This year’s conference reaffirmed a message that is now widely shared across Europe: space has become a strategic infrastructure. It underpins security and defence, connectivity, climate and environmental monitoring, economic competitiveness, and the daily lives of millions of citizens. The discussions reflected this reality, focusing on how Europe can accelerate and strengthen its space sector in an increasingly complex geopolitical and economic scenario. 

Several key themes emerged throughout the conference, including the rising significance of dual‑use civilian–military space systems, the imperative for deeper European cooperation, and the pressing need to accelerate progress toward genuine strategic autonomy. These priorities align closely with the objectives and milestones outlined in the European Commission’s Readiness Roadmap 2030, which calls for a more resilient, agile, and autonomous European space capability. They also reflect the direction set by the European Space Agency’s 2040 strategy, which is moving decisively toward shared goals.

The conference looked firmly toward the future, highlighting ambitious initiatives such as the Moonlight programme, while also celebrating concrete achievements. Among these were the start of operations of GOVSATCOM, enhancing secure satellite communications for public authorities, and the delivery of the first images from MTG-S1, Europe’s first Meteorological Infrared Sounder in geostationary orbit, an important milestone for weather forecasting and climate monitoring.

Discussions also underlined the importance of funding innovation and disruption, ensuring that Europe can support emerging technologies, new actors, and novel applications that will drive the next phase of growth and competitiveness in the space sector. 

Beyond the formal sessions, the conference was also an excellent opportunity for Eurisy to reconnect with many of its members and partners and to celebrate together the start of a new year for the association. 

A key highlight of Eurisy’s presence at the conference was our dedicated panel on a topic of growing importance for Europe’s resilience and security: The role of space solutions in Disaster Risk Management (DRM). 

By bringing together national perspectives from Slovenia, Sweden, and the Czech Republic, the panel showcased how space-enabled solutions are increasingly being understood and integrated into traditional DRM systems. At the same time, the discussions made clear that further efforts are needed to establish dynamic communication channels, strengthen awareness-raising, and bridge remaining operational gaps between space actors and end users. This panel was built on a strong and growing collaboration between Eurisy and EUSPA – the EU Agency for the Space Programme. Since 2022, we have been working hand in hand to advance these discussions across Europe through the Disaster Risk Management Workshops. 

Year after year, the impact of these workshops continues to grow. At the conference, speakers highlighted a recurring and encouraging message:after each DRM workshop, new actions, initiatives, and collaborations emerge at national level. 

This is precisely the objective of the workshops, not only to showcase European space capabilities, but to share knowledge, foster cooperation, and generate real, lasting impact.  

During the conference, Eurisy was also delighted to welcome ESA astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski to the Eurisy booth. The exchange provided an opportunity to introduce him to Eurisy’s mission: building strong links with communities new to space and encouraging innovative uses of satellite applications to address today’s societal challenges. 

The conversation naturally touched on a shared passion for space exploration, a spark that continues to pass from one generation to the next and reminds us that our sense of wonder for space is truly timeless. At the same time, we discussed the importance of education and training across all dimensions of the space sector, especially as the industry rapidly evolves and expands. 

Following a dynamic and inspiring 18th European Space Conference, the Eurisy team is fully prepared and motivated for the months ahead.

With new activities, strategic collaborations, and upcoming events already underway, we look forward to continuing our work at the crossroads of space, policy, and societal impact, and to sharing the next milestones with our community. 

The post Strengthening Europe’s Space Ambition: The 18th European Space Conference appeared first on Eurisy.

The Czech Republic faces a range of natural hazards, from major floods and severe storms to prolonged droughts. Recent events such as the 2024 floods and the 2021 South Moravia tornado illustrate how climate change is amplifying the scale and frequency of extreme weather across the country. Strengthening disaster risk management has become essential, with space-based services supporting national efforts in monitoring, early warning, rapid response and recovery.

During the welcome remarks, representatives from the Czech Ministry of Transport, EUSPA and Eurisy highlighted the strong link between Europe’s space capabilities and disaster risk management. Speaking on behalf of the Czech Ministry of Transport, Lucie Kopecká, Space Policy Adviser, underlined the Czech Republic’s rapidly growing space sector and its relevance for crisis management, noting the country’s pride in hosting EUSPA’s headquarters in Prague. She stressed that organisations in the Czech Republic enjoy the benefits of the EU Space Programme components, such as Copernicus, Galileo and soon GOVSATCOM. She welcomed the high number of participants, seeing it as a clear indication of emergency responders’ strong interest in satellite-based services and their even greater potential for the future.

Christina Giannopapa, Head of the Office of the Executive Director at EUSPA, emphasised that EU space technologies are now indispensable for disaster risk management, combining the strengths of Copernicus, Galileo and GOVSATCOM to provide reliable data, precise positioning and resilient connectivity when it is needed most. She highlighted the Czech Republic as an ideal host for the workshop, given its dynamic space ecosystem and strategic commitment to resilience. Eurisy president, Dominique Tilmans, focused on the importance of ensuring that space-based services are accessible and truly operational for users on the ground. She stressed that collaboration between national actors and European institutions is essential to translate technological capability into real societal value, citing examples such as Copernicus Emergency Management Service activations during recent floods in Czech Republic, and noting the important role satellites play in ensuring resilience where they are sometimes are the only service providing reliable situational data.

The following session on EU Space Components examined how Europe’s space assets support disaster risk management and emergency response. Vasilis Kalogirou, Space Downstream Research & Innovation Officer at EUSPA outlined how Copernicus supports DRM through near-real-time mapping from the Emergency Management Service (CEMS), along with land use and ground-motion monitoring. He further stressed CEMS’ strong focus on users, explaining they carry tailored demonstrations, for instance with the Czech Red Cross. He pointed however out that while Copernicus services offer crucial insights for floods, wildfires and other hazards, awareness and uptake remain key challenges. Flavio Sbardellati, Governmental and Downstream Research & Innovation Manager at EUSPA then

explained the role of secure satellite communications for DRM. He noted that GOVSATCOM and future IRIS2 are designed to ensure reliable connectivity for civil protection and users when terrestrial networks fail. He also described Europe’s Space Surveillance and Tracking system (EU SST), which offers protection through collision avoidance, fragmentation and re-entry analysis, essential as space becomes increasingly crowded. The Galileo programme was then presented by Vincent Chatelée, Galileo EWSS and SAR Service Manager at EUSPA. He focused on Galileo’s evolution beyond positioning, presenting the upcoming Open Service Navigation Message Authentication (OSNMA) aiming to counter spoofing and strengthen resilience, a first in the world. He also described the forthcoming Emergency Warning Satellite Service (EWSS), aiming to broadcast alerts directly to the public via satellite when terrestrial networks fail, its ongoing pilots and the path toward its initial operational service in 2026. Finally, the session presented CASSINI, the EU’s entrepreneurship and investment initiative, and relevant Horizon Europe opportunities. It was outlined how these programmes help startups and SMEs accelerate growth, commercialise innovative space-based solutions, and develop applications that strengthen Europe’s resilience, from climate and environmental monitoring to emergency response.

EWSS live demonstration

After the EU Space Component panel, the participant witnessed a live demonstration of the upcoming Galileo Emergency Warning Satellite Service (EWSS), a new capability designed to deliver fast, reliable alerts to populations at risk during disasters. Building on the precision and resilience of the Galileo navigation system, EWSS enables authorities to broadcast location-based warning messages directly to compatible devices, even when conventional communication networks are disrupted. Complementing existing services, this innovation will provide timely alerts to at-risk populations, expand the dissemination of vital information, and enhance coordination during emergencies, marking an important step forward in Europe’s disaster communication capabilities.

 The first afternoon session showcased how space-based data is increasingly being translated into practical tools for DRM. Opening the panel, Boris Procházka of GINA Software, emphasised that the real challenge is not the quantity of satellite data available, but in ensuring it is usable by first responders. By looking at the entire chain of command – from the onset of a hazard through to rescue operations – his team focuses on integrating Earth Observation data directly into the tools and devices already used by field commanders and emergency crews. Thus, satellite data can be quickly integrated to decision-making and support everything from initial situational awareness to logistics, coordination and recovery. He concluded by stating that the technology is already there, the challenge now is understanding user needs to maximise satellite data impact during a crisis.

Jan Jelenek of the Czech Geological Survey followed with practical illustrations of how combining Copernicus satellite data with drone observations enables effective rapid assessment in DRM such as effective monitoring of landslides, surface deformation, and forest fires. As part of the Survey’s mandate to produce national risk analyses, he explained that leveraging space-based data allows authorities to obtain fast, reliable situational insight at moments when ground access is limited or too slow. He went on to describe ongoing research aimed at improving hazard prediction and reinforcing the scientific basis for crisis preparedness. Together, these activities illustrate how Czech scientific expertise is turning European space data into actionable, decision-ready information that directly supports disaster risk management both domestically and abroad.

Building on the operational theme, Simon Seidl of World from Space (on the photo) focused on how different types of satellite imagery – optical, multispectral, radar and high-resolution – are selected and combined to support DRM efforts, depending on the nature of the crisis. Drawing on case studies such as the recent Turkey earthquake, Beirut port explosion and Czech tornadoes and floods, he detailed how satellite data support impact assessment, risk prioritisation, transport accessibility analysis and off-road navigation for emergency teams. He also underlined the importance of automated processing, AI-assisted analysis and co-development with responders to deliver clear, actionable intelligence within the tight timeframes of an emergency.

Closing the session, František Zadražil of the Czech Centre for Science and Society presented the role of artificial intelligence in enhancing environmental and disaster-related monitoring. Using examples from agriculture and forestry, he demonstrated how AI can compensate for cloud-obstructed or infrequent satellite imagery, generating consistent, decision-relevant insights for users. He also outlined future research on super-resolving land-surface temperature data, with applications for drought monitoring and fire risk assessment.

Taken together, these presentations illustrated how European space capabilities – when coupled with operational integration, user-driven design, scientific expertise and emerging AI techniques – are improving the speed, accuracy and usability of satellite data delivered to those responsible for managing crises on the ground.

The second afternoon panel shifted the focus from service providers to end users, highlighting the challenges and opportunities of integrating satellite applications into day-to-day operations across policing, communication and agricultural management. Opening the session, Tomas Dusa of GNSS Centre of Excellence assessed the national needs for GOVSATCOM and the forthcoming IRIS² secure communication services. He explained that from an operational standpoint, many institutions see secure satellite services primarily as a back-up for crisis situations but need to be confident of availability of service provision in those situations. At a technical level potential users emphasised the need for low latency, assured bandwidth and to be assured of the availability of compatible hardware. He emphasised the need for clear guidance, practical demonstrations and hands-on training to help authorities understand how secure European satellite communication can strengthen crisis-response readiness.

Vratislav Hruska of the Czech Police then underscored the critical role that space-enabled, secure communications play in day-to-day policing and emergency response. He stressed that when terrestrial networks do not exist, fail or become overloaded, satellite connectivity ensures that essential voice and data services remain available for officers in the field. Beyond communications, he noted that space-based capabilities significantly enhance situational awareness and operational coordination: real-time positioning of patrol units, search teams and specialised assets enables commanders to allocate resources more efficiently, maintain oversight across wide or hard-to-access areas, and monitor sensitive transports with greater confidence.

Closing the panel, Lucie Šavelková of the State Agricultural Intervention Fund presented how Earth-observation data supported emergency compensatory measures during the 2024 floods. Although Sentinel-based monitoring is already embedded in routine agricultural control systems, the floods exposed shortcomings in existing hazard maps, which did not reflect the actual direction and extent of water flow. With limited in-situ measurements and large agricultural areas affected, the Agency swiftly developed an in-house verification process drawing on Copernicus imagery, biomass indices and complementary VHR data. By comparing pre- and post-event conditions from space data and integrating aerial photographs, hydrological data and farmer declarations, analysts were able to identify genuinely damaged parcels, validate compensation claims and provide a transparent basis for emergency interventions.

Together, the user perspectives reinforced that space-based services are becoming indispensable components for DRM. Their effectiveness depends not only on technological capability, but on usability, training, integration with existing workflows and clear institutional support. By sharing concrete challenges and best practices, the panel highlighted how strengthening user readiness is essential to support crises management.

If you were unable to join us, you can find the different presentations here.

Wrapping up the event, Christina Giannopappa of EUSPA and Graham Turnock of Eurisy emphasised the core message of the day: space-based capabilities are becoming essential for modern crisis management, yet their impact ultimately depends on user-friendly design and practical usability. Across the sessions, speakers demonstrated how satellites, combined with terrestrial data, AI, drones and tailored applications, are already enabling real-time decision-making in sectors such as forestry, agriculture, policing and disaster response. They stressed the need to translate complex space services into simple, operationally usable tools that integrate smoothly with existing structures, requiring not just technical excellence but also advocacy within organisations and among decision-makers. Looking ahead, there was optimism about advances in AI, higher-resolution sensors, and future national and European constellations, which promise faster revisit times and even more actionable insights. The event also reaffirmed the strong partnership between national authorities, user communities and European space programmes.

During the workshop, participants were also invited to complete a questionnaire available here on their uses of satellite-based services. You can find the results below:

The post Crisis by the Clock: Disaster Risk Management Insights from Czech Republic appeared first on Eurisy.

Sweden faces a variety of natural hazards, including floods, storms, and wildfires. For example, in a context of rapid climate change, the areas surrounding Sweden’s extensive waterways have recently experienced an increase both in the frequency and severity of flooding events. Disaster risk management is an important national priority and space-enabled services are central to Sweden’s efforts in this area, providing critical support for monitoring, early warning, and response.

Dominique Tilmans, Eurisy president, giving her introduction speech

The event began with a with a strong call from Ella Carlsson, Director General of the Swedish National Space Agency, to deepen the collaboration between Sweden and European partners to ensure that satellite-based information becomes fully integrated in national disaster management frameworks and a core tool for preparedness, response and recovery. She also highlighted Sweden’s commitment to ensuring Europe’s space systems, including Galileo’s Search and Rescue (SAR) and the upcoming Emergency Warning Satellite Service (EWSS), deliver real life-saving benefits for the public. Åke Holmgren, Director of Cybersecurity and Secure Communications at MSB followed, stressing that space is already essential infrastructure for Sweden, and the immediate priorities now are to strengthen redundancy, raise awareness, and build operational capacity so satellite services fully support civil defence today – not just in the future. The critical role of the EU space technology – Galileo, Copernicus and future GOVSATCOM and IRIS2 – in DRM was emphasised by Rodrigo Da Costa, Executive Director of EUSPA. He underlined the fact that these space capabilities not only support operational effectiveness but also strengthen Europe’s security, resilience, and strategic autonomy, by enabling governments, first responders, and essential services to act quickly and reliably in crises. Eurisy president, Dominique Tilmans highlighted that space is a practical tool for public safety, allowing first responders and local authorities to access critical satellite data in near-real time. She recalled the purpose of the Eurisy–EUSPA series of workshops, noting that it aims to bridge the gap between space innovation and real-world resilience by connecting decision-makers, scientists, and first responders.  Referring to Sweden’s experience with sustained wildfires in 2018, she underlined that Europe’s resilience lies in cooperation, knowledge sharing, and widespread access to satellite services – so that no region faces a crisis alone. Finally, Kristoffer Hultgren, Head of the Space Security Section at the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency at MSB shared an operational perspective, showing how space-based services are becoming part of frontline emergency response for wildfire detection and mapping, flood risk monitoring, search and rescue and damage assessment.  Noting that while the space technology to enable such services already exists, he emphasised that the challenge now is to apply that technology in practice, and build bridges from orbits to operations.

Tomas Jonsson, CASSINI Team Leader, for CASSINI Space Entrepreneurship Initiative at European Commission, presenting the EU Funding opportunities.

Following these opening remarks, a session on the EU Space Components examined how EU space assets — Copernicus, Galileo, and the forthcoming GOVSATCOM and IRIS² programmes — contribute to disaster risk management and emergency response. EUSPA representative Marie Ménard highlighted that Copernicus delivers free and open operational satellite services that support every phase of DRM. The Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS) was given as a concrete example, activated during – or ahead of – floods, earthquakes, wildfires or other crisis, providing responders with highly accurate situational awareness. Other Copernicus services – including the land, climate and security services – and related tools – such as flood impact demonstrators or land monitoring for deforestation – also play an important role in DRM.  A presentation Jérémie Benoist of EUSPA of Galileo highlighted how the programme enhances security and life-saving operations through Navigation Message Authentication service (OSNMA) that protects users from spoofing, the Search and Rescue service with its Return Link feature, and the forthcoming EWSS, which will broadcast alerts directly to the public via satellite when terrestrial networks fail. Europe’s Space Surveillance and Tracking network, safeguarding Europe’s space infrastructure by tracking debris, was also presented. Lastly,  CASSINI, the EU’s entrepreneurship and investment initiative, and relevant Horizon Europe calls were presented. These support startups to scale faster and deliver new services for public sector needs, including for example wildfire detection and crisis monitoring.  The success of CASSINI to date was underlined with a number of successful European companies active in DRM having recently been incubated and supported in significant growth.  Member States were encouraged to consider whether their own national initiatives, combined with the use of European services, could be supplemented by drawing on the capabilities of such companies.

The first of two afternoon sessions demonstrated how Sweden increasingly relies on space assets across the full DRM cycle. It opened with a highlight of Sweden’s near real-time satellite-based wildfire detection system and its important operational role in national fire management. Stefan Andersson from MSB and Adam Dybbroe from the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute outlined how Swedish authorities traditionally rely on public reports and aircraft-based monitoring, with satellite technology – specifically the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on NOAA/NASA platforms – now adding a further layer of precise early detection. This capability can detect small fires – as small as 10×10 metres – and has a wide coverage. The system processes incoming data through filtering techniques to reduce false alarms and then delivers detections through an accessible online portal used by emergency services. Since 2022, the system has identified between 35 and 61 fires annually,

with roughly one-third first detected by satellite, demonstrating the importance of space in complementing ground observations. A concrete example was given of one fire where smoke was detected but the firefighters could not locate the source for a number of hours until it was pinpointed by

satellite, considerably accelerating response time.

Björn Skoglund of Sweden’s 112 Emergency Call Centre next highlighted how satellite-enabled services have transformed emergency communications and caller localisation. Before 2019, mobile callers could be located only within broad areas – typically between 500 metres and 2 kilometres – making it difficult if not impossible to find them if they were unaware of their own location. The introduction of Advanced Mobile Location, which uses GNSS capabilities in smartphones, immediately improved precision to 15-65 metres, dramatically reducing search times and improving survival outcomes.  Another example of the relevance of space assets was given in the possibility to send distress texts when the mobile coverage is absent, essential in remote regions or in case of extreme weather.

The final presentation Faramarz Nilfouroushan of Lantmäteriet and the University of Gävle broadened the perspective from immediate emergencies to long-term risk monitoring, showing how satellite radar data support proactive management of geohazards. Using InSAR and the European Ground Motion Service, researchers can detect millimetre-scale ground deformation over large areas, offering essential insight into subsidence linked to phenomena such as drying of post-glacial clays, groundwater fluctuations, and historical mining activity.  Case studies from Uppsala demonstrated how urban areas built on deep clay layers show pronounced subsidence patterns, guiding planning decisions and resource allocation. The presentation also pointed to future advances, such as combining satellite time series with machine learning to automatically identify key infrastructure such as major roads threatened by ground movement. Together, the different presentations highlighted how Sweden is operationalising space technology to support DRM efforts. The session illustrated that space is an essential tool to reinforce Sweden’s ability to mitigate, prepare, respond and recover from disasters.

Bringing together experts from navigation, search and rescue, and regulatory fields, the second afternoon session examined how users and service providers are navigating both the current challenges and opportunities related to the uptake of satellite data for the users. The session opened with insights on the next generation of maritime navigation systems, where Magnus Wallhagen Sjöfartsverket from the Swedish Maritime Administration explained how the transition in the last twenty years or so from paper to electronic marine charts had marked a fundamental breakthrough, helping vessels plan and execute their voyages to more effectively, efficiently and safely by for example supporting GNSS-enabled navigation and providing real-time weather and surface current information. Looking to the future, the same speaker noted that the maritime sector will depend increasingly on secure, high-bandwidth satellite communications and GNSS for capabilities such as the detection of ship height – enabling precise real time monitoring of draught and more efficient loading for navigation in shallow waters. 

Building on this, the following presentation by Sebastian Wigmo Sjöfartsverket from the Swedish Maritime Administration on search and rescue confirmed the central role of satellite systems to save lives. Through the COSPAR system, satellite enabled distress beacons have ensured for some years that vessels in distress can be rapidly detected when out of reach of radio communications. Recently integrating the Galileo satellites into this system has considerably shortened decision and reaction time, improved localisation accuracy while also providing a return signal capability to reassure mariners that help is on its way. One operational example presented in the session showed how, in several recent emergencies, satellite alerts were received before crews were able to make voice contact with the beacon activated through contact with the water. The speaker noted how as satellite-enabled equipment proliferates, a growing mix of traditional distress beacons and new consumer satellite communication devices have become available that allow hikers, mariners, and remote workers to request help when beyond the coverage of terrestrial communications systems.

The final presentation by Peter Bergljung of Transponder-Tech AB and Ann Gyldén of Transportstyrelsen addressed the sharp rise in GNSS jamming and spoofing events affecting maritime and aviation operations, especially in the Baltic region. Since early 2024, interference incidents have increased dramatically, with investigations pointing to foreign state activity near conflict zones. Aviation has experienced cases where aircraft deviated from course due to GNSS spoofing, which was detected only because air traffic controllers noticed anomalies on radar. Maritime users face similar risks as ships unknowingly drift off their intended route. The presenters noted that detecting spoofing requires sophisticated solutions, but that these are becoming simpler and more widely available. They further underscored the broader geopolitical implications: GNSS is a global utility, and coordinated international action is required both to attribute unlawful interference and to strengthen resilience through regulatory, technological, and operational measures.  Overall, the session outlined that satellite data and GNSS services are deeply embedded in modern maritime and aviation operations, but thus are also more dependent and vulnerable.

If you were unable to join us, you can find the presentations here.

Wrapping up the event, speakers in the final session underscored the clear message of the day: Sweden’s ability to protect lives, infrastructure, and essential services increasingly depends on how effectively space capabilities are integrated into civil protection and disaster risk management. Space assets are – mostly – integrated into daily operations across agencies. However, this growing reliance on space comes with new threats, such as GNSS jamming and spoofing, and more generally with space capabilities becoming key to the resilience of overall civil protection mechanisms, their own vulnerabilities must be understood and addressed.  Resilience is therefore a national and collective international priority. The different sessions highlighted that to progress, strong European cooperation, sustained innovation – including through dual-use – and user-centric approaches are essential.  Across all discussions, it was clear that satellite-based solutions are no longer supplementary, they are indispensable components of Sweden’s disaster risk management.

During the workshop, participants were also invited to complete a questionnaire available here on their uses of satellite-based services. You can find the results below:

The post Navigating Resilience: Disaster Risk Management Insights from Sweden appeared first on Eurisy.

Luxembourg faces a variety of natural hazards, including floods, storms, and wildfires. Changing weather patterns driven by climate change, combined with the country’s river basin geography, have increased both the frequency and severity of flooding events. In response, Luxembourg has reinforced its disaster management framework — an effort supported by its robust space industry, which plays an important role in advancing satellite-based monitoring and risk assessment. A key component of this strategy is the use of the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS), which Luxembourg has activated five times between 2012 and 2025: for landslides, post-flood analysis, a pre-risk economic assessment, and two training exercises. Notably, four of these activations took place outside of actual emergencies, reflecting Luxembourg’s proactive approach to disaster risk management.

Dominique Tilmans, Eurisy president, giving her introduction speech

The event began with a series of welcoming speeches. Marc Serres, CEO of the Luxembourg Space Agency, emphasised Luxembourg’s leadership in using space-based solutions to enhance all phases of the disaster risk management cycle. He noted that since 2012, the country’s space sector has grown from 16 to 80 companies, with a significant part of that engaged in DRM supporting initiatives such as emergency.lu, which provides global connectivity services to humanitarian organisations, and supported by a national data center enabling easy access to Copernicus data. Eurisy president Dominique Tilmans, followed by explained the purpose of the day with  the Eurisy–EUSPA series of workshops intended to bridge the gap between space innovation and real-world resilience by connecting decision-makers, scientists, and first responders. She highlighted Luxembourg’s national vision for space – where the sector  represents 5% of GDP – and its robust DRM framework established in 2016 and noted how Luxembourg’s response to the 2021 floods (with 125 million€ in damages) demonstrated effective use of Copernicus Emergency Management Service (EMS) data for recovery planning.

The critical role of the EU space technology – Galileo, Copernicus and future GOVSATCOM and IRIS2 – in DRM was emphasised by Christina Giannopapa, Head of the Office of the Executive Director of EUSPA. She underlined the strength and potential of the European Union Space Programme in relation to DRM, noting Galileo’s status as the world’s most precise navigation system and Copernicus in providing the world’s best Earth observation data. She further highlighted Luxembourg’s considerable strengths in space, in particular its key role in global secure satellite communications.  Finally Ms Giannopapa highlighted the importance of DRM to the focus EUSPA gives to raising market uptake of satellite services across 15 target sectors, of which DRM is one.

Following the welcoming speeches, as session on EU Components explored the role of EU space assets — Copernicus, Galileo, and the forthcoming GOVSATCOM and IRIS² — in supporting disaster risk management. Representatives from EUSPA underscored the importance of open satellite data, emergency mapping, and secure communications in strengthening Europe’s capacity to respond to crises. They highlighted that the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS) is used not only during emergencies but increasingly across all phases of DRM, including preparedness and recovery for risk assessments or post-event analysis. In addition, other Copernicus services also contribute to DRM, such as the Land Monitoring Service, gathering essential information for drought monitoring and landslide risk evaluation and the Climate Change Service, providing forward-looking modelling to anticipate future hazards. A presentation of Galileo explained the upcoming Emergency Warning Satellite Service, its benefits – reach, reliability, complementarity and scalability – and timeline, as well as highlighting the importance of the newly initiated Galileo authentication service in providing assured secure position navigation and timing signals. The session also emphasised the key role telecommunications play in ensuring secure, reliable and cost-effective communication during disasters, describing the aims of the current GOVSATCOM and future IRIS2 programmes.

Lastly, the availability of several key EU funding streams, notably through relevant Horizon Europe calls and the CASSINI programme (hackathons, entrepenneurship days, matchmaking events and the growth facility etc), were presented as key enablers of innovation and market development within the European DRM market and space ecosystem more generally.

Daniel Ledesma, Head of the Innovation and Reference Unit at Luxembourg Red Cross presenting during the 1^st afternoon session.

The first afternoon session on current challenges and opportunities related to the uptake of satellite data focused on how space technologies support humanitarian and emergency operations primarily from the user’s perspective. Speakers highlighted in particular how secure, reliable space-based communication networks and rapid access to Earth observation (EO) data are vital to saving lives in crises through ensuring that emergency workers can coordinate effectively amongst themselves, better understand the risks they are managing while also reducing their own exposure to those risks.  At the same time they also acknowledged challenges in operating such services — including regulatory barriers, host government restrictions on satellite communications in humanitarian contexts, signal interference, jamming and spoofing, and cyber risks.  A growing difficulty of operating in conflict zones was noted, where neutrality and independence can be compromised if technology providers are perceived to take sides and satellite services can be turned from civil to military use.  Despite these political and ethical complexities, new satellite technologies offer powerful opportunities: global coverage, low-latency connections, and easier deployment, though affordability and regulatory acceptance remain uneven.

Concrete national examples showcased these dynamics in practice. Gilles Hoffmann explained how Luxembourg’s lu.emergency service provides rapid secure connectivity for humanitarian workers in the field while Steve Hoscheid described how its Renita network enables rapid deployment of mobile telecommunications cells using space-based relay to areas without adequate terrestrial mobile phone coverage.  This ensures secure, mission-critical communication for public safety services such as police and firefighters. The Renita network also guarantees continuous coverage during floods – and is evolving towards a 5G-based, satellite-integrated system linked to IRIS² under the EU Critical Connectivity System (EUCCS). Another example presented by both Daniel Ledesma and Paolo Campanella highlighted how the Luxembourg Red Cross supported by start-up WASDI is using EO and rapid mapping technologies to transform humanitarian response.  Recent tests have showed that using satellite-based tools to better assess natural risks to humanitarian camps can reduce response time by up to 80% with similar cost savings, offering near real-time situational awareness in areas otherwise difficult to access without considerable risk to workers. These technologies complement, rather than replace, the expertise of responders on the ground, helping them to plan recovery and reconstruction more effectively, with key enablers being the development of consistent language understood by both users and service providers and the creation of intuitive user interfaces. The panel as a whole reflected Luxembourg’s and Europe’s shared commitment to resilient, secure, and inclusive technological solutions that put people at the centre of crisis response.

Charlotte Wirion, Co-founder and CTO of WEO presenting during the 2^nd afternoon session.

The second afternoon session focused on Luxembourg’s space assets supporting DRM. Presentations highlighted how satellite data, AI and automation tools are transforming disaster risk management.

Guy Schumann of RSS Hydro highlighted the work of his company in flood mapping with particular reference to supporting humanitarian work where he noted demand for effective satellite image based analysis was huge but often poorly met.  He pointed to the opportunity to better assess flooding impacts from a wider range of sensors including notably infra-red and through the future potential for multi-mission analysis, combining the data gathered by different types of EO satellites, to deliver even more effective information to planners and responders.

Fabio Romano of SES gave an overview of that company’s key roles in resilient European space services such as the EGNOS system, while highlighting the world-leading capabilities it possesses in the rapid establishment of temporary satellite communications relay stations.  He underlined the importance of these in situations such as hurricanes, where mobile phone towers and undersea cables are destroyed or damaged, and SES’s ability to deliver extremely high bandwidths on demand in disaster zones drawing on its extensive range of space-based communications satellites operating in GEO, MEO and LEO.

Charlotte Wirion from start-up WEO highlighted her company’s focuses on the use of EO data for disaster planning, mitigation and preparedness as well as long-term monitoring for recovery.  She described how using data from Copernicus and Landsat, WEO is addressing use cases such as flooding, the risk of wildfire propagation to critical assets and citizens, or the management of heat island risk to vulnerable local people and workers.  WEO is particularly focused on improving resolution and hazard detection at the local level through combining satellite with ground based data and feedback from emergency services (eg noting the propensity for certain roads to flood) while also identifying solutions such as promoting green roofs or supporting citizens in clearing vegetation around homes with interventions as simple as chain saw training.

Gerald Schlueter of Govsat outlined the development of this public private partnership with a mission to provide secure resilient satellite services to European government users.  He noted the advantages of having access to protected communications bands such as X and military Ka in reducing signal interference and highlighted Govsat’s relevance to a range of use cases through the DRM cycle notably the provision of assured, guaranteed communications in the case of recent flooding in Germany.

Finally, Marco Chini from the Luxembourg Institute for Science and Technology gave an impressive overview of a range of new techniques being developed within the Luxembourg research community to improve assessment and prediction of natural disasters in particular flooding using space based earth observation.

If you were unable to join us, you can find the presentations here.

In the afternoon, participants also observed a demonstration of the upcoming Galileo Emergency Warning Satellite Service (EWSS). Currently in testing, the upcoming EWSS will send critical alerts and safety instructions directly to standard mobile phones in the device’s language, even in areas without terrestrial coverage. Complementary to other existing services, this innovation will deliver timely warnings to at-risk populations, broaden the reach of critical information and improve coordination during emergencies, representing a significant advance in Europe’s disaster communication capabilities.

Wrapping up the event, speakers in the final session emphasised how space-enabled services delivered by Luxembourg are delivering tangible operational benefits, from faster and more effective disaster response to safer field operations. The day provided valuable insights into the Luxembourg space sector while demonstrating how effective collaboration between government, industry, academia, and users strengthens the ecosystem and drives innovation. Transforming satellite data into actionable intelligence, integrating user feedback, and bridging space and non-space expertise were emphasised as critical for impact. The discussions underlined both the measurable successes of current solutions and the ongoing need to connect space and non-space communities, explore new opportunities, and continue building resilience and innovation in disaster management.

During the workshop, participants were also invited to complete a questionnaire available here on their uses of satellite-based services. You can find the results below:

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Slovenia faces a diverse range of natural hazards, including floods, wildfires and landslides. Between 2012 and 2024, Slovenia activated the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS) Rapid Mapping capability 16 times, with flooding being the most significant reason. In recent years, the country has experienced several instances of severe flooding due to intense rainfall and overflowing rivers, causing widespread damage to infrastructure and agricultural land.

Dominique Tilmans, Eurisy president, giving her introduction speech

The event began with a series of welcoming speeches. Talking about the importance of satellite data in disaster management Matevž Frangež, State Secretary at the Ministry of the Economy, Tourism and Sport, said: “The European space sector is one of the key drivers of growth for Europe and a sector in which Europe still holds a leading position in certain segments. This is also thanks to the successful space program of the European Union, such as the Galileo and Copernicus programs, which are managed by the EU Space Program Agency. This sector is also a driver of economic growth and innovation for Slovenia. In recent years, the Slovenian space sector has shown rapid growth. At the beginning of the year, Slovenia became a full member of the European Space Agency and doubled its funding for development in this area. Slovenia however relies on the European Union’s total capacity for the use of space technologies”. Representing the EU Space Programme, Rodrigo da Costa, Executive Director of EUSPA, said: “The EU space technology is 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, together, are strengthening Europe’s resilience against natural and manmade disasters, bringing EU Space closer to citizens.”. Highlighting the need to raise awareness of satellite services, Eurisy president Dominique Tilmans said: “In a crisis, speed and clarity matter: information must be understood, trusted, and acted upon quickly. Effective disaster response means acting early, targeting resources, and protecting lives—and space technologies can make the difference. That’s why Eurisy, with EUSPA, is organising the Satellite-based Services for Disaster Risk Management workshops: to make space solutions accessible and usable. Space technology is a powerful ally for solidarity, cooperation, and national resilience in disaster events.”

From left to right: Tanja Permozer (Slovenian Space Office), Krištov Oštir (Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering), Anže Žnidaršič (Flycom), Matjaž Ivačič (Geocodis), Mateja Jemec Auflič (Geological Survey of Slovenia) and Graham Turnock (Eurisy)

During the morning, a High level policy panel explored Slovenia’s growing space ecosystem and the collaborative efforts between ministries, agencies, industry, and academia. The discussion focused on operationalising EU satellite services, strengthening disaster risk management, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, and building the next generation of space experts. The session concluded with an emphasis on awareness, tailored national solutions, and international cooperation to fully leverage space capabilities for societal, economic, and security resilience. Following this, a EU Components panel examined how Copernicus, Galileo and future GOVSATCOM and IRIS² support disaster risk management across prevention, preparedness, response and recovery. EUSPA representatives highlighted the value of open satellite data, emergency mapping and secure communications, alongside opportunities for research and innovation funding through Horizon Europe and CASSINI. Slovenian representatives shared lessons from severe floods in 2023, highlighting both the benefits of these services and the need for faster activation, better coordination, while emphasising the potential value of a planned new national hub for geospatial data to future disaster risk management.

The afternoon panels looked in more detail at user experience with satellite enabled services for DRM. Speakers stressed the importance of trust, integration, and communication across all levels, from local communities to global institutions, and of moving beyond pilot projects to make satellite services become part of systematic resilience strategies. Closing the “last mile” by turning complex data into simple, timely and actionable information for end users was emphasised as crucial.

During the afternoon participants also had the opportunity to  see a demonstration of the planned new Galileo Emergency Warning Satellite Service (EWSS). This capability, which is in its testing phase, will provide a means of broadcasting real-time alert messages to smartphones via Galileo satellites, including information such as hazard type, severity, timing, area affected and safety instructions. The EWSS will enable transmission of alert messages even when terrestrially based systems are unavailable.

As a whole the workshop served to highlight the critical need for effective DRM, ongoing action to strengthen this within Slovenia, in particular through national coordination on geospatial data, as well recognising the role of satellite services as critical DRM infrastructure. Discussions underlined the importance of strong collaboration among all actors – SMEs, academia, government and others – to ensure effective disaster risk management. Finally, a strong emphasis was placed both on the need to transform existing data into actionable information for decision-makers and on the need to invest in capacity building and in STEAM education to develop the next generation of experts.

EWSS demonstration, showing the following message “Flood, Extreme. Prepare for evacuation. Take only essentials with you, especially ID cards, passport, credit cards and cash. Evacuate only after the instruction of the emergency authorities. Extreme intensity weather phenomena expected. The weather is very dangerous and implies high level of threat to health, even the life hazard. BE AWARE and keep up to date with the latest weather forecast.” 

During the workshop, participants were also invited to complete a questionnaire available here on their uses of satellite-based services. You can find the results below:

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Spain faces a range of significant disaster threats stemming from its geographic location and the impacts of climate change. Between 2012 and 2024, the Copernicus  Emergency Management Service (CEMS) Rapid Mapping was activated 115 times by Spain, the most by any country, with wildfires being the most frequent cause, followed by floods, most notably during heavy storms experienced during October 2024 resulting in the tragic loss of 219 lives. 2024 also saw Spain activating Galileo, the European Union’s satellite navigation and positioning system, Return Link Service (Search and Rescue) beacons 42 times in incidents during which 172 lives were saved.

Figure 1 – European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-3 imagery

Under the moderation of Eurisy Secretary General, Graham Turnock, the introductory session outlined the significance of using space for disaster risk management. Maria Galindo, Secretary for Digital Policy of the Government of Catalonia, emphasised the role of the Catalan Government in leveraging satellite technologies for the benefit of society, “Emergency management is a critical area where space technologies can provide a unique value. Events like this [workshop] are essential to connect the space sector with end users and ensure that satellite-based solutions address real and specific needs.” Building on this idea, Juan Carlos Cortés, Director of the Spanish Space Agency (AEE), underscored the global nature of disaster management challenges and the vital role of space to address them. He stated that “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, […] ranging from climate change and the danger of asteroid impacts to volcanic eruptions, wildfires, and floods.” From the European perspective, Rodrigo da Costa, Executive Director of EUSPA, underlined the importance of the role of the Agency and its programmes in this endeavour “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”. Highlighting the collaborative efforts made at the multiple levels to drive innovation in the space sector, Ignasi Ribas, Director of the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC), concluded “Today’s event is a demonstration of the effort we [IEEC and Generalitat] are making 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.”

From left to right: Graham Turnock (Eurisy), Juan Carlos Cortés (AEE), Maria Galindo (Government of Catalonia), Rodrigo Da Costa (EUSPA) and Ignasi Ribas (IEEC)

After highlighting the stakes and importance of this workshop series, more than 100 participants listened to EUSPA representatives presented the importance of Galileo, Copernicus, GOVSATCOM, IRIS² and EU SST for disaster risk management. The opportunities of the Cassini funding were also explained. 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. If you were unable to join us in Barcelona, you can view the presentations here.

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 Galileo SAR Service operates quickly to locate and help people in distress that activate a beacon. The demonstration aimed to highlight the effectiveness and speed of Galileo SAR Service and its Return Link Service (RLS), on average 37 seconds up to maximum 10 minutes,  as key tools in maritime rescue operations.  After the activation of the beacon on the boat, the signal was received in the control center which locates the signal and then notify the relevant SAR authorities. An acknowledgment message was also sent to the beacon informing the users on the boat that their request was well received. Once the SAR authorities arrived, here SASEMAR, the participants witnessed the rescue live.

In the afternoon, the audience had the opportunity to experience the upcoming Galileo Emergency Warning Satellite Service (EWSS). This technology is in its testing phase and will become the future means of precise mass alert messaging to populations in areas threatened by natural or manmade disasters, improving current capabilities. Using the European Union’s Galileo satellite navigation system, this service will transmit safety information directly to smartphones and navigation devices, even when other terrestrially based alert systems are unavailable or 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, the EWSS will enhance the connection between users and space, increasing rescue capabilities in large-scale emergencies and safeguarding populations at threat. The participants witnessed the pilot test of the service and saw an alert arriving in real time on the pilot phones, highlighting the type of disaster, its severity, its timeframe and the zone of danger with a message explaining the situation. The test also showcased that the alert message arrives in the language the phone is set to, thus ensuring the understanding of the emergency by everyone.

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Part of a series of national workshops initiated by the European Union Agency for the Space Programme EUSPA and supported by Eurisy to raise awareness on the many possibilities offered by the EU space Programme for disaster risk management, the event highlighted the potential of satellite applications in enhancing Romania’s response and risk reduction capacities amid rising risks from floods, wildfires, and earthquakes.  Aligned with Romania’s National Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction 2023-2035, the workshop supported both increased national resilience and the growth of Romania’s space technology ecosystem. 

Romania faces a range of significant disaster threats stemming from its geographic location and the impacts of climate change. Between 2000 and 2023, the EM-DAT database recorded 82 disasters in Romania, with floods being the most frequent, alongside the persistent risk of earthquakes. Most recently, in September 2024, Romania was heavily affected by severe flooding caused by unusually heavy rainfall across Central and Eastern Europe, resulting in the tragic loss of four lives.  During this period, the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS) Rapid Mapping component was activated to provide detailed maps of the flooded areas, supporting local response efforts. 

The workshop included the opportunity to see a live demonstration of the upcoming Galileo Emergency Warning Satellite Service (EWSS) demonstrating its ability to precisely disseminate messages directly to populations in areas threatened by natural or manmade disasters. Using the European Union’s Galileo satellite navigation system, this service will transmit safety information directly to smartphones and navigation devices, even when other terrestrially based alert systems are unavailable.  By ensuring the distribution of alert messages and guidance, the EWSS will enhance critical emergency communications, safeguarding populations at threat.  

VIDEO of the 1st Galileo Emergency Warning Satellite System (EWSS) pilot demonstration in a public set-up.

More generally, the workshop presented a range of satellite-enabled capabilities relevant to disaster management, including many provided by Romanian organisations, providing stakeholders with insights into how space technologies can be integrated across all disaster management phases. 

Mr. Mihnea Costoiu, Rector of the National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest said: “Recently, we have faced numerous challenges, but this workshop is an opportunity to focus on creating solutions that truly help people”.  

Rodrigo da Costa, Executive Director of EUSPA, noted that: ‘By harnessing satellite technology and fostering collaboration among stakeholders, the EU continues to advance its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of its citizens across the Union’. 

Dominique Tilmans, Eurisy President, commented that: “space technologies are no longer just the domain of engineers and technicians: today, through applications, anyone can use the data obtained from space solutions.”  

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“Space for Security and Defence”

Rodrigo da Costa, Executive Director of EUSPA, speaks during the Space for Security and Defence panel. Photo provided by RST-TTO

The “Space for Security and Defence” event, inaugurated by Bulgarian Defence Minister Atanas Zapraianov, emphasized the importance of enhancing connections between Bulgaria’s scientific and industrial sectors through national and European initiatives amidst a challenging geopolitical landscape. Collaborating with the Belgian EU Council presidency, Belgian Ambassador Frédéric Meurice highlighted Belgium’s legislative achievements. At the same time, Honorary Senator Dominique Tilmans stressed the need for policy-technology integration, especially regarding satellite data for climate change and security. Stefan Hadjitodorov and Kamen Iliev from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences underscored Bulgaria’s historical achievements in space. They advocated for continued inter-ministerial cooperation, new funding, and nurturing young talent to bolster Bulgaria’s role in international institutions like ESA and EUSPA.

“Satellite-based Services for Disaster Risk Management”

Gabriel Lazazzara, Senior Consultant, EU Space Support Office presents the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS). Photo provided by RST-TTO

The Bulgarian edition of theworkshop series co-organised by EUSPA and Eurisy brought together a range of local service providers alongside user communities and European policy experts. Participants discussed how satellite technologies, including the components of the EU Space Programme, could most effectively contribute to national disaster risk management efforts. A range of end-user community representatives discussed their implementation of satellite-based technologies for disaster risk management efforts, including those related to sustainable urban development and climate adaptation in Plovdiv. Among the companies presenting were Bianor. KONTRAX, and TAKT-IKI, the latter of which are working on several projects related to disaster risk management and climate adaption, such as MED-IREN (MEDiterranean critical Infrastructure Resilience Engineering with Nature-based solutions​) and Valorada. The workshop also marked the first official visit of Rodrigo da Costa, Executive Director of EUSPA, to Bulgaria, representing the increasing presence of EUSPA in Bulgaria, with new EGNOS capabilities coming to Sofia Airport, and services enabled by the EU Space Programme gaining increasing uptake in the country.

 “Space for Sustainable Future”

Kamen Iliev, Director, Centre for National Security and Defence Research speaks during the Space for Sustainable Future panel. Photo provided by RST-TTO

Finally, on the 7th June, the Space for Sustainable Future workshop highlighted the role of the ESA Accelerators each created to support accelerating the use of space to address three major societal challenges:

• Rapid and Resilience Crisis Response,
• Space for Green Future,
• Protection of Space Assets.

At the heart of the Accelerators initiative, as presented by Christopher Topping, Rapid & Resilient Crisis Response Accelerator Lead at ESA, is the need to connect with new non-space users and support the development of accessible, affordable, and innovative space-based technologies, fostering local space ecosystems and accelerating the use of space throughout society. The workshop, also featuring presentations from national service providers, provided the inspiration for the hackathon “Space For Green, Sustainable and Secure Europe (S4GSS)”. Featuring 8 teams of students, researchers, and WHO ELSE, teams had two days to develop their ideas using space technologies for sustainability for a panel of expert judges. Through a closely contested battle, a winner emerged, team Aurora from the Technical University of Sofia with their idea of providing rapid situational awareness for decision-makers to speed up the coordination of assistance during earthquakes.

From left to right: Christina Giannopapa (EUSPA), Christopher Topping (ESA), Dominique Tilmans (Eurisy), Kamen Iliev (RST-TTO), Dinka Dinkova (DG DEFIS), Annalisa Donati (Eurisy)

Thanks to events such as these, Eurisy can connect with new user communities and stakeholders, demonstrating the possibilities of space in addressing the key societal challenges. With seven Disaster Risk Management workshops conducted across the EU, it is becoming increasingly clear that such events can play an important role in showcasing satellite-based services across the disaster risk management cycle and making decision-makers and authorities aware of the many benefits, but also the challenges that must be overcome, when implementing satellite technologies in keeping societies safe.

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Portugal faces a range of specific, implacable, threats from climate change and other natural disasters. Wildfires are a continuous high risk even, with 35% of Europe’s fire incidents occurring in Portugal and fires accounting 20 of the 25 activations by Portugal of the Copernicus Emergency Management Service’s Rapid Mapping component. Heatwaves of increasing frequency and intensity linked to climate change also regularly impact the country, with 96% of Portugal in extreme or severe drought during June 2022, which was further compounded by record high temperaturess of 47°C a month later. This heatwave, the longest and largests in Porgual for over 80 years, would itself create the conditions for a series of wildfires.  Meanwhile, earthquakes represent a lingering threat with the potential to inflict devastation on a large scale.

European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-2 imagery

For each of these, and other disaster risk types, satellite technologies have the potential to provide crucial information and support across all phases of the disaster management cycle. How satellite data can be translated into operational information, and how this information can be made available to first responders and decision makers during disaster events were crucial questions considered throughout the event. A range of national providers of satellite-based services demonstrated their capabilities to a range of disaster events in dialogue with user community representatives, who highlighted their needs and challenges implementing satellite technologies into disaster risk management work. If you were unable to join us in Lisbon, you can view the presentations here.

At the foundation of many of these services are the capabilities offered by the European Union Space Programme, including the Copernicus Programme for Earth observation, GOVSATCOM and the upcoming IRIS2 for satellite communications, and Galileo for navigation, the latter of which was demonstrated in action with a live Search and Rescue operation by the Portuguese Navy using the new Return Link Service. This service enables persons in distress in remote regions, such as at sea, to activate their Galileo locator beacon. This feature not only informs the local control centre with their geolocation within minutes, but then enables a notification to be sent back to the beacon, informing those in distress that their location has been received, and help is on the way. The exercise took place within the newly opened  MRCC centre at the Lisbon Naval, base, part of an ongoing modernisation of facilities, as highlighted by Admiral Henrique Gouveia e Melo, Chief of the Navy and National Maritime Authority:

“The Portuguese Navy has made an effort to modernize its technology, recently incorporating new services to support the monitoring of maritime spaces, which will feed a command and control system to be used to support emergency management and the commitment of resources […] This workshop is an excellent opportunity to present high value-added space component services, fostering discussion around these technologies and bringing together recognized experts in this field.  I think it is another step towards being better prepared for the challenges ahead”.

 

Dominique Tilmans, Eurisy President (fourth from the left) at the SAR exercise at the Lisbon Naval Base

Another important step in further enhancing the capabilities of satellite-based services in addressing disaster risk management is to not only take advantage of the capabilities of the EU Space Programme and the services they enable, but to use different capabilities in conjunction with one another.  As remarked by Rodrigo da Costa, Executive Director of EUSPA, “exponential achievement is reached when all the components of the EU Space Programme are used in synergy. The Emergency Management and Disaster Response sector is one of the key sectors where this synergy is saving lives.”

Watch the Search and Rescue re-cap video below:

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The Belgian edition of the workshop has been particularly timely, coming as Belgium will take over presidency of the Council of the European Union from January to June of 2024. Belgium itself has recently faced a series of disaster events linked to the increasing threat of climate change. In July 2021, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany were struck by flooding, with much of the Wallon region affected. The flooding led to the deaths of 43 people in Belgium and caused approximately €3 billion in damages in what Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden called “one of the greatest natural disasters our country has ever known”. In just a month before the workshop, Belgium would activate the Rapid Mapping component of the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS) as flooding struck the multiple locations West Flanders region. Here the CEMS supported response efforts, using space data from the European Union’s Copernicus programme to provide delineation of the flood extent over vast swathes of area quickly, and in a clear, accessible manner for responders and decision-makers.

Delineation map produced by CEMS during flooding in Liege, Belgium on 17 July 2021. Image taken from CEMS.

A high-level policy panel opened the workshop with Frank Monteny, Director General of Research and Space at BELSPO encouraging participants to engage in continuous multidisciplinary dialogue to highlight current capabilities, promote integration within services, and ensure services and capabilities meet the expectations and challenges of a diverse range of stakeholders. Christoph Kautz, Director for Satellite Navigation and Earth Observation in DGDEFIS of the European Commission, highlighted the EU Space Programme’s capabilities towards disaster risk management, including CEMS, and the upcoming Galileo Emergency Warning Satellite Service. The three pillars of the EU Space Programme were further elaborated by EUSPA Executive Director Rodrigo da Costa, as a mission to exploit, secure, and foster space use for European citizens’ well-being, emphasising user engagement as a core activity. Finally, Dominique Tilmans, Eurisy President, stressed the imperative to inform decision-makers about the potential of satellite technologies to address natural disasters, particularly in the context of Belgium’s specific vulnerabilities.

The EU Space Programme supports a range of services overseen by EUSPA utilising data from Earth Observation, Navigation, and Communications satellites. Copernicus enables the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS), providing risk and recovery mapping as well as a rapid mapping service to authorised users during disaster events. The CEMS has become increasingly necessary due to increased climate-related events, and so increasingly utilised, with 2023 one of the busiest for the service in its 11 years of operations. The Galileo programme is supporting two burgeoning services saving lives, the ever-improving Search and Rescue (SAR) component as well as the upcoming Early Warning Satellite Service (EWSS). Where SAR allows localisation and increasingly sophisticated communications from emergency beacons to first responders using the Galileo satellites, the EWSS enables governments to provide early warning messages to citizens based on their devices’ precise location, even if terrestrial networks are damaged or inoperable. For the EU’s increasing involvement in satellite communications, they have built the requirements of the GOVSATCOM service for secure government satellite communications on the basis of end-user needs and use case analyses through the ENTRUSTED network project. By providing and supporting a centralised hub for governments to access a shared pool of secure communications services during crisis situations, the EU can facilitate a quicker, more efficient and cost-effective response, ultimately saving lives.

The EU Space Programme Activities. Image taken from presentation of Rodrigo da Costa, Executive Director of EUSPA.

Within Belgium’s growing space sector is an array of downstream service providers, new and established, developing applications utilising satellite data to help monitor and tackle the set of risks Belgium faces from disasters and emergencies. During the workshop six service providers demonstrated their satellite-based solutions supporting disaster risk management.

Jose Torres of Telespazio BE presented their efforts for using space data to address disasters and decarbonization, focusing on their Space Acting for Decarbonisation (SA4D) providing real-time analysis and simulation to mitigate flood risks in urban areas. VITO presented TerraFlood, using Copernicus Sentinel-1 imagery to map floods. Sentinel-1 provides Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery, which is not affected by cloud cover and reflects water in specific, identifiable ways, enabling them to image and map flooding extent. SAR can also be used to analyse ground displacement, important for monitoring areas at risk of landslides or earthquakes. SpaceBel, represented by Romy Schlögel, showed how SAR interferometry, where two satellite images taken of the same place from different points in the sky, can enable time-series monitoring of ground movement supporting the evaluation of earthquakes and enabling continuous remote monitoring of critical infrastructure. Another innovative use of SAR satellite data was given by Serge Habraken, a professor at the University of Liege, for mapping wildfire damage, particularly useful in remote areas where satellites are the only such monitoring available. What is really being measured, Habraken explained, is the loss of information between satellite images, showing a scene change on the ground that may be due to human activities, vegetation changes, fire damages, or flooding.

Mohammed Iranmanesh of ConstellR discussed the company’s daily land surface temperature data service using high-resolution satellite imagery, using the infrared part of the spectrum rather than the optical segment which is visible to our eyes. Infrared can detect changes on plant health, in particular water stresses, up to weeks before visual images, allowing users to take corrective or remedial action earlier before potential issues from draughts or infestations cause serious impacts. One of the more visible natural disaster risks, volcanos, can create risks to aeroplanes when they erupt, generating great plumes of smoke and ash hundreds of kilometres high and wide. Nicolas Clerbaux from the Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium introduced the NAMSAT project to monitor volcanoes and wildfires using satellite data, with a focus on early volcano eruption detection to protect aviation. Last but not least, Jean Emmanuel Roty from AerospaceLab, founded in Belgium in 2018, presented their four satellite services for disaster management, emphasising the need for sensor diversity for effective crisis response.

On reflecting on how to best connect with decision makers and societal end users to provide a service based on their needs, the panellists discussed how to bridge the gap between, on the one hand, the highly technical data from satellites and knowledge needed to interpret it, and on the other, decision makers and end users, who are most concerned with what benefits satellite data can bring and how they can implement the insights it  produces. Some suggestions focused on supplying decision-makers and end users’ knowledge on the range of use cases of satellite technologies in their own area of expertise, as well as how to interpret satellite data depending on their specific contexts. Others took a different approach, Jurgen Everaerts of VITO, one of the largest providers of satellite services in Belgium argued that “nobody should be looking at satellite data at all”. Rather service providers should focus on providing user-based advice using satellite imagery, turning data into actionable insights andguidance.

Annalisa Donati, Eurisy Secretary General, showcasing Eurisy’s success stories database.

It was then the turn of a selection of Belgian end-users themselves, to discuss how they have implemented satellite data in their work and lessons they have gained from this. With over 30 years of experience connecting service providers with end-user communities, Eurisy’s Secretary General Annalisa Donati provided a segue on the association’s work on this. One of the ways Eurisy accomplishes this is through building and maintaining the largest database in Europe of success stories where satellite technology has been implemented to solve a particular challenge. One example provided was using land cover mapping to monitor and prevent flooding in Wallonia, where the local public authority had gained a better understanding through satellite data which areas were more at risk of flooding.

Belgium’s disaster management system, BE-Alert, currently utilises various alert channels, including SMS and an internet presence. One of the challenges they highlighted was Belgians multilingualism, especially in Brussels which hosts a large international community, as well as the administrative complexity of Belgians high number of municipalities. Because of these, and other possible benefits, they are exploring possibilities of the Galileo Early Warning Satellite System, which provides alerts based on the devices location in 25 languages depending on the devices’ preference.

The Institute of Social, Economic and Political Sciences (ISSEP) provides an important link between authorities and space applications. Benjamin Palmaerts from the ISSEP discussed the institute’s integration of EO data in environmental monitoring services, collaborating with public institutions and industry in Wallonia. One such project FLOWS aims to incorporate EO, AI, and user-generated data for flood prevention and crisis management, integrating these into a single product highlighting particularly vulnerable populations and facilities alongside damage assessments.

Whereas the evidence Earth’s tumultuous past on display at the Institute of Natural Sciences provides a reminder on the fragile nature of life on our planet, so too should the increasing frequency and severity of climate-related disaster events serve as a clear warning on the future of humankind, and our impact on our environment. The consequences of climate change will continue to reveal themselves at growing human and economic costs to society. Satellite-based services, like those demonstrated at the event, can provide crucial support in preventing, preparing, responding to, and recovering from disaster events. Increasing understanding and dialogue between service providers, end users, and decision-makers on the needs, benefits, and experiences to overcome the challenges of implementing satellite applications is a continuous but necessary process to protecting and saving lives in Belgium and beyond.

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