SmartEnds is a Belgium-based company that combines smart sensor technology supported by space-based solutions with artificial intelligence to optimise waste collection and reduce landfill waste. 

The challenge

The global waste management industry is expected to reach $2.3 trillion by 2030, yet much of it still relies on analogue systems. Traditionally, waste collection systems operate on fixed schedules, following rigid one-size-fits-all models. Trucks operate on fixed schedules, regardless of whether bins are overflowing or nearly empty, a practice that has become increasingly outdated and inefficient.

The consequences of this approach are significant:

• Overuse of fleets and personnel, leading to inflated operational costs.
• No real-time visibility into bin status, resulting in missed overflows or unnecessary pickups.
• Lack of automation, making it impossible to optimise routes or track performance.
• Limited data on bin locations and contents, especially in large or remote areas.

Solution

To tackle these challenges, SmartEnds introduced a cutting-edge waste management system powered by IoT sensors, smart cameras, and AI-driven software. Their technology is designed to work across a wide range of bin types, from compact city bins to massive industrial containers.

Key innovations include:

• Sensor Integration: These smart sensors detect fill levels, last collection time, and even the type of waste, flagging hazardous materials when necessary.
• Smart Cameras: Visual verification tools help ensure recycling quality and detect contamination.
• Software Optimisation: All data is fed into a central platform that calculates the most efficient collection routes, reducing fuel consumption and labour hours.

Regarding the space components, two are the main solutions which are integrated in these systems, supporting the overall activities and innovations: the first is Spatial Intelligence with GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System), which enhances location accuracy, especially for large or mobile containers.

And the second one is about Advanced Connectivity, especially in remote or rural zones, where satellite communication ensures uninterrupted data flow.

Results

Implementing these technologies has empowered users to achieve: 

• Fleet Reduction: Translating into lower fuel costs and reduced emissions.
• Environmental Gains: In most cases, optimised routing has led to a 30–40% reduction in road usage, easing traffic congestion and cutting carbon output.
• Operational Efficiency: Collection is faster and more accurate, with fewer missed pickups and less overflow.
• Cost Savings: Municipalities and private companies report at least 30% savings in operational costs thanks to smarter route planning and better resource allocation.

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The Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI) is Denmark’s national center for weather, climate, and sea ice monitoring, with strong expertise in polar forecasting. The Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Centre (NERSC) is a Norwegian research institute specializing in Arctic and oceanographic studies, particularly the use of remote sensing and modeling for environmental monitoring.

The challenge

Large icebergs off the coast of Greenland represent both an environmental hazard and a navigational challenge. In July–August 2024, a 4 × 2 km tabular iceberg drifted southeast of Greenland before breaking into smaller fragments, many too small to be seen from a ship’s deck. Over a six-week period, the iceberg lingered near tourist shipping routes, becoming a risk hotspot for cruise vessels operating in the area. Real-time tracking and accurate forecasting of its movement and disintegration were critical for ensuring maritime safety and operational planning.

The satellite solution

The DMI, supported by the NERSC, implemented a remote sensing-based monitoring system. The iceberg was continuously tracked using high-resolution satellite data. The OpenBerg drift model simulated iceberg trajectory by integrating:

• Ocean current data from TOPAZ5 (Copernicus Marine Service)
• Wind forcing from ERA5 (Copernicus Climate Change Service)

The integrated output of observational tracking and numerical modelling was visualised via the NARVAL portal, enabling both real-time monitoring and forecast-based risk assessments.

The results

• Enhanced Maritime Safety: real-time tracking and forecasting reduced collision risk for vessels operating near the drifting iceberg.
• Improved Iceberg Forecasting: combining Copernicus Marine and Climate data allowed more accurate drift simulations and structural evolution predictions.
• Support for Cruise and Tourism Industry: monitoring and information sharing enabled better planning and risk mitigation for cruise operations in iceberg-prone zones.
• Operational Collaboration: real-time data exchange between DMI and NERSC ensured informed decision-making and strengthened remote sensing capabilities for future events.

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Drift+Noise GmbH was incorporated in 2014 as a spin-off company of the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) and has established itself as a reliable and valued distributor of sea ice information data.

The challenge

Ships constantly have to navigate natural elements like weather, waves, and currents. In polar waters, the sea ice in constant state of flux adds another layer of complexity which must not be neglected, as it can make navigation hazardous. On top of that, limited internet access near the poles makes it difficult for navigators to retrieve the data they need in a timely manner. Yet, having access to the right information is crucial for making quick, informed decisions that ensure both safety and efficiency.

The satellite solution

Inspired by navigators’ repeated requests for ready-to-use data combinations during expeditions, IcySea offers access to the latest ice-specific satellite imagery for research, expeditions, tourism, fishing, shipping and offshore activities via a phone-sized GPS plug. The data is optimized for download in PDF format. The app is accessible and is presented through a user-friendly, intuitive and interactive interface, making it easier for crews to compare and interpret critical information while navigating icy waters. For example, users can access maps of sea ice concentration, manipulate layers and even select a point of ice on an image to forecast its drift. The app also includes a ship risk assessment tool, which evaluates the navigability of ice-covered areas depending on the vessel type entered in the system. To improve situational awareness, IcySea offers access to optical and radar satellite imagery, enabling users to monitor ice flows on clear days with optical images, or to rely on radar imagery when clouds prevent visibility. For each dataset, the app clearly indicates the most recent update time, ensuring crews always have access to the latest available information.

The results

• Reduces cost and risk.
• Instant access to ice relevant data and satellite imagery for navigators on the bridge of ships going into the polar regions.
• Time is saved because of the data processing and visualization via IcySea. Decision-making process is accelerated.
• Access to the kind of data provided via IcySea increases safety on board of ships because navigators can better assess the kind of conditions, they can expect in their target area.
• High-resolution satellite imagery simplifies and speeds up the route planning and allows ships to navigate more efficiently, save fuel and reduce travel times, which all saves the operator money.

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Polar View is an international organisation specialising in satellite-based monitoring of the polar regions and global marine environments. With extensive expertise in delivering operational services, Polar View supports users in addressing environmental and climate-related challenges through Earth observation.

The challenge

Polar regions face extreme environmental conditions—sub-zero temperatures, winter darkness, and dangerous sea ice and icebergs—that make navigation perilous. The scarcity of in-situ sensors across vast and remote polar areas leads to critical data gaps, increasing the risks of maritime incidents. Regulatory frameworks such as the IMO Polar Code demand improved ice information, but data fragmentation and jurisdictional boundaries limit coordination and access to reliable forecasts.

The satellite solution

The DESIDE project, funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) and led by Polar View and the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI) uses DESP/DestinE system capabilities to generate enhanced polar data services. By integrating RCM ARD data (Analysis Ready Data from the RADARSAT Constellation Mission), Sentinel satellites, and other polar datasets, the project provides comprehensive, multi-jurisdictional sea ice products. Key tools include a Sea Ice Chart Data Cube for planning and AI training, a method to track ice movement between satellite images, and tailored delivery via platforms such as IcySea, Polar Dashboard, and Polar TEP. These solutions support ship operators, analysts, and researchers alike.

The results

• Improved sea ice tracking and forecasting to support safety, planning, and emergency response.
• Greater operational safety for vessels navigating polar waters through more reliable and accessible ice data.
• Reduced emissions via optimized ship routing and voyage planning.
• Protection of environmentally sensitive areas through more accurate forecasts and policy support.
• Enhanced access to polar data for scientific research and AI-based analysis.

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Polar View is an international organisation specialising in satellite-based monitoring of the polar regions and global marine environments. With extensive expertise in delivering operational services, Polar View supports users in addressing environmental and climate-related challenges through Earth observation.

The challenge

Climate change calls for a fundamental transformation of our economies and societies. The global push toward a low-carbon, circular, and nature-positive economy—known as the Green Transition—must be supported by reliable data and decision-support tools, especially in vulnerable regions such as the Arctic and North Atlantic. The challenge lies in helping public and private actors plan and operate in ways that are both economically viable and environmentally sustainable, across sectors including maritime transport, renewable energy, and aquaculture.

The satellite solution

The Cerulean Information Factory (CIF), led by Polar View and funded by ESA, co-develops user-driven services that draw on satellite data, particularly from the Copernicus Marine Service, to support decision-making in three key sectors:

• Shipping: A route optimisation tool combining ocean and ice data with IMO CII metrics to improve safety and reduce emissions.
• Offshore renewables: A toolkit using historical and seasonal ocean data to assess site suitability and operational risk for wind, wave, and tidal energy.
• Aquaculture: A service integrating Copernicus and meteorological data to support site selection and risk monitoring, including water quality indicators.

The results

CIF delivers operational geospatial services that make satellite data accessible and actionable for end users. Key outcomes include:

• Minimizing carbon emissions from ships while maintaining safe and economical operations in and around sea ice.
• Assessing the suitability of sites for offshore renewable energy installations to balance the potential for energy production with the risks associated with hazards such as structural icing and extreme weather conditions.
• Assessment of the suitability of sites for aquaculture facilities to balance the potential for bio-productivity with the risks associated with sea ice and harmful algal blooms.

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Bane NOR is a state-owned company responsible for the Norwegian national railway infrastructure. It owns most railway lines, platforms, waiting areas and stations, stretching 4 209 kilometres across the country.

The company is responsible for the planning, development, administration, operation and maintenance of the national railway network. Its responsibilities also include traffic management and developing more efficient solutions for its operations. It employs approximately 4000 employees, divided between five divisions with different responsibilities.

The challenge

As a result, Bane NOR who operates the railway needs to be informed quickly of any land subsidence or other occurrences that affect their tracks. Furthermore, the method needs to be cheap enough to cover the entire lengths of Norway efficiently.

The position of the railway track is subject to change due to geological changes in the landscape, temperature variations, and the physical forces of train traffic. Over time, these changes may cause reduced comfort for passengers or danger for trains in extreme situations.

The satellite solution

Track geometry is measured periodically up to six times per year. This is done with a unique measuring car (ROGER 1000) with optical lasers, gyroscopes, inclinometers, accelerometers, and cameras. The position of ROGER 1000 along the track is measured both by an odometer and satellite navigation.

The instruments are used to detect anomalies in the shape or position of the track. Observations are then logged together with their respective geo-positions using satellite navigation. Thus, the workforce tasked with inspecting and repairing the railway knows where to go.

 

Precise measurements are made manually by inspectors. Traditionally, these measurements have been done with reference to fixed points on the ground within line-of-sight of the railway. However, installing reference points along more than 4 000 kilometres of railway is very expensive. This is especially true in Norway where large parts of the railway are without electricity lines. Building a supportive infrastructure to support all areas would cost hundreds of millions.

In 2015 Bane NOR therefore began testing the satellite based Real Time Kinematic (RTK) method for tracking track positioning. This technique makes use of reference points from base stations for satellite signals rather than metal bolts in rock or concrete. These stations are run by the Norwegian mapping agency, reducing the need for infrastructure investments.

The result

Thanks to satellite navigation, Bane NOR can more efficiently deploy its maintenance workforce. This helps reduce costs while also making the workflow more convenient. The new method relying on RTK has so far provided reliable results with a standard deviation within the present technical requirements. The method is also cheaper for the administration to run and removes the need for large investments in areas without an electricity grid.

Lastly, the new technique has also proved to be more reliable. Since the alternative measuring units are installed on trees or on the ground along the railway, geological changes may alter their relative position to the railway. These measuring units will then incorrectly report a change of the railway itself, when it is instead the measuring units that have moved. With thousands of such sensors along the railway, the likelihood of an error is quite large. The satellite based solution solves this problem.

Satellites help Bane NOR keep track of the track more efficiently

 – Per Anton Fevang, BANE NOR

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Austro Control is the Air Navigation Service Provider responsible for maintaining top quality standards of safety and punctuality for airlines and passengers crossing Austrian airspace. With around 4,000 daily flights, the public authority is tasked with securing a smooth and safe air traffic. In December 2006 the company received the Single European Sky certification which allows it to provide air traffic control services in the European Union.  

The challenges

The Alpine location of some of the main airports in Austria such as in Innsbruck, Linz and Graz entails tremendous terrain challenges for flight navigation. Weather conditions together with mountain proximity, make landing and takeoff challenging, even for experienced pilots. Harsh weather conditions, especially during winter time, regularly force operators to delay or re-route flights which increase operation costs and affect the local tourism industry.

The satellite solution

In 2012 Austro Control decided to equip the airports in Linz and Graz with EGNOS (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay System), the first European satellite navigation system. The use of this system improves the accuracy and precision of GPS signals which can thus enable successful landings and takeoffs, even in low-visibility or bad weather conditions. Also, EGNOS enhanced the so called “lower decision height”, a series of manoeuvres implemented during the descent phase to allow for a precise landing of the airplane. This is especially effective in cases where the required visual reference to continue the approach is not visible to the pilot.

The results

These new procedures contributed to the decrease of the initial high flight diversion rates. The new system improved the positional accuracy allowing for better quality technical and safety standards for landing and arrival procedures. Moreover, the great benefit of these procedures lies in the fact that there were no investments necessary, and so big results were achieved through cost effective solutions. Further, Austro Control is now testing the Points in Space (PinS) project which aims to provide satellite based approach procedures for helicopters landings for emergency medical services on mountainous terrain. 

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Sogrape Vinhos is a Portuguese family-owned company, based in Porto. In 1942, with European markets in turmoil and supplies cut off by war, its founder Fernando van Zeller Guedes decides to create a wine for the Brazilian market. This resulted in the creation of the first global Portuguese wine brand—Mateus Rosé—which is currently sold in more than 120 countries. Today Sogrape Vinhos owns over 750 hectares of vineyards in all the key Portuguese wine regions. It is the largest family-owned wine company in Portugal.

The Challenge

The taste and character of wine are heavily influenced by weather conditions. The effects of climate change —droughts, diseases, soil erosion, heavy rainfall and hail — can severely damage grapes. Entire crops can be compromised due to heat or delayed harvests. Thus, precise soil and climate information are vital for vineyard management and winemaking practices. To obtain such information, the company used to rely on the Portuguese Sea and Atmosphere Institute’s weather stations. However, due to their distant location from the vineyards, on many occasions the data was unusable.

Thus, in 2009 the company launched the I.C.O.N.E project (co-financed by the Portuguese government with approx. 25%). The project aimed to survey consumer preferences in order to tailor the company’s production strategy accordingly. Identified preferences could be transposed into winemaking protocols and more specifically, into grape quality specification. To achieve these specifications more and better geo-information and climate data were needed.

The Satellite Solution

To obtain more reliable data, a network of 21 automatic weather stations was installed directly in the company vineyards. Detailed vineyard data was then merged with production, climate, soil and grape physiology data on 1:10 000 scale digital maps. To monitor vines individually, 20 cm resolution aircraft remote sensing vegetation data was used. For seasonal (3-6months) and long term (3-5 years) forecasts, Sogrape Vinhos also uses data from the Royal Dutch Meteorological Institute (KNMI Climate Explorer), the European Meteorological Center (ECMWF) and the International Research Institute on Climate of Columbia University.

The Result

On-site weather stations allowed the company to acquire almost real-time weather data with an availability rate of 85-90%. Due to better forecasting, Sogrape Vinhos saves over €30,000 per year by limiting treatments, tractor fuel and labour. By monitoring the vine’s water needs relative to soil moisture, the producer has managed to save 25 % of its water consumption for irrigation while increasing production and grape quality by 15%, as water alocations are determined on a block-by-block basis and in function of each year’s rainfall and temperatures.

Furthermore, the data and protocols developed through consecutive projects, has fuelled subsequent research and work on climate adaptation measures for vineyard’s sustainability. The company is currently working together with other international partners in setting up a new global framework for vineyard adaptability to climate changes.

Galileo Galilei once said that «wine is sunlight held together by water». In Sogrape, we are combining the most advanced terrestrial and space technologies to make sure we will never be in short supply of both sunlight and water for our vineyards. This will provide our winemakers with the best and most diverse grapes to keep on crafting great wines for all consumersAntonio Américo da Rocha Graça,  Research and Development Sogrape Vinhos S.A. 

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INEOS is a world leading chemical company headquartered in Switzerland founded in 1999. It employs a staff of 17, 000 and produces 60 million tons of products yearly. With a turnover of €50 billion in 2014, the company operates 65 manufacturing facilities in 16 countries, as well as the largest ethylene oxide terminal in Europe and the second-largest in the world. Its diverse portfolio includes textile and packaging companies, as well as fuels and other chemical products.

The opportunity

Ethylene Oxide is used in many agricultural products and as a steriliser for medical equipment and supplies. It is highly flammable, reactive and very toxic, so it is risky to transport. During transport, the units are exposed to shocks and extreme weather conditions, which can lead to accidents with very serioussecurity and health risks.  Despite such risks, whether delivery containers travelled by sea or train, INEOS had little information on their exact location and route.

Traditional track-and-trace systems rely on an external electricity supply to function. When on rail or boats, this is not the case. Rechargeable batteries, as well as GSM technology are inherently incompatible with highly flammable products such as Ethylene Oxide. Finally, real-time monitoring on global transports, including cross-ocean travels, required a complete rethinking of the technologies to use so as guarantee the functioning of the tracking device in those conditions for a minimum of 4 years.

The satellite solution

Recently, Ovinto, a Belgian SME, developed a satcom solution that relies on Globalstar (a commercial satellite network provider). In combination with satnav, it allows for a real-time tracking and monitoring of unpowered assets. INEOS tasked Ovinto to equip its fleet with the monitoring device and to set-up additional services based on the data monitored. The equipment enabled the company to monitor its wagons and containers carrying Ethylene Oxide worldwide. The system provides a continuous stream of data, such as location, temperature, pressure, leakage or shocks in near real-time.

The result

Thanks to the innovative tracking system, INEOS managed to cut maintenance costs, improve delivery times, and optimise the use of its wagons, thus increasing their economic cycle.  Last but not least, INEOS can better achieve its safety, health, and environmental objectives. As the service provides near real-time data, the company is better equipped to act accordingly in case of failures or accidents.

There was at times an insufficient grip on the whereabouts of our INEOS Ethylene Oxide containers. Now, thanks to a satcom based EX-proof system we can not only track our entire fleet remotely, but have also the possibility to retrieve safety critical parameters by using an internet-based software.

Patrick De Block, Business SHE Manager, INEOS Oxide

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Project Concern International is an international development organisation created in 1961 in the United States of America.  It is dedicated to preventing disease, improving community health, and positive community development. PCI reaches nearly 6 million people a year through programmes in Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

The challenge

In Ethiopia, pastoralism is one of the main socio-economic resources. Almost seven million people are pastoralists dependant on water and grazing resources for their survival and livelihood. Each year they rely on traditional methods, such as traditional knowledge, oral conveyance of grazing information and scouts, to determine where to migrate their cattle, sheep, goats and/or camels to graze across areas that can cover thousands of square kilometers.  Challenging under normal conditions, climate change and its impacts on rainfall patterns have made these methods increasingly unreliable. In a study conducted by PCI in one community of Ethiopia, livestock losses averaged 21% annually with an estimated market value of €11.000.000 in total loss.

Moreover, traditional relief aid mechanisms are very slow, oriented towards relief instead of mitigation and require a degree of magnitude to be triggered that often misses the significant losses that occur in areas that haven’t been declared for emergency response.

PCI therefore looked for a way to empower pastoralists to make better decisions on migration throughout the year in the hopes of preventing the kinds of losses they were experiencing.

The satellite solution

In 2013, PCI prototyped an innovation they developed called “SAPARM” (Satellite Assisted Pastoral Resource Management) within the district of Telalak, in Afar, Ethiopia.  Funded by USAID and building of the World Food Programme’s early warning software called LEAP, PCI created and distributed customized grazing maps to pastoralist communities.

The maps are based on publicly available satellite NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) images, with accuracy down to a 10 km² area. NDVI is a satellite-based technique which uses the visible and near infrared light reflected by vegetation to measure vegetation density and greenness. Using large scale paper maps, PCI facilitated a community process to map traditional grazing grounds which were confirmed with host communities.  These traditional grazing maps were then digitized and combined with the vegetation data (NDVI) into a single, very intuitive and easy to use map.  These SAPARM maps were auto-generated on the LEAP server and auto-emailed to designated recipients every ten days.  PCI established a dissemination protocol with the local Disaster Risk Management committee in Telalak for the distribution of these maps down through the district, sub-district and village level. Updated community grazing maps were distributed to clan leaders who then transmitted the information to pastoralists.  This amounted to roughly one ream of paper over a season with a ratio of about 1 map for every 120 households.  

The results

Within a year, 80% of the pastoralist communities in Telalak were using the satellite-based maps, and the herd mortality rate decreased by 48%. For each euro invested, over €40 of improved valued were triggered. Integrating the community in the development process was the key for a successful use of the maps. The SAPARM initiative is now supported by Google and USAID, and will be extended to ten other intervention communities in Ethiopia and Tanzania.

“This approach is unique since it takes information that was predominantly used as a tool to assess need for costly emergency relief to pastoralists after they’ve lost their herds, and adapts it for direct use by pastoralists to find pasture and prevent the loss from even occurring.  All of this for a very low cost, high scalability and potentially high impact.” Chris Bessenecker, PCI Global

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