Surf's up for Eye on Earth powered by Microsoft's Virtual Earth and SQL Server 2008. A joint initiative of the Redmond giant and the European Environment Agency, Eye on Earth - Water Watch, is designed to provide an online service set up to monitor the quality of bathing water across 27 European countries. The resource went live on July 30, 2008, but its debut is merely the first step toward the creation of the more complete Eye on Earth online environmental observatory. What Eye on Earth will ultimately evolve into, is a comprehensive online service centralizing data and indicators related to the quality of water soil, air, as well as information about the ozone layer for Europe.

"As environmental problems become more evident and affect the lives of ordinary individuals, it is vitally important that we can access relevant and timely information on the impact of environmental change," explained Jacqueline McGlade, executive director of the EEA.

"Eye on Earth is the first part of a pioneering collaboration between Microsoft and the EEA and has huge implications, both for the people and the environment of Europe," indicated Jan Muehlfeit, chairman of Microsoft Europe. What Microsoft and EEA are doing is to provide people across Europe with the necessary feedback tools to deliver input on the quality of bath water across the continent.

The website offers a perspective over Europe's water sources, featuring two types of ratings. One comes from the EEA and the other can be provided by end users. Users can access the maps in Bird's Eye, Aerial or Road imagery, and get information via SQL Server 2008. There is also a gadget for Windows Vista available for download placing the service straight on users' desktops.

"Water Watch combines Microsoft's technical experience with European political priorities, creating a new tool which will help to preserve the environment and to increase European health and safety. We look forward to growing this project and collaborating on many more important European initiatives, using the power of software to tackle important challenges we face today, including pollution and climate change," Muehlfeit said.