Initiative aims to support global resilience for humanitarian crises and natural catastrophes

Darmstadt/Bochum/Hamburg, August 22, 2024 – CGI (TSX: GIB.A) (NYSE: GIB), one of the largest independent IT and business consulting services firms in the world, has been awarded a study by the European Space Agency (ESA) to better define the needs and specifications of a suite of Civil Security from Space (CSS) Hubs. CSS aims to bring together – as part of a European network – a suite of space technologies, such as communication, Earth Observation (EO) and navigation, within an “integrated system” delivering real-time actionable information to first responders during crises. Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications, Heinrich Hertz Institute (HHI) is also part of the team, augmenting CGI’s expertise in Artificial Intelligence (AI), a key tool needed to integrate big data from different sources and enable fast predictions. 

A key focus of the study will be on a new generation of a “digital marketplace” enabling rapid access to integrated satcom and EO services. The aim is to enable users – for example, first responders and crisis centers – to receive actionable and trustworthy space-based solutions in a timely and secure manner.

By fostering such “integrated system”, ESA intends to use CGI’s expertise in disaster management and GOVSATCOM services to enable new solutions and market opportunities supporting crisis and disaster management.

Integration of AI technologies will be one of this project’s most important components. Two use cases will be studied as examples: one on detecting areas afflicted by fires and the other on modelling precipitation runoff. CGI is responsible for the fire detection use case, while HHI will contribute the use case on modelling precipitation runoff.

“The goal of the study is to provide seamless access to state-of-the-art satellite communication and earth observation services and enable deployed teams to quickly obtain important information – whenever and wherever it is needed,” explains Stephane Pirio, ESA Pooling and sharing development manager. “Within the scope of this study, a single interface prototype platform will be prototyped by merging different space-related disciplines – telecommunications and earth observation. This new approach will revolutionize the work of players in the realm of civilian security while enabling them to acquire, monitor, and administer a variety of services.”

CGI is responsible for strategically planning the study with the participation of various interest groups, supported by HHI. Together with HHI, CGI will develop a roadmap for the combined Satcom and EO marketplace and design a prototype that integrates the CGI Sense360 IP solution. CGI’s solution provides complete situational images while drawing on data from a wide variety of sources including satellites, drones, maps, data on infrastructure, geodata, weather and environmental data, online databases, blogs, and social media. The prototype will capitalize on a centralized ‘pooling and sharing’ system for secure satellite communication services, previously developed by CGI with support of ESA, as a key building block of the GOVSATCOM hub.

“With CGI Sense360, we have the technical expertise in building earth observation services and developing corresponding platforms for data analysis. Drawing upon our experience in supporting clients globally with natural disaster planning and recovery programs, we will develop the feasibility study for European Civil Security stakeholders and support in delivering more efficient and effective ways to organize rescue operations during humanitarian crises,” said Ulli Leibnitz, Senior Vice President Consulting Services and Head of the Space Division in Germany. “Together with HHI, we are well positioned to recruit and integrate a variety of stakeholders for defining standards that will then enable, for the first time, the comprehensive use of earth observation and satellite communication technologies for civil security.”

This press release can also be downloaded here.​

About CGI

Founded in 1976, CGI is one of the world’s largest independent providers of IT and business consulting services. With 90,000 consultants and professionals around the globe, it delivers an end-to-end portfolio of capabilities ranging from strategic IT and business consulting to systems integration, managed IT and business process services, and intellectual property solutions. CGI works with clients within the scope of a local relationship model supplemented by a global delivery network that helps clients digitally transform their organizations and get results faster. CGI’s reported revenue for fiscal 2023 was CA$14.30 billion, and CGI shares are listed on the TSX (GIB.A) and the NYSE (GIB) stock exchanges. Learn more at cgi.com.

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