Interoperability, expandability and multi-sensoriality (IEM): The cosmo-skymed key points for a cost-effective broad access to EO products

One of the major problems the Earth Observation (EO) user community has to face with, is the high number of existing/planned spread EO facilities each providing different specific services and data flows. Such aspects impose high levels of complexity to Users for handling "data-fusion" products accessing data from different EO systems, typically with consequent infrastructural overcapacities and operational/cost inefficiencies. COSMO-SkyMed system architecture desing pursues Multi-Mission/Multi-Sensor (MM/MS) goals, providing as "built-in" feature the key mechanisms for implementing MM/MS capabilities towards partner EO systems. The design approach allows operational costs saving by means of innovative design solutions which implement the following key features: Interoperability - capability of exchanging data and information with external heterogeneous systems according to pre-defined agreed modalities and standards, and irrespective of internal design of the cooperating parts. Expandability - ability to either embody mission-specific components from Partner's EO System, or to "export" COSMO's components to Partner's EO Systems. Multi-Sensoriality - ability to request, process, and manage data related to different observation sensors.