The EarlY WArning System for Mosquito-borne Diseases (EYWA) was developed in the context of the EuroGEO Action Group “Earth Observation for Epidemics of Vector-borne Diseases – EO4EViDence”.

EYWA is a game changer in the domain of epidemics. The solution enhances mosquito surveillance and control at various spatio-temporal scales and in different climatic zones, and guides day-to-day prevention and mitigation actions. EYWA significantly reduces the entomological risk and results in the aversion of human cases in thousands of villages where it is employed.

This second episode of the Eurisy Members’ Corner series of 2023 was designed and moderated by Dr Haris Kontoes, Head of the Operational Unit BEYOND Centre of EO research and satellite remote sensing of the National Observatory of Athens, Coordinator of EuroGEO Action Group for Epidemics, and Lead Partner of EYWA.

The BEYOND Center of Excellence develops research and provides disaster management services addressing priorities and needs in Southeastern Europe, the Mediterranean area, North Africa, the Middle East and the Balkans.

Dr Kontoes explained that mosquito-borne diseases (MBDs) are present in more than 100 countries all over the world, including Europe, causing 700.000 deaths every year.

The EarlY WArning System for Mosquito-borne Diseases (EYWA) was developed in the context of the EuroGEO Action Group “Earth Observation for Epidemics of Vector-borne Diseases – EO4EViDence”.

The technological novelty of EYWA lies in the efficient handling of multiple data sources, such as entomological, epidemiological, Earth Observation, crowd and ancillary geospatial data, along with dynamic and data-driven models to generate knowledge on mosquitoes’ abundance and pathogens’ transmission.

Thanks to data provided by Copernicus satellites and Copernicus Core Services, EYWA reliably depicts the dynamics of mosquito habitats and breeding sites. The system capitalises on European investments in Earth Observation and cloud-based data repositories and capacities (i.e. DIAS, GEOSS, NextGEOSS).

Since 2020 the system has been operational in Europe, and in 2022 it provided operational support for 11 regions in 5 European countries (France, Germany, Greece, Italy, and Serbia). In 2022, EYWA further expanded its operational capacity by adding a new region in Italy and in Ivory Coast, and its pre-operational capacity in Thailand and Ghana, with the goal of covering and supporting regions with different climatic and socioeconomic conditions. In total, the system benefits 14 regions in eight countries across the globe.

This distinction of the EYWA system makes it a significant milestone and an exceptional example of the vast Earth Observation potential and of the societal benefits that can derive from harnessing space technology.

EYWA provides information on the expected mosquito abundance and pathogen transmission to the health authorities in the form of thematic maps and statistics, to enable them to take preventive measures in time.

Dr Konstantinos Tsaprailis, Research Associate & Technical Project Manager at BEYOND, described in detail how the system works to disseminate data and predictions.

In-situ data and Earth observation data are at the heart of the system, and are combined with entomological, epidemiological, socio-economic, meteorological, and geomorphological data.​

36 statistical features are generated for each of the 42.400 mosquito collections in the EYWA database. The system processes more than 300 TB of Earth Observation data to generate the information that is then made available to health authorities and stakeholders through an online dashboard.

In 2022, the system was generating data on 13 regions in seven countries and in 2023 it will expand its capacity to cover three more regions in Europe (Italy and Germany) and in Africa (Ghana).

Two types of predictions are at the core of the system: the West Nile Virus prediction models and the mosquito abundance models, that provide forecasts on the expected mosquito population in a region.

The WNV risk prediction relies on the MIMEMIS model, providing forecasts at the municipality level, and the Bar model, producing weekly predictions at the settlement/village level.

The mosquito abundance predictions are based on the BAr model, offering weekly forecasts at the settlement level, and the MAMOTH model, offering bi-weekly and monthly predictions for larger areas.

In summary, EYWA sets the stage for the creation of a single and global database of entomological and epidemiological data augmented with EO-derived data. The system enables for the creation of advanced data-driven and deterministic models for mosquito abundance and risk mapping.

The platform supports the visualisation of the global entomological and epidemiological datasets and it also allows stakeholders to visualise model predictions, representing a complete state-of-the-art early warning system.

After the general introduction to the EYWA system, the webinar included the presentation of three use cases in specific areas.

The first was showcased by Dr Daniel Wohlgemuth, from the German Mosquito Control Association (KABS). Dr Wohlgemuth described the use of the system for targeted vector monitoring in the upper Rhine valley in Germany. The region suffers from a disturbing abundance of mosquitos every time it is affected by floods.

Traditionally, KABS would monitor and forecast mosquitos’ abundance through sampling traps. With EYWA, they could perform this work with consistent savings in terms of time and resources.

The second use case was showcased by Dr Renke Luehken, Head of the Department of Arbovirology & Entomology at BNITM, in Hamburg. Dr Luehken gave aa presentation on the ecology of mosquito-borne pathogens in Europe.

Biological invasions are responsible for substantial biodiversity decline, as well as for high economic losses to society and for monetary expenditures associated with the management of these invasions.

The BNITM tries to understand which mosquitos are associated with which diseases and in which temperatures they tend to settle.

In the last years, because of rising temperatures, two types of vector-borne diseases have emerged in Germany, the Usutu virus and the West Nile virus.

BNITM is collecting data on mosquitos’ abundance in almost-real time and these data will be embedded in the EYWA system to enhance its predictions in central Germany.

Dr Julien Zahouli, from the Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d’ivoire, was expected to present a third use case on the use of Earth Observation data to assess environmental and climatic impacts on mosquito-borne disease transmission in Côte d’Ivoire. Because of connection problems, Dr Zahouli was not able to contribute the webinar, but his presentation is made available at the bottom of this article.

To know more about the activities of the Operational Unit BEYOND Center of EO research and satellite remote sensing of the National Observatory of Athens visit: http://beyond-eocenter.eu/ 

The presentations of the webinar are available here:

• Unveiling the EYWA System | From the challenge…to the solution, Dr Haris Kontoes, Research Director of NOA | Operational Unit “BEYOND Center for Earth Observation Research and Satellite Remote Sensing”; Coordinator of EuroGEO Action Group for Epidemics & Lead Partner of EYWA
• The EYWA platform: Data & predictions dissemination, Konstantinos Tsaprailis, Research Associate & Technical Project Manager, Operational Unit “BEYOND Center for Earth Observation Research and Satellite Remote Sensing”
• Potential utilisation of EYWA for targeted vector monitoring in the upper Rhine valley, Germany, Dr Daniel Wohlgemuth, KABS – German Mosquito Control Association
• Ecology of mosquito-borne pathogens in Europe, Dr Renke Luehken, Head Department of Arbovirology & Entomology, BNITM Hamburg
• Using Earth Observation data for assessing environmental and climatic impacts on mosquito-borne disease transmission in Côte d’Ivoire, Dr Julien Zahouli, Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d’ivoire

The recordings can be accessed here: https://youtu.be/B9ZGtEh6zYA

Stay tuned for the next webinar of the Eurisy Members’ Corner that will be hosted by the UK Space Agency.

The post Eurisy Members’ Corner: Focus on the BEYOND Center of EO research and satellite remote sensing appeared first on Eurisy.

Focusing on concrete needs and empowering local administrations are the foundational elements of the strategy of the Malta Council for Science and Technology to develop a competitive space sector.

Dr Michael Quinton, working on Space Engagement & Programmes at the MCST, opened this new episode of the Eurisy Members’ Corner series by introducing the Malta Space Research Fund, created with the support of the European Space Agency in 2018. Malta is not yet a PECS (Plan for European Cooperating States) member of  the European Space Agency, but conversations are ongoing to join the Plan, possibly by 2024. In the meanwhile, the country cooperates with ESA though mechanisms such as the Space Research Fund.

The Fund aims at providing economic and technical support for the development of space-based services that tackle societal challenges and encourages cooperation between public, private and academic institutions.

In 2018, the strong Maltese ICT sector was identified as the basis to build upon to develop a space sector in the country and since then 14 space-based services have been financed through the Space Research Fund. These serve as a knowledge base and are meant to encourage more research and investments into the downstream space sector.

Not only the Fund provides financial support, but also offers training to Maltese entities interested in exploiting the potential of Earth observation to apply for European funding.

The ambition of the Space Research Fund is to serve as a catalyst: more research in the use of EO favours the growth of the sector, which encourages the government to invest more and to make more funds available. This results in an increasing number of local entities becoming interested in EO, and in more support being provided by ESA to sustain this virtuous cycle.

In January 2022, the MCST drafted a National Space Strategy based on five pillars: attracting foreign and direct investors that will allow local companies, also not involved in the space sector, to approach this market; boosting the development of innovative uses of EO; implementing trainings for local administrations and local people; developing a legal framework for space activities; and eventually favouring the commercialisation of the space-based products and services developed in Malta.

Projects can be funded up to 150.000 euros with a duration of 20 months. At the end of the first stage of 12 months, a technical and financial reports are evaluated by experts. The second stage of eight months includes local dissemination of deliverables and the showcase of the results of the projects.

Since 2018, 14 projects have been selected through the Space Research Fund. These are related to diverse topics, all relevant to the Maltese economy, environment and society.

Among such projects, SIPOBED “Satellite Investigation to study POcket BEach Dynamics”, uses EO to study the dynamics of pocket beaches, i.e. small beaches that are isolated between two headlands.

The project, presented by Sebastiano D’Amico from the University of Malta, looks at the overall beach dynamics, both underwater and inland.

Malta is characterised by rocky and sandy beaches. In this project, satellite imagery is used to study the bathymetry (i.e. to measure the depth of the water) of sandy beaches, while drones and other techniques are used to validate the information provided by satellites. The goal of such project is to measure the volume of the sediments, to define a sediment transport model, and to eventually design planning tools to be used by coastal managers.

The system will be used on all pocket beaches in Malta, allowing for the monitoring of sediment transportation with centimetre accuracy. Furthermore, it will enable scientists to also spot other geological features that could influence the stability of the coast, such as soil displacements and earthquakes.

The project, that started over a year ago now, will provide Maltese authorities with information that they can use to proactively protect pocket beaches against coastal erosion.

Indeed, during the second year, the project will implement trainings for the coastal authorities to get acquainted with the GIS (Geographic Information System) produced, and will present a preliminary coastal erosion management plan to public authorities and other stakeholders.

Mr D’Amico also presented the Coastal SAGE project “Coastal Satellite-Assisted Governance (tools, techniques, models) for Erosion”, implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure and Capital projects of Malta.

This project focuses on coastal erosion on rocky beaches. EO is used in combination with Artificial Intelligence to monitor with millimetric precision ground motion that could cause rocks to fall near the beaches. The final goal of the project is to deliver to coastal authorities the information they need to prevent damage to people and properties.

On the six testbeds, SAR data from Sentinel-1 satellites allow scientists to know exactly how the ground moves. By combining satellite data with in-situ observations and socio-economic data, the project will produce a risk assessment and monitoring tool to develop a preliminary coastal erosion management plan to be presented to public authorities and stakeholders. After completion of the project, the Ministry of Transport will be immediately able to use the plan to prevent the risks associated with coastal erosion around rocky beaches.

On another topic, the “Satellite4Health” project aims at forecasting the number of hospital admissions and the length of patients’ stay in hospitals, and at understanding the impact of weather and air pollution on the spread of diseases.

The project, implemented by a multidisciplinary team, was presented by Dr Lalit Garg from the University of Malta.

Satellite imagery is analysed to measure and monitor weather variables influencing public health, to assess the impacts of such variables on hospitals, and to finally develop a tool to forecast the number of admissions in the hospitals and the length of patients’ stay.

Weather data are collected through satellites (mainly Sentinel-3) and weather ground stations, while hospital data are collected directly from the Mater Dei Hospital and the Directorate for Health Information & Research (DHIR).

The system will allow to foresee the number of hospitals’ admissions and the length of patients’ stay based on weather data. This information will be disseminated through a mobile app that will alert users of events that can impact public health, such as sandstorms.

To know more about the activities of the MCST visit: https://mcst.gov.mt/

The presentations of the webinar are below:

SIPOBED Tha Malta Space Research Fund Eurisy_Introduction_to_Coastal_SAGE

SIPOBED

Eurisy_Introduction_to_Coastal_SAGE

Satellite4Health – Eurisy Presentation

The recordings can be accessed here.

Stay tuned for the next webinar of the Eurisy Members’ Corner that will be hosted by the Slovak Space Office (SSO) on the 21th of October 2022 between 11:00 AM and 12:00 AM CET. To register: https://bit.ly/3dc3Aa8

The post Eurisy Members’ Corner: Focus on the Malta Council for Science and Technology appeared first on Eurisy.