RVICE
19
a computer
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1e PRONET
ining of re-
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nd sich der
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| Greece
id, Spain
urvey and
lands
al Physics,
3 Joint Re-
e Panafon S.A., Athens, Greece
e Alcatel Telecom S.A., Madrid, Spain
e Airtel Movil S.A., Madrid, Spain
The project has a duration of two years.
2. PRONET OBJECTIVES
The PRONET project will develop, test and validate an
integrated telematics network service for the education
and training of researchers and professional specialists.
The main objectives of the project include the develop-
ment and validation of:
e telematics learning services for researchers and pro-
fessionals,
e multimedia communication systems based on open
standards with applications for tutorials, guidance and
delivery of seminars, and
e an integrated service network including integrated
service management systems and scenarios for
broadening the service to meet the needs of other pro-
fessional groups and geographic areas.
In addition to these main objectives the project also
strives to evaluate the following aspects: operability of a
trans-european training and support service network for
professionals, and cost-effectiveness of the service.
The initial users of the PRONET service that will partici-
pate in the demonstration of the above objectives belong
to the following professional groups:
e Telecommunications Engineers and Professionals,
e Environmental Scientists and Remote Sensing
Specialists,
e Biomedical Engineers and Medical Physicists
These three groups form a user base of professionals
that:
e demonstrate a fast pace of technological and scien-
tific advances, thus creating the need for continuous
education and training,
e are of great importance to the prosperity and competi-
tiveness of Europe in three vital economic sectors,
and
e provide a diverse set of user-requirements.
The above objectives will be achieved and verified during
the life-cycle of the project by the following:
e Six five-hour computer aided learning (CAL) modules
for the initial professional groups delivered using tele-
matics services,
e tutoring support for professionals attending the CAL
sessions based on audio/video conferencing,
e integrated service management system demonstrat-
ing basic administration activities (user, CAL,
professional group administration),
75
e validation scenarios that demonstrate the service
between 2 European nations, and
e cost analysis report to be used in order to exploit the
results.
The PRONET service will be validated by end-users be-
longing to the three professional groups.
3. PRONET TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
The PRONET service network will be composed of three
nodes. These nodes are named Access Service Points
(ASPs) and contain all the necessary hardware, software,
and networking infrastructure needed to support the
service (figure 1). The three ASP nodes will be physically
located at the premises of EUROCOM Expertise (GR),
FYCSA (ES), and ITC (NL).
nvironmental
Scientists
Internet
ISDN
LAN
Internet Internet
Internet
LAN
Internet
uy Internet
LAN
elecommunicatio
Engineers
Medical Physicists
elecommunication
Engineers
Figure 1: PRONET Service Network
The PRONET ASP network will make use of Internet
services in order to communicate between ASP nodes.
These Internet services will be used to allow service pro-
viders (ASP operators) share their material with other
service providers (for a fee). This network will be struc-
tured in such a way to form a seamless service. E.g.,
users accessing the PRONET network from the FYCSA
(ES) ASP will be presented with material from all other
ASP nodes (EUROCOM Expertise (GR), and ITC (NL)).
This is accomplished using mirroring mechanisms where
each ASP operator mirrors its material and services to all
other ASP operators.
PRONET users have three methods of accessing the
service. These methods are:
e LAN Access: Each ASP operator will provide local
area access to the ASP hardware. Access terminals
will be established on the ASP premises to allow high
International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXI, Part B6. Vienna 1996
