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Author: EARSC

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GAF AG, an e-GEOS (Telespazio/ASI) company, has been awarded a World Bank-funded contract to modernise and expand Burkina Faso’s mining cadastre system eMC+ within the framework of the Support to Land and Mining Management Strengthening Project (PARGFM) at the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Development. The system update of GAF AG’s computerised mining cadastre platform eMC+ aims to reinforce efficiency, digital governance and customer service, thereby ensuring information transparency and accessibility within EITI-standards, and fostering land and mining cadastre interoperability in Burkina Faso.

The Ministry of Economy, Finance and Development of Burkina Faso’s “Support to Land and Mining Management Strengthening Project” (“Projet d’Appui au Reinforcement de la Gestion du Foncier et des Mines,” PARGFM) is being funded by the World Bank. PARGFM has contracted GAF AG to upgrade eMC+ + for the Mining Cadastre Department at the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Quarries to its latest version and implement additional modules of the cadastral platform, in order to ensure continuous operation and enhance transparency and the provision of rapid service by the Mining Cadastre General Directorate (DGCM).

The services being provided will be carried out in partnership with the Ministry of Mines and Quarries and under the supervision of its IT Services Directorate, within the framework of its IT master plan. They will include the development of new key features, such as electronic fee payments, improved customer notifications and interactive online services, with the aim of streamlining administrative procedures for mineral title applicants and holders in accordance with the latest requirements.

By accelerating the processing of mining titles and improving public access to information, the new eMC+ version is expected to further strengthen investor confidence and increase revenues for Burkina Faso’s mining sector.

The eMC+ system, which GAF AG first implemented in Burkina Faso in 2015, is a flagship product of GAF AG. It supports mineral tenure administration and public information access in line with EITI (Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative) standards. The system has been operational in Burkina Faso since 2018 and has a central role in managing and regulating the country’s mining titles.

The modernisation is intended to not only ensure continuous operation of the cadastre system but also to transfer technical skills to the Directorate-General of Mining Cadastre (DGCM), thus enabling full in-country management and sustainability within the context of the Ministry’s broader IT master plan.

The contract reinforces a decade-long consulting collaboration between the DGCM and GAF AG, marking a successful continuation of efforts to support a digital transformation and good governance for Burkina Faso’s mineral resources management.

Kick-off meeting at the Mining Cadastre office with the Secretary General of the Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Quarries, Mambagari COMBARI, the Director General of the Mining Cadastre, Mamadou SAGNON, and representatives of GAF AG.

About GAF AG

GAF AG, an e-GEOS S.p.A. (Telespazio S.p.A. /ASI) company based in Munich and Neustrelitz, was founded in Munich in 1985 as the first German company with a focus on applied remote sensing. It is one of the leading commercial geoinformation service providers in Europe. As part of the e-GEOS S.p.A./Telespazio S.p.A.  group of companies, GAF AG offers an extensive service portfolio that, in addition to the direct reception and distribution of satellite data, also includes highly developed analysis techniques, AI processes and the tailor-made development of geoinformation and software systems and platforms as well as comprehensive consulting solutions. The products and services in the sector of Advanced Air Mobility Solutions (drones) cover the entire value chain from data collection to system provision. The areas of thematic expertise for public and private clients worldwide include land monitoring, natural resource management, water and environmental monitoring, agriculture and forestry, mining, emergency management and infrastructure security. GAF AG is also one of the most experienced European service providers in the EU/ESA Copernicus programme, due to its many years of service implementation for the Copernicus land monitoring service, emergency management service and security and in-situ service components.

 

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The European Space Agency will host StatEO26 – The EO for Official Statistics and Policy Indicators Reporting Conference at ESA-ESRIN on 5–7 May 2026. Co-organised with Eurostat (DG ESTAT), JRC, DG DEFIS, DG ENV, EARSC, EEA, OECD, UNSD, FAO, UNECE, the University of Hannover, and Biodiversity Alliance & CIAT, StatEO26 convenes national statistical offices, mapping and environmental agencies, EO providers, researchers and policy stakeholders to accelerate how satellite data feeds official statistics and policy reporting at national and international levels.

Why this conference matters

As governments scale up reporting on sustainability, environment and economy, Earth Observation (EO) offers consistent, timely and spatially rich evidence for indicators—supporting, for example, natural capital accounting, agricultural statistics, land-cover/use reporting, urban metrics, and GHG-related statistics. StatEO26 is designed to translate that promise into operational practice, focusing on methods, standards, uncertainty, and institutional uptake.

Call for abstracts (oral, poster & workshops)

The conference invites oral, poster, and workshop proposals. Submissions are especially welcome from teams demonstrating operational use in statistical production and from the Global South, highlighting capacity gaps and integration pathways with official systems. No special proceedings are foreseen. Submit via the conference portal. Key dates below.

Thematic oral sessions: Authors are encouraged to align with one of these tracks (each with a strong focus on methods, metadata and routes to official uptake):

  • Agriculture Statistics — crop type/area, yield, seasonal monitoring, change detection; integration with national crop tables and SDG/SEEA-related outputs.
  • Natural Capital Accounting — EO for SEEA ecosystem extent/condition/services; links to air, water, land and ocean accounts with traceable methods.
  • EO for SDGs & Environmental Policy Reporting — how EO supports national SDG and biodiversity reporting; processing chains and uncertainty handling.
  • Land Use / Land Cover (LULC) — operational classification & change detection; validation, INSPIRE links, reporting units (grid/NUTS), registries.
  • People & Urban Areas — population and settlement mapping, access to services, built-up area/green space per capita, heat-island, informal settlements.
  • Economy & Infrastructure — transport/industrial footprints, construction activity, night-time lights and other EO proxies for economic statistics.
  • Sustainability Indicators — forests, land degradation, biodiversity, emissions; validation, integration with national inventories and official outputs.

Interactive workshopsWorkshops are participatory (e.g., World Café/breakouts) and must deliver actionable recommendations. Propose one of the following:

  1. User needs & experiences (NSOs, mapping & environment agencies, etc.); success stories, gaps, procurement constraints.
  2. Integrating in-situ & EO — co-designed calibration/validation, governance, licensing and accessibility.
  3. Standardisation & quality — aligning EO with statistical quality frameworks, classifications and metadata.
  4. Trust & uncertainty — transparent methods, quality assessment, replicability and communication of uncertainty.
  5. Accessibility & interoperability — platforms, policies, metadata; Copernicus and other public EO services in data infrastructure.
  6. Capacity building — training and institutional development, with an emphasis on low-resource contexts.
  7. Future steps to operational integration — near-real-time EO, AI/digital twins, and sustaining publicly accessible EO datasets.

Who should contribute

  • National Statistical Offices, Mapping & Environment Agencies seeking scalable geospatial methods for official production.
  • EO companies and research groups delivering validated products and tools aligned with statistical standards.
  • Custodian agencies & international organisations working on comparable indicator frameworks and guidance.

Key dates

  • Call opens: 7 Oct 2025
  • Submission deadline (oral/poster/workshops): 1 Dec 2025
  • Notifications: 26 Jan 2026
  • Preliminary programme & registration open: 1 Feb 2026
  • Registration closes: 1 Apr 2026
  • Final programme: 7 Apr 2026
  • Conference: 5–7 May 2026 (Frascati, Italy)
  • StatEO26

Venue & contacts

ESA-ESRIN, Largo Galileo Galilei 1, 00044 Frascati, Italy.
Submissions & scientific queries: EO4Society.Conf@esa.int

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Project Credible’s partners, together with invited experts, produced recently a series of reports on the challenges and solutions towards the adoption of carbon farming and regenerative agriculture across Europe. Some of the issues addressed are farmers’ perspectives, incentives to support the adoption of carbon farming, sustainability benefits, scales of governance, policy elements and synergies, proximal and remote sensing, and data sharing. These reports were then open for public consultation, receiving more than 40 comments with insightful ideas and suggestions. Have a look at the documents and the feedback received here (https://www.project-credible.eu/consultations)

Project Credible has now edited two documents summarising the main outcomes of the 2nd Summit – a general Overview of sessions, contributions, and recommendations, and an Analysis of Session Recommendations. The 3rd European Carbon Farming Summit will be held from 17–19 March 2026 in the historic city of Padua, Italy, at the Padova Congress Centre. Find more information and submit your contribution before 31 October here.

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The European Association of Remote Sensing Companies (EARSC) is delighted to announce its active participation as an Ecosystem Partner at the upcoming Smart City Expo World Congress, taking place 4–6 November 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. This leading global event on urban innovation gathers decision-makers, industry leaders, and innovators from across the world to shape the cities of tomorrow. 

As an Ecosystem Partner, EARSC brings unique benefits to its community, ensuring enhanced visibility and opportunities for collaboration within the smart cities landscape. Learn how the EO community will be part of the event and how you can network with us throughout the week. 

EARSC Sessions at Smart City Expo 

EARSC will host three dedicated sessions highlighting how Earth Observation (EO) solutions can empower urban decision-makers, improve sustainability, and strengthen resilience: 

  • Wednesday 5/11 (13:20–14:10, Agora Session) 
    From Space to City: Smart Tools and Success Stories for Tomorrow’s Cities 
    This flagship session will feature two EARSC members — CLS Group and Grupo COTESA — presenting EO-based success stories together with their end users: Métropole Aix-Marseille-Provence and the City of Madrid. The session will showcase real-world examples of EO transforming city management and services. 
  • Thursday 6/11 (09:30–11:30, Side Event) 
    Accelerating SDG Action with User-Driven Earth Observation: The SDGsEYES Way 
    Focusing on the SDGs EYES project, this session will explore how user-centric EO solutions can accelerate action on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 
  • Thursday 6/11 (13:00–15:00, Side Event) 
    Driven Blue Cities: Coastal Resilience, Innovation & Ocean Insights 
    Highlighting projects such as OCEANIDS and VALORADA, this session will bring attention to EO’s critical role in supporting coastal cities facing climate and resilience challenges. 

EARSC Stand – Showcasing the EO Community 

Beyond the sessions, EARSC will be present as an exhibitor with a dynamic booth, where 14 member companies will co-exhibit and demonstrate their innovative solutions. Participating companies include: 

Acri-ST, CloudFerro, CLS, constellR, COTESA, geosat, GeoVille, GMATICS, Geosystems Hellas, ICEYE, IEEC, MEEO, TerraNIS, vortex-io. 

This shared space will offer a unique opportunity for networking, knowledge exchange, and direct interaction with the global smart city community. 

To further promote Earth Observation’s potential for smart cities, EARSC is preparing a special booklet of services, showcasing the capabilities of its members and the broader EO sector in the urban domain. The booklet will be available on the EARSC website ahead of the event. 

Connect With Us in Barcelona 

If you plan to attend Smart City Expo and wish to network with EO innovators, connect with our members, or represent a user community eager to harness space-based solutions, we invite you to get in touch: weronika.borejko@earsc.org. 

Join EARSC in Barcelona this November to explore how space-powered solutions are shaping the cities of the future. 

 

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Radiometric calibration plays a central role in ensuring that satellite sensors deliver accurate, reliable, and traceable Earth Observation data. Rayference has recently published a new article titled “Elaboration of Simulated Hyperspectral Calibration Reference over Pseudo-Invariant Calibration Reference“ in the journal MDPI Atmosphere, presenting a thorough methodology for calibration and validation across a wide range of sensors and missions. This work has been funded through the European Space Agency – ESA’s HyperPICS (QA4EO) and EUMETSAT’s RPV4PICS projects.

Ensuring radiometric accuracy of Earth observation satellites is a critical challenge, especially when SItraceable references are unavailable. In this paper, we introduce a refined methodology to generate Radiometric Calibration References (RCRs) based on hyperspectral simulated reflectances over bright desert PICS like Libya4 and Gobabeb. 

The methodology introduces several key advancements:

  • Improved surface reflectance modelling using the Rahman–Pinty–Verstraete (RPV) model combined with the CISAR algorithm, ensuring more realistic representation of surface–atmosphere interactions.
  • Enhanced atmospheric characterization through integration of multiple state-of-the-art datasets, reducing uncertainties linked to atmospheric variability.
  • Use of the Eradiate Monte Carlo-based radiative transfer model, allowing highly accurate simulations across the hyperspectral domain.

Together, these refinements reduce uncertainty in simulated top-of-atmosphere reflectance, achieving an accuracy within ±3% in high-transmittance spectral regions. Validation exercises against multispectral and hyperspectral missions — including EMIT, EnMAP, and PRISMA — confirm the robustness and reliability of the approach.

Beyond the publication itself, Rayference can offer RRCR products over key desert targets such as Libya (20 km resolution) and Gobabeb (2 km resolution) for any satellite acquisition in the visible and near-infrared spectral ranges, upon request (using this form or contacting us directly). These products provide users with traceable, high-fidelity calibration references to improve sensor accuracy and ensure the interoperability of EO datasets.

The Eradiate Workshop 2025 will gather the community of scientists and engineers working with the open-source 3D radiative transfer model Eradiate, to exchange on new developments, applications, and collaborative opportunities.
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The Eradiate Workshop 2025 will gather the community of scientists and engineers working with the open-source 3D radiative transfer model Eradiate, to exchange on new developments, applications, and collaborative opportunities.

Date: 16–17th October 2025
Location: ESA-ESRIN, Frascati, Italy

This event is organized jointly with ESA’s Sentinel-2 Validation Team Meeting #7.

Background and objectives

Eradiate is an open-source new-generation 3D radiative transfer model for the Earth observation community. Its primary focus is to deliver highly accurate radiometric simulations for remote sensing applications. It is designed to be a highly flexible radiative transfer simulation environment allowing for both classic 1D, as well as advanced 3D simulations.

This two-day event will introduce participants to Eradiate from a conceptual and practical point of view. An introductory seminar will present the fundamental principles and concepts underlying Eradiate’s design, and a hands-on tutorial will help participants get familiar with the modelling workflow, including an introduction to the simulation of Sentinel-2 images over 3D vegetated surfaces.

Participation

  • This is a physical-only event: no remote participation is foreseen.
  • This workshop is given in the English language.
  • The tutorial assumes some familiarity with the Python programming language.
  • Prior to the event, participants will have to set up their simulation environment. An online help desk will be organized two weeks prior to assist users in the setup process.
  • The number of participants is limited to 20. Participants registering after this limit is reached will be placed on a waiting list and called if a seat becomes available.
  • Participants are encouraged to communicate their use cases. Training can be adapted to address specific needs.

Registration

Places are limited. Registration is open on the Eradiate website. 

Deadlines

Deadline

Date

Registration deadline

3 Oct 2025

Setup help desk opening

6 Oct 2025

Workshop at ESRIN

16–17 Oct 2025

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The Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC — Institut d’Estudis Espacials de Catalunya) coordinates the Earth Observation Use Case Ideas Competition for the Private Sector. This initiative is framed within the NewSpace Strategy of Catalonia promoted by the Government of Catalonia with the participation of the IEEC, the Institut Cartogràfic i Geològic de Catalunya (ICGC) and the i2CAT Foundation. 

The goal of this competition is to obtain innovative proposals for Earth Observation use cases that the NewSpace ecosystem can offer to the Catalan private business sector. 

This article showcases the main results from the first edition. 

Among other requirements, the competition requested that all cases presented be based on satellite data, include data from the ‘Menut’ nanosatellite—the second satellite mission, and the first of Earth Observation, of the NewSpace Strategy—as a demonstrator, be applicable to the Catalan territory and include the active participation of the end user. 

The companies and proposals selected were: 

  • isardSAT with the project MARE: drought monitoring with high spatial resolution.
  • SPASCAT with the project MOT: Module for Earth Observation.

The two chosen use cases will serve to promote the use of satellite data and highlight the benefits companies can obtain by incorporating data from ‘Menut’ into their operations. Both cases were awarded a financial prize of 2,500 euros and were eligible for a subsequent service contract of 47,500 euros each. 

Discover MARE! A project to optimize water management using satellite technology

Earth Observation is a key tool in sectors such as agriculture, providing accurate information to optimize processes and support data-driven decision-making. 

The MARE project, developed by the company isardSAT, has created an innovative methodology using satellite data to deliver a comprehensive view of drought conditions and crop water needs. The project has focused on the irrigation communities of Aigües Segarra-Garrigues and Terra Alta, with the aim of optimizing agricultural irrigation and ensuring efficient water resource management. 

Using data collected since 2015 by NASA’s SMAP and Landsat satellites, and new algorithms developed by isardSAT, MARE has created maps showing a new drought index and weekly estimates of soil moisture in agricultural areas. 

These maps, with an innovative resolution of 100 meters, make it possible to anticipate water availability for crops and assess soil moisture levels compared to the 10-year historical average (to determine whether it is drier or wetter), on a weekly basis. This information is essential for maximizing water use efficiency and supporting evidence-based decision-making. 

Enhanced resolution thanks to Menut

One of the project’s highlights has been the integration of data from Menut, Catalonia’s second nanosatellite, launched into orbit in January 2023 under the NewSpace Strategy. Menut’s data has been integrated with those from the Earth observation satellite Sentinel-3 —European Union’s Copernicus programme, which provides land surface temperature maps at a resolution of 1 km—, and with data from the SMOS (ESA) and SMAP (NASA) satellites —which provide soil moisture information—. 

The combination of these data, along with artificial intelligence techniques, has enabled the generation of soil temperature and moisture maps at a groundbreaking resolution of 5 meters (see image below). This enhancement provides a precise view of the water status at the plot scale, detecting moisture differences between cultivated fields and surrounding paths, in order to optimize water resource management.

Comparison of soil moisture maps at 100-meter resolution, using data from NASA’s SMAP and Landsat 7, 8, and 9 satellites (left); and at 5-meter resolution, using data from Menut, Sentinel-3 and SMOS/SMAP satellites (right), over specific plots in the Delta de l’Ebre (Catalonia). isardSAT

Projects like MARE demonstrate the potential of NewSpace technologies to open up new perspectives for drought monitoring and management, allowing farmers and water managers to adopt more efficient and sustainable solutions in the face of climate change challenges. 

MARE Explorer

The MARE project allows you to explore weekly drought data from April 2015 to 2023 here. 

Discover the project in this video 

Discover MOT! Optimising vineyard management with satellite technology

Earth Observation is becoming an essential tool for the winegrowing sector, providing valuable information to support more efficient and sustainable decision-making. 

The MOT project (‘Earth Observation Module for PixelSuite’), developed by the Catalan company SPASCAT, has created an innovative methodology using satellite data to optimise the management of vineyards and fruit orchards. 

The project has focused on plots at the Raimat estate, owned by the company Codorníu, in order to validate MOT’s functionalities on the ground and enhance the sustainability and quality of the crops. 

The application combines satellite data, aerial orthophotos, and ground measurements to provide a global and detailed view of the condition of the plots. Through vegetation index maps and the automatic definition of inspection points, MOT supports the work of

viticulture technicians and helps optimise the use of resources such as water, fertilisers, and plant protection products. 

The project has also involved the company Agropíxel, which collaborated with the application developed by SPASCAT to enhance its agronomic analysis and consulting activities. 

Enhanced resolution thanks to Menut 

One of the project’s highlights has been the integration of data from Menut, Catalonia’s second nanosatellite, launched into orbit in January 2023. 

The data from Menut has been integrated with that of Sentinel-2, an Earth observation satellite from the European Union’s Copernicus programme, which enables the calculation of various vegetation indices. The combination of the two satellites has increased the amount of available information thanks to a higher data frequency. Moreover, the use of Menut, which offers better resolution in the red edge band (NDRE index) — highly valuable in agriculture as it provides information on plant chlorophyll content — has made it possible to apply Earth observation technology to small plots of land. 

Thanks to projects like MOT and the synergies they generate, the innovation developed through NewSpace technologies becomes accessible to the ecosystem and has a direct impact on the viticulture and fruit-growing sectors in Catalonia. 

Discover the project in this video.

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Barcelona hosted a conference on the use of space technologies in disaster risk management, promoted by the EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) and the Eurisy network 

The IEEC and the Catalan Government have organised the conference in the framework of the NewSpace Strategy of Catalonia, in collaboration with the Spanish Space Agency (AEE) and the Spanish Government 

Two live simulations have shown the potential of space technologies in emergency situations: one for maritime rescue in the Port of Barcelona and another for sending alerts to the population via satellite 

On 26 February 2025, stakeholders from public authorities, research institutions, civil society, the private sector and other potential stakeholders convened in Barcelona to address disaster risk management (DRM) challenges and the integration of satellite technologies. The workshop ‘Satellite-based Services for Disaster Risk Management’ has highlighted the potential of European Union satellite applications in enhancing the Member state response and risk reduction capacities amid rising risks from floods, wildfires, and earthquakes. 

This event, which is part of a national workshop series launched by the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) aimed at raising awareness of the many possibilities offered by the EU Space Programme components for disaster risk management, was organised by EUSPA itself in collaboration with Eurisy, a European network dedicated to promoting the use of space technologies and satellite data in society, the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC), the Secretariat for Digital Policies of the Government of Catalonia, and the Spanish Space Agency (AEE). The workshop was also supported by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities and the Ministry of Defence. 

The session opened with remarks from Juan Carlos Cortés, Director of the Spanish Space Agency (AEE), who stated: “Disaster management presents a global challenge demanding equally global solutions. Space offers a unique perspective to tackle this, particularly given that a sense of security is a major concern for citizens today. The concept of security encompasses a broad spectrum of threats, ranging from climate change and the danger of asteroid impacts to volcanic eruptions, wildfires, and floods. The Spanish Space Agency aims to improve citizens’ lives through the application of space technology, and this congress undoubtedly aligns with that commendable mission. Spain, through space programmes such as SpainSat NG, the Atlantic Constellation, DRACO, SST, and PNT, among others, exemplifies its leadership in developing space technologies for security and disaster management.” 

The Secretary for Digital Policy of the Government of Catalonia, Maria Galindo, highlighted the role of the Catalan Government in positioning Catalonia in the application of satellite

technologies for the benefit of society: “Emergency management is a critical area where space technologies can provide a unique value. Events like this are essential to connect the space sector with end users and ensure that satellite-based solutions address real and specific needs. From the Catalan Government, through the NewSpace Strategy, we are working to promote this collaboration and position Catalonia as a benchmark in the application of innovative space technologies for the benefit of society,” she stated. 

The director of the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC, Institut d’Estudis Espacials de Catalunya), Ignasi Ribas, stated that “Today’s event is a demonstration of the effort we are making from the IEEC and the Generalitat to promote cooperation at the state, European, and international levels, to drive the transformation of our society through the new space economy, and to address the climate emergency. The goal of this cooperation is to position Catalonia as an active player in the effort to improve services for citizens and industry through solutions provided by satellite infrastructures and the data and information they provide us.”

The IEEC director, Ignasi Ribas, during his presentation

Representing the EU Space Programme, Rodrigo da Costa, Executive Director of EUSPA, underlined “With more than 4 billion Galileo-enabled devices worldwide, EU space technology is now an essential tool in disaster risk management. The EU Space Programme provides critical support for emergency response, helping authorities make faster, data-driven decisions that save lives and protect communities. By leveraging Copernicus, GOVSATCOM and Galileo for precise positioning and emergency alerting, we are strengthening Europe’s resilience against natural and manmade disasters”.

The workshop also provided the opportunity to witness two demonstrations to showcase the real-time capabilities of space technology in providing a rapid response in emergency situations. The first demonstration was a Search And Rescue (SAR) exercise, in which SASEMAR (a sea search and rescue agency that operates in Spain), supported by the Mossos d’Esquadra and the fire brigade, deployed two boats and a rescue helicopter to simulate a real-time maritime assistance operation. The demonstration aimed to highlight the effectiveness and speed of Galileo SAR Service and its Return Link Service, the European Union’s satellite navigation and positioning system, as key tools in maritime rescue operations. 

The workshop included a simulation of a maritime assistance operation in real time.

Furthermore, the audience had the chance to experience the upcoming Galileo Emergency Warning Satellite Service (EWSS). This technology is in its testing phase and will become the future means of mass alert messaging to populations in areas threatened by natural or manmade disasters, improving current capabilities. As a satellite-based communication system using Galileo, the EWSS will represent a major transformation. Unlike current alerts, which rely on terrestrial phone networks, EWSS will send information, alerts and safety instructions to conventional phones, even in areas with no coverage, thus improving risk zone delineation and extending the reach of protected populations. By ensuring the distribution of alert messages and guidance, EWSS will enhance the connection between

users and space, increasing rescue capabilities in large-scale emergencies and safeguarding populations at threat. 

The workshop presented satellite-enabled capabilities, providing Spanish stakeholders insights into integrating space technologies across disaster management phases. Panel discussions explored Spanish cases involving wildfires, floods, and earthquakes, presenting national efforts and challenges in preparedness and response. The first thematic panel featured space companies showcasing practical applications of satellite data in support of the disaster management cycle and their integration into daily workflows. The second focused on emergency system users sharing experiences, highlighting the benefits, challenges, and opportunities to enhance satellite data accessibility. Discussions drew on Spanish case studies and best practices to outline actionable recommendations for policymakers and civil protection agencies, strengthening collaboration between service providers and end-users. 

Space-enabled services already play a prominent role in Spanish DRM activities. The most frequent type of disaster was wildfires, accounting for 75% of activations. The latest Copernicus activation occurred in response to a flood in Valencia in October 2024. In Spain last year, 42 activations of Galileo SAR RLS beacons led to 172 lives saved. 

One of the demonstrations of the workshop consisted of sending an alert message to the mobile phone using the future Galileo Emergency Warning Satellite Service (EWSS), which is currently in the testing phase.

In this context, the Minister for Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant, announced in Valencia last January a call for projects to develop innovative space-based solutions addressing the challenges of climate events in the Mediterranean. This initiative, with a budget of €5 million, seeks collaboration between industry, academia, and public institutions, fostering the development of capabilities both upstream (new technologies) and downstream (application of existing technologies) 

You can discover more about this workshop in this video.

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The Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem (CDSE) is the official access point and cloud processing platform for Sentinel imagery. But not all stakeholders want a satellite image: for many users, data processing is out of reach, and they want direct quantitative results such as land cover or bio-physical quantities. The Copernicus Land Monitoring Service (CLMS) delivers calibrated products for land management, such as soil moisture, temperature, water quality and vegetation characteristics. The global products of the CLMS are now available directly within CDSE using OData, STAC, and S3, but also for processing with the Sentinel Hub APIs and even for visualisation in the Copernicus Browser. This means that users who are not experts in analysing satellite imagery can request these datasets directly and create new products based on them. The OGC Services seem to be particularly popular for these datasets: CDSE can be used to integrate not only satellite images but also CLMS products directly into web maps, GIS software and client-facing applications.
 
The available datasets include:
 
  • Soil moisture and soil water index,
  • Snow cover and snow water equivalent,
  • Land surface temperature in hourly time steps (!) together with the Thermal Condition Index,
  • Vegetation properties including Fractional Cover, Fraction of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation and Leaf Area Index
  • Gross Primary Productivity, Net Primary Productivity and Dry Matter Productivity for vegetation
  • Land surface phenology based on yearly time series
  • NDVI and NDVI statistics
  • Burnt area maps
  • Water bodies extent and water quality
  • Lake river ice extent
We trust that these datasets will radically shorten the path from information to knowledge for many applications related to environmental monitoring, spatial planning or land management.
 
Dry Matter Productivity of Southern Europe and North Africa, visualized in a global 3D view. This scene is accessible here: https://link.dataspace.copernicus.eu/mne6

e-GEOS was recently awarded the leadership of an ambitious strategic project to build a digital twin of the entire Italian territory, with the aim of deepening morphological knowledge of the national land and supporting its management. This is one of many examples of how the company is developing innovative digital twin solutions to understand and protect territories, strengthening security, resilience and sustainability.
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Geoinformation-based technologies are today crucial tools for land management and monitoring. e-GEOS – a company owned by the Italian Space Agency (20%) and Telespazio (80%), part of the Leonardo Group – is involved in the development of innovative solutions capable of producing simulation scenarios of the physical dynamics of the territory, offering decision-makers solid and realistic scientific foundations.

The company recently was awarded a contract by the Department of Sustainable Development (DiSS) of the Italian Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security to develop a Digital Twin of Italy's land, based on aerial LiDAR surveys and aerogravimetric data. The aim is to provide the country with complete and uniform LiDAR coverage and a new national gravimetric database, two fundamental tools for understanding, representing and managing the territory more effectively.

The digital model will cover the entire national territory, including major and minor islands. LiDAR data will enable the reproduction of the land's surface, infrastructure and vegetation with an unprecedented level of detail; aerogravimetric surveys will ensure the updating of the national geoid model, an essential reference for altimetry and geodetic analysis. When integrated, these data will offer the possibility of interpreting the territory not only on the surface, but also in its deeper dynamics.

The project has a wide range of potential applications: from improving slope stability to mapping flood-risk areas, from planning resilient infrastructure to enhancing positioning systems and subsurface analyses, up to identifying raw material deposits.
More Digital Twin projects by e-GEOS

For e-GEOS, this project is just the latest in a long series of innovative initiatives dedicated to Digital Twin development. The company is Prime Contractor of the European Space Agency’s “SURE” (Smart Urban Resilience Enhancement) project, which involves the development of digital models to simulate scenarios related to heat islands and flooding in urban areas. The initiative integrates multiplatform data, from both remote and close-range sensing, as well as in-situ measurements, with the goal of developing new technologies that provide advanced tools for understanding, simulation and decision-making support to mitigate the impacts of climate change in urban contexts.

Meanwhile, e-GEOS is also part of the consortium in charge of developing a Hydro-Meteo Digital Twin within the framework of the IRIDE Program, promoted by the Italian Government and managed by ESA and the Italian Space Agency. This digital model will provide data and simulation tools for different thematic areas, contributing in particular to hydrogeological risk management and air quality monitoring.