{"id":3264,"date":"2025-10-08T15:02:27","date_gmt":"2025-10-08T15:02:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/?p=3264"},"modified":"2025-10-08T15:02:27","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T15:02:27","slug":"eyes-in-the-sky-making-earth-observation-data-work-for-people","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/3264\/eyes-in-the-sky-making-earth-observation-data-work-for-people\/","title":{"rendered":"Eyes in the sky: making Earth observation data work for people"},"content":{"rendered":"

Smarter decisions about real-world problems start with better data \u2013 and Earth observation can provide just that, thanks to European efforts to open up access to massive amounts of satellite data collected every day.<\/p>\n

By<\/em> Gareth Willmer<\/p>\n

Imagine using space technology not just to explore the stars, but to\u00a0stop a disease outbreak before it starts, or predict and monitor natural disasters such as floods.<\/p>\n

That is exactly what European researchers are doing with\u00a0Earth observation (EO)\u00a0\u2013 turning satellite data into real-world solutions that protect people and the planet.<\/p>\n

Mosquito monitor<\/strong><\/p>\n

Since 2020, a pioneering service called the\u00a0Early Warning System for Mosquito-Borne Diseases<\/a>\u00a0(EYWA)\u00a0has been tracking mosquito breeding grounds using high-resolution satellite images. Why? Because as\u00a0climate change spreads mosquito-borne diseases, advance information can save lives.<\/p>\n

According to Dr Haris Kontoes, research director at the Institute for Astronomy, Astrophysics, Space Applications and Remote Sensing of the National Observatory of Athens in Greece, this is a good example of how EO data can be put to use.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was always a big problem considering that millions of people are affected worldwide, but in the last 10\u00a0years these diseases have been increasingly transmitted in Europe, even northern European countries,\u201d said Kontoes, the coordinator of EYWA.<\/p>\n

EYWA\u2019s data-driven system helps local authorities act fast \u2013 targeting breeding sites before mosquitoes multiply. The results? In some areas, mosquito populations have been cut in half. Today, EYWA protects\u00a0around 30 million people, from farmers in Greece to residents in Cameroon.<\/p>\n

Behind this success is a multidisciplinary global team led by the\u00a0National Observatory of Athens, working with partners in EO, health, climate modelling and data analytics.<\/p>\n

Earth observation data for everyday problems\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

EYWA is just one success story from a wider movement supporting the use of EO data for practical benefit.<\/p>\n

The European Group on Earth Observations (EuroGEO), Europe\u2019s contribution to the global GEO alliance, brings together governments, researchers and businesses to harness satellite data in practical ways for a range of uses, including\u00a0disaster response, agriculture, health and climate resilience.<\/p>\n

For example, EuroGEO\u2019s\u00a0rapid flood monitoring service\u00a0helped communities in Central Europe manage devastating floods in 2024. And there is more to come. The value of the EO data market is expected to\u00a0nearly\u00a0triple<\/a> by 2030, but much of this beneficial data is still underused.<\/p>\n

From pilots to permanent solutions<\/strong><\/p>\n

EYWA was involved as one of the case studies in the EU-funded e-shape project, which tested 37 different applications across Europe and beyond. From tracking air pollution\u00a0to predicting\u00a0water conditions for divers, these pilots showed what is possible when scientists and end users design tools together.<\/p>\n

But scaling up is the challenge. \u201cSustainability depends on securing funding and meeting real needs,\u201d said Kontoes. \u201cThat attracts further investment, including from the private sector.\u201d<\/p>\n

EYWA has already attracted support from the EU, the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the\u00a0Horizon Prize on Early Warning for Epidemics<\/a>. But the goal is to make such services permanent.<\/p>\n

\u201cUsers of EO want to see that what they are doing is sustainable,\u201d said Kontoes.<\/p>\n

The power of co-design<\/strong><\/p>\n

EuroGEO promotes \u201cco-design\u201d \u2013 creating tools hand-in-hand with those who actually use them.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s about talking with the users, engaging them, and building cooperation,\u201d said Professor Thierry Ranchin, director at the Centre for Observation, Impacts, Energy at Mines Paris – PSL, who led the e-shape initiative.<\/p>\n

This approach is shaping the next phase of EuroGEO, which includes the creation of a strong, permanent governance structure under a EuroGEO Secretariat (EuroGEOSec). Unlike previous actions, this is not about starting new pilots. It is about connecting existing ones, making them sustainable, and\u00a0breaking down silos between data, programmes and people.<\/p>\n

This movement toward greater integration and collaboration is encapsulated in the\u00a0#OneEuroGEO\u00a0approach, which reflects Europe\u2019s ambition to build a\u00a0truly connected EO ecosystem.<\/p>\n

It works through\u00a0EuroGEO Action Groups\u00a0\u2013 specialist teams tackling issues in areas including disaster resilience and health, agriculture, energy and more. These groups do not just share data, they\u00a0combine tools, models and expertise, deploy\u00a0cloud infrastructure, open access to\u00a0IoT networks, and even deliver\u00a0training for local users.<\/p>\n

Making data work for people<\/strong><\/p>\n

A key aim is to close the gap between those who collect satellite data and those who need it. The EuroGEO team hopes this will make it simpler for local officials and national agencies to take advantage of satellite insights, such as for disease control and climate response.<\/p>\n

Right now, more than 100 terabytes of EO data pour in every day from programmes like\u00a0Copernicus<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Destination Earth<\/a>. But too often, local authorities and frontline workers cannot access or use it. EuroGEOSec aims to fix this so that a\u00a0health official in Portugal\u00a0can use the same satellite insights as a\u00a0national agency in Brussels.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s fragmentation today in the EU landscape,\u201d said Ranchin. \u201cWe are working to reduce it, but it demands a lot of coordination.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2025, EuroGEOSec plans to deliver a roadmap that makes EO data easier to access and apply for the likes of ministries and municipalities, and even individual citizens.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere will be an explosion of EO data in the coming years,\u201d said Ranchin. \u201cThe question now is, how can we make sure that it can be put to good use in as many areas as possible?\u201d<\/p>\n

From\u00a0space-based mosquito control\u00a0to\u00a0real-time flood alerts, the answer is clear: what is captured in orbit can help change life on Earth for the better.<\/p>\n

Research in this article was funded by the EU\u2019s Horizon Programme. The views of the interviewees don\u2019t necessarily reflect those of the European Commission. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u200bThis article was originally published\u202fin\u00a0Horizon<\/a>\u00a0the EU Research and Innovation Magazine.<\/em><\/p>\n

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