden-Wuerttemberg

Within the activities of the interagency Working Group to Council of Ministers in order № P-16 from 2010, updated by Order № P-232 / 28.10.2011 by the Prime Minister for „Coordinated initiatives under Europe 2020 strategy and the Danube region in cooperation with the Federal Republic of Germany - Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg“ and implementing work programs of the two permanent committees with these federal states and with the active cooperation of both public benefit organizations, Alliance for the Environment and ASDE-Ecoregions, from October 2011 a project of cooperation is carried out between the State Agency "Archives" and the State of Baden-Wuerttemberg, and as a result there are medieval documents, charters and archives already studied, published and available in digital form. The activity is carried out on the spot by Ms Iliana Paskova, Head of „Archive funds utilization", the "Central archive" department at SAA, during one month of investigation in October 2011. Cooperation continues by similar studies and exchange of experience provided with Bavaria, Federal Republic of Germany (FRG).

Emphasis on exchange of experience and work of Mrs. Paskova in State Archives in Ludwigsburg is opportunity to provide digitized archives on the Internet, where Ms. Paskova performed on his own digitalization and presentation from microfilm. For more information, click here.

Stored for security reasons in a mine gallery in Schwarz Wald microfilmed archives are a great national wealth and should be provided for broad access to any parties concerned. Therefore, in Ludwigsburg State Archives, with valuable assistance from the Bulgarian expert from SAA Sofia, Ms. Iliana Paskova microfilm of documents of the German Order (In Archives № 249), together with supporting details (content , a magnifying glass to read by clicking on Bestand B 249 and others) were digitized and presented on the Internet. On this basis, new documents will be presented on the Internet. For more information click here.

05.2011


„South East European Bulgarian Cultural Institute“ city of Elvangen, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany

From 27th to 29th of May 2011, a round table \ scientific conference on "European culture and life-work of St. Cyril and Methodius" was held during the annual Methodius festivals in the city of Ellwangen, Baden-Wuerttemberg.

As on of the initiators built this Institute, Agency for Sustainable Development and Integration - Ecoregions, actively participates in the organization of the roundtable.

Current information about the conducted event can be found on the following Bulgarian and Germanweb sites.
Additional materials provided as follows:

03.2011


Knowledge and research in the new European Programme for sustainable urban development URBAN-NET

In Brussels on 17th of March Urban Development Group and the URBAN-NET organize preliminary workshop within the tripartite presidency concerning the benefits and expectations among the good cooperation between research and urban planning and management. Information that cities receive from researchers in support of solving current significant problems in management and development of urban agglomerations is still untimely and insufficient. On the other hand citizens' expectations increase towards scientific programs and projects in support of performing applicable research results in areas important for all of us.

The vision for a greater focus on the knowledge and research for urban sustainable development "Scoping Paper Urban Knowledge and Research in the European Urban Agenda for was set forth by the Spanish presidency. The expectations are to intiate a better coordination between politicians , local authorities and scientists as well as greater labour efficiency in regards to the new program period.

More information about the workshops program and speakers can be found HERE. Register for the workshop HERE. More information about the project can be found on the official website - www.urban-net.org.

02.2011


Contribution to the operative capacity of European Programme for Monitoring the Environment and Security - GMES. Referent database - land cover layer.

Bulgarian contribution to the development of a national land cover database using FAO-LCCS system is a way to transfer the world experience into a local level of decision-making management. Reference database-land cover layer on the territory of Republic of Bulgaria is fully prepared by experts from the Agency for Sustainable Development and Eurointegration - Ecoregions / ASDE / and Remote Sensing Application Center- ReSAC.

The preparation of referent land cover layer was based on satellite data from the Landsat satellite (USA) since 2009, with a resolution of 30 m. Information about the altitude and inclination is provided for each spatial object from lend cover. An authenticity check of the interpreted data was made with achieved thematic accuracy within 85%.

Bulgaria is the first Member State, who launched e land cover database based on a worldwide adopted LCCS methodology covering the whole country and updated for 2009 - 2010 . Another Member State that prepared such a database using the Bulgarian experience is Romania.

  Referent database-land cover layer on the territory of Republic of Bulgaria

The Referent database-land cover layer on the territory of Republic of Bulgaria is fully prepared by experts from the Agency for Sustainable Development and Eurointegration - Ecoregions / ASDE / and Remote Sensing Application Center- ReSAC in association with FAO-UN specialists. The next stage provides an upgrade of the database in a larger scale mapping and inclusion of more land cover classes.

The product is available in vector format, suitable for a map of the scale of 1:50 000. It is available at the following address: bsdi.asde-bg.org, where you must provide username and password.

The database is available to the Executive Agency "Electronic communication networks and information systems" at the Ministry of transport information technology and communications and can be used in the construction of national geo-portal for the purpose of harmonization of spatial data as well as for other purposes.

The use of this product for various applications is a paid service so it is protected by copyright law. Please contact us for access to the service!

02.2011


Connection between The European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) , European Flood Alert System (EFAS) and „Risk watch“

In order to be better inform citizens and responsible structures as well as integration of information systems on different European levels - national, regional and community a direct link is introdused between information system „Risk watch“, maintained by geoportal BSDI and two European information systems for natural disasters created at the Institute for Environment and Sustainable Development - Joint Research Centre of the European Commission (IES - JRC). They are as follow:

  • European forest fire information system - EFFIS;
  • European flood alert system - EFAS

A parallel processing of the provided information is upcoming on purpose of interconnections and useful results.
EFFIS – system with web-GIS mapping of fires at the moment, including presentation of the current weather conditions and forecast for the next 7 days, is available HERE.
EFAS – system with web-GIS mapping of information on current flooding, including the pressmark of critical levels, is available HERE.




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