ADVOCACY ESA
of the environment, understanding and mitigation of the effects of climate change, and ensuring civil security.
With satellite data now forming the basis for evidence-based decision making and countless everyday applications, the need for information is growing”
MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS Complementing Copernicus, the
development of high-resolution imaging satellites equipped with advanced sensors capable of capturing images of Earth’s surface in unprecedented clarity and detail has given rise to multiple new applications for urban planning and crop monitoring. Additionally, the emergence of small satellites has made the development of Earth observation solutions far more accessible. This is enabling researchers, start-ups and even students to participate in monitoring and understanding our planet through cost-effective approaches for specific applications such as pollution monitoring and maritime surveillance. The ongoing development of data-sharing platforms and collaboration initiatives has facilitated the exchange of Earth observation data among governments, organisations and researchers worldwide. Open-data policies and cloud-based platforms, such as ESA’s Sentinel Hub, provide easy access to a wealth of satellite imagery and related datasets, fostering innovation and collaboration for research and applications. One of the most exciting developments in trying to ensure the fullest advantage can be taken from the wealth of Earth observation satellite data has been the convergence of artificial intelligence solutions with the Earth observation domain. ESA’s Φ-lab, which aims to accelerate transformational innovation, has been investigating the use of AI to enhance the way the planet is monitored and understood. AI enables the identification of key features and the extraction of actionable insight from satellite data. In particular, machine learning, a branch of AI, offers a powerful way of handling huge quantities of data. When applied to the processing of data en masse, machine learning excels in extracting information to classify land cover, monitor crops and deforestation, and track urban development and population movements. Machine learning and Earth observation data models have been used, moreover, to forecast dengue outbreaks. A MAJOR STEP FORWARD Converting disruptive technologies such as generative AI, which augments datasets
when observations are limited, represents a major step forward. Generative AI models combined with satellite data can mimic real-world
physical processes via a digital replica of the Earth – a digital twin. Yielding a deeper understanding of the physical world, a digital twin of Earth could be used to simulate and reimagine, for example, existing urban centres in different climate and air quality scenarios based on global climate projections and national air pollution policy regulations. The outcomes of these simulations are crucial to providing valuable information to enhance climate adaptation efforts and reduce human-induced greenhouse gas emissions to ensure the health of people, animals and ecosystems. In order to facilitate work on a digital twin of Earth, ESA is also investigating the combination of AI and quantum computing techniques. Although in their nascent stages, quantum computers have garnered considerable attention from the scientific community owing to their potential to perform computations that are beyond the reach of conventional computing systems. This feature is especially important for the analysis of high-resolution satellite images and the modelling of complex systems such as the climate. In conclusion, the latest innovations in Earth observation, including advances in satellite technology, AI and machine learning, new imaging techniques, small satellites and data-sharing platforms, are significantly enhancing our ability to monitor, understand, predict and address environmental, climate and sustainability challenges on a global scale. These innovations hold great potential to inform decision making, promote sustainability and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
JOSEF ASCHBACHER, Josef Aschbacher, director-general of the European Space Agency, holds a PhD in natural sciences from the University of Innsbruck
and has a long international career in space, at ESA, the European Union and the Austrian Space Agency.
SIMONETTA CHELI, Simonetta Cheli, director of Earth observation programmes at ESA, studied law and economics at Yale University before earning a political science degree in international space law at Florence University. She has worked at ESA for over three decades. X-TWITTER @esa esa.int
Bharat Masrani
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2024 — G7 ITALY: THE APULIA SUMMIT
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