1. Windows Azure
Customer Solution Case Study
Environment Agency’s Pioneering
Online Tools Bring Revolutionary
Data to Citizens
Overview “Microsoft has pushed us to the cutting
Country or Region: Denmark
Industry: Government—Energy edge of technology. It has given us the
and environmental/Nonprofit
courage to position ourselves as a more
Customer Profile innovative public service, making a positive
The European Environment
Agency (EEA) aims to provide difference at a time of climate change.”
reliable and timely information An agency of the European Union, the European
on the environment. The EEA is
a key information source for
Environment Agency (EEA) provides independent
policy makers and the general and reliable information on the environment for
public.
policy makers and the general public. The agency
Business Situation is working towards raising environmental
The agency is working towards
raising environmental
awareness across Europe by delivering easy-to-
awareness across Europe by understand information about a number of
delivering easy-to-understand
information about water and air
environmental topics—among them, water and air
quality and encouraging citizens quality. It also encourages citizens to contribute
to contribute their own
observations.
their own observations about the environment
around them. Working with Microsoft, it
Solution
The Eye On Earth application is
developed the Eye On Earth platform, based on
based on “cloud” services the Windows Azure “cloud” services operating
operating system Windows
Azure and Bing Maps for
system. Users can view water or air quality from
Enterprise. Citizens can view or the 32 member countries of the EEA, using high-
contribute to water and air
quality data anywhere in
definition Bing maps. The EEA has also launched
Europe. the Environmental Atlas of Europe, which features
Benefits
stories told by eyewitnesses about their first-hand
• User-friendly interface experiences of climate change. Both solutions
• Better-informed choices
• Increased agility
can help broaden awareness of the impacts of
• Beneficial partnership environmental change and help people in Europe
• New opportunities
make better-informed choices about their

3. “Using this
information, we can
increase
monitoring and
awareness of
environmental
factors, adjust and
improve our
lifestyles, and, Situation information—including data on
At a time when environmental greenhouse gas emissions, air
ultimately, make a concerns dominate global policy quality, water quality, and
and media, and affect the daily biodiversity—into its
strong statement lives of individuals, the European “environmental observatory.”
to policy makers Environment Agency (EEA) brings Jacqueline McGlade, Executive
relevant and timely information to Director of the EEA, explains:
that air and water the fingertips of citizens. “The organisation is also
extending its work towards
quality really Established in 1990, and based in sectors such as agriculture,
matters.” Copenhagen, the EEA is an forestry, energy, and transport,
executive agency of the which have a big effect on the
Jacqueline McGlade, Executive European Union (EU). The environment. The EEA can
Director, European Environment organisation collects communicate with the public,
Agency
environmental data across 32 using quality data that would
European countries: Austria, otherwise be difficult to acquire,”
Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech she says.
Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, With the aim of helping policy
Greece, Hungary, Iceland, makers develop relevant and
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, effective policies, the EEA not
Liechtenstein, Lithuania, only looks at environmental
Luxembourg, Malta, the statistics and trends, but also
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, collects feedback from
Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, individuals. McGlade says: “We
Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, show people’s own
Switzerland, Turkey, and the neighbourhoods and encourage
United Kingdom. This data is used citizens to gather more data
to develop and implement themselves.”
environmental policy and is a
crucial resource for almost 600 Through the use of latest
million citizens across the technologies, the EEA wanted to
continent. make key information about
water and air quality across
The European Environment Europe easy to access, while
Information and Observation giving them the tools to develop a
Network (Eionet) is the EEA’s more effective response to
network of 600 partner climate change. Bert Jansen,
organisations, which include Technology Lead, EEA, says:
research institutes, universities, “Our mandate clearly states that
ministries, and agencies. The EEA we should inform the general
cooperates with additional public in the EU, and technology
agencies such as the World is the only way to reach half a
Health Organization and various billion people effectively.”
non-government organisations to
meet its goals. Using this The challenge is all the more
network, the EEA can gather poignant because European

4. “We chose citizens have become WaterWatch was first launched,
increasingly sensitive and we had an initial 65,000 people
Windows Azure responsive about changes to out of several 100,000 visitors
their local environment. From a contacting the site to interact
because it offers technical point of view, the with and record data about their
us more flexibility increased demand for information local water resources,” says
raised a number of issues, not McGlade.
than any of the least the fact that the
organisation’s Web site, which Rather than stop there, the EEA
other technical hosted its on-premise servers, sought to include air quality
solutions that are were nearly at capacity. information in the application.
“Many thousands of people
available…With this Solution across Europe suffer from
In 2009, the EEA launched a breathing disorders—from slight
technology, we can pioneering application to make its problems to severe asthma. For
respond to large- environmental observatory them, air quality really matters
accessible. Eye On Earth is the and can be a matter of life or
scale peaks in outcome of a long collaboration death. It can help them determine
with Microsoft. The two-way the safest times to leave their
communication platform gathers homes to avoid dark smog, and
critical information from a variety where they should go,” says
of sources in one place, and McGlade.
allows citizens to take a more
active role in the exchange of AirWatch uses the European Air
information through its dynamic Quality Index, provided by
and user-friendly Web site. scientists. Jensen explains: “We
describe air quality through three
Stefan Jensen, Head of Group, key substances—ozone,
Information Services at the EEA, particulate matters, and nitrogen
explains how the first component dioxide. There are 6,000
of Eye On Earth—called monitoring stations across the 32
WaterWatch—makes use of countries, including 1,000 that
bathing water data from 22,000 provide frequent updates and
sites that countries deliver in 300 that deliver hourly updates
accordance with European displayed in Eye On Earth.”
legislation. “In the past, this data
has been limited to expert As with WaterWatch, citizens’
systems,” he says. WaterWatch input forms a large part of the
was also inspired by the public’s AirWatch tool. Easy-to-use
concern about bathing water features help individuals to report
quality. McGlade says: “People their perception of air quality in a
are passionate about the water particular location and the results
quality at the beaches they visit.” are displayed alongside the
Within Eye On Earth, citizens can official data on the site.
look at the official data on water
quality, and contribute their own The architecture
rating of that location. “When

5. “Everyone can Eye On Earth is supported by environmental data into the
“cloud” services operating mapping technology with ease.
participate, system Windows Azure, which
works seamlessly with the Data is fed into Microsoft SQL
independent of existing infrastructure, and helps Azure—a cloud-based database
their device. The developers quickly deploy new service built on Microsoft SQL
features. The service-based Server data management
tools are architecture and cloud operating software—every hour. The
system provide the same level of powerful database supports rapid
accessible to reliability as an enterprise data retrieval of information, making it
people with centre, but offer greater agility, possible for Eye On Earth to
ensuring it can very quickly scale process and deliver data in real
Windows to meet rapid growth in data and time. In addition, the Microsoft
traffic. This makes Windows Silverlight 3 browser plug-in
computers using Azure the ideal technology for the delivers a seamless media
Internet Explorer Eye On Earth application. “We experience, providing users with
chose Windows Azure because it highly interactive features and
and the Firefox offers us more flexibility than any Deep Zoom functionality.
of the other technical solutions
browser, that are available,” says Jensen. Determined to make the
Macintosh users application as interoperable as
For WaterWatch, the EEA possible, the EEA offers a
with the Safari experiences peak demand during Microsoft ASP.NET version of the
the summer months as people application. “Everyone can
browser, and plan their holidays and seek participate, independent of their
information about the water device,” says Jensen. “The tools
quality at their destinations. are accessible to people with
Hundreds of thousands of citizens Windows computers using
access the application during its Internet Explorer and the Firefox
busiest periods, and demand is browser, Macintosh users with
growing rapidly. AirWatch users the Safari browser, and people
are also likely to be increasingly with Linux machines.”
interested in ozone levels in
summer when air circulation is In addition, a short message
more stagnant due to the warmer service (SMS) aggregator—called
weather, trapping toxins and mBlox—was also incorporated
pollutants. Jensen says: “With into the system to support
this technology, we can respond access information on mobile
to large-scale peaks in demand.” devices. Jensen says: “With Eye
On Earth, we want to reach the
Bing Maps for Enterprise public first and foremost.
provides high-resolution satellite Microsoft technologies provide us
images and aerial photography with flexible, reliable solutions
across Europe and beyond. And that make that possible. The
it’s easily customised, so the addition of the SMS aggregator
agency can incorporate its enables greater mobile use of
Eye On Earth and provides

6. citizens with immediate feedback location is entered on the screen
by way of text message about and the application recognises
factors such as air and water not just any city or town within the
quality.” As well as receiving 32 countries, but also far more
information by SMS, mobile phone specific map locations, such as
users are able to query current streets and buildings. In an
environmental data readings, instant, the application can zoom
such as air quality, for a desired in to an aerial image of a location
location. and show its official air and water
quality ratings. For example, air
Says Jensen: “It’s a software- quality will show as very good,
plus-services solution because very bad, or levels in between,
we’re acquiring software for our and that information is supported
common development, and by columns that display ozone
we’re using a service levels, nitrogen dioxide, particle
construction that is also provided matter, and carbon emissions.
outside the European Combined ratings from individuals
Environment Agency.” for that location are also shown
for air and water quality results.
Benefits
With Eye On Earth, the EEA brings Another feature captures
the most advanced environmental feedback history and displays
modelling to citizens across information in the form of
Europe, and encourages them to coloured markers on the map.
participate. The data is made Users can also see all the
available to other interested AirWatch and WaterWatch
parties such as urban traffic stations, or select a specific
control, tourism, or healthcare location—zoom in to a close-up
systems—helping organisations image of a building, for example,
and citizens work together to and drag and drop a push-pin
address climate change, using onto that building to view the air
data that has never before been quality data instantly. If the
available on such a scale. individual rates the air quality of
McGlade says: “Using this that location, he or she can see
information, we can increase the system instantly update itself
monitoring and awareness of with the new information.
environmental factors, adjust and
improve our lifestyles, and, “Participation of the public is so
ultimately, make a strong important to the EEA that we
statement to policy makers that have also integrated instant
air and water quality really connectivity to social networking
matters.” sites, such as Facebook, Twitter,
and Windows Live Spaces,
Feature-Rich and User-Friendly Interface allowing people to share
Inspires Citizen Involvement information quickly and easily,”
Eye On Earth will be available in says Jensen.
25 European languages. A

7. “This technology Data Helps Citizens and Communities paying only for capacity that’s
Make Better Choices used.
gives people the By providing the public with such
local and timely information, the And, by taking advantage of
power to EEA believes that it will help Microsoft data centres to house
understand their citizens make decisions that can data from the EEA in the cloud,
improve their lives. Those with Windows Azure also reduces the
environment… health issues can choose need for investment in hardware
appropriate holiday destinations, and computers that would
Armed with the or even use the data to raise otherwise remain idle. McGlade
facts, 600 million awareness of conditions in their says: “Cloud computing ensures
communities. we can be more adaptable.” This
people in Europe is a welcome departure from the
Jansen says: “This technology often restrictive server
can influence the gives people the power to framework and the costs and
environment in understand their environment. resources associated with
They can look at the air quality in keeping it running seven days a
which they live.” their gardens or the water quality week. “This includes the costs of
at the beach where they want to electricity to run the servers, and
swim. Armed with the facts, 600 recycling the hardware after it
million people in Europe can has exceeded its life span. After
influence the environment in all, we need to be aware of our
which they live.” own carbon footprint too,” says
McGlade.
Agile Technology Helps Organisation
Manage Application Use Jensen agrees: “Thanks to
The services-based model and Windows Azure, we can be more
cloud operating system help EEA flexible regarding the number of
minimise infrastructure users. Another significant
overheads. They offer a more advantage is that we don’t have
agile environment that has helped to provide the whole IT
the organisation deploy environment for the application.”
WaterWatch and AirWatch in a
matter of months. Environmentally Focused Partnerships
Strengthen Vision
The needs of Eye On Earth users Working with Microsoft Services,
vary throughout the year, and, the EEA has delivered an
consequently, load patterns innovative application quickly and
fluctuate. Windows Azure helps efficiently. “Microsoft has pushed
the organisation manage that us to the cutting edge of
load efficiently, giving developers technology,” says McGlade. “It
and service managers the ability has given us the courage to
to scale up and down seamlessly position ourselves as a more
without complex operational innovative public service, making
procedures. The flexible Windows a positive difference at a time of
Azure pay-as-you-go model also climate change.”
helps the EEA to save money by

8. “With Eye On The agency is also open to learning more about the personal
inspiration from other interested stories behind climate change,
Earth, we want to partners. “We encourage visitors can also post messages
organisations or communities to and give feedback.
reach the public join us because everyone can
first and foremost. bring new depth to our vision. Our Jansen says: “We go out and
strength lies in data and speak with people who are either
Microsoft Microsoft delivers innovative directly affected by climate
technology—but there’s always change or have solutions to
technologies room for new influences to help climate change. For example, we
provide us with us create an even more powerful speak with reindeer herders in
solution,” says Jansen. Lapland, and ask them how the
flexible, reliable New Opportunity Extends Climate Change melting of the Arctic ice cap
Message affects their lives. But we also
solutions that make In 2009, the EEA started a want to tell positive stories, so we
that possible.” partnership with the United speak with people in the
Nations Environment Programme Netherlands who have built
Stefan Jensen, Head of Group, and the European Space Agency houses that float up and down, as
Information Services, European to create a new channel for the water level rises and falls.”
sharing the message of climate
change across Europe. Built For the EEA, telling stories and
using the existing Eye On Earth connecting communities is far
solution, the Environmental Atlas more useful than providing raw
of Europe examines the impact of statistics. The Atlas stories told
climate change across different by eyewitnesses across Europe
regions, and the work to reverse help citizens understand how the
the damage to the local global environment is shifting due
ecosystem. to climate change and inspire
them to take action and make a
Atlas features stories told by difference.
eyewitnesses about their first-
hand experiences of climate Jensen says: “The European
change and how their Environment Agency now has one
communities are coping. of the world’s leading
McGlade says: “Users can repositories of environmental
access Atlas through Eye On data, and, through the power of
Earth. They can pinpoint and software and technology, the Eye
select stories from locations On Earth and Atlas solutions have
shown on Bing maps, zoom into turned powerful information into
the local area, see individuals action. We’re also looking to the
telling their stories, and explore future and we plan to use
ways in which environmental Microsoft Surface so citizens can
change is affecting other parts of interact more deeply with Eye On
that region.” The Atlas solution Earth and Atlas. Thanks to both of
includes a full suite of multimedia these solutions, we can play our
assets such as video, interviews, part in helping everyone to
and photography. As well as contribute towards a cleaner

9. For More Information environment and a sustainable Windows Azure
For more information about future.” Platform
Microsoft products and The Windows Azure platform
services, call the Microsoft provides an excellent foundation
Sales Information Center at for expanding online product and
(800) 426-9400. In Canada, call service offerings. The main
the Microsoft Canada components include:
Information Centre at (877) • Windows Azure. Windows Azure
568-2495. Customers in the is the development, service
United States and Canada who hosting, and service
are deaf or hard-of-hearing can management environment for
reach Microsoft text telephone the Windows Azure platform.
(TTY/TDD) services at (800) Windows Azure provides
892-5234. Outside the 50 developers with on-demand
United States and Canada, compute and storage to host,
please contact your local scale, and manage Web
Microsoft subsidiary. To access applications on the Internet
information using the World through Microsoft data
Wide Web, go to: centres. In addition, Windows
www.microsoft.com Azure serves developers’
connectivity needs through
For more information about the the following services.
European Environment Agency, • The Service Bus connects
visit the Web site at: services and applications
www.eea.europa.eu across network boundaries
to help developers build
Additional Resources: distributed applications.
Download: • The Access Control Service
Windows Azure Tools and SDK provides federated, claims-
View:
based access control for
Architecting and Developing for
Windows Azure REST Web services.
• Microsoft SQL Azure. Microsoft
SQL Azure offers the first
cloud-based relational and
self-managed database
Software and Services • Technologies
• Microsoft Server Product − Bing Maps for Enterprise
Portfolio − Microsoft Silverlight 3
− Windows Azure − Microsoft ASP.NET
− Microsoft SQL Azure − Microsoft Surface
service built on Microsoft SQL
Server 2008 technologies.
This case study is for informational
purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO
WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN
THIS SUMMARY.
Document published December 2009

10. To learn more about the Windows Software + Services
Azure platform, visit: Software-plus-services is an
www.windowsazure.com industry shift driven by the fast-
growing recognition that
combining Internet services
with client and server software
can deliver exciting new
opportunities. Microsoft is
dedicated to helping individuals
and businesses take advantage
of these opportunities. By
bringing together the best of
both software and services, we
maximize capabilities, choice,
and flexibility for our customers.
The broad software-plus-
services approach unites
multiple industry phenomena
including software as a service,
service-oriented development,
and the Web 2.0 user
experience under a common
umbrella.
For more information about
software-plus-services, go to:
www.microsoft.com/softwarepl
usservices