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2022 / ISSUE 1
EUSPA 
EO and GNSS 
Market Report
Innovative Solutions for Health
EDITOR’S SPECIAL

2
More information on the European Union is available on the Internet (http://europa.eu).
Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2022
ISBN 978-92-9206-059-6
ISSN 2443-5236
doi: 10.2878/94903
Copyright © European Union Agency for the Space Programme, 2022. This document and the information contained in it is subject to applicable copyright and other intellectual property rights under the laws 
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Market Report ISSUE 1, copyright © EU Agency for the Space Programme, 2022”. No part of this document, including any part of information contained therein, in whichever format, whether digital or otherwise, 
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above terms of use as applicable to them.

2022 / ISSUE 1
EUSPA 
EO and GNSS 
Market Report

4
EU SPACE PROGRAMME
GALILEO AND EGNOS
The  European Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) allows users with compatible devices to 
determine their position, velocity and time by processing signals from satellites. It consists of  two 
elements: Galileo; and  the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS).
Galileo is the first global satellite navigation and posi­tioning system designed specifically for civilian 
purposes, which can be used by a variety of public and private actors worldwide. It provides Europe 
with independence from the other GNSSs but remains interoperable with them, in order to facilitate 
GNSS combined use and offer better performance.
EGNOS is Europe’s regional Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS). It improves the  quality 
of open signals from the US Global Positioning System (GPS) and (soon) Galileo.
GOVSATCOM1
The objective of the EU GOVernmental SATellite COMmunication (GOVSATCOM) initiative is to ensure 
the availability of reliable, secure and cost-effective satellite communication services for EU and national 
public authorities managing emergency and security-critical missions, operations and infrastructures. 
GOVSATCOM aims to avoid duplication of  efforts between European Union Member states and 
overcome the existing fragmentation of the secure SatCom market, targeting both civil and defence 
actors. The result will be wider coverage and better exploitation of existing assets.
COPERNICUS
Coordinated and managed by the European Commission, Copernicus is the European Union’s Earth 
Observation (EO) and Monitoring programme.
Copernicus relies on its own set of  satellites (Sentinels), as well as contributing missions (existing 
commercial and public satellites), and a  variety of  technologies and in-situ measurements systems 
at atmosphere, land and ocean. The accurate and reliable data generated is turned into value-added 
information by the Copernicus Services for different thematic domains: atmosphere monitoring; marine 
environment monitoring; land monitoring; climate change monitoring; and security and emergency 
management.
Most data generated by Copernicus are made available to anyone globally based on a Full, Free and 
Open (FFO) data policy. They are accessible through various services, including a set of cloud-based 
platforms called Data and Information Access Services (DIAS).
SPACE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS2
A  strategic goal of  the  European Commission (EC) space strategy is to reinforce Europe’s strategic 
autonomy in accessing and using space, and this in a secure and safe environment.
This goal is paving the way towards the development of Space Situational Awareness (SSA) capabilities 
at a European level, comprising a holistic approach toward supporting Europe’s independent utilisation 
of and access to space. This is achieved through the provision of timely and accurate information and 
data regarding the space hazards and environment (e.g. space debris, space weather phenomena and 
Near Earth Objects) and both in-orbit and ground-level infrastructure.
Environmental sustainability and economic viability drive  
the adoption of digital solutions in agriculture
1 Since this report focuses on the EO and GNSS market, the market of GOVSATCOM is not presented in this report.
2 Limited insights into SSA are provided in the market segment “Space” on page 178

5
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
FOREWORD
Dear Reader,
I am delighted, for the first time for the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA), to introduce the first published EUSPA Earth Observation (EO) and Global 
Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Market Report. 
2021 has been a year of accomplishments for the European Union in space. The first-ever integrated Space Programme, gathering the two satellite navigation systems, 
Galileo and EGNOS, the EU Earth Observation system, Copernicus, and GOVSATCOM, the upcoming system for secure governmental communications, is now in place. 
EUSPA has an extended mandate, including the provision of satellite-based services for Galileo and EGNOS and development of the GOVSATCOM Hub, enhanced security 
responsibilities, and the market uptake of Galileo, EGNOS, commercial utilization of Copernicus, and the development of GOVSATCOM users’ phase, among others. 
With the EU Space Programme now a reality, new horizons are opening up. The EU’s downstream sector continues to thrive, and the future of our commercial space industry 
has never looked so promising. In 2021, global GNSS- and EO-enabled revenues crossed €200 billion, set to reach almost €500 billion over the next decade. In this context, 
it is more important than ever to keep abreast of developments and trends on the GNSS and EO markets, and this is exactly what the revamped EUSPA EO and GNSS Report 
offers.
Since its inception, the report has established itself as the most authoritative reference document for information on the global GNSS market. It is regularly referenced by policy-makers and business leaders 
around the world. For the first time it offers an analytical overview of key GNSS and EO market segment trends, future evolution forecasts as well as insightful charts and value chains. A total of seventeen market 
segments can be found inside, most of which are synergetic by nature (i.e. balanced use of both EO and GNSS). 
In this issue, the Editor’s special introduces the topic of health, where EO and GNSS are showing a growing potential and role to monitor, analyse and contribute toward the mitigation of global health challenges.
The report is the result of collaborative work between a team of 15 EUSPA experts from various fields and a consortium of market research companies supporting EUSPA, backed up by more than 50 external 
experts who helped to validate market trends and the data contained in almost 150 charts.
I am confident that the latest edition of the EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report will enable you to keep your finger on the pulse of the space downstream industry and reap the maximum benefit from 
the opportunities offered by this rapidly developing market.
Rodrigo da Costa
Executive Director  
European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) 
Prague, January 2022

6
HOW TO READ
How to read this report
The European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) and the European Commission (EC) welcome all readers to this first 
issue of the EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report. Following two previous issues of the Copernicus Market Report by the EC and six 
previous issues of the EUSPA GNSS Market Report, this EO and GNSS Market Report combines the market and application insights 
of both into a single report that provides global coverage of the Earth Observation and Global Navigation Satellite System applications 
across multiple market segments. 
For those readers that are new to the report, the EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report is a continuously evolving publication that builds 
on a similar structure and format used in previous issues. With the merger of both EO and GNSS into a single report, no less than 
17 market segments are featured.
The 17 market segments are the following: Agriculture / Aviation and Drones / Biodiversity, Ecosystems and Natural Capital / 
Climate Services / Consumer Solutions, Tourism and Health / Emergency Management and Humanitarian Aid / Energy and Raw 
Materials / Environmental Monitoring / Fisheries and Aquaculture / Forestry / Infrastructure / Insurance and Finance / Maritime 
and Inland Waterways / Rail / Road and Automotive / Space / Urban Development and Cultural Heritage.
The report is structured as follows:
•	 ΁General overview of the EO and GNSS market presents an overview of the downstream space application market, main EO and 
GNSS trends, market size and revenues of both EO and GNSS (as well as shipments and installed base in the case of GNSS). It 
further presents a global industry overview and main trends, as well as a general description of what Copernicus and EGNSS 
encompass. Finally, it presents how EO and GNSS play a role across general policy and market trends. 
•	 ΁The market segments form the core of the report. All segments, regardless of length, follow the same structure:  
	
✓	To introduce the segment, an overview of the EO and GNSS  applications is presented alongside a segment description;
	
✓	Key market segment trends are illustrated with examples;
	
✓	User perspective focuses on user needs and the utilisation of EO and GNSS in the segment from the users’ point of view;
	
✓	The industry value chain(s) provide a non-exhaustive list of key stakeholders;
	
✓	Recent developments focus on historical data of shipments of GNSS devices and EO data and service revenues by application or 
region over the past decade, presenting initiatives and examples that have recently been implemented;
	
✓	Future market evolution forecasts GNSS shipments or EO revenues over the next decade spanning 2021 to 2031. It presents 
ideas and concepts whose outputs will impact the market in the mid-term and highlights promising applications that might boost 
the future growth of the segment;
	
✓	European  Systems and Projects provides information on the current usage of Galileo, EGNOS and Copernicus services and 
associated relevant projects within the particular segment; and
	
✓	Reference charts present a forecast of the installed base and revenues of the market segment by region and application.
•	 In this issue the Editor’s special introduces the topic ‘Innovative solutions for health’, where EO and GNSS are showing a growing 
potential and role to monitor, analyse and contribute toward the mitigation of global health challenges.
•	 Annexes conclude the  report with a  description of  the  methodology behind the  data presented (Annex 1), definition of  key 
performance parameters (Annex 2), list of application descriptions (Annex 3), list of acronyms (Annex 4) and information about 
the authors (Annex 5).

7
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FOREWORD	
5
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY	
8
MARKET OVERVIEW	
9
MARKET SEGMENTS	
30
	
AGRICULTURE	
30
	
AVIATION AND DRONES	
39
	
BIODIVERSITY, ECOSYSTEMS AND NATURAL CAPITAL	
51
	
CLIMATE SERVICES	
56
	
CONSUMER SOLUTIONS, TOURISM AND HEALTH	
63
	
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND HUMANITARIAN AID	
72
	
ENERGY AND RAW MATERIALS	
81
	
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING	
94
	
FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE	
101
	
FORESTRY	
109
	
INFRASTRUCTURE	
117
	
INSURANCE AND FINANCE	
130
	
MARITIME AND INLAND WATERWAYS	
139
	
RAIL	
148
	
ROAD AND AUTOMOTIVE	
156
	
URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND CULTURAL HERITAGE	
165
	
SPACE	
178
EDITOR’S SPECIAL – INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR HEALTH	
186
ANNEXES	
192

8
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This first issue of the EO and GNSS Market Report 
provides insights into how EO and GNSS contribute to 
a plethora of applications across a total of 17 market 
segments, followed by an additional Editor’s Special 
focus on Innovative Solutions for Health.
Facing global challenges such as the  digital 
revolution, climate change and pandemics threatening 
the economy at a worldwide scale, society – more than ever – relies on innovative solutions to deal 
with the big data paradigm, respond to and mitigate natural and man-made disasters, curb the spread 
of deadly diseases and strengthen a global supply chain that underpins our daily lives. EO and GNSS 
will play a vital role in contributing to these innovative solutions through dozens of applications that 
are emerging or already in use by citizens, governments, international organisations, NGOs, industry, 
academia and researchers around the world.
Between 2021 and 2031, annual shipments 
of  GNSS receivers are forecasted to grow from 
1.8 billion units to 2.5 billion units. These shipments 
will be heavily dominated by the Consumer Solutions, 
Tourism and Health segment following the  wave 
of global smartphone and wearable sales that contribute to roughly 92% of global shipments.
Consequently, the global installed base of GNSS devices in use is expected to reach over 10 billion 
units by 2031. Here again a dominant role is set aside for the mass market segments of Consumer 
Solutions, Tourism and Health and Road and Automotive, which will contribute the  lion’s share 
of 98% of all devices in use.
The  global GNSS downstream market revenues, covering both device sales and service-related 
revenues, is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.2% over the next decade, reaching a total of €492 
billion by 2031. Over 82% of these revenues will be generated by value-added services (i.e. €405 billion 
in 2031). Besides the dominance of the aforementioned mass market segments, the professional 
markets of (i) Agriculture, (ii) Urban Development and Cultural Heritage, and (iii) Infrastructure will 
be the main contributors to the global GNSS revenue stream.
In terms of demand, the Asia-Pacific region continues to dominate the GNSS revenues market both 
for device and services revenues (i.e. 36% and 40% of the global share respectively in 2021). Whilst 
the region is expected to increase its share of the global services revenues, nearing 46% by 2031, 
Asia-Pacific will see a decline of its market share of device revenues (expected to drop to 28%). In this 
area, the region will be challenged by the upcoming markets of South America & Caribbean, Non-EU27 
Europe and the Middle East & Africa regions.
With revenues set to double from roughly €2.8 billion 
to over €5.5 billion over the next decade, the market for 
Earth Observation applications is boosted by a large pool 
of  value-added services (i.e. 85% of  global revenue). 
These contribute across all segments, though especially in 
those of Climate Services, Urban Development and Cultural 
Heritage, Agriculture, Energy and Raw Materials and 
the Insurance and Finance segment.
When it comes to the sale of EO data (worth €0.8 billion in 2031, 15% of global revenue), the top 
five of segments is made up of Urban Development and Cultural heritage, Agriculture, Insurance and 
Finance, Energy and Raw Materials as well as Consumer Solutions, Tourism and Health.
Despite a relatively small market share in 2021 (i.e. 5% or €145 million), the Insurance and Finance 
segment – boosted by the growing use of parametric insurance products in the context of disaster 
resilience frameworks by commercial entities in areas with high exposure to extreme events – will increase 
its uptake of EO data and value-added services over the decade, pushing the Insurance and Finance 
segment to a forecasted €1 billion EO-enabled revenues by 2031 (constituting an 18% market share).
From a supply perspective, the EO market is jointly led by the United States of America and Europe 
with market shares of  42% and 41% respectively. Europe plays a  leading role in the  market 
of  Analysis, Insights and Decision Support (the  subset of  value-added services closest to end-
users) with a 50% market share covering all segments, contributing to its overall market share above. 
Although challenged by US companies in the mature Agriculture market and the growing Insurance and 
Finance segment, European companies lead the market across almost all other segments, excluding 
the Emergency Management and Humanitarian Aid segment (led by Asian companies with 52%) and 
the niche EO market of Road and Automotive (led by US companies with 77%). 
Based on the  latest European Association of  Remote 
Sensing Companies (EARSC) Industry Survey, SMEs 
and start-ups account for more than 93% of  European 
EO companies, showcasing the  importance of  small 
companies for the European EO economy.
As presented throughout this report, the flagship EU Space Programme – driven in tandem by Galileo 
and EGNOS on one side and Copernicus on the other – has become a major enabler in the downstream 
space application market.
Across each and every market segment displayed in this report, the added value and key differentiators 
of European GNSS and EO are showcased, both separately but also, more importantly, in synergy 
with each other.
GNSS- 
and 
EO-enabled 
revenues crossed €200 billion 
in 2021, set to reach almost 
€500 billion over the next 
decade
By 2031, more than 10 billion 
GNSS devices will be in use 
across the world
The European EO industry 
is dominated by SMEs and 
start-ups
North America dominates 
the  EO demand market 
for both data and service 
revenues, with Asia-Pacific 
and EU27 being numbers 2 
and 3 respectively
Executive Summary

9
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
MARKET OVERVIEW
EO MARKET INTRODUCTION
WHAT IS EO?
Earth Observation (EO) refers to remote sensing and in-situ technologies used to capture the planet’s 
physical, chemical, and biological systems and to monitor land, water (i.e. seas, rivers, lakes) and 
the  atmosphere. Satellite-based EO by definition relies on the  use of  satellite-mounted payloads 
to gather data about Earth’s characteristics. As a  result, satellite-based platforms are suitable for 
monitoring and identifying changes and patterns for a range of physical, economic, and environmental 
applications globally. Once processed, EO data can be assimilated into complex models to produce 
information and intelligence (e.g. forecasts, behavioural analysis, climate projections, etc.), and 
complemented by in-situ measurements.
KEY EO PERFORMANCE PARAMETERS
Firstly, different types of sensors utilize different EO technologies:
•	 Optical or thermal sensors are payloads monitoring the  energy received from the  Earth due to 
the reflection and re-emission of the Sun’s energy by the Earth’s surface or atmosphere. They operate 
between the visible and infrared wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum.
•	 Radar sensors are payloads operating in the  lower part of  the  spectrum (longer wavelengths). 
Most of these sensors send energy to Earth and measure the feedback from the Earth’s surface or 
atmosphere, enabling day and night monitoring during all-weather conditions.
The second essential parameter in EO is the sensor resolution.
•	 Spatial resolution defines the  size of  the  pixels analysed by the  sensors. EO satellites can be 
distributed into three categories based on this parameter: Low and medium resolution, High 
resolution, and Very-High Resolution.
•	 Temporal resolution defines the frequency at which the data is acquired for a defined area. The needs 
can vary substantially for this parameter, with applications requiring images every day or every few 
hours, whilst others require updates only every few weeks.
•	 Spectral resolution is also considered in the case of optical sensors. This is defined by the width 
of the spectrum bands that can be distinguished by the payload, enabling some applications that 
require the ability to analyse specific wavelengths.
The last key parameters considered for remote sensing techniques is the coverage.
In-orbit infrastructures offer a global coverage with a single spacecraft, while aerial or in-situ sensor 
coverage is local. Orbital geometry however limits the frequency of fly-by over a same location (typically 
once per day to once every few days) while local monitoring allows a higher persistence, from a new 
acquisition every few hours down to near real time.
More details on EO performance parameters and requirements are provided in Annex 2.
EO MARKET
This Market Report considers the EO market to be defined as: activities where satellite EO-based data 
and value-added services enable a variety of applications across multiple segments.
The EO market presented in this report displays EO data and EO value-added service revenues 
separately, as well as combined into a single chart. This illustrates the different ways in which users in 
different segments access information based on satellite remote sensing. Data revenues arise from a 
financial transaction between an EO Data Provider and a user (this user can be either a service provider 
or an end-user with processing capabilities). Value-added service revenues are further along the value 
chain and arise from a transaction between an EO Products and Services, or Information Provider (that 
uses free and/or commercial input data) and an end-user*.
This report displays only the commercial EO market, meaning that the market quantification captures 
only activities based on commercial transactions. This means specifically that grant-funded activities in 
the EO domain are outside the scope of the content of this Market Report.
ON CHARTS AND METHODOLOGY
Data contained within the charts starting from the year 2020 are estimated, forecasted and subject to 
update in the next edition of the Market Report. Historical figures are actual numbers based on reliable 
sources. These will only change if the number of applications is expanded in future reports.
Terminology used in charts:
➜	Revenue: The revenue from data/services sales in a given year.
➜	Regions: EU27, Non-EU27 Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and South 
America & Caribbean.
Revenues are presented under two distinct points of view. First, EO demand shows in which region 
revenues are generated, similarly to the shipment of GNSS devices (this is the majority of the chart 
material presented in the report). Alternatively, the market share analysis looks at the origin of supply 
– where the company offering the product is headquartered – as presented on the dedicated Industry 
and Market share pages. The difference between this market data and the industry and market share 
analysis data thus gives an indication of the trade balance between regions.
For methodology and information sources see Annex 1 and for any abbreviation used within the report, 
please refer to Annex 4.
Introduction to the EO downstream space application market
Although EO data and services, combined with data from meteorological satellites, contribute to the 
generation of weather data and services, Weather Services themselves are not included in this 
market report as an EO segment. Dedicated weather services at segment level (e.g. Agriculture) 
are included since these are specific EO applications with a commercial business model behind them.
Through the Full, Free and Open (FFO) data policy of the EU Earth Observation programme, 
the data coming from the Sentinel satellites and the added-value products coming from the 
Copernicus services are made available free-of-charge to users. Through the FFO, valuable 
information and services have been delivered for free and have proven to form a solid 
baseline for the development of value-added products and have stimulated the commercial 
market of EO-based products and services. The combination of freely available information 
and services with commercial offerings have enabled Earth Observation companies and users to 
generate the global revenues as presented in this market report. 
* All transactions along the EO value chain (see p13) are considered within these revenue streams, without overlap or omission.
© Adobe Stock

10
EO WORLD MAP
MARKET OVERVIEW
EO demand world map
Global
2021
2031
Value
Value
Data revenues (€ m)
536
797
Value-added service  
revenues (€ m)
2,236
4,662
European Union (EU27)
2021
2031
Value
%
Value
%
Data revenues (€ m)
82
15.4
117
14.6
Value-added service  
revenues (€ m)
342
15.3
664
14.2
Russia & Non-EU27 Europe
(Non-EU27 Europe)
2021
2031
Value
%
Value
%
Data revenues (€ m)
47
8.8
65
8.2
Value-added service  
revenues (€ m)
161
7.2
327
7.0
North America
2021
2031
Value
%
Value
%
Data revenues (€ m)
236
44.1
327
41.0
Value-added service 
revenues (€ m)
1,084
48.5
2,289
49.1
Asia-Pacific
2021
2031
Value
%
Value
%
Data revenues (€ m)
109
20.4
192
24.0
Value-added service 
revenues (€ m)
357
16.0
769
16.5
South America & Caribbean
2021
2031
Value
%
Value
%
Data revenues (€ m)
32
5.9
47
5.8
Value-added service 
revenues (€ m)
136
6.1
278
6.0
Africa & Middle East
2021
2031
Value
%
Value
%
Data revenues (€ m)
29
5.5
51
6.4
Value-added service 
revenues (€ m)
156
7.0
334
7.2
Note: Due to rounding, numbers and percentages might not add up to the global figures provided.

11
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
THE ROLE AND TRENDS OF EO
MARKET OVERVIEW
Role and key trends of EO across the market segments
Of the 17 market segments presented in the first EO and GNSS Market Report, 16 have a strong or even dominant influence of EO applications. For each of these segments, a brief summary of the scope 
and key trends are presented below. More insights into segment-specific trends can be found on their respective ‘Key Trends’ page. The Space segment is the exception that does not cover any EO 
content.   
Agriculture – Modern farming relies on EO data and information for sustainable nutrient 
management, restoring soil health and the preservation of biodiversity.  A major trend in 
the field is the increased use of EO as an input for smart analytics for optimising agri-tech 
solutions.
Aviation and Drones – Traditionally, EO has enabled the monitoring of volcanic ash clouds 
and hazardous weather, as well as helping aviation identify preventative maintenance in 
response to particulate matter. In combination with GNSS it is expected to help accurately 
understand and reduce the impact aviation has on the environment. 
Biodiversity, Ecosystems and Natural Capital – EO helps to progress our understanding 
of the health of ecosystems and existing and potential stressors therein, thus paving 
the  way towards more concrete and effective measures against ecosystem and 
biodiversity loss. While most of biodiversity assessments are still done on-site, the use 
of EO in the field is growing.
Climate Services – The role of EO in climate services is well-established and contributes 
with invaluable data for climate modelling. The  integration of  EO with innovative 
technologies and the number of policies requiring close monitoring are set to further 
boost the market of EO applications related to climate resilience and adaptation.
Consumer Solutions, Tourism and Health – EO-enabled health apps focusing on air 
quality and UV monitoring are finding traction in the  market. Sustainable and safer 
tourism is enabled by EO e.g. by providing insights about wave conditions and water 
quality. 
Emergency Management and Humanitarian Aid – EO is providing a full picture needed 
for context-aware emergency responses, ranging from preparedness and early warning 
to rapid mapping and post-event analysis.
Energy and Raw Materials – EO related to renewable production is mainly linked 
with the  planning and operation monitoring phases, while for raw materials, EO can 
have an important role in all stages of  the  mining cycle from exploration, discovery 
and development, to production and reclamation. EO data also has great potential to 
support novel energy solutions, such as power-to-x solutions in post-production phases, 
contributing to a greener future. 
Environmental Monitoring – Various environmental parameters obtained by EO data 
contribute to an increasing number of international, regional, and local policies related to, 
or impacting, the environment. This is expected to drive the growing demand for EO data 
and applications in the sector. 
Fisheries and Aquaculture – Dedicated EO services and products bring value-added in 
the fisheries and aquaculture segment providing insights in salinity, temperature, water 
quality etc., greatly improving fisheries and aquaculture outputs. As the  importance 
of aquaculture grows, a major trend is the increasing use of EO products and services 
in the field.
Forestry – EO is becoming an extremely valuable tool in monitoring and maintaining 
the  sustainability of  forests. From carbon monitoring to battling deforestation and 
degradation, EO is contributing to conservation in this area. A  key trend emerging in 
the forestry industry is the use of EO in monitoring carbon offsetting practices. 
Infrastructure – EO supports the various stages of the infrastructure life cycle, from site 
selection to post-construction infrastructure health monitoring. Thanks to its capacity to 
deliver information on risk exposure and future impacts of climate change, EO should 
increasingly contribute to the design of more resilient and sustainable infrastructures.
Insurance and Finance – EO data is used to compute parametric products benefiting 
both finance and insurance stakeholders. Risk and claim assessments based on EO data 
brought increased granularity in risk selection and pricing for insurers.
Maritime and Inland Waterways – Thanks to EO, and in synergy with GNSS, applications 
such as ship route optimisation contribute to a more efficient means of maritime transport. 
This optimisation also leads to reduced emissions as well as safer means of navigation, 
leading to net benefits for the industry and society.
Rail – EO contributes to the overall safety of the railway network by providing railway 
infrastructure managers with information on risk exposure in relation to vegetation 
encroachment, landslides and floods. In the  future, thanks to its capacity to detect 
millimetre-scale ground movements, EO should also play an increasing role in 
the monitoring of track deformation and infrastructure health along the track.
Road and Automotive – Whilst the use of EO is rather new and innovative, applications 
such as driving comfort have greatly benefited from global EO data, contributing to road 
safety.
Urban Development and Cultural Heritage – A  key enabler for healthier cities, EO 
assists officials, developers and citizens with the monitoring of air quality, light pollution 
and mapping of green areas as well as the preparation of urban planning in general. EO 
will contribute to novel solutions related to smart and sustainable cities.

12
MARKET OVERVIEW
MARKET OVERVIEW
The global EO market of data and services, based on an analysis of over 100 applications, has been 
split across 16 segments (with Space being the sole segment unconnected with the EO market in this 
report). Despite having identified several EO applications across each segment, only 14 of these EO 
segments are currently quantified in terms of data and value-added service revenue streams as no 
quantifiable data was available for the Aviation and Drones and Rail segments. 
In 2021, the global turnover across EO data and value-added services amounts to €2.8 bn. Over half 
of these global revenues (i.e. 55%) are generated by the top five segments, namely Urban Development 
and Cultural Heritage, Agriculture, Climate Services, Energy and Raw Materials, and Infrastructure. 
However, it is forecasted that the Insurance and Finance segment (i.e. €145 m and 5.2% in 2021) will 
realise substantial growth over the next decade and become the largest contributor to global EO 
revenues in 2031 (with €994 m and an 18.2% market share). By 2031, revenues of the global EO 
data and value-added services market will approach €5.5 bn.
The forecasted growth of EO data and value-added service revenues within the Insurance and Finance 
segment can mainly be attributed to an expected rapid uptake of solutions that support parametric 
insurance1.
Note: The size of the bubbles represent the CAGR of each segment between 2021 and 2031.
1 Parametric insurance or index-based insurance is an innovative insurance product that offers pay-outs following pre-defined parameters 
and specific perils (e.g. droughts, floods). See Annex 3 for more information on Index production.
As presented in the  figure on the  left, in which each segment’s market share growth is illustrated 
over the 2021-2031 timeframe for both data and value-added service revenues, the Insurance and 
Finance segment is expected to experience the fastest growth over the next decade. Segments in 
the darker zone are those which are projected to grow faster than others, while those in the lighter zone 
will experience slower growth. This can be explained by the degree of maturity of the segment. More 
mature market segments will experience smaller year-on-year growth than emergent markets in which 
the customer base is not yet well established. For instance, a mature segments such as Energy and Raw 
Materials has a slow and constant growth rate. Conversely, Insurance and Finance is a rapidly increasing 
segment with high growth rate. 
The total revenues for EO data in 2021 accumulate to €536 m across all segments. From 2021, the EO 
data market will see a CAGR of 3.5% by 2031, resulting in €797 m total revenues. 
The EO value-added services market is considerably larger and accumulated globally a total of €2.2 bn 
in 2021 within the same scope of market segments. From 2021, the EO value-added services market 
will see a CAGR of 6.8%, resulting in €4.7 bn total revenues by 2031. 
EO data and service revenues are set to double over the next decade 
Distribution of revenue by segments (€m, 2021)
Segment’s market share in 2021 and 2031
Faster growth
 
 
Slower growth
 
 
Consumer solutions, 
tourism, and health, 6%
 
Insurance and ﬁnance, 21%
 
Road and automotive, 8%
 
Maritime and inland 
waterways, 5%
Emergency management 
and humanitarian aid, 6%
 
Infrastructure, 5%
 
Agriculture, 7% 
Forestry, 4%
 
Fisheries and 
aquaculture, 5%
 
Environmental monitoring, 5%
 
Biodiversity, ecosystems, 
and natural capital, 4% 
Climate services, 4%
 
Energy and raw materials, 3%
 
Urban development
and cultural heritage, 8%
 
0% 
2% 
4% 
6% 
8% 
10% 
12% 
14% 
16% 
18% 
20% 
0% 
2% 
4% 
6% 
8% 
10% 
12% 
14% 
16% 
18% 
20% 
Market share in 2031 
Market share in 2021
Consumer solutions, 
tourism, 
and health, 175
Insurance 
and ﬁnance, 145
Road 
and automotive, 107
Maritime and inland 
waterways, 78
Fisheries 
and aquaculture, 54
Emergency 
management 
and humanitarian 
aid, 181
Infrastructure, 209
Biodiversity,
ecosystems, 
and natural capital,
 196
Agriculture, 337
Forestry, 169
Energy and raw 
materials, 313
Urban development 
and cultural 
heritage, 369
Environmental 
monitoring, 120
Climate services, 318
Total revenue  
€2.8bn

13
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
EO INDUSTRY
MARKET OVERVIEW
EO industry overview
Revenue1 generated from EO data and value-added services is concentrated in the United States and 
Europe2. This table presents the revenues under the supply lens, from where EO data and services 
are provided. It differs from the EO demand world map showing which regions purchase data and 
services (page 10).
Together US and European companies hold over 83% of the global market, each accountable for over 
40%. The remaining market is distributed around the rest of the world. Chinese3 companies accounts 
for 6% of the market, while Canada and Japan generate respectively 4% and 3% of global revenue.
Revenue generation in the EO industry by key domains (% split of revenues 2019)
Europe
41%
Canada
4%
US
42%
Japan
3%
China
6%
Others
4%
The downstream EO industry is defined as three categories: Data acquisition and distribution, Data 
processing, Analysis, insights & decision support. The top right table presents the top ten companies 
in each value chain category. The top companies tend to differ across the value chain. However, big 
companies such as Maxar, Airbus and Amazon have presence in more than one value chain category.
1 A different methodology was used to calculate EO revenues compared to rest of the report as described in Annex 1. This methodology measures the size of EO industry from a supply perspective based on a bottom-up approach which quantifies revenues attributable to EO of more 
than 500 individual companies for which financial data are available (those with turnover greater than the threshold exempting small firms from financial reporting – this threshold is not universal so smaller companies may be included in some regions than in others). Companies 
are allocated to a single region based on the registered headquarters of the company (or its ultimate parent). In contrast, the methodology in the rest of the report attributes the size of the EO market to the region where data or services are sold and used. Specifically, this means 
that the 41% European share of the EO market presented in this table is a fundamentally different statistic to the 15.4% share of the market presented for EU27 in the map on page 10.
2 Europe: EU27, Norway, Switzerland, UK.
3 There may be vertical integration in the Chinese government that means activities, which in Europe are procured by government from industry on market terms, are delivered internally by the Chinese government. This means Chinese companies account for a relatively smaller 
share of the market than their share of activities. Such vertical integration does not represent a market but may explain the relatively small Chinese share.
Data acquisition 
and distribution
Data processing
Analysis, insights 
& decision support
Users
Maxar
US
Maxar
US Airbus 
NL
Users of EO 
products 
and services 
across 
the different 
market 
segments
Airbus
NL
Airbus
NL Leonardo
IT
Thales
FR
Alphabet Inc. (Google)
US Verisk
US
Planet
US
Leonardo
IT
Trimble Inc.
US
Leonardo
IT
Oracle Corp
US NEC Corporation
JP
Amazon
US
Amazon
US CGI Inc.
CA
Space Imaging 
Middle East
AE
CGI Inc.
CA Maxar
US
21AT
CN
ESRI
US VITO
BE
KSAT
NO Trimble
US 21AT
CN
Science and Technology 
Holding B.V.
NL
Cyient Limited
IN
Beijing Piesat
CN
The EO value chain
The EO value chain is presented at three levels. At the highest level (light blue), the market is split by EO data and EO value-added services. At the next level (green), industry players fit into three 
categories namely, Data acquisition and distribution, Data processing, and Analysis, insights & decision support. At the lowest level (dark blue), the detailed value chain includes:
•	 Infrastructure providers: providers of various types of computing infrastructure upon which EO 
data can be accessed, stored, distributed or manipulated.
•	 Data providers: providers of unprocessed or pre-processed EO data.
•	 Platform providers: providers of online platforms and/or digital services, through which users 
can utilise tools and capabilities to analyse EO data, develop algorithms and build applications.
•	 EO products and service providers: providers of  products (e.g. land cover classifications) or 
services (e.g. ground motion monitoring) that make full use of EO data and processing capabilities 
offered by data and platform providers.
•	 Information providers: providers of sector-specific information that incorporates EO data along 
with non-EO data.
•	 End Users: the final users who benefit from the applications and services offered by information 
providers. 
Example of a generic EO value chain
END USERS
END USERS
INFORMATION  
PROVIDERS
EO PRODUCTS 
AND SERVICE  
PROVIDERS
ANALYSIS, INSIGHTS,  
AND DECISION SUPPORT
PLATFORM  
PROVIDERS
DATA 
PROCESSING
EO VALUE-ADDED SERVICES
DATA  
PROVIDERS
INFRASTRUCTURE 
PROVIDERS
DATA ACQUISTION 
AND DISTRIBUTION
EO DATA
List of companies
List of companies
List of companies
List of companies
List of companies
List of end users
Public Offering
Public Offering
Public Offering
Public Offering
Public Offering
LEGEND
 Demand value chain
 Supply value chain
 Detailed value chain
 Commercial Offering
 Public Offering
 Users
Top 10 companies across the value chain based on 2019 revenues

14
EUROPEAN EO INDUSTRY
MARKET OVERVIEW
European1 EO Market Share
European companies account for half of the global Analysis, Insights & Decision Support market in 
2019. Companies in this market make use of EO data to provide information and intelligence to their 
clients seeking to solve complex geospatial challenges.
The European industry is the market leader in most market segments within this value chain category. In 
Maritime and Inland Waterways, Fisheries and Aquaculture, and Aviation and Drones, the European 
industry makes up for over 80% of the global market. The only segments in which European companies 
have a market share far below the European average are Rail (35%), Emergency Management and 
Humanitarian Aid (17%), and Road and Automotive (12%).
Europe accounts for 42% of  the  global Data Acquisition and Distribution market and 34% 
of the global Data Processing market in 2019. 
Data acquisition and distribution companies supply commercial raw, unprocessed or pre-processed 
data. They include satellite, online platforms and data catalogues.
Data processing companies provide services used to process, calibrate, and analyse data, develop 
algorithms and build specific applications. The processing of data leads to change detection, mapping 
trends and the quantification of desired indicators on the Earth’s surface.
The European EO industry is a global leader when it comes to data analysis
Focus on Europe – The EARSC Industry Survey 2021
The European Association of Remote Sensing Companies (EARSC) is a not-for-profit organisation which coordinates and promotes the activities 
of European companies engaged in delivering Earth Observation-derived geo-information services. Acting as a bridge between industry, decision 
makers and users and covering the full EO value chain (from data acquisition through processing, fusion, analysis and final geo-information 
products and services), the organisation’s members span across 25 countries and include over 130 companies (including SMEs and start-ups).
Since 2013, EARSC has been conducting an industry survey to compile facts and figures concerning the state of the European EO industry. Based 
on outcomes from its sixth edition, the EO services sector comprised of 713 Companies (an increase of 24% compared to the previous year) across 
32 countries (comprising EU and ESA member states). Companies offering services or supplying (selling) data or information using satellite data 
generated a total of €1.7bn revenues (driven by Copernicus data and information) in 2020.
The European EO industry is dominated by small companies. The 2021 Survey shows that 93% of the companies covered have less than 
50 employees whereas 70% have less than 10 employees.  
More information on: https://earsc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/EARSC-Industry-survey-2021.pdf and EARSC website.
1 In the market share analysis, Europe is defined as EU27 plus Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Note: Segment share for Rest of the World is not shown in this table.
EARSC Industry Survey 2021
Europe’s 2019 market share in Analysis, insights & decision support, by market 
segments
Analysis, insights & decision support (Europe: 50%)
Europe
North 
America
Asia+Russia
Europe
North 
America
Asia+Russia
64%
33%
3%
59%
31%
11%
45%
44%
11%
93%
4%
1%
60%
28%
12%
35%
16%
49%
81%
8%
11%
45%
37%
18%
89%
11%
0%
43%
28%
28%
42%
31%
27%
17%
31%
52%
47%
53%
0%
12%
77%
10%

15
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
EUROPEAN EO
MARKET OVERVIEW
Copernicus is the European Union’s Earth Observation and Monitoring 
programme
Copernicus delivers accurate and reliable information in the  field of  environment and security and 
supports a wide range of Union policies in domains such as agriculture, environment, energy, health, civil 
protection, humanitarian aid and transport. Mainly tailored to the needs of public authorities, Copernicus 
also serves research, academic, commercial and other private users. The system consists of three main 
components: a space component, which delivers data from a fleet of dedicated observation satellites 
(the ‘Sentinels’) and from contributing missions; an in-situ component which collects data acquired 
by a multitude of sensors at air-, sea- and ground-level; and a service component which transforms 
the wealth of satellite and in-situ data into timely and actionable information products.
The  programme is managed by the  European Commission and implemented in partnership with 
the  Member States, European Space Agency (ESA), European Organisation for the  Exploitation 
of  Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts 
(ECMWF), EU Agencies and Mercator Ocean International.
Eight Sentinels are already operational
The Sentinels are the Earth Observation satellites dedicated to the Copernicus programme and are 
designed to meet the needs of the Copernicus services and their users. Made-up of six families, they 
ensure an independent and autonomous Earth Observation capacity for Europe with global coverage. 
They deliver observations (including day and night, all-weather observations) which serve a wide range 
of user needs related to land and ocean surfaces, atmospheric measurements, air quality, emergency 
situations, and so on.
The Copernicus services deliver value-added information products in six 
thematic areas
The  Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) continuously monitors 
the  composition  of   the   Earth’s  atmosphere  at  global  and  regional  scales and 
delivers accurate and reliable information related to air pollution and health, solar energy, 
greenhouse gases and climate forcing. ECMWF implements CAMS Under the Delegation 
Agreement with the European Commission.
The Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service (CMEMS) provides regular and 
systematic reference information on the physical and biogeochemical state, variability and 
dynamics of  the  ocean and marine ecosystems for the  global ocean and the  European 
regional seas. Mercator Ocean International was selected by the European Commission to 
implement CMEMS.
The Copernicus Land Monitoring Service (CLMS) delivers geographical and environmental 
information on land cover which includes land cover characteristics and changes, land use, 
vegetation state, water cycle and earth surface energy variables. The CLMS has been jointly 
implemented by the European Commission and the European Environment Agency.
The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) provides authoritative information about 
the past, present and future climate, as well as tools to enable climate change mitigation 
and adaptation strategies by policy makers and businesses. C3S is being implemented 
by the European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts on behalf of the European 
Commission.
The Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS) delivers on-demand geospatial 
information* for emergency situations that arise from natural or man-made disasters 
anywhere in the world, and provides early warning information for floods, wildfires and 
droughts. The CEMS has been implemented by the European Commission.
The Copernicus Security Service* (CSS) delivers information which helps the European 
Union to improve crisis prevention, preparedness and response and to face the security-
related challenges in the areas of maritime surveillance, border surveillance and support 
to EU external action. The European Commission has entrusted European Maritime Safety 
Agency (EMSA), European Border and Coast Guard Agency (FRONTEX) and EU SatCen 
with the different components of the CSS.
Copernicus delivers a wealth of environment and security-related data
Sentinel-1A & -1B provide 
all-weather, day and night 
radar imagery for land and 
ocean services.
Sentinel-3A & -3B provide 
optical, radar and altimetry 
data for marine and land 
services.
Sentinel-6 provides radar 
altimetry data to measure 
global sea-surface height, 
primarily 
for 
operational 
oceanography 
and 
for 
climate studies.
Sentinel-2A & -2B provide 
optical imagery for land and 
emergency services.
Sentinel-5P 
provides 
at-
mospheric 
data, 
bridging 
the  gap between Environ-
mental Satellites (ENVISAT) 
and future Sentinel-5 data.
Sentinel-4 & -5 are pay-
loads to be respectively em-
barked aboard EUMETSAT 
MTG-S and Metop-SG satel-
lites, in order to provide  data 
for atmospheric composition 
monitoring. 
Thanks to the Full, Free and Open (FFO) data policy of the EU Earth Observation 
and Monitoring programme, the data from the Sentinels satellites and most value-
added products derived from the Copernicus services are made available free-of-
charge to users and service providers.
FFO.
To be launched 
 early 2024
* Serves registered Public users only

16
EUROPEAN EO – USERS
MARKET OVERVIEW
Copernicus is a user-driven programme
Since the early stages of the programme, users have been at the centre of the design and implementation 
of Copernicus and have particularly driven the implementation and validation of the service-related 
requirements.
The  initial technical specifications have largely been based on the  outcomes of  workshops with 
the  Member States, through ‘implementation groups’ (2007-2010) established by the  European 
Commission, and of  numerous European projects, among which have been the  Sixth Framework 
Programme Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (FP6 GMES) integrated projects, the GMES 
Initial Operation projects and the ESA GMES Service Elements.
Following the Copernicus Regulation published in 2014, the Commission services have engaged in 
a  continuous collection of  user needs through questionnaires, interviews, workshops, studies (e.g. 
the ‘NEXTSPACE’ project, ‘Copernicus for EC (C4EC)’ study, etc.) and consultation with bodies such as 
the European Commission’s Directorates General, Member States and Entrusted Entities. 
The  programme governance structure also witnesses the  permanent involvement of  users, with 
a specific ‘User Forum’ established to assist the programme Committee in identifying user requirements, 
verifying service compliance and coordinating public sector users. At the  next User Consultation 
Platform (UCP), EO requirements of commercial users will be discussed and validated alongside GNSS 
requirements (see page 25).
Earth Observation data and services benefit a large base of users, including:
•	 Core users:  International institutions and bodies and national, regional or local authorities entrusted with 
the definition, implementation, enforcement and monitoring of a public service or policy. EO informs the decision 
making of national governments tasked with, for example, setting up plans for disaster response, improving resilience 
against high-risk hazards, or adapting policy to the  effects of  extreme weather and climate change. Additional 
contributors are organisations such as the Intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations (GEO) which coordinates 
Earth Observation systems and facilitates data and information sharing at a global level. 
•	 Commercial and private users: geospatial data and analysis tools not only help businesses address sustainability 
and climate risks but also optimise their use of resources (e.g. farmers, shipping companies, airlines, etc.). The use 
of EO by these communities is abundant – use cases and examples of applications can be found throughout this 
report, both in general and in each market segment.
•	 Last but not least, the availability of EO data in combination with technological developments (e.g. artificial intelligence, 
cloud computing and machine learning) enables research communities to generate a vast amount of insights – these 
include tracking and visualising forest and coral-reef loss or predicting disease outbreaks and glacier melts. 
Copernicus data supports industry and policymakers
Access to Copernicus Data
The massive amount of data and information produced in the context of the Copernicus programme 
– representing tens of terabytes every day – are made freely available and accessible to any citizen 
and any organisation around the world.
Satellite data are in particular delivered to their users through a  variety of  online data access 
platforms, such as the ESA-managed Sci Hub and Copernicus Space Component Data Access 
System (CSCDA), and the  EUMETSAT-managed EUMETCast and the  Copernicus Online Data 
Access (CODA) platforms. In addition to the  above platforms, each Copernicus Service has 
developed its own online platform which provides users with access to information products, 
associated documentation and support services for their use (1000+ Copernicus products are 
available to users in total).
Considering the  amount of  data to be exploited, 
traditional processing chains have today reached 
their limits. To fully tap the  potential of  Copernicus 
data, in 2018 the  European Commission launched 
the  development of  five cloud-based platforms: 
the Copernicus Data and Information Access Services 
(DIAS). Each DIAS provides access in a  virtual 
environment to all Copernicus data and information, 
as well as tools and utilities to process them without 
having to download massive amounts of data.
The Copernicus DIAS
POLICY MAKERS & INSTITUTIONS
• International institutions and bodies
• National, regional or local authorities
RESEARCH USERS
• Universities or any other research and education organisations
• Charities and non-governmental organisations
COMMERCIAL AND PRIVATE USERS
• International corporations
• SMEs
• Individual end users

17
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
GNSS MARKET INTRODUCTION
MARKET OVERVIEW
WHAT IS GNSS?
Radio Navigation Satellite Services (RNSS) is infrastructure that allows users with a compatible device 
to determine their position, velocity and time by processing signals from satellites. RNSS signals are 
provided by a variety of satellite positioning systems, including global and regional constellations and 
Satellite-Based Augmentation Systems:
➜ Global constellations i.e. Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS): GPS (USA), GLONASS 
(Russian Federation), Galileo (EU), BeiDou (PRC). 
➜ Regional constellations: QZSS (Japan), NavIC (India), and BeiDou regional component (PRC).
➜ Satellite-Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS): WAAS (USA), EGNOS (EU), MSAS (Japan), 
GAGAN  India), SDCM (Russian Federation) and SNAS (PRC).
KEY GNSS PERFORMANCE PARAMETERS
GNSS technology is used for many types of applications, covering the mass market, professional and safety-critical 
applications and critical infrastructures. Depending on user needs, important GNSS User Requirements are:
•	 Availability: The percentage of time the position, navigation or timing solution can be computed by 
the user. Values vary greatly according to the specific application and services used, but typically 
range from 95-99.9%.
•	 Accuracy: The difference between true and computed solution (position or time). 
•	 Continuity: Ability to provide the required performances during an operation without interruption 
once the operation has started.
•	 Integrity: The measure of trust that can be placed in the correctness of the position or time estimate 
provided by the receiver.
•	 Time To First Fix (TTFF): A measure of a receiver’s performance covering the time between activation 
and output of a position within the required accuracy bounds.
•	 Robustness to jamming: The ability of the system to mitigate radio frequency (RF) interference and 
continue operations within stated service performance limits.
•	 Robustness to spoofing: The ability of the system to prevent, detect, and mitigate spoofing attacks. 
Authentication relates to the system’s ability to assure the users that they are utilising signals and/or 
data from a trustworthy source, and thus enhance its robustness level.
Parameters not directly related to GNSS performance are also important. Such parameters include 
Power consumption, Resilience, Connectivity, Interoperability and Traceability. 
More details on GNSS performance parameters and requirements are provided in Annex 2.
GNSS MARKET
This Market Report considers the GNSS market defined as activities where GNSS-based positioning, 
navigation and/or timing is a significant enabler of functionality. The GNSS market presented in this 
report comprises device revenues, revenues derived from augmentation and added-value services, 
(which together form ‘Services’) attributable to GNSS. 
Augmentation services include software products and content such as digital maps, as well as GNSS 
augmentation subscriptions. Added-value service revenues include data downloaded through cellular 
networks specifically to run location-based applications (such as navigation), as well as the GNSS- 
attributable revenues of  smartphone apps (sales revenue, advertisements and in-app purchases), 
subscription revenues from fleet management services, drone service revenues across a  range 
of industries, and so on. Both services are shown on the World Map (next page) together as ‘Services’.
For multi-function devices such as smartphones, the  revenues include only the  value of  GNSS 
functionality – not the full device price. Therefore, a case-specific correction factor is used:
•	 GNSS-enabled smartphone: Only the value of GNSS chipsets is counted. 
•	 Aviation: The value of the GNSS receiver inside the Flight Management System is taken into account, 
in addition to the GNSS-specific revenues driven by the certification process.
•	 Precision Agriculture system: The retail value of the GNSS receivers, maps, and navigation software 
is counted.
•	 Search and Rescue devices: For Personal Locator Beacons and Emergency Locator Transmitters, only 
the price differential between GNSS and non-GNSS devices is included. 
ON CHARTS AND METHODOLOGY
Data contained within the charts starting from the year 2020 are estimated, forecasted and subject to 
update in the next edition of the Market Report. Historical figures are actual numbers based on reliable 
sources. These will only change if the number of applications is expanded in future reports.
Terminology used in charts:
➜ Shipments: The number of devices sold in a given year.
➜ Installed base: The number of devices currently in use.
➜ Revenue: The revenue from device/service sales in a given year.
➜ Regions: EU27, Non-EU27 Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and South 
America & Caribbean. 
The chart data is presented under two distinct points of view. First, GNSS demand shows in which 
region shipments are sold, devices are used, and revenues are generated (this is the majority of the chart 
material presented in the report). Alternatively, the market share analysis looks at the origin of supply 
– where the company’s HQ offering the product is located – as presented on the dedicated Industry 
and Market share pages. The difference between this market data and the industry and market share 
analysis data thus gives an indication of the trade balance between regions.
For methodology and information sources see Annex 1 and for any abbreviation used within the report, 
please refer to Annex 4.
Introduction to the GNSS downstream space application market
GOVERNMENTAL GNSS MARKET
GNSS constellations may be used in very diverse types of applications. One of the first community 
to adopt GNSS were Governmental organisations, whose end users are either a governmental 
entity (e.g. police, fire brigades, customs, etc.) or a  non-governmental organisation ensuring 
the operation of essential services. These GNSS governmental applications are not considered 
in this report.

18
GNSS WORLD MAP
MARKET OVERVIEW
GNSS demand world map
Global
2021
2031
Value
Value
Devices revenues  
(€ bn)
48.4
87.0
Services revenues 
(€ bn)
150.5
405.2
European Union (EU27)
2021
2031
Value
%
Value
%
Devices revenues  
(€ bn)
12.1
25.0
21.6
24.8
Services revenues 
(€ bn)
27.4
18.2
53.7
13.3
Russia & Non-EU27 Europe
(Non-EU27 Europe)
2021
2031
Value
%
Value
%
Devices revenues  
(€ bn)
2.7
5.6
7.6
8.7
Services revenues 
(€ bn)
7.4
4.9
20.7
5.1
North America
2021
2031
Value
%
Value
%
Devices revenues  
(€ bn)
12.4
25.6
24.0
27.6
Services revenues 
(€ bn)
35.2
23.4
74.3
18.3
Asia-Pacific
2021
2031
Value
%
Value
%
Devices revenues  
(€ bn)
17.3
35.7
24.0
27.6
Services revenues 
(€ bn)
59.9
39.8
185.3
45.7
South America & Caribbean
2021
2031
Value
%
Value
%
Devices revenues  
(€ bn)
1.8
3.7
4.5
5.2
Services revenues 
(€ bn)
7.9
5.2
22.1
5.5
Africa & Middle East
2021
2031
Value
%
Value
%
Devices revenues  
(€ bn)
2.1
4.3
5.3
6.1
Services revenues 
(€ bn)
12.7
8.4
49.1
12.1
Note: Due to rounding, numbers and percentages might not add up to the global figures provided.

19
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
THE ROLE AND TRENDS OF GNSS
MARKET OVERVIEW
Role and key trends of GNSS across the market segments
Of the 17 market segments presented in the first EO and GNSS Market Report, 16 segments have a strong or even dominant influence of GNSS applications. For each of these segments, a brief 
summary of the scope and key trends are presented below. More insights into segment-specific trends can be found on their respective ‘Key Trends’ page.  The Environmental Monitoring segment is 
the exception that does not cover any GNSS content.
Agriculture – New technologies are pushing the Agriculture sector to new frontiers. 
GNSS is considered a key driver and enabler for these evolutions, ranging from traditional 
farming applications to Internet-of-Things, blockchain, Agri-fin tech and value chain 
management. GNSS-enabled livestock wearables are emerging as an exciting trend 
which is improving animal welfare.
Aviation and Drones – Global air traffic took a huge hit due to COVID-19 – airlines 
responded with consolidation of fleets, and older aircraft prioritised for retirement. 
Meanwhile, standards evolution in navigation and surveillance presses ahead, enhanced 
by growing demand from increasingly sophisticated drone operations.
Biodiversity, Ecosystems and Natural Capital – In the domain of biodiversity, ecosystems 
and natural capital, GNSS-beacons are used to geo-locate animals for the purposes of 
monitoring migrations, habitats, and behaviours. These are becoming more accurate and 
additional biodiversity applications are emerging (e.g. botanical mapping).
Climate Services – GNSS has limited but important application in the climate services 
domain. The technology supports a range of geodetic applications that measure 
properties of the earth (magnetic field, atmosphere) with direct impact on the Earth's 
climate. GNSS is expected to have an increasing role in the growing market of climate 
modelling.
Consumer Solutions, Tourism and Health – GNSS finds increasing use in facilitating our 
daily lives. From context-aware apps monitoring peak visit times to contactless deliveries 
and personal fitness apps (powered by wearable devices), navigation and positioning 
information plays a vital role.
Emergency Management and Humanitarian Aid – Estimated to save 2,000 lives a year, 
the new MEOSAR system of the GNSS-based COSPAS-SARSAT programme relies on 
the proper use of GNSS-enabled Search and Rescue beacons. On the field, GNSS is a 
valuable tool to coordinate emergency response and humanitarian aid.
Energy and Raw Materials – Monitoring and management of electricity utility grids 
heavily rely on GNSS timing and synchronisation, allowing the balance supply and 
demand and ensuring safe operations. In the domain of raw materials, the increased 
uptake of augmented GNSS supports site selection, planning and monitoring, as well as 
mining surveillance activities and mining machinery guidance. 
Fisheries and Aquaculture – GNSS plays a vital role for the efficient and effective 
monitoring of fisheries activities through applications such as VMS and AIS. As the 
focus  on the sustainability of these activities grows, agriculture lands diminish and food 
demand rises, GNSS applications are themselves seeing higher demand.
Forestry – GNSS is becoming an extremely valuable tool in monitoring and maintaining 
the sustainability of our forests. Besides precision forestry management, a key emerging 
trend is the use of GNSS-enabled UAVs and tracking devices help ensure the health of 
our trees and the efficiency of our timber supply chains. 
Infrastructure – GNSS contributes to the proper functioning of Infrastructures operations. 
It allows a safe and on-time completion of construction work through the provision of 
high accuracy services and supports the synchronisation of telecommunication networks. 
With the transition towards 5G, the GNSS Timing & Synchronisation function is expected 
to play an increasingly critical role in telecommunication network operations.
Insurance and Finance – The financial world relies on GNSS timing and synchronisation 
for the accurate timestamping of financial transactions. Insurers, on the other hand, are 
turning towards GNSS-enabled UAVs for a more accurate and faster claim assessment.
Maritime and Inland Waterways – GNSS has shown its versatility providing data insights 
to monitor global shipping and port activities during the pandemic. Looking to the future, 
with automation and 5G expected to bring technological advancements in ports, GNSS 
will continue expanding its role beyond merely providing navigation information.
Rail – GNSS is becoming one of the cornerstones for non-safety related applications 
(e.g. asset management), whilst future adoption of GNSS for safety-related applications, 
including Enhanced Command & Control Systems, is expected to increase railway network 
capacity, decrease operational costs and foster new train operations. Thanks to GNSS 
taking part in digitalisation, Rail is becoming safer, more efficient and more attractive.
Road and Automotive – Despite the global slowdown of car production and sales, 
regulation for safer and autonomous vehicles is on track, with GNSS doubtless playing 
a key role. With In Vehicle Systems remaining the dominant source of Positioning, 
Navigation and Timing, it is moreover clear that public transport is increasingly adopting 
GNSS to improve its services.
Space – From using real-time GNSS data for absolute and relative spacecraft navigation, 
to deriving Earth Observation measurements from it, GNSS has also proven its worth for  
in-space applications. Driven by the NewSpace paradigm, the diversification and proliferation 
of space users leads to an increasing need for spaceborne GNSS-based solutions.
Urban Development and Cultural Heritage – In this field, GNSS-based solutions are 
used, in conjunction with EO, to accurately survey and map urban areas and to build 
advanced 3D models of the built environment. With more than 56% of the population 
already living in urban areas and this number expected to increase, digital solutions 
powered by GNSS will be needed more than ever support sustainable growth.

20
GNSS MARKET
MARKET OVERVIEW
Global annual GNSS receiver shipments (graph below) will grow continuously across the next decade 
(from 1.8 bn units in 2021 to 2.5 bn units in 2031). The vast majority are associated with the Consumer 
Solutions, Tourism and Health segment which contributes roughly 92% of all global annual shipments 
thanks to the enormous numbers of smartphones and wearables being sold on an annual basis. From 
a regional point of view, it is clear that Asia-Pacific will continue its reign as the largest market.
The  overall installed base (graph upper-right) will grow from 6.5 bn units in 2021 to 10.6 bn 
units in 2031. Similar to global shipments, the  lion’s share of  the  installed base is dominated by 
the Consumer Solutions segment, accounting for 89% of global GNSS devices in use for 2021 and 86% 
in 2031. This drop of 3% in global share over the next decade is mainly influenced by the declining 
share of smartphones across all GNSS devices as there is a global trend towards extending the useful 
life of a smartphone, which in turn  translates into a decrease in smartphone shipments. In parallel, 
the  growing adoption and integration of  In-vehicle Systems  amongst new car shipments pushes 
the share of the Road and Automotive segment amongst the global installed base of GNSS devices 
from 9% in 2021 to 12% in 2031.
Looking at other segments (graphs in the  bottom-right), Aviation and Drones is a significant market 
expected to grow from 42 m units in 2021 to 49 m in 2031. The Maritime segment is the second largest 
market in 2021, but sees it global share of 17% in 2021 (corresponding to 11 m units) drop to 16% 
(17 m in 2031), whilst Agriculture becomes the second largest market reaching a share of 18% in 2031 
(roughly 20 m units in 2031, up from less than 5 m units in 2021).
The GNSS market is set to grow steadily across the next decade
0
 
500  
1 000 
1 500 
2 000 
2 500 
2021  
2022  
2023  
2024  
2025  
2026  
2027  
2028  
2029  
2030  
2031  
Units (millions)
 
EU27
 
North America
 
Non-EU27 Europe
 
Asia-Paciﬁc
 
Middle East + Africa
 
South America + Caribbean
 
0
2 000
4 000
6 000
8 000
10 000
12 000 
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
Units (millions)
Consumer Solutions, Tourism & Health
Road & Automotive
‘Other’
Shipments by region
Installed base of GNSS devices by segment
Installed base of ‘Other’  
by segment (2021)
Installed base of ‘Other’ by segment 
(2031)
62,0%
 
1,5%
6,7%
2,7%
16,8%
1,6%
 
5,2%
3,0%
 
0,1%
 
0,1%
 
0,2%
 
2021 total
installed base: 
67 millions
45,2%
4,7%
18,4%
3,9%
16,0%
1,8%
5,8%
3,9%
0,1%
0,1%
0,1%
2031 total
installed base: 
108 millions
 Aviation and Drones	
 Rail	
 Agriculture
 Space	
 Emergency Management and Humanitarian aid	
 Maritime and Inland Waterways	
 Fisheries and Aquaculture	
 Infrastructure
 Urban Development and Cultural Heritage	
 Energy and Raw Materials	
 Forestry
 Insurance and Finance

21
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
GNSS REVENUES
MARKET OVERVIEW
The global GNSS downstream market revenues from both devices and services will grow from €199 
bn in 2021 to €492 bn in 2031 with a CAGR of 9.2%.  
This growth is mainly generated through the revenues from added-value services. Over the next 
decade, these service revenues are expected to witness a skyrocketing growth of 11% per year 
reaching just over €354 bn in 2031 (compared to around €126 bn in 2021). The revenues from GNSS 
augmentation services are foreseen to grow annually by 7%, doubling their value from €25 bn in 2021 
to nearly €51 bn in 2031. 
Combined, services revenues (i.e. both added-value services and augmentation services) will account 
for €405 bn in 2031, more than 82% of the total Global GNSS downstream market revenues.
Road and Consumer solutions dominate all other market segments in terms of cumulative revenue 
with a combined total of 90% for the forecasting period 2021-2031.
In the Road sector, most revenues are generated by devices used for navigation (In-Vehicle Systems 
(IVS)), emergency assistance, ADAS as well as fleet management applications (including insurance 
telematics), whereas Consumer Solutions revenues mainly come from the data revenues of smartphones 
and tablets using location-based services and applications.
Focusing on the remaining revenues, more than 70% of these will be generated by Agriculture (37%), 
Urban Development (26%) and Infrastructure (20%). Revenues in Agriculture are primarily generated 
from commercial augmentation services and automatic steering equipment, while the primary sources 
of revenue in Urban Development and Infrastructure are linked to Geomatics applications (mapping and 
surveying, construction operations, and site selection or monitoring).
Added-value services account for 72% of the total GNSS revenues in 2031
0 
50 
100 
150 
200 
250 
300 
350 
400 
2021  
2022  
2023  
2024  
2025  
2026  
2027  
2028  
2029  
2030  
2031  
€ (billions)
 
 
Added-value services revenues
 
Devices revenues
 
Augmentation services revenues
 
Revenue from GNSS devices sales and services
Cumulative revenue by segment 2021–2031
Road & Automotive
29,2%
Consumer Solutions, 
Tourism & Health
61,0%
Urban Development 
and Cultural Heritage
2,9%
 
 
 
Aviation and Drones
0,6%
Rail
0,3%
Agriculture
3,8%
 
Emergency Management 
and Humanitarian aid
0,1% 
Maritime and Inland 
Waterways, 0,4%
 
 
Fisheries and Aquaculture
0,1%
 
Infrastructure
1,6%
 
Other segments
0,1%
 
⁺Other segments includes Space, Forestry, Insurance and Finance, Energy and Raw Materials
Other
9,8%
Total: 
€3,860 bn 
Total: 
€377 bn

22
GNSS INDUSTRY
MARKET OVERVIEW
GNSS industry overview
Revenue1 generated from GNSS components and receivers and added-value services (including 
augmentation services) is concentrated in companies from the United States and Europe.  The US 
holds the largest share (29%), while Europe is a close second (25%). Combined, Japan, China and 
South Korea account for 36% of the global market.
Revenue generation in the GNSS industry by key domains (% split of revenues 2019)
Europe2
25%
South Korea
5%
US
29%
Japan
18%
China
13%
Others
11%
The downstream GNSS industry is defined as three categories: Components and receiver manufacturers, 
System integrators, and Added-Value Service providers. The top right table presents the top ten 
companies in each value chain category. Top companies in Components and receiver manufacturers 
are dominated by US companies (six out of ten). System integrators are more geographically diverse 
but are dominated by automotive or smartphone companies. Tech giants such as Alphabet, Tencent, 
and Microsoft can be seen in the Added-Value Service Providers space alongside augmentation 
service providers like Trimble.
1 A different methodology was used to calculate GNSS revenues compared to rest of the report as described in Annex 1. This methodology measures the size of GNSS industry from a supply perspective based on a bottom-up approach which quantifies revenues attributable to 
GNSS of more than 1,200 individual companies for which financial data are available (those with turnover greater than the threshold exempting small firms from financial reporting – this threshold is not universal so smaller companies may be included in some regions than in 
others). Companies are allocated to a single region based on the registered headquarters of the company (or its ultimate parent, if part of a corporate group). In contrast, the methodology in the rest of the report attributes the size of the GNSS market to the region where equipment 
and services are sold and used. Specifically, this means that the 25% European share of the GNSS market presented in this table is a fundamentally different statistic to the 19.9% share of the market presented for EU27 in the map on page 18.
2 Europe: EU27, Norway, Switzerland, UK.
The GNSS value chain
Across the different market segments, the core of the GNSS industry value chain is centred around the three categories as explained above. However, every market segment is somewhat unique in its 
value chain and therefore we strongly recommend you explore these per segment. In general, each value will contain the following categories of stakeholders:
•	 (Inter)national organisations and standardisation bodies: Regulated segments such as 
Maritime, Aviation etc. will present a first link in their value chain dedicated to bodies setting 
GNSS standards and requirements (not present in each segment).
•	 Component manufacturers: they underpin the industry by producing chips, antennas and other 
inputs for GNSS receivers.
•	 Receiver manufacturers: they develop the GNSS receiver taking into account specific user 
requirements for the different applications/market segments they are active in.
•	 System integrators (and design consultancies): responsible for the technical implementation 
of the GNSS equipment into a complex system.
•	 Added-value service providers: these companies provide either added-value or augmentation 
services to end users (not present in each segment).
•	 End users/users of positioning information: the final users who benefit from the applications 
and services offered by system integrators.
Example of a generic GNSS value chain
USERS OF PNT 
INFORMATION
List of users 
relying on the PNT 
information that 
aren’t the end user 
(e.g. monitoring 
agencies, data 
companies, etc.)
END 
USERS
ADDED-VALUE
SERVICE PROVIDERS
SYSTEM 
INTEGRATORS
RECEIVER 
MANUFACTURERS
COMPONENT 
MANUFACTURES
ORGANISATIONS/
STANDARDISATIONS
List of companies
List of companies
List 
of companies
List of companies
List of end 
users
List of 
organisations and 
standardisation 
bodies
LEGEND
 Public bodies
 Commercial Offering
 Users
Top 10 companies across the value chain based on 2019 revenues 
Components & Receivers 
Manufacturers
System integrators
Added-Value Service 
Providers
End users
Garmin Ltd.
US
Toyota
JP
Alphabet Inc. (Google) US
Users 
of GNSS-
based 
solutions 
across 
the different 
market 
segments
Qualcomm INC
US
China First Automobile 
Group Corporation 
CN
Tencent
CN
Trimble Navigation Ltd US
Samsung Electronics
KR
Here International
NL
Avago (Broadcom)
US
Ford
US
Hexagon AB
SE
Bosch
DE
Volkswagen
DE
Trimble Navigation
US
Mediatek
CN
General Motors
US
ESRI
US
Hexagon
SE
Apple
US
Garmin
US
VALEO SA
US
Huawei
CN
Denso
JP
United Technologies 
Corporation
US
Honda
JP
Microsoft
US
TomTom
NL
Nissan
JP
Pioneer Corporation
JP

23
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
EUROPEAN GNSS INDUSTRY
MARKET OVERVIEW
European1 GNSS Market Share
The  adjacent table shows the  regional market shares for Components and Receiver manufacturers 
in 2019 for each market segment. The data are created using the methodology described on the previous 
page. European companies account for a  quarter of  the  global GNSS Components and Receiver 
manufacturers market in 2019 (compared to 27% in 2017). The European industry’s market share in 
this value chain category varies across market segments. While it has above average market shares in 
segments such as Road (53%), Maritime (47%) and Space (65%), it has below average market shares 
in segments such as Consumer Solutions (7%), Aviation (17%), Rail (14%), and Drones (10%).
Europe accounts for 24% in the System Integrators and 25% in Added-Value Service Providers in 
2019.
Please note the market share analysis uses the same segmentation as was presented in GNSS Market Report issue 6. Assessments 
of the European market share in the expanded segmentation are provided on the segment pages. Changes in market share are driven by 
general market trends, mergers and acquisitions, and exchange rate fluctuations.
The European GNSS industry is dominant in Road, Maritime  
and Space segments
MUST READ: EUSPA’s GNSS Technology Market Report
The 2020 GNSS User Technology Report Issue 3 is the go-to source for comprehensive knowledge 
and information on the dynamic, global GNSS user technology industry and its latest trends. It 
follows the second Issue that was published in 2018.
The  GNSS User Technology Report takes an in-depth look at the  latest state-of-the-art GNSS 
receiver technology, along with providing expert analysis on the evolutionary trends that are set to 
redefine the global GNSS landscape.
The 2020 report opening section provides an overview of recent development and future trends 
in GNSS user technology before deep-diving into four macrosegments presenting technology 
solutions and their use cases. The macrosegments are:
• High-volume devices;
• Safety- and liability-critical devices;
• High-accuracy devices;
• Timing devices.
The  Report concludes with an Editor’s Special on ‘Space data for Europe’ which describes 
the increasing role of space data and the associated challenges and opportunities, provides an 
overview of the EU space infrastructure and identifies a set of tools to support data management.
1 In the market share analysis, Europe is defined as EU27 plus Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Note: Segment share for Rest of the World is not shown in this table.
Europe’s 2019 market share in Components & Receivers, by market segments
Europe’s 2019 market share in Components & Receivers, by market segments
Europe
North 
America
Asia 
+Russia
Europe
North 
America
Asia 
+Russia
Consumer 
Solutions
7%
45%
47%
Agriculture
20%
47%
33%
Road and 
Automotive
53%
25%
22%
Geomatics
35%
31%
33%
Manned Aviation
17%
81%
2%
Emergency 
Response
33%
39%
13%
Rail
14%
15%
71%
Drones
10%
42%
48%
Maritime
47%
27%
26%
Critical 
Infrastructures
36%
50%
12%
Space
65%
19%
17%
ISSUE 1
USER TECHNOLOGY REPORT
2016
Issue 1
ISSUE 2
USER TECHNOLOGY REPORT
E D I T O R ’ S  S P E C I A L
AUTOMATION
2018
2020    
ISSUE 3
GNSS User Technology Report
EDITOR’S SPECIAL ON SPACE DATA FOR EUROPE

24
EUROPEAN GNSS
MARKET OVERVIEW
Galileo is the European Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), providing standalone 
navigation, positioning and timing information (PNT) to users worldwide. Unlike other 
systems, it is under civilian control and has been designed to meet the  diverse needs 
of different user communities.
Galileo provides Europe and European citizens with independence and sovereignty for the provision 
of PNT services. The Galileo system offers several high-performance services worldwide, featuring 
various levels of accuracy, robustness, authentication and security:
•	 Open Service (OS): Galileo Full, Free and Open (FFO) service set up for positioning and timing 
services. The  Galileo Open Service also provides Navigation Message Authentication (OSNMA), 
allowing the computation of the user position using authenticated data extracted from the navigation 
message.
•	 High Accuracy Service (HAS): A  free access service complementing the  OS by providing an 
additional navigation signal and added-value services in a different frequency band. HAS is intended 
to offer real-time user positioning performances with accuracy less than two decimetres in nominal 
conditions.
•	 Public Regulated Service (PRS): Service restricted to government-authorised users, for sensitive 
applications that require a high level of service continuity.
•	 Commercial Authentication Service (CAS): A service providing users with the capability to obtain an 
authenticated Galileo PVT solution. 
•	 Search and Rescue Service (SAR): Europe’s contribution to COSPAS-SARSAT, an international 
satellite-based search and rescue distress alert detection system. 
 
Galileo entered Initial Operational Capability (IOC) phase in 2016. Since then, anyone with a Galileo-
enabled device is able to use its signals for positioning, navigation and timing.
The European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) is Europe’s 
regional satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) that is used to improve 
the performance of global navigation satellite systems (GNSSs), such as GPS 
and Galileo. EGNOS improves the accuracy and reliability of GNSS positioning information, while also 
providing a crucial integrity message regarding the continuity and availability of a signal. In addition, 
EGNOS also transmits an extremely accurate universal time signal.
EGNOS delivers three core services:
•	 Open Service: free and open to the public, the Open Service is used by mass-market receivers and 
common user applications;
•	 Safety of Life Service (SoL): primarily geared towards civil aviation, the SoL service has potential 
applicability to a  range of  safety-critical transport applications which require enhanced and 
guaranteed performance and an integrity warning system, including maritime, rail and road;
•	 EGNOS Data Access Service (EDAS): offered on a controlled access basis, EDAS provides ground-
based access to EGNOS data through the Internet to customers requiring enhanced performance for 
professional use.
EGNOS has been fully operational since 2009 for OS, and 2011 for SoL, continuously delivering high 
quality services to all users with enabled receivers.
Galileo and EGNOS – the European satnav constellations 
Do you want to know whether your device supports Galileo? 
To keep pace with the  many new Galileo-compatible devices and services coming onto 
the market, the European Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is operating an enhanced 
version of its popular UseGalileo.eu website to help users and developers keep track of Galileo-
compatible devices and services for various needs as they become available.
The increase in the use of Galileo goes hand in 
hand with the wide range of Galileo-enabled 
devices and services that are continually 
appearing 
on 
the 
market. 
The 
range 
of  applications for Galileo is enormous, 
covering both the  public and private sectors 
and spanning many market segments and 
brings considerable benefits. 
Besides Galileo, the website also provides an overview of EGNOS-compatible receivers, as 
well as insights to which airlines rely on EGNOS-enabled flight procedures. 
© ESA

25
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
EUROPEAN GNSS – USERS
MARKET OVERVIEW
Galileo and EGNOS are user-driven programmes
While European independence is a principal objective of the programme, Galileo also gives Europe a seat at the rapidly expanding GNSS global table. The programme is designed to be compatible and 
interoperable with GPS, GLONASS and BeiDou. In this sense, Galileo is positioned to enhance the operational domain currently available through the other GNSS, providing a more seamless and accurate 
experience for multi-constellation users around the world. The European research and development and industrial sectors are able to leverage Galileo’s increased accuracy in countless products and services, 
creating added value for the European economy and improving the lives of European citizens.
In sectors where accuracy and integrity are critical, EGNOS improves the accuracy and reliability of GNSS positioning information, while also providing a crucial integrity message regarding the continuity and 
availability of the signal. Today, EGNOS is benefiting numerous market segments, including Aviation and Drones, Road and Automotive, Maritime and Inland Waterways and Agriculture.
EGNSS continues to create significant value as performances  
at user level improves 
The 3rd edition of the User Consultation Platform (UCP) for the European 
Space Programme
The user consultation platform (UCP), organised by EUSPA, is a space where users from different 
market segments meet to discuss their needs for applications relying on location, navigation, timing, 
Earth observation and secure telecommunications. For the 2020 edition, the UCP included additional 
Copernicus and governmental satellite communications (GOVSATCOM) users, in addition European 
global navigation satellite system (EGNSS) users.
The UCP is engaging with user communities, industries, service providers and R&D, bringing 
together expertise and insights from different applications, sharing experiences, and strengthening 
an EU network of innovators by encouraging cooperation across broad disciplines.
UCP 2020 occurred in December, where twelve parallel panel sessions grouping users by market 
segments took place. During these sessions, many topics were addressed including an update on 
the user requirements, synergies with Copernicus, testing campaigns, main market trends, evolution 
of Galileo/EGNOS and R&D.
EGNSS for post-COVID recovery, need for high accuracy and robustness against spoofing were 
some of the main focuses during the plenary sessions. 
The full results of the UCP 2020 are available via the following link: https://www.euspa.europa.eu/
euspace-applications/euspace-users/user-consultation-platform-2020
Preparations for the UCP 2022 have just started and we kindly invite you to stay tuned for more 
information on the next edition of the UCP.
Outcomes of the UCP are used to compile and update a series of Reports on User Needs and 
Requirements per market segment. The objective of these documents is to constitute a reference 
for each market segment’s user communities by collecting and analysing the most up-to-date 
GNSS user needs and requirements of the application domains. At the same time these reports 
themselves serve as a key input to the UCP so that main included outcomes can be validated and 
subsequently updated.
The latest User Requirements Documents are available via the following link: https://www.euspa.
europa.eu/euspace-applications/euspace-users/user-needs-and-requirements
Report on Aviation User 
Needs and Requirements
Outcome of the EUSPA
User Consultation Platform
Report on Surveying User 
Needs and Requirements
Outcome of the EUSPA
User Consultation Platform
REPORT ON AGRICULTURE USER NEEDS AND REQUIREMENTS
1
REPORT ON AGRICULTURE USER 
NEEDS AND REQUIREMENTS
Outcome of the EUSPA
User Consultation Platform
REPORT ON RAIL USER NEEDS AND REQUIREMENTS
Report on Rail User 
Needs and Requirements
Outcome of the EUSPA
USer Consultation Platform
Report on Maritime and 
Inland Waterways User 
Needs and Requirements
Outcome of the EUSPA 
User Consultation Platform
REPORT ON ROAD USER NEEDS AND REQUIREMENTS
1
Report on Road User 
Needs and Requirements
Outcome of the EUSPA
User Consultation Platform
REPORT ON LOCATION-BASED SERVICES USER NEEDS AND REQUIREMENTS
1
Report on Location-Based 
Services User Needs and 
Requirements
Outcome of the EUSPA
User Consultation Platform
REPORT ON TIME & SYNCHRONISATION USER NEEDS AND REQUIREMENTS
1
Report on Time & 
Synchronisation User 
Needs and Requirements
Outcome of the EUSPA
User Consultation Platform

26
EU POLICIES
MARKET OVERVIEW
The European Green Deal - climate change as an opportunity to build a new 
economic model 
The  European Green Deal is a  package of  policies and initiatives presented by the  EU in 2019 as 
a central part of the EU strategy to implement the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda and its sustainable 
development goals. It aims to build a new and green economic model which will transform Europe 
in the  first climate-neutral continent by 2050, by switching energy, industry and transport to 
clean tech. This ambitious roadmap towards a climate-resilient society comes in an age when some 
European economies are still heavily reliant on coal and thus the package is considered one of the most 
consequential legislative efforts in the history of the European Union; comprehensive of every aspect 
of society and the economy and across all policy areas.
Arguably the best-known objective of the European Green Deal consists of cutting carbon dioxide net 
emissions to zero by 2050, and already by 55% by 2030 (compared to 1990 levels). And while Europe 
has already cut a quarter of its emissions since the 1990s, this is hardly enough to reach the 2030 
and the 2050 objectives. There is consequently still a long way to go and many other ambitious and 
overarching key goals, policies and initiatives concur to pave Europe’s way to sustainability, notably:
•	 EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector, 
industry and transport within the EU and national targets for sectors outside emissions trading, such 
as transport, buildings and agriculture;
•	 Ensuring European forests and land contribute to the fight against climate change;
•	 Boosting energy efficiency, renewable energy and governance of EU countries’ energy and climate 
policies;
•	 Promoting innovative low-carbon technologies;
•	 Phasing down climate-warming fluorinated greenhouse gases;
•	 Protecting the ozone layer;
•	 Adapting to the impacts of climate change; and
•	 Funding climate action.
EU Space and Green Deal go hand in hand 
The  EU space ecosystem (Copernicus, Galileo and EGNOS) has been serving aims expressed 
by the Green Deal for much longer than the Green Deal itself has been around. The world’s most 
advanced Earth observation system Copernicus has been monitoring the Earth’s environment for some 
time, providing a unique combination of full, free and open data and services in six thematic areas 
(land, marine, atmosphere, climate change, emergency management, and security). EGNOS and GNSS 
contribute to the European Green Deal through positioning, navigation and timing used, for instance, 
in smart farming, as well as for reduction of  road, maritime and aviation emissions through route 
optimisation. Moreover, both Copernicus and Galileo organise competitions and provide funding and 
support for entrepreneurs using their data, which predominantly results in financing ‘green’ applications, 
while stimulating the relevant EO/GNSS markets.
The recent consolidation of the EU Space Programme is aimed at better servicing policy objectives 
and more efficient development of EU commercial competitiveness. This will also allow exploration 
of new dynamics for supporting the EU Green Deal. Ongoing initiatives are intended to raise awareness 
of these contributions. A notable example is EUSPA’s challenge ‘Our green planet’ within myEUspace 
competition, addressing three thematic areas of  the  EU Green Deal where space is a  true enabler: 
‘Building a sustainable future’, ‘Safeguarding our ecosystems’, ‘Green and digital transformation’.
The full spectrum showcasing how GNSS and EO solutions help tackle the objectives of the European 
Green Deal is revealed to the reader in numerous instances throughout this Report.
The European Green Deal and beyond
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EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
EU POLICIES
MARKET OVERVIEW
Public and private finance is tackling climate change through green and 
sustainable investments
Driven by growing concern and awareness of  the  climate crisis, governments, businesses, financial 
institutions and individuals have taken major actions to ensure a transition towards a more sustainable 
economy. A  key element to guarantee this shift are green investments, focusing on companies or 
projects addressing environmental concerns. 
Tools proposed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and its 
Centre on Green Finance and Investment (established 2016) have UN Sustainable Development Goals 
(SDGs) and the Paris Agreements at their core. At the European level, the main policy-driven green 
investment action is the Sustainable Europe Investment Plan (SEIP) targeted to support businesses 
and projects addressing European Green Deal goals. Furthermore, the  European Investment Bank 
(EIB) is committing to align all financing activities with the Paris Agreement and doubling its green 
efforts to reach 50% of its annual financing by 2025. 
Similar trends can be seen in the private sector. A green boom is already underway and is expected 
to increase in the upcoming years, with both small and big investors raising demand for green funds 
which often invest in renewable energy or research. In addition, there is a considerable rise of investing 
focused on environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors, marketed by the asset-management 
industry. Conventional funds are also ‘greening’ their portfolios, making green stock no longer a niche 
concern of some sustainable funds. 
The  main challenge that needs to be addressed within green investment is the  growing concern 
of greenwashing. For public-led investment schemes the proposed solution is a clearly defined taxonomy 
stating what can or cannot be considered a ‘green’ investment. For private investors, the landscape 
is more complex. There is a  clear need for more open disclosure of  information which could allow 
for investors to assess the ‘green’ status of their investments. Fintech companies combining various 
data sources and AI-powered analysis for private funds could enable more effective and quantifiable 
monitoring of green investments. Similarly, businesses would also benefit from trustworthy ways to 
measure and display the impact of planned or implemented green corporate investments. 
Green and sustainable investment at the core of our future
EO & GNSS contribute to compliance, monitoring and efficiency of green 
investments
As sustainable investing becomes mainstream, many companies must report to their stakeholders on 
Environmental, Social and Governmental (ESG) indicators. Information derived from space data is a key 
tool for assessing environmental impacts of business activities, providing quantitative impacts. 
This information is available not only to companies but to investors, regulators and the general public, 
giving a more transparent and trustworthy measure than available from company internal reporting. 
This will help to differentiate real impacts from ‘greenwashing’.
Among other factors relevant to a company’s environmental performance, Earth Observation data is 
used to:
•	 Monitor deforestation and biodiversity, looking at the environmental impact of the commodities that 
go into a given product;
•	 Track pollution, either by periodically checking a given site for leakages, or by tracing observed spills 
back to their source. 
As well as monitoring progress, EO and GNSS have a key role to play in helping businesses to meet 
these goals. Key examples include:
•	 Using precise timing from GNSS to support  the use of smart energy grids; 
•	 Using information derived from EO to plan operations of energy generation so as to optimise their 
performance;
•	 Using a  combination of  EO and observations from GNSS-powered drones to monitor key 
infrastructure and optimise maintenance;
•	 Using EO and GNSS in tandem to support efficient supply chain management.
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28
EU POLICIES
MARKET OVERVIEW
Clear vision heralds EU’s transformation for the next decade 
In March 2021, the Commission presented a vision for Europe’s digital transformation by 2030. This 
vision for the EU’s digital decade evolves around the four cardinal points within the digital compass: 
a digitally skilled population and highly skilled digital professionals; secure and substantial digital 
infrastructures; digital transformation of businesses; and digitisation of public sectors. The EU digital 
specialisation is focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cybersecurity, Internet of Things, Big Data, High 
Performance Computing, 5G, and Software. In addition, the Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL) has 
a global dimension, where the EU’s work on digital policies focuses on various geographical areas. 
DIGITAL is leading the way in policy areas including digital trade, data sharing, and pushing global 
companies to behave responsibly online.
Data revolution supported by EO and GNSS
In this context, spatial information is profiling as an integrator, paving the way for a common, open 
and innovative digital infrastructure, rather than a  simple point location enabler for applications.  
AI-based big-data analysis promises to also revolutionise the use of satellite data for purposes such 
as quantifying global urbanisation, supplying data on the nourishment of the world’s population and 
improving the management of natural hazards. Conversion of data collected from space into knowledge 
is expected to help decision-makers on the ground to design sustainable cities worth living in, or to 
bring forest fires promptly under control. 
Space programme is contributing to five missions areas defined by Horizon 
Europe 
The EU’s key funding programmes for research and innovation have the purpose to tackle climate 
change, help to achieve the  United Nation’s (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), boost 
the EU’s competitiveness and growth, facilitate collaboration and strengthen the impact of Research 
and Innovation (R&I) in developing, supporting and implementing EU policies while tackling global 
challenges. 
Copernicus, along with improved access to relevant climate science, data and information from other 
public and private sources and services (e.g. from regional climate projections and predictions, GEOSS 
and European Research Infrastructures (ERI)), will support regional and local authorities, citizens and 
other stakeholders to improve their understanding of climate risk. 
Climate mitigation and adaptation actions that enhance the  resilience of  cities should be based on 
a sound understanding and quantification of the drivers of urban transformation and climate change (as 
well as policy objectives defined in the SDGs). Here, EO-derived intelligence integrating existing land, 
atmosphere, climate change and emergency management services can provide the tools necessary to 
meet the challenges facing European and global cities in the delivery of sustainable development and 
carbon neutral cities.
The third Horizon mission – to clean marine and fresh waters, restore degraded ecosystems and habitats 
and decarbonise the Blue Economy – is intended to be reached by 2030. To this end, the Ocean State 
Report is drawing on the marine monitoring capabilities of the Copernicus Marine Service (CMEMS), 
and already provides information on changes and variations in the ocean over the past decades with 
a focus on changes in the marine environment during the previous years. Similar to Ocean Health, Soil 
Moisture – which is recognized as an Essential Climate Variable (ECV) by the Global Climate Observing 
System (GCOS) – is being monitored through the Copernicus programme. Additional bio-geophysical 
products of global land surface such as monitoring of inland water levels and quality, are available 
through the Copernicus Global Land Service.
Five mission areas have been included in the Horizon 
Europe Regulation, namely: 
1. Adaptation to Climate Change, including Societal 
Transformation; 
2. Cancer; 
3. Healthy Ocean, Seas, Coastal and Inland Waters; 
4. Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities; 
5. Soil Health and Food.
Digital transformation: the backbone of policymaking
© EC
Destination Earth
Another outcome of Europe’s Digital transformation potentially pooling resources with the EU Space 
Programmes (and related national initiatives) is Destination Earth (DestinE), which aims to develop 
a high precision digital model of the Earth to monitor and simulate natural and human activity. 
Digital twins rely on the integration of continuous observation, modelling and high performance 
simulation, resulting in highly accurate predictions of future developments to continuously monitor 
the health of the planet. DestinE will therefore contribute to achieving the objectives of the twin 
transition, green and digital as well as reinforce Europe’s industrial and technological capabilities 
in simulation, modelling, predictive data analytics,  AI and High-Performance Computing (HPC). 
DestinE will be developed through the following key milestones:
– By 2024: Development of  the  open core digital platform 
and the first two digital twins (extreme natural events and 
climate change adaptation);
– By 2027: Integration of  additional digital twins (e.g. 
of the ocean) for sector specific use cases;
– By 2030: A  ‘full’ digital replica of  the  Earth through 
the convergence of the digital twins.
© EC

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EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
EU POLICIES
MARKET OVERVIEW
Consumer patterns and awareness pushing changes along the value chain
The  pandemic has changed the  way people work, consume, travel and live. Currently, consumers 
have greater access to digital channels and are benefiting from new business models resultant 
of the adaptation to restrictions surrounding COVID-19. Commerce is more than ever an ‘on-demand’ 
service accessible ‘anytime and anywhere’. On top of  this, the  pandemic has introduced the  new 
delivery concept of OTIFNENC – On Time, In Full, No Error, No Contact. 
With many aspects of  our lives being re-evaluated, there is an increase in awareness and interest 
in healthcare and wellbeing, as well as focus on more sustainable ways of consuming goods and 
food, ultimately resulting in increased demand for food traceability and transparent communication 
throughout agricultural and logistics value chains. The increased demand for high-quality and local 
food is promoting shorter and environmentally-conscious value chains.
Since 2020 the shift from physical shopping to eCommerce has accelerated by five years, according 
to the US Retail Index from IBM. This boom and the growing demand for same-day delivery will force 
online retailers to build more hubs and warehouses around the city. Closer warehouses lead to faster 
deliveries, less transit time and easier access to the e-commerce retailers’ last-mile partners (delivering 
from transportation hub to the final delivery destination). 
EO and GNSS supporting adaptation to the changes in value chains
In response to evolving consumption patterns, Earth Observation and GNSS-based location information 
support the adaptation to changes in value chains as explained by selected examples in the following 
paragraphs.
From the harvest/source location, GNSS assists tracking food through all steps of the food chain, 
including processing and distribution, to the final consumer. Smart technology incorporating GNSS – 
such as to track the movement of shipments in real time, or embedding sensors in packages (e.g. RFID) in 
order to monitor their temperature and humidity – enables companies to provide their customers with 
the transparency and traceability they desire. In addition, GNSS information continues to support an 
increasing number of daily digital operations with location information used as a security mechanism. 
The rise of on-demand business models or ‘uberisation of e-commerce’ consists of digital applications 
offering consumers services with immediacy and convenience enabled by GNSS location.
GNSS supports supply chain resilience. For real-time visibility platforms for shippers, logistics service 
providers and carriers, integration of  GNSS results in a  powerful tool for logistics companies and 
supply-chains to better manage delays in crossing borders (for instance those experienced by trucks at 
European border crossings, especially during the pandemic crisis).
Location information derived from GNSS allows micromobility companies (e.g. (e-)bike, scooter sharing 
scheme operators) to better manage assets and improve user experience, facilitating uptake of such 
services particularly in congested, urban areas. The increased adoption of lightweight, electric or man-
powered vehicles (i.e. green transport) goes hand in hand with the green transition and achieving 
sustainability related policy goals.
New approaches are being implemented using spatial data and machine-learning techniques to connect 
Earth Observation data to conventional economic tools in order to help businesses and governments 
make more sustainable economic decisions. For instance, a tool for better science-based policy and 
informed decision making consists of combining global economic supply-chain data and models with 
high-resolution spatial datasets on human-driven environmental impacts. Examples include:
•	 Carbon Tracker and WattTime: both use artificial intelligence and machine learning in combination 
with high-resolution satellite data to estimate gridded activities and their impacts (global maps 
of real-time CO2 emissions from fossil-fuel power plants).
•	 initiative led by SEI and Global Canopy, Trase:  maps supply chains of tropical-forest risk commodities 
and their embedded deforestation with company-level detail.
•	 Commodity Risk Platforms, e.g. Global Canopy: screens investment portfolios based on supply-chain 
information to help banks avoid risk associated with financing deforestation-implicated companies.
•	 Global Fishing Watch: machine-learning-based systems are used to identify illegality and 
unsustainable resource-use patterns in the global fishing sector.
Digitalised and resilient supply chains and logistics to respond to more 
aware, demanding and modern consumers
© Adobe Stock
© Adobe Stock

AGRICULTURE
30
AGRICULTURE
The use of digital technologies in farm management and across the agricultural sector 
as a whole is helping to address several farm- and sector-level challenges for farmers, 
agricultural cooperatives, key decision makers and governments. This ultimately helps 
to improve farm profitability, address resource-use efficiency and contribute to our 
sustainability goals.
At the micro level, EO allows farmers to remotely monitor the performance of their crops 
and reduce their usage of inputs such as fertilizers. At the macro level, EO provides vast 
amounts of rich data which public authorities and economists can use to better inform 
their analysis and decision making.
GNSS delivers huge value to the sector by helping farmers precisely guide machinery 
and track their livestock, ensuring farm operations remain as efficient as possible.
Together, EO and GNSS allow stakeholders to better understand the sector, efficiently 
address its needs and help in guiding it towards a sustainable future. 
What you can read in this chapter
• Key trends: Environmental sustainability and economic viability drive the adoption 
of digital solutions in agriculture.
• User perspective: There is significant progress in converging EO/GNSS value 
proposition to user needs.
• Industry: Agriculture Value Chains.
• Recent developments: Niche practices gain traction as the world strives to produce 
more food sustainably.
• Future market evolution: New paradigms drive the evolution of food production and 
land management.
• Focus on European Systems: The European space programme supports R&D activities 
in agriculture.
• Reference charts: Yearly evolution of installed base of GNSS devices and revenues as 
well as EO revenues by application and region.
© Adobe Stock
Application descriptions can be found in Annex 3.
Environmental monitoring
• Carbon capture & content assessment
• Environmental impact monitoring
Weather services for agriculture
• Climate services for agriculture
• Weather forecasting for agriculture
Operations management
• Asset monitoring
• Automatic steering
• CAP monitoring
• Farm machinery guidance
• Farm management systems
• Field definition
• Livestock wearables
• Pastureland management
• Precision irrigation
• Variable rate application
Natural resources monitoring
• Biomass monitoring
• Crop yield forecasting
• Soil condition monitoring 
• Vegetation monitoring
Legend
EO application
GNSS application
Synergetic application  
(combined use of EO and GNSS)

AGRICULTURE
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EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
KEY TRENDS
Copernicus and Galileo are at the heart of the EU Farm to Fork Strategy
The EU Farm to Fork Strategy sets the policy objectives 
that will govern the  EU’s efforts towards sustainable 
food 
production 
with 
a 
reduced 
environmental 
footprint. This is done in an effort to help the  world 
reach its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in 
particular Zero Hunger (SDG 2) and Climate Action 
(SDG 13). In the  Strategy, Copernicus and EGNSS 
feature as invaluable tools for sustainable nutrient 
management, the  protection of  soils, the  reduction 
of  the  use of  fertilisers and pesticides, the  monitoring 
of GHG emissions and the preservation of biodiversity. 
Innovation powered by the  EU Space Programme will 
therefore be critical in achieving these objectives. 
Sustainable management of soils
Restoring soil health is a critical challenge recognised by the EU as one of the main missions of Horizon 
Europe. Soil not only supplies the  food we grow and eat, but also provides invaluable ecosystem 
services such as ensuring we have clean water, maintaining biodiversity and regulating the climate. 
The importance of maintaining these ecosystems and EO’s applicability in this role is further explained 
in the Biodiversity, Ecosystems and Natural Capital segment.
Satellite-based EO in conjunction with ground 
measurements (e.g. from the Land Use/Cover Area 
frame Survey (LUCAS) soil monitoring system) are 
an essential tool for the monitoring, reporting and 
verification of  soil condition and carbon capture 
potential – the latter is an area receiving increased 
attention from market players. 
Environmental sustainability and economic viability drive  
the adoption of digital solutions in agriculture
IoT for agriculture
The Internet of Things (IoT) is becoming an increasingly well-known term in day-to-day life. 
From smart home heating systems to driverless cars, IoT is fast becoming integrated in everyday 
life and is also increasingly used in precision agriculture. IoT technologies enable farmers to 
reduce waste and increase productivity through the utilisation of smart sensors and machines 
that can automate many farm tasks. To this end, Agricultural IoT can be harnessed in everything 
from precision irrigation systems  to  self-driving tractors, and even automated crop scouting 
drones.
HPC for agriculture
Increasing numbers of cutting-edge precision agriculture technologies are driven by the need for: 
1) combining a vast plethora of data sources; 2) algorithms optimised for parallel execution; and 
3) advanced infrastructural capabilities that can handle the execution of these big data-enabled 
algorithms efficiently. This emphasises the strong user need for High Performance Computing 
(HPC) infrastructure to tackle the extreme processing requirements. An illustrative example is 
climate simulation that requires fusion and analysis of satellite-derived earth observation time-
series, together with climate forecasts, video streams, sensor information, plant genomics and 
other diverse data sources. HPC also aids in building the capacity required to make way for 
the new agricultural revolution known as ‘Farming 5.0’. This will exploit artificial intelligence, 
machine learning, autonomous machinery and big data analytics to drive agricultural practices 
to higher efficiencies.
Blockchain, EO and GNSS support sustainable supply chain management
Blockchain/Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) is considered to have huge potential in 
the agricultural sector. The flow of agriculture commodities has long been subject to controls, 
regulation and varying checks. Today, there is an increasing need to track food from source 
to consumer, primarily in order to ensure the safety and quality of the produce, but also to 
implement certain policy objectives (such as deforestation-free commodities, sustainable 
fisheries, fair trade, organic foods, carbon offsets, etc.). This is where blockchain, in conjunction 
with EO and GNSS, can ensure the traceability chain is immutable, immediately auditable and 
entirely digital. 
Key market trends
• Major investments into innovative agriculture solutions from venture capitalists and corporate giants will shape the market landscape going forward
• The EU Farm to Fork Strategy, a key component of the Green Deal, will be setting the pace for the adoption of sustainable management practices in Agriculture
• The sustainable management of soils and the preservation of biodiversity require advanced solutions powered by GNSS and EO
© EC
© Adobe Stock

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AGRICULTURE
USER PERSPECTIVE
Key EO and GNSS user requirements
The key GNSS and EO user requirements for the different application groups within the Agriculture segment are, at EU level, collected using the following procedures:
• For GNSS, information is collected through extensive interactions with user groups, providers and experts in a continuous process culminating at the User Consultation 
Platforms (UCP). All relevant requirements are documented in detail and updated regularly within the Report on Agriculture user needs and requirements.
• User requirements for Copernicus services and products – as well as their evolution – are collected through an integrated process that involves different channels: (i) dedicated 
studies (e.g. “NEXTSPACE” project, “Copernicus for EC (C4EC)” study, Commission Staff Working Document on user needs), (ii) targeted consultations organised by the 
European Commission or the Entrusted entities with the relevant communities, (iii) regular and structured exchanges among representatives of the Copernicus governance 
structure and Member States through the Copernicus User Forum. 
From the 2022 EUSPA`s UCP onward, EO user needs and requirements of commercial users will be validated and discussed with industry experts and user groups, mirroring 
the process implemented for GNSS. 
There is significant progress in converging EO/GNSS value proposition  
to user needs
The explosion of venture and corporate-backed investment in Agtech
Agtech startups have gained an unprecedented 
level of  attention from venture capitalists and 
corporates who are investing in innovative solutions 
for sustainable food production. From vertical 
farming to more ‘traditional’ precision farming 
solutions, and from agri-fin-tech to agri-supply 
chain approaches, each of the last three years has 
seen a surge in investment. 
Many of these companies are making use of EO and 
GNSS to develop advanced analytics and enable 
automation, both of which are achieving better reliability and opening new capabilities thanks 
to machine learning methods. This evolution is accompanied by changes in the business models 
deployed in the sector, with more companies seeking to provide underlying capabilities (e.g. 
analytics platforms using EO for vegetation monitoring, soil moisture, etc.) to other actors in 
the value chain using a white-label approach. 
The importance of having a common picture for all value chain actors
A new paradigm of transparency and empowerment is arising due to the value of Copernicus. 
This is achieved thanks to web applications that allow all actors in a given value chain (e.g. in 
the potato industry in Belgium) to have a common picture of the status of their crops, the potential 
effects of climate change, or labour shortages. This allows improved adaptation strategies and 
forward planning decisions, which in turn help to strengthen the overall output of a given sector, 
whilst also keeping track of its environmental footprint.  
Paying agencies gradually roll out EO/GNSS support for CAP monitoring
Since its adoption in 1962, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has moulded how agriculture 
in the EU is managed, from keeping food production competitive and secure to ensuring farmers 
are supported and compensated fairly. The  utilisation of  EO and GNSS solutions in support 
of CAP monitoring can be considered as a success story regarding the meaningful convergence 
of user needs with technological capabilities. After years of R&D activities eventually triggered 
a  direct provision for the  use of  Copernicus and EGNSS in CAP regulation, paying agencies 
across Europe are currently rolling out fully operational solutions for CAP monitoring powered 
by data from Copernicus and GNSS-enabled devices. A suite of fully digitised services is offered 
by innovative companies for a wide range of agricultural activities. These services help paying 
agencies to reduce the need for on-the-spot checks, whilst simultaneously ensuring that all 
fields are checked, all subsidy claims are properly processed and all subsidies are correctly 
distributed. Numerous initiatives exist that aim to drive forward the integration of EO and GNSS 
into CAP monitoring such as EGNSS4CAP, Sen4CAP and the FaST platform.
REPORT ON AGRICULTURE USER NEEDS AND REQUIREMENTS
1
REPORT ON AGRICULTURE USER 
NEEDS AND REQUIREMENTS
Outcome of the EUSPA
User Consultation Platform
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AGRICULTURE
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EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
INDUSTRY
END USERS
SYSTEM 
INTEGRATORS
NOTES
1 The value chain considers the key global and European companies involved in GNSS and EO downstream activities.
2 In the market share analysis, Europe is defined as EU27 plus Norway, Switzerland and the UK.
* European-based companies. The region is defined with respect to the headquarters of the company, though the actual area of activity might be wider.
LEGEND
	Commercial Offering
	Public Offering
	User segments
END USERS
INFORMATION  
PROVIDERS
EO PRODUCTS 
AND SERVICE  
PROVIDERS
PLATFORM  
PROVIDERS
DATA PROVIDERS
INFRASTRUCTURE 
PROVIDERS
• AWS
• CLOUDEO*
• COPERNICUS DIAS*
• GOOGLE CLOUD 
PLATFORM
• IBM CLOUD
• INTEL GEOSPATIAL
• MICROSOFT AZURE
• PENGUIN COMPUTING
• DEERE & CO 
• GEOFLEX*
• HEMISPHERE 
• HEXAGON AB*
• TOPCON CORPORATION
• TRIMBLE NAVIGATION LTD
• AIRBUS*
• BLACKSKY
• COPERNICUS DIAS*
• DESCARTES LABS
• E-GEOS*
• EARTH-I*
• ICEYE*
• MAXAR
• PLANET
• ZHUHAI ORBITA
• AGJUNCTION INC
• ARAG S.R.L*
• AVMAP S.R.L*
• BEIJING UNISTRONG SCIENCE & 
TECHNOLOGY
• CNH INDUSTRIAL N.V.*
• COMNAV TECHNOLOGY LTD
• DEERE & CO
• HARXON
• HEXAGON AB*
• RAVEN INDUSTRIES INC
• TOPCON CORPORATION
• TRIMBLE NAVIGATION LTD
• ADAM*
• BEIJING PIESAT 
INFORMATION 
TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
• CLEOS*
• CLOUDEO*
• COPERNICUS DIAS*
• MAXAR 
• NOR*
• PLANET EXPLORER
• SINERGISE* (SENTINEL 
HUB)
• TERRADUE*
• UP42*
• VITO*
• AGCO CORP
• BERNARD KRONE 
HOLDING GMBH & CO*
• CLAAS CGAA MBH*
• CNH INDUSTRIAL N.V.*
• DEERE & CO
• J.C.B SERVICE*
• KUBOTA CORPORATION
• MAHINDRA  
& MAHINDRA LTD
• E-GEOS*
• EARTH DAILY
• FARMSTAR
• FIELDSENSE*
• GAF*
• GEOVILLE*
• GMV*
• KAPPAZETA*
• SATAGRO*
• SATELLIGENCE*
• SENCROP*
• SINERGISE*
• TALKINGFIELDS*
• VITO*
• VULTUS*
FARM MANAGEMENT 
SERVICES:
• 365FARMNET*
• AGRIVI*
• AGWORLD
• CROPWISE
• FARMERP
• GRANULAR
SECTOR SPECIFIC 
SERVICES:
• GAMAYA* (SOY, SUGAR 
CANE)
• GEO4A* (POTATO)
• AGRI-INSURERS
• AGRICULTURAL 
CONSULTANTS
• AGROCHEMICAL 
MANUFACTURERS
• AGRONOMISTS
• COOPERATIVES
• ENVIRONMENTAL 
AGENCIES
• FARMERS
• FOOD PROCESSORS
• INTERNATIONAL 
AGENCIES (E.G. FAO, 
WFP…)
• PAYING AGENCIES
• WINE PRODUCERS
• AGRI-INSURERS
• AGRICULTURAL CONSULTANTS
• AGROCHEMICAL 
MANUFACTURERS
• AGRONOMISTS
• COOPERATIVES
• ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCIES
• FARMERS / CONTRACTORS
• FOOD PROCESSORS
• INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES  
(E.G. FAO, WFP…)
• PAYING AGENCIES
• WINE PRODUCERS
EARTH 
OBSERVATION
COMPONENT AND  
RECEIVER MANUFACTURERS
AUGMENTATION 
SERVICE PROVIDERS
GNSS
• COPERNICUS 
COLLABORATIVE 
GROUND SEGMENT*
• NATIONAL 
AND REGIONAL RTK 
NETWORK PROVIDERS
• COPERNICUS 
SENTINELS*
• USGS/NASA LANDSAT
• RELEVANT IN-SITU 
NETWORKS
• FAST*
• FOOD TEP*
• COPERNICUS SERVICES*
Agriculture Value Chains1
The European2 EO and 
GNSS industry in the global 
arena
Whilst North America dominates 
the  data processing and analysis, 
insights & decision support markets, 
European 
companies 
are 
close 
behind with 31% and 43% market 
shares respectively. The  biggest 
European companies are Leondardo 
(parent company of  e-GEOS) (IT), 
Airbus (NL), GMV (ES) and VITO (BE).
European 
companies 
such 
as 
Hexagon, CNH, Avmap and Arag hold 
a combined total of 22% of the total 
agriculture GNSS receiver market, 
the  vast majority of  which (19%) is 
held by Hexagon alone.

34
AGRICULTURE
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
Overall, shipments of GNSS receivers over the past decade have exhibited a very strong  growth 
trend, from 100,000 units shipped across all applications in 2010 to almost 1,000,000 units shipped 
annually just a decade later. 
During the first half of the decade, farm machinery guidance was the dominant application. However, 
automatic steering has subsequently gained market share year on year as advanced steering systems 
have seen take-up among end users. In fact, in 2019 and 2020, automatic steering overtook farm 
machinery guidance as the most popular application, with around 350,000 units shipped worldwide in 
2020. 	
The increasing popularity of automatic steering stems from the accuracy and real-world value that 
this application creates for end users, by improving machinery control and to use farming inputs such as 
fertilisers and pesticides more efficiently. 
Finally, 2020 saw farm machinery guidance account for over 320,000 shipments, whilst variable rate 
application shipments accounted for just under 200,000 units. Shipments for asset management 
reached 100,000 units.
Niche practices gain traction as the world strives to produce  
more food sustainably
The ‘Internet of Animals’ enabled by livestock wearables
Ear tags, collars, ankle and tail bracelets, belly belts – all these ‘wearables’ serve as the farmer’s 
eyes, allowing them to continuously monitor and efficiently manage their livestock through 
smartphone apps. This technology is not just a  trend enjoyed by tech-savvy farmers, but is 
increasingly becoming a necessity, given the global need for more food and the need to control 
the associated carbon footprint. To manage this, farmers make use of these wearables – which, 
thanks to GNSS, allow precise localisation of animals and the implementation of virtual fencing 
– whilst also monitoring the animals’ welfare through a range of additional sensors. As a result, 
farmers can reduce labour costs, increase protein yield, keep their animals healthy and their 
land optimally used. This approach, while not new, has seen a significant boost in recent years 
thanks to advances in underlying technology (e.g. miniaturisation, power, connectivity, etc. 
through technologies such as Narrowband IoT). There are currently around 300 manufacturers 
of  livestock wearables in the  world -- while the  highest percentage are in China, the  USA 
(a close second) is also a major innovator. Over the coming decade, the number of manufacturers 
of  livestock wearables is expected to rise to 500 as the  market value increases more than 
2.5 times. This translates into increased investments in and revenues for livestock wearable 
companies, and the clients they serve. 
  
Organic farming benefits from EO and GNSS solutions
Organic agriculture must be certified in order to differentiate itself from conventional agriculture, 
and gain the confidence of consumers. Certification control is therefore a condition that organic 
farmers have to fulfil in order to benefit from economic support. Currently, certification controls 
are mainly based on the verification of farmers’ accounting records. The reliability of accounting 
control becomes more questionable when a  farmer practices both organic and conventional 
agriculture on their land. EO and GNSS technologies have the  potential to enable efficient, 
cheap, rapid and accurate organic certification control. 
ESA has been working with Ecocert, an organic certification organisation, to use satellite images 
to spot differences between conventional and organic farming in order to support the certification 
process. Multi- and hyperspectral satellite imagery are used to derive several indicators based 
on biophysical justification and crop management practices to differentiate between these 
methods. GNSS can complement EO technologies in defining boundaries and zoning organic 
produce. 
Shipments of GNSS devices by application
0
200
400
600
800
1 000
1 200
2010
 
2011
 
2012
 
2013
 
2014
 
2015
 
2016
 
2017
 
2018
 
2019
 
2020
 
Units (thousands) 
Farm machinery guidance
Automatic Steering
Variable rate application
 
Asset monitoring

AGRICULTURE
35
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
FUTURE MARKET EVOLUTION
Revenues from EO data and service sales in agriculture are expected to steadily grow in the coming 
decade, from a combined total across all applications of €337 m in 2021 to €652 m in 2031. 
The applications with the largest market share at present are crop yield forecasting, vegetation 
monitoring, soil condition monitoring, CAP monitoring, variable rate application, and precision irrigation. 
When combined, the operational applications of variable rate application of farming inputs and precision 
irrigation make up the second largest share of the market both now and in the future, accounting for 
over €70m in 2021 and almost €168 m in 2031.  
Crop yield forecasting is expected to retain a substantial market share year on year, given the value it 
brings not only to farmers, but also to other actors in the agricultural value chain such as economists, 
financial traders and public authorities concerned with the maintenance of food security. 
New paradigms drive the evolution of food production  
and land management
Farming in extreme environments requires frontier tech
Intensified agricultural production (particularly if 
implemented with poor practices), climate change 
and deforestation is putting 20% of the world’s 
arable land under the threat of desertification. As 
a result, new paradigms such as vertical farming 
have gained significant attention in recent years. 
This sees the  production of  food on vertically 
inclined surfaces in a  controlled environment 
(e.g. indoors). 
Whilst more energy-demanding than traditional farming, the fact that it can be deployed in 
unlikely settings (i.e. in cities) and that food is grown locally (which means low transportation 
costs) makes vertical farming particularly promising. This is why large investments have recently 
been made in vertical farming and in the technologies that can support it. 
For these technologies, GNSS-aided robots may become commonplace in the future of vertical 
farming. Desert farming is another important trend on the rise. Whilst at a very early stage 
of  development, solutions such as liquid nano clay and root zone irrigation may open up 
unprecedented opportunities to farm arid zones and desert areas. 
EO solutions in support of Carbon Farming
The current CO2 storage imbalance between the atmosphere stock and the ground storage stock 
is an imminent and immediate threat to our economies and ways of life. Almost half of the EU’s 
surface area is use for agriculture, and the surface layers of the farmlands store many times 
more carbon than the EU annually emits into the atmosphere. These carbon stocks must be 
maintained and increased. With the right farming practices, agricultural land can absorb more 
carbon from the atmosphere. 
EO technologies are being used to monitor and maintain agricultural practices that increase 
carbon stocks, such as the maintenance of permanent grasslands. ‘Carbon Farming’ is a relatively 
new term that refers to the monitoring and management of increased CO2 absorption in farm 
soil. This can be achieved in many ways, such as the  use of  carbon-rich fertilisers, reduced 
tillage or better crop rotation. Through the use of EO, large geographic areas can be constantly 
monitored, meaning Carbon Farming incentive schemes can operate much more efficiently, 
reducing inspection costs and helping to increase compliance. Developments in setting up 
carbon farming schemes are moving fast. For instance, in 2021 the  European Commission 
published a comprehensive technical guidance handbook for implementing result-based carbon 
farming mechanisms. These included approaches to carbon credit trading schemes for farmers. 
Carbon farming is a promising candidate for helping to meet future greenhouse gas emission 
targets and will undoubtedly become more prevalent in the near term.
Revenue from EO data & services sales by application
0 
100 
200 
300 
400 
500 
600 
700 
2021
 2022
 2023
 2024
 2025
 2026
 2027
 2028
 2029
 2030
 2031
 
 
€ (millions)
 
 
Vegetation monitoring
 
Biomass monitoring
 
Soil condition monitoring
 
Crop yield forecating
 
Variable rate application
 
Precision irrigation
 
CAP monitoring
 
Field deﬁnition
 
Pastureland management
© Adobe Stock

36
AGRICULTURE
EUROPEAN SYSTEMS & PROJECTS
The European space programme supports R&D activities in agriculture
Automated precision spraying for crops
Agriculture faces the  constant huge challenge 
of 
reducing 
phytopharmaceutical 
usage 
while 
maintaining crop yield, efficiency and value. 
The SCORPION project’s objective is to develop a safe 
and autonomous precision spraying tool integrated 
into a modular unmanned tractor (robotics platform) 
to increase spraying efficiency while reducing human 
and animal exposure to pesticides, and reducing water 
usage and labour costs.  The  project will primarily 
focus on steep-slope vineyards and other high-value permanent crops. SCORPION will fuse 
EGNSS receivers (triple frequency, PPP, OSNMA, HAS) with various other smart sensors. This 
fusion will increase the solution reliability, accuracy and safety in an effort to enable autonomous 
ultraviolet light treatments and high precision spraying in permanent crops. 
More information available at: https://scorpion-h2020.eu/
EO powered tools to modernise CAP subsidy management 
DIONE is a Horizon 2020 funded project that offers a unique fusion of innovative technologies 
that improves the workflow of agricultural monitoring. DIONE is developing a direct payment 
controlling EO-based toolbox for paying agencies to abide by the modernised CAP. As part 
of its ongoing move to simplify and modernise CAP, the European Commission has adopted new 
rules to allow a range of modern technologies to be used when carrying out checks for area-
based CAP payments. For instance, new satellite technology will reduce the number of field 
inspections and the costs for administering controls and checks. Building on these advances, 
the DIONE project is developing a machine learning-based system that will evaluate current soil 
quality levels to form evidence-based conclusions regarding eventual environmental impacts 
across entire regions.
More information available at: https://dione-project.eu/
Current usage of EGNSS
Farmers across the  globe can strongly 
benefit from the  added value enabled by 
Galileo. Its continuously increasing adoption 
in agriculture is reflected in the proliferation 
of  Galileo-enabled receivers for machine 
guidance applications. Moreover, all major 
agricultural machinery manufacturers are 
‘Galileo-ready’, while most augmentation 
service providers and device vendors are 
also incorporating Galileo in their offering. 
Galileo will also offer increased robustness 
to spoofing thanks to its Commercial 
Authentication Service (CAS) and the Open 
Service Navigation Message Authentication 
(OSNMA). As the  use of  robotics and 
autonomous vehicles is increasing in 
agriculture, so will the  importance of  this 
Galileo differentiator.
Current usage of Copernicus 
Copernicus Sentinels 1 and 2 have brought about 
a  revolution in the  agricultural sector, providing 
world-class data in a  free and open manner for 
multiple agricultural applications at an adequate 
resolution and appropriate revisit time. A  host 
of innovative companies are making use of Sentinel 
data to provide farm management support, soil 
moisture measurements and agricultural supply 
chain insights. 
Additional products from the  Copernicus Land 
Monitoring Service (CLMS) (e.g. land use/land 
cover and various indices) as well as products from 
the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) (e.g. 
temperature and precipitation) also contribute to 
agricultural activities. 
Greater
Availability
Greater 
Continuity
Higher
Accuracy
Shorter Time
To First Fix
Authentication
Open Service
EGNOS
features
Multi-
frequency
High Accuracy
Service
Galileo
Galileo
Sentinels
Copernicus Services
Sentinel-1
Sentinel-2
Climate Change 
(CLS)
Land  
(CLMS)
© SCORPION project

AGRICULTURE
37
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
REFERENCE CHARTS
Installed base of GNSS devices by application
Revenue of GNSS device sales and services by application
Revenue of GNSS device sales and services by region
Installed base of GNSS devices by region
0 
5 000 
10 000 
15 000 
20 000 
25 000 
2021  
2022  
2023  
2024  
2025  
2026  
2027  
2028  
2029  
2030  
2031  
Units (thousands)
 
Farm machinery guidance
 
Automatic Steering
 
Variable rate application
 
Asset monitoring
0
5 000
10 000
15 000
20 000
25 000
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
 
€ (millions)
 
Variable rate application
 
Asset monitoring
 
Farm machinery guidance
 
Automatic Steering
Farm management systems service revenues
Commercial Augmentation Services
0
5 000
 
10 000
 
15 000
 
20 000
 
25 000
 
2021  
2022  
2023  
2024  
2025  
2026  
2027  
2028  
2029  
2030  
2031  
€ (millions)
 
EU27
 
Non-EU27 Europe
 
North America
 
Asia-Paciﬁc
 
Middle East + Africa
 
South America + Caribbean
 
0
5 000
10 000
15 000
20 000
25 000
2021  
2022  
2023  
2024  
2025  
2026  
2027  
2028  
2029  
2030  
2031  
Units (thousands)
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
 
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean

38
AGRICULTURE
REFERENCE CHARTS
Revenue from EO data sales by application
Revenue from EO services sales by application
Revenue from EO services sales by region
Revenue from EO data sales by region
0 
20 
40 
60 
80 
100 
120 
2021
 2022
 2023
 2024
 2025
 2026
 2027
 2028
 2029
 2030
 2031
€ (millions)
Vegetation monitoring
 
Biomass monitoring 
Soil condition monitoring
 
Crop yield forecating
 
Variable rate application
 
Precision irrigation
CAP monitoring
 
Field deﬁnition  
Pastureland management
0 
100 
200 
300 
400 
500 
600 
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions)
Vegetation monitoring
 
Biomass monitoring
 
Soil condition monitoring
 
Crop yield forecating
 
Variable rate application
 
Precision irrigation
 
CAP monitoring
 
Field deﬁnition
 
Pastureland management
0 
100 
200 
300 
400 
500 
600 
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031
€ (millions)
 
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe 
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
 
South America + Caribbean
Middle East + Africa
0 
20 
40 
60 
80 
100 
120 
2021
 2022
 2023
 2024
 2025
 2026
 2027
 2028
 2029
 2030
 2031
 
€ (millions)
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe 
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
 
South America + Caribbean
Middle East + Africa

AVIATION AND DRONES
AVIATION AND DRONES
Aviation is one of the main drivers behind increasing global connectivity. In comparison, 
drones are a relatively recent technology which can put a payload anywhere it is needed. 
The aviation and drones segment encompasses services and products used by aviation 
and drone operators and industry. This includes airlines, pilots, helicopter operators, 
drone operators, airports and air navigation service providers.
Aviation uses GNSS extensively, with Satellite-Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS) 
providing better access to small and medium airports through Performance Based 
Navigation procedures, increasing safety and enabling business growth across Europe. 
GNSS is the primary source of navigation for aviation and drones, and meets the present-
day performance requirements for all airspaces, from low-level to sub-space. GNSS 
supports advances in urban air mobility with evaluation of flight risk (e.g. geofencing, 
populated area avoidance, landing site optimisation), automation and tracking through 
position self-reporting (known as Electronic Conspicuity). 
Combining GNSS and EO data advances emissions monitoring systems. EO itself enables 
the monitoring of volcanic ash clouds, emissions, terrain (supporting optimised routing), 
flight procedure development and flight planning. This benefits airlines, leisure pilots, 
drone operators, airports, air traffic control and public agencies serving global aviation 
communities. 
What you can read in this chapter
• Key trends: COVID-19 indirectly accelerates GNSS capabilities.
• User perspective: : The dependency on GNSS and integration with EO is increasing.
• Industry: Aviation and Drones value chains.
• Recent developments: GNSS capabilities are growing to meet evolving requirements 
for navigation, surveillance and sustainability.
• Future market evolution: Aviation and particularly newly emerging drone sub-markets 
need advanced GNSS and new alternative Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) 
solutions.
• European Systems: EGNSS and Copernicus current usage.
• European Projects: Latest EC and EUSPA project initiatives.
• Reference charts: Yearly evolution of installed base of GNSS devices and revenues by 
application and region.
39
© Adobe Stock
© Adobe Stock
Weather Services
• Hazardous Weather Identification
Communication
• ATM System Timing
Surveillance
• Electronic Conspicuity
• GADSS2
• Infrastructure Timing
Operations Management
• Aircraft Maintenance  
and Operation Optimisation
• Airport Capacity and Safety
• Monitoring Terrain  
Obstacles near an Airport
Navigation
• Drone navigation
• Performance Based Navigation (PBN)
• VFR1 complement
Environmental Monitoring
• Aircraft Emission Measurement  
and Monitoring
• Particulate Matter Monitoring
1 Visual flight rules
2 Global Aeronautical Distress & Safety System
Application descriptions can be found in Annex 3.
Legend
EO application
GNSS application
Synergetic application  
(combined use of EO and GNSS)

40
AVIATION AND DRONES
KEY TRENDS
COVID-19 indirectly accelerates GNSS capabilities
Key market trends
• GNSS and Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) implementation deployment significantly affected by COVID-19 impact on air traffic
• European push on drone regulations and unlocking Urban Air Mobility
• Drone use for delivery of medicines during COVID-19 crisis
• Assessment of COVID-19 pandemic: Monitoring European air traffic with EO
COVID-19 indirectly accelerates PBN modernisation
The recent COVID crisis has had a major impact on the volume of air traffic flying over Europe and globally. 
Reports from IATA, CANSO, A4E, AIRE, ERA and the Network Manager have all pointed to a significant 
air traffic decline of around 65% in 2020 relative to 2019. Although painful for the industry, this has 
also resulted in consolidation of PBN operations with changes in the utilised aircraft fleet, necessitated 
by the changing economics post-COVID. Several airlines accelerated the retirement of older aircraft 
with fewer GNSS capabilities. Others placed large orders for new aircraft with improved environmental 
efficiency and the avionic capabilities. These more modern fleets increased the proportion of flights 
flying with Localiser Performance with Vertical Guidance (LPV) capability within Europe from 14% prior 
to the pandemic to 24% post pandemic.
This has also provided an opportunity for work to continue on the deployment of PBN capabilities that 
will help to deliver capacity and environmental benefits when traffic returns to normal levels. Indeed, 
the actors above established a Continuous Descent Operations (CDO) / Continuous Climb Operations 
(CCO) Task Force to facilitate and encourage PBN solutions such as CDO/CCO and more direct routings, 
which reduce the environmental impact of aviation. These will help to provide more efficient capacity 
in the system for when air traffic volumes return to previous levels.
At the same time, PBN utilisation by rotorcraft and general aviation is gathering momentum. More 
operators are adopting PBN, for example enabling hospitals to support cloud break procedures based 
on GNSS, or through procedures for small aircraft to approach smaller airfields leveraging EGNOS. 
A  shortage of  guidance material, pilot cases and regulatory challenges constrain wider uptake 
which remains a focus to provide improved access, connectivity and resilience surrounding weather 
interruptions.
European regulations unlocking drones and Urban Air Mobility
In 2020 and 2021 major steps have been taken by the European Commission and the European Union 
Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to further support the  drone industry with the  publication of  clear 
regulations laying the foundation for approvals and new operations in the future.
The adoption of the first regulatory framework for U-space (Commission Implementing Regulation 
(EU) 2021/664, 2021/665 and 2021/666) sets out provisions for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) 
operators, U-Space Service providers (USSP) and providers of  common information services (CIS). 
Registration of UAS operators and certified drones also became mandatory in Europe from July 2020 
(Regulation (EU) 2019/947). Registration is part of U1 services on the U-space blueprint from Single 
European Sky ATM Research (SESAR), which also includes geofencing facilitated by Drone navigation 
and guidance. U2 services include tracking (facilitated by Electronic Conspicuity) and flight planning 
(which would further benefit from the Hazardous Weather Identification).
Trials are being undertaken in several locations to demonstrate the feasibility and benefits of drone 
operations and Urban Air Mobility (UAM). The  trials’ results will help with the  next steps on 
standardisation and awareness of  the  issues needed to enable further integration with traditional 
aviation. The COVID-19 pandemic and the necessity for social distancing has accelerated implementation 
of  measures widening the  use of  drones in civil, commercial and social applications, especially in 
the delivery of medicines for medical home care. Drones have also been utilised in aerial spraying 
of  public areas for precautionary disinfection. These applications will likely expand in the  context 
of the new regulatory framework.
Growing utilisation of earth observation in aviation 
Mapping data is of paramount importance to support the implementation of PBN procedures. From 
a sustainability perspective, the ability to utilise EO data has expanded from monitoring terrain and 
obstacles to supporting environmental impact assessment. Meteorological observations, including 
from EO, support compliance with planning requirements for new runways and airports (e.g. runway 
orientation and assessment of cloud base / visibility in combination with the wind direction to determine 
availability). The use of EO for monitoring upper atmosphere meteorological conditions is also important 
to support effective and safe flight planning – especially for phenomena that are not detectable with 
onboard equipment.
Practical recent demonstrations of the use of EO in the COVID-19 pandemic included the monitoring 
of air traffic in Europe using imagery from EO satellites integrated with ‘Rapid Action on COVID-19 
and EO’ (RACE), which provides an economic indicator to track the number of parked aircraft compared 
to the baseline. Resulting data showed a 90% reduction in movements.

AVIATION AND DRONES
41
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
USER PERSPECTIVE
Report on Aviation User 
Needs and Requirements
Outcome of the EUSPA
User Consultation Platform
Key EO and GNSS user requirements
The key GNSS and EO user requirements for the different application groups within the Aviation and Drones segment are, at EU level, collected using the following procedures:
• For GNSS, information is collected through extensive interactions with user groups, providers and experts in a continuous process culminating at the User Consultation 
Platforms (UCP). All relevant requirements are documented in detail and updated regularly within the Report on Aviation user needs and requirements.
• User requirements for Copernicus services and products – as well as their evolution – are collected through an integrated process that involves different channels: (i) 
dedicated studies (e.g. “NEXTSPACE” project, “Copernicus for EC (C4EC)” study, Commission Staff Working Document on user needs), (ii) targeted consultations organised by 
the European Commission or the Entrusted entities with the relevant communities, (iii) regular and structured exchanges among representatives of the Copernicus governance 
structure and Member States through the Copernicus User Forum. 
From the 2022 EUSPA`s UCP onward, EO user needs and requirements of commercial users will be validated and discussed with industry experts and user groups, mirroring 
the process implemented for GNSS. 
The dependency on GNSS and integration with EO is increasing
Earth Observation data supports GNSS based applications
All aviation depends on reliable positioning information, both in terms of current location and 
direction of travel. GNSS has made this information more intuitive across the whole industry, 
especially with the  introduction of  moving map displays. At International Civil Aviation 
Organisation (ICAO) level the  requirements for terrain and obstacle data to be available 
electronically have started to shift focus toward utilising satellites for data acquisition. Today, 
this satellite-derived topographical data enables all flight procedure analysis, particularly with 
regard to safety in relation to any proximate terrain or obstacles.
Further benefits have been realised in the aftermath of volcanic eruptions, showing the value 
of utilising satellite data to avoid ash clouds, protecting aircraft engines from possible inflight 
failure. GNSS proves equally relevant and beneficial in the  industry from an environmental 
perspective, supporting assessment of aviation emissions and sustainability and local aerodrome 
impacts such as land and flooding risks, airfield air pollution and environmental planning.
The use of EO coupled with GNSS-derived data by drones supports collision and population 
risk assessments and is more important in the more dynamic environment in which drones may 
operate compared to traditional aviation. More frequently updated datasets, derived for aviation 
purposes, are essential to allow planning of aviation infrastructure, development of databases 
for map-based systems (e.g. moving maps, Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management 
(UTM) and terrain avoidance systems) coupled with GNSS data for positioning in relation to 
maps, flight procedure design and surveillance infrastructure. Procedure design and placement 
of surveillance infrastructure such as radars, terrain and obstacles (trees, buildings, etc.) are 
essential information that is used in pre-implementation assessments.
A focus on deployment of U-Space
In the context of the new European regulations1 on drones, there has also been a push toward 
supporting systems that are able to help monitor the positions of drones and to provide a service 
that supports access to airspace without relying on temporary segregation techniques that 
can inconvenience other airspace users. This depends on the deployment of GNSS as the only 
ubiquitous Position Velocity Time (PVT) solution available in drones due to size and power 
constraints - and is also the  case for certified drones, although they may also depend on 
traditional terrestrial based aviation solutions.
These applications enabling drone traffic management are also underpinned by GNSS 
positioning on smartphones and within the drones themselves. This supports the planning and 
execution of missions. These operate similar to the ‘moving map’ applications used today by 
manned aviation and are designed to help users understand and avoid temporary and permanent 
airspace restrictions.
The  planning and execution of  missions also needs to account for operation risk based on 
location, such as obstacles to aviation in the vicinity, risks from overflight, and proximity to people 
and property. This relies on accurate, up-to-date information which itself can be dependent on 
frequency of satellite-based mapping and identification of specific features.
1 https://www.easa.europa.eu/document-library/easy-access-rules/easy-access-rules-unmanned-aircraft-systems-regulation-eu

42
AVIATION AND DRONES
INDUSTRY
DRONE OPERATORS 
& AIRLINERS / 
AIRCRAFT OWNERS
AIRCRAFT & DRONE 
MANUFACTURERS
Aviation and Drones GNSS Value Chain1
COMPONENT 
AND RECEIVER 
MANUFACTURERS
UTM SERVICE PROVIDERS
& 
ATM DATA SERVICE 
PROVIDERS
&
AIR NAVIGATION SERVICE 
PROVIDERS
AERODROMES
&
INFRASTRUCTURE 
OPERATORS
DRONES
GNSS CHIPSETS
• HEXAGON AB*
• NOVATEL
• QUALCOMM
• SEPTENTRIO*
• U-BLOX*
• INFINEON *
• TRIMBLE
• DJI BAIWANG
• VECTORNAV
DRONES
FIXED WING
AIRBUS*, ALTAVISION*, DELAIR*, 
MARQUES AVIATION*
MULTI-ROTOR
3D ROBOTICS, DJI, EUPHORIX*, 
PARROT*, YUNEEC
SINGLE ROTOR
BABCOCK*
VTOL FIXED WING
AEROVINCI*, AITI, ATMOS UAV*
DRONE OPERATORS
• CYBERHAWK
• HEMAV*
• MANNA*
• NASA
• SKYFUTURES*
• WING
MAIN ORGANISATIONS
• GLOBAL UTM ASSOCIATION
• INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION 
ORGANISATION (ICAO)
DRONE INFRASTRUCTURE 
PROVIDERS
• AIRBUS*
• SKYPORTS*
AVIATION
• AVIDYNE CORP
• AZIMUT
• BEIJING BDSTAR 
NAVIGATION 
• COBHAM *
• GARMIN
• HONEYWELL
• LEONARDO 
FINMECANICA *
• NORTHROP GRUMMAN 
CORPORATION
• OROLIA *
• SAFRAN *
• SBG SYSTEMS *
• SENSOR SYSTEMS
• TECHTEST *
• THALES AVIONICS*
• TRIG AVIONICS*
• UNIVERSAL AVIONICS
AIRLINE MANUFACTURERS
• AIRBUS*
• ATR*
• BOEING
• COMAC
• BOMBARDIER
• EMBRAER
BUSINESS, ROTORCRAFT
AND GENERAL AVIATION
MANUFACTURES
URBAN AIR MOBILITY
• LILIUM
• UBER
• VOLOCOPTER
MAIN AIRLINES ALLIANCES
• ONEWORLD
• SKYTEAM
• STAR ALLIANCE
USER GROUP ASSOCIATIONS
• AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS 
ASSOCIATION (AOPA)
• AIRLINES FOR EUROPE (A4E)
• EUROPEAN AIR SPORTS
• EUROPEAN BUSINESS AVIATION 
ASSOCIATION (EBAA)
• EUROPEAN HELICOPTER 
ASSOCIATION (EHA)
• EUROPEAN REGIONS AIRLINE 
ASSOCIATION (ERA)
• INTERNATIONAL AIR TRANSPORT 
ASSOCIATION (IATA)
• INTERNATIONAL AIR CARRIER 
ASSOCIATION (IACA)
• PPL/IR
MAIN ORGANISATIONS
• CIVIL AIR NAVIGATION SERVICES
ORGANISATION (CANSO)
• INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION
ORGANISATION (ICAO)
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS
PRIVATE AIRPORTS
REGIONAL AIRPORTS
ASSOCIATIONS
• AIRPORTS COUNCIL
INTERNATIONAL (ACI)
* European-based companies. The  region is defined with respect to the  headquarters of  the  company, though 
the actual area of activity might be wider.
1 The value chain considers the key global and European companies involved in GNSS downstream activities. 
2 In the market share analysis, Europe is defined as EU27 plus Norway and Switzerland.
European2 GNSS industry in the global arena
Within the aviation segment, European and North American organisations continue 
to dominate manufacturing of GNSS receivers for aviation (>95% of the market) 
in 2019 with North American receiver suppliers supplying 85% and European 
suppliers 14%.
The picture is more mixed when it comes to drones, with shares depending on 
the  sophistication of  the  drone platform. Overall the  Asian share is 47%  with 
the European share at 10%.

AVIATION AND DRONES
43
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
INDUSTRY
Aviation and Drones EO Value Chain1
END USERS
INFORMATION  
PROVIDERS
EO PRODUCTS 
AND SERVICES 
PROVIDERS
PLATFORM 
PROVIDERS
DATA 
PROVIDERS
INFRASTRUCTURE 
PROVIDERS
• AWS
• COPERNICUS DIAS*
• GOOGLE CLOUD 
• IBM SPECTRUM 
COMPUTING
• INTEL GEOSPATIAL
• MICROSOFT AZURE
• PENGUIN  
COMPUTING
• COPERNICUS 
   COLLABORATIVE
   GROUND SEGMENT*
• COPERNICUS
   SENTINELS*
• USGS/NASA LANDSAT
• RELEVANT IN-SITU
   NETWORKS
• COPERNICUS 
   SERVICES*
• AIRBUS
• BLACKSKY
• CEYE
• COPERNICUS DIAS*
• DESCARTES LABS
• EARTH-I
• E-GEOS
• MAXAR
• PLANET
• BOHANNAN HUSTON
• COPERNICUS DIAS*
• CREOTECH 
INSTRUMENTS
• DARES TECHNOLOGY
• EISAT IMAGENS DE 
• FLYCOM HOLDINGS
• LEONARDO
• RHEA SYSTEM
• SATELLITE EARTHSTAR 
GEOGRAPHICS
• SATELLITE IMAGING
• SKYMAP GLOBAL
• BOHANNAN HUSTON
• DARES TECHNOLOGY
• EISAT IMAGENS DE 
SATELITE
• FLYCOM HOLDINGS
• L3HARRIS 
TECHNOLOGIES
• LEONARDO
• RHEA SYSTEM
• SATELLITE IMAGING
• SKYMAP GLOBAL
• SNC-LAVALIN
• BOHANNAN HUSTON
• DARES TECHNOLOGY
• EISAT IMAGENS DE 
SATELITE
• FLYCOM HOLDINGS
• L3HARRIS 
TECHNOLOGIES
• LEONARDO
• RHEA SYSTEM
• SATELLITE IMAGING
• SKYMAP GLOBAL
• SNC-LAVALIN
• AIR NAVIGATION 
SERVICE PROVIDERS
• AIRPORT PLANNERS
• AIRPORTS
• FLIGHT PLANNERS
• INSTRUMENT FLIGHT 
PROCEDURE DESIGNERS
NOTES
1 The value chain considers the key global and European companies involved in EO downstream activities.
2 In the market share analysis, Europe is defined as EU27 plus Norway, Switzerland and the UK.
* European-based companies. The region is defined with respect to the headquarters of the company, though the actual area of activity might be wider.
LEGEND
	Commercial Offering
	Public Offering
	User segments
Europe2 is a major player in EO for Aviation
The  value of  Earth Observation for Aviation is growing. 
Currently there are more than 70 companies tracked globally 
with a  share in the  Aviation EO market. Europe leads 
the contribution with a >70% share.
The  value of  the  EO products and services within aviation 
is estimated at €55m in 2019 and expected to increase as 
the  contribution to supporting and assessing sustainable 
aviation gathers pace.

44
AVIATION AND DRONES
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
GNSS capabilities are growing to meet evolving requirements for navigation, 
surveillance and sustainability
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, air traffic dropped by more than 65% compared to 2019 and worldwide 
the aircraft fleet is expected to have shrunk by 15% in 2021 compared to 2020. Some aircraft have been 
switched to transporting cargo in a desperate attempt to avoid bankruptcy by their operators. This impact 
is expected to last for some years with the net effect that there may be fewer shipments but an increase 
in GNSS capabilities within the fleet as older, non-upgraded aircraft will be retired to save costs. Due 
to the pandemic, major key players in the GNSS Chips & Modules market are witnessing fluctuation in 
demand, which is altering market trends, potential opportunities and consumer preferences. The figure 
above illustrates how this change is expected to impact fleet capabilities, especially in relation to 
Localiser Performance with Vertical Guidance (LPV) and SBAS which see a significant increase over 
the period in response to COVID-19.
GNSS is essential in aviation, and the technical developments are targeted to support specific problems. 
However, as the  ubiquity of  GNSS in aviation across Communication, Navigation and Surveillance 
(CNS) increases, so too does the requirement to improve across all areas. This section presents some 
of the more recent developments and focus areas from a CNS perspective.
Dual Frequency Multi-Constellation progress in navigation
The GBAS Approach Service Type D (GAST D), which allows Cat-III precision approaches to less than 
100ft height, is fully standardised and validated for GPS L1 signals. Furthermore, a dedicated ICAO ad-
hoc group is defining the future DFMC GBAS concept, which takes benefit from dual-frequency signals 
and multiple constellations such as GPS and Galileo, in order to enhance the  robustness of  GBAS 
approach service and even explore new GBAS services. The  ICAO DFMC GBAS Concept Paper is 
expected by the end of 2022.
As of today, it is expected that the GNSS Manual (Doc 9849) will update to accommodate GAST-F 
in 2024 and that ICAO Standards And Recommended Practices for GBAS GAST F would be written 
around 2030. 
GBAS GAST F or GBAS DFMC is seen as the future of GBAS and will enable greater robustness against 
ionosphere disturbances as well as against Radio Frequency Interference (RFI), as it will work with two 
frequencies and offer reversion modes.
The  ICAO Navigation System Panel (NSP) approved new Standards and Recommended Practices 
for the use of EGNOS and Galileo in November 2020. This is an important milestone in SBAS DFMC 
Standardisation for EGNOS and Galileo but also for European aviation. Indeed, DFMC SBAS opens up 
new possibilities for air transportation but also more resilience for users against RFI. 
In the U-Space and UAM area EUSPA has supported numerous trials of drones equipped with EGNOS 
as well as Galileo through its EGNSS4RPAS project. Manned aircraft are expected to be outnumbered 
by all kinds of  drones, employed for everything from weather and environmental monitoring to 
personalised delivery services. The  traditional person-based air traffic control model will need to 
evolve to accommodate such a shift, based on automated monitoring, traffic management and collision 
avoidance. In Europe, this highly automated version of air traffic control is termed U-Space.
GNSS performance requirements supporting drone operations are being developed globally. Eurocae 
WG-105 within Europe is developing minimum operational performance specifications (MOPS) for 
Detect and Avoid (DAA) in Very Low Level (VLL) airspace. 
SBAS’s safety-of-life service is essential to making this happen, moving from today’s situation — where 
drones are limited to specific air corridors and line-of-sight operations — to let them roam freely but 
safely in busy airspace and built-up areas.
Electronic Conspicuity has an important role in surveillance
Electronic Conspicuity is an umbrella term for technologies that provide self-reporting of position from 
an aircraft to other aviation actors. Electronic Conspicuity can be considered in two groups: Certified 
(used in controlled airspace by users such as commercial aviation and certified category drones) and 
Uncertified (used outside controlled airspace typically by General Aviation). It is also an essential 
enabler for U-Space as the means to provide the ability to ‘detect’ other aircraft. No solution has yet 
been agreed to enable interoperability between U-Space and manned aviation, but GNSS positioning 
reporting is enabled through the established ADS-B and a mix of proprietary solutions gaining traction 
with some users. There are several solutions including Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast 
(ADS-B) (1090MHz and UAT),  Flight Alarm (FLARM), LTE/5G and 802.11 raising questions on 
interoperability. 
ADS-B implementation, both airborne equipage and ground infrastructure, continues toward full 
integration in the ATM environment. Since December 2020, new aircraft are required to be ADS-B 
equipped with a transition period till June 2023 for retro-fit. At European level, users would like to improve 
cost-efficiency through rationalisation of the surveillance infrastructure, including the decommissioning 
of CNS facilities and to improve the aviation spectrum efficiency. GNSS will become more critical as this 
step progresses.
Performance Based 
Navigation
Electronic Conspicuity
SBAS enabled 
approaches
Ground Based
Augmentation
System Approaches
Total ﬂeet
2019
2025
100%
94.9%
41.7%
29.7%
3.5%
100%
98.1%
68.0%
42.0%
8.5%
GNSS capabilities as a proportion of total civil aviation fleet

AVIATION AND DRONES
45
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
Increased focus on environmental impacts demanding 
more from GNSS and EO
Increased focus on monitoring aviation emissions
There is an increasing push for aviation to become more environmentally friendly. Whilst particular 
complaints in the vicinity of aerodromes might focus on noise, it is the emissions and the level of fuel 
burn that are predominantly being addressed, particularly at European level where commercial airlines 
are subject to the  emissions charging scheme. Airport expansion plans in recent years have also 
been subject to restrictions on movement or night curfews as pressure builds on limiting the impacts 
of aviation.
Drones are one area where there is significant development and interest due to the  electrification 
of flight and the consequent ‘zero’ emissions in comparison to traditional aviation.
In this context, EO has a great role to play for the aviation sector. EO services can be used at a global 
level for airport planning and development, such as monitoring wind, precipitation and temperature 
to influence the determination of runway size and layout. These services can additionally be used at 
local level with development plans assessing the existing emissions and helping, through modelling, to 
gauge the impacts that the expansion will have on the local area. EO can provide a monitoring source 
for the effects of aircraft emissions at different flight levels, or in areas in which air pollution is at or 
approaching legal limits.
Indeed, Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) provides continuous data and information 
on atmospheric composition. Notably, CAMS could be used to help the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centres 
(VAAC) forecast volcanic ash clouds dispersion trajectories. This would enhance flight safety in case an 
aircraft flies in the vicinity of volcanic ash. In addition, the CAMS products include analyses/re-analyses 
of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide), having the ability to monitor these 
compositions in a  number of  layers at different altitudes. Therefore, the  European Commission has 
already completed some studies1,2 into the  feasibility of  the  CAMS system being used to monitor 
air pollution at different altitudes. This would be of great interest to better understand the impact 
of aviation on the environment. 
The Copernicus Land Monitoring Service might also enable the monitoring of precise localisation and 
the size of terrain and obstacles that surround an airport. This is of particular relevance to procedure 
designers when designing and publishing specific procedures for the airport, and to the general integrity 
and safety of the airport. Both these factors are essential enablers for PBN and the exploitation of GNSS 
for navigation purposes.
Given the long lifecycle of airport development projects in general, the use of EO data would allow 
easy access to reliable, up-to-date information throughout a project lifecycle thanks to high-frequency 
revisits.
The importance of timing on optimising operations
The exploitation of GNSS timing as a reference source for timing and synchronisation processes is 
fundamental for critical infrastructure like telecommunication networks, energy distribution grids, 
financial markets and commercial aviation systems and networks.
In the case of aviation, optimising the traffic flows also comes down to timing, as does synchronisation 
of information about flights. This information can be shared between users to cut down on flight times 
and reduce delays, diminishing the environmental impact. GNSS time is used for:
• positioning and timing for on-board navigation purposes;
• timing and synchronisation for datalink communications (on-board to ground and vice-versa); and
• timing and synchronisation for ground systems used for Air Traffic Control (ATC), communication 
networks, airspace surveillance, and airport logistics coordination.
1 https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC111789
2 https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC112816
Sustainable and smart mobility - Green airports
Mobility within Aviation targets the application of innovative digital and satellite-based solutions, 
including new tools and traffic optimisation mechanisms for multimodal access, passenger and 
freight flows into, out of and between airports, facilitating airport access and reducing traffic to/
from cities or other nodes.
As transport systems become more integrated, aviation is expected to increasingly interface with 
other public transport links. Llinks with GNSS and EO are expected to become more critical. This 
is not just through the ambitions of the Green Deal, but also linked to the exploitation of increased 
automation and PBN procedures to improve the  efficiency of  aircraft operations arriving and 
departing at each aerodrome. Optimising flows with the better sharing of information between 
airports and airspace users is a focus of R&D within SESAR. 
Updated Aviation and Drones applications
Previous market reports provided data broken down by airspace user group. In this edition, data 
is presented by GNSS application. These applications are used by different airspace user groups 
in both manned aviation and drones. Definitions of each application are provided in Annex 3. Not 
all applications appear in the charts:
• ATM systems timing and Infrastructure timing are not yet quantified.
• GADSS Aircraft Tracking uses either the Performance Based Navigation system and on-board 
satellite communications, or can be collected by satellites that detect the aircraft or certified 
drone’s Electronic Conspicuity transmissions.
• Earth Observation applications are not yet quantified.

46
AVIATION AND DRONES
FUTURE MARKET EVOLUTION 
Aviation needs advanced GNSS and new alternative PNT solutions
Push for new Alternative PNT
PBN is the foundation for enabling aircraft trajectories in the future that are optimised for the efficiency 
and environmental impact, with GNSS the key enabler. The evolution of navigation and surveillance 
applications, which will enable interoperability between manned aircraft and drones, is required. Future 
applications are therefore likely to lead to increased dependence on GNSS. 
In aviation, the GNSS landscape is evolving and moving steadily towards more precise operations using 
Dual Frequency Multi-Constellation (DFMC), while aviation surveillance infrastructure increasingly 
utilises integrated GNSS, particularly for timing. From a GNSS standardisation perspective, this is well 
advanced, although not finalised, for manned aviation.
Traditional aviation has always operated with alternative technologies, particularly ground-based 
navigation aides, in addition to GNSS. Whilst these technologies cannot deliver the  performance 
equivalent to GNSS, particularly with DFMC, they do provide resilience. 
With interoperability, new airspace users expect a  continued push for rationalisation of  historical 
alternative technologies in the future, there will be a need to maintain a spectrum and cost-efficient 
solution accessible to all, drones and manned aviation alike. Technologies such as the L-band Digital 
Aeronautical Communications System (LDACS) and 5G offer integrated positioning services, yet there 
is no clear solution that can meet the key performance requirements that GNSS delivers.
Advanced GNSS Operations for Helicopters and General Aviation
On 18th November 2020, EUSPA and EHA (the  European Helicopter Association) hosted 
a  workshop on the  GNSS/EGNOS benefits for Helicopter Emergency Medical Services 
(HEMS) operations. This builds on the increasing importance of GNSS to support helicopter 
operations operating in hostile environments, such as close to mountains or in valleys with poor 
connectivity to traditional infrastructure. GNSS provides HEMS operations with capabilities that 
improve the safety of the operations and enable an expedited rescue for the most suitable 
hospital for patients. Workshops such as this have helped the HEMS community become more 
aware of the operational benefits and technical requirements of GNSS.
In addition, the  use of  GNSS-based altitude can provide specific benefits for helicopter 
operations under particular conditions:
• GNSS-based altitude can be used instead of  barometric altitude to improve altitude 
information reliability in low-level operations in areas where the local settings for barometric 
altitude (QNH) are not available or not reliable.
• Terrain Awareness Warning Systems (TAWS) and Synthetic Vision Systems (SVS) data is 
based on GNSS altitude. If the altitude displayed in the helicopter cockpit were GNSS-based 
instead of barometric, then all data would have the same reference and be coherent. 
• At low speeds, the rotor flow can impact barometric sensors, which can lead to some bias 
on barometric altitude determination. On some helicopters, a hybridization of GNSS-based 
altitude with barometric altitude is already made to reduce noise and bias in the altitude value.
© Adobe Stock
© Adobe Stock

AVIATION AND DRONES
47
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
FUTURE MARKET EVOLUTION 
14 
 
1 000
5 000
9 000
13 000
Performance Based Navigation
 
Electronic Conspicuity - certiﬁed (for ATM)
Electronic Conspicuity - uncertiﬁed
Drone navigation and guidance
0 
2 
4 
6 
8 
10 
12 
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
Units (thousands)
New drone uses continue to emerge
Overall drone market evolution by 2025
The global drone market will grow from €19.4 bn in 2020 to over €36.9 bn in 2025 at a CAGR of 13.8%1. 
This huge growth will drive shipments of GNSS-capable drones to exceed 10 million units per year for 
most of this decade, as shown in the chart below. The proportion of drone service revenue attributed to 
GNSS is shown in the adjacent chart.
Nearly all drone use cases will continue to be operated outside of  controlled airspace by Open or 
Specific category drones. Certified Electronic Conspicuity and Performance Based Navigation devices 
will be used for high-value applications, but by a relatively small population (compared to the overall 
drone market) of Certified drones.
Applications such as critical infrastructure inspection and drone Delivery & eCommerce –  which is 
predicted to be the largest market area by 2030 – are developing rapidly. These applications increase 
demand for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) missions classified as medium risk, which will fall 
under the Specific category. Such missions require a proportionate approach to safety and will require 
a design verification report. The designs will almost certainly include Electronic Conspicuity devices 
(uncertified as they will be outside of controlled airspace) to ensure awareness of other airspace users, 
and support U-space tracking by UTM systems. 
1 According to the Drone Market Report 2020
Urban Air Mobility
Urban Air Mobility (UAM) is a concept looking for ways to quickly and efficiently move people 
within cities in a safe and environmentally friendly manner. UAM transport networks will offer 
an alternative to congested city transport systems and will develop strong interfaces between 
city/region, drone, transport and urban planning communities. UAM is expected to debut in 
the coming years in big cities such as Paris and Singapore, according to Volocopter and Lilium, 
two European leaders in this market. UAM is not expected to emerge as a significant market 
until the 2030s.
As in most transportation modes, UAM strongly benefits from the GNSS services for positioning, 
but also from other services that are specifically tailored to drones applications: geo-fencing 
and geo-caging; e-identification (Drone navigation and guidance); and tracking (facilitated 
via Electronic Conspicuity). Maps that integrate EO data will provide up-to-date information 
about the distribution of dwellings and approximate population. This will help planning routes 
for UAM traffic to avoid densely populated areas and for developers to strategically plan 
infrastructure. 
The Solution for EGNSS U-Space Service (SUGUS) project, funded by the European Commission, 
organised a survey last year, whose results can be used as a valuable input to tailor the EGNSS 
Service Provision layer to specific drone missions’ needs, allowing better mitigation of risks in 
complex operations like UAM, increasing safety and security.
Shipments of GNSS devices by application (Drones only)
EU27 dependant service revenue by service area
0
500
1 000
1 500
2 000
2 500
3 000
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
€ (millions)
Critical Infrastructures
Public Security & Safety
Railway inspections
Insurance
Delivery & eCommerce
Surveying
Agriculture

48
AVIATION AND DRONES
Current usage of Copernicus
COPERNICUS USE FOR MANNED AVIATION
In manned aviation, a  new project called AsSISt - Aircraft 
Support & Maintenance Services – is using atmospheric data to 
bring accurate information about atmospheric conditions that 
affect aviation to the aircraft maintenance market. The Aircraft 
Support and Maintenance Services use atmospheric datasets 
obtained from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring 
Service). The datasets contain everything needed to compute 
three key indicators of  atmospheric conditions: abrasion, 
clogging, and corrosion. By using CAMS data, AsSISt 
provides indicators to help airlines and manufacturers to save 
costs, thanks to precise monitoring of aeroplanes’ exposure 
to harmful particles, thereby allowing airlines to build their 
maintenance plans around the expected damage.
Copernicus use of  the  land and atmosphere monitoring 
services supports both the evaluation of a greener aviation and the safety of developments 
within the aerodrome environment. Specifically, it can provide an effective way for the aerodrome 
to monitor construction within the  aerodrome vicinity and support compliance with ICAO 
Standards And Recommended Practices for aeronautical information and aerodrome mapping. 
Other obligations for the aerodrome include a requirement to focus on the environment and to 
manage water runoff and other pollutants such as de-icing or related aircraft chemicals that 
could find their way into the water system. 
COPERNICUS USE FOR DRONES
Myriad is an Internet-of-Things (IoT) system 
that 
triggers 
autonomous 
Unmanned 
Aerial Vehicle (UAV) surveys based on 
changes detected over Copernicus imagery. 
Monitoring large industrial areas using 
traditional on-site methods is usually costly. 
Important changes in the landscape can go 
unnoticed, which may lead to a loss of money, 
environmental and security issues, or a loss of a commercial opportunity. Myriad aims to solve 
this problem using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to detect changes over Copernicus datasets from 
Sentinels 1, 2 and 3, sending those changes to the UAV that will then automatically fly over it. 
These applications are already under development. For example, some start-ups are evaluating 
the potential to provide all drone users with up-to-date satellite imagery from the Copernicus 
Emergency Management Service. The purpose is to integrate up to date drone images and 
video as layers on top of post-disaster satellite imagery.
EUROPEAN SYSTEMS
EGNSS and Copernicus current usage
Terminology used on this page is explained in Annex 2 for both GNSS and EO performance parameters.
Current usage of EGNSS
GALILEO USE FOR MANNED AVIATION
Galileo 
SAR 
Performance 
exceeding 
the commitments
The  Galileo Return Link Service has been 
exceeding performance levels committed 
to in the  SAR/Galileo Service Definition 
Document. The  continuous monitoring 
of  Galileo SAR and the  Return Link 
Service (RLS) confirmed that the  Service 
has been available 99.99% of  the  time, 
and that the  Galileo RLS system took an 
average of  0.61 minutes (37 seconds) to 
deliver the  automatic acknowledgement 
to the  activated beacons, as observed by 
the Galileo Reference Beacons. 
Both performance parameters are significantly better than their target values of  95% and 
15  minutes respectively. Following the  declaration of  Initial Services in December 2016, 
the Galileo Initial Open Service (OS) and the Galileo Search and Rescue (SAR) Service Public 
Performance Reports are published quarterly, to provide the  public with information about 
the Galileo OS and the Galileo SAR Service measured performance statistics.
GALILEO USE FOR DRONES
Based on useGalileo.eu data, Galileo is already present in over 30% of receiver models used 
for drone applications. High performance positioning system for drones are being developed in 
the frame of current European projects, within the U-Space framework focusing on VLL (Very 
Low Level) and UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System) operations. 
Galileo OSNMA test underway
The Galileo Open Service Navigation Message Authentication (OSNMA) is an authentication 
mechanism that allows GNSS receivers to verify the authenticity of GNSS information, making 
sure that the data they receive is indeed from Galileo and has not been modified in any way. 
Galileo has started testing OSNMA in the  signal-in-space, allowing the  first-ever OSNMA-
protected position fix to be successfully computed1. Testing will continue over the next months, 
ahead of a public observation phase. This is the first ever transmission of authentication features 
in open GNSS signals in a global navigation system. During the User Consultation Platform 
2020, the European drone community expressed interest in the potential use of Galileo OSNMA 
to support operations.
1 https://www.gsc-europa.eu/news/tests-of-galileo-osnma-underway
High Accuracy 
Service
Position
Reliability
Authenticated
Positioning
Vertical
Accuracy
LPV approach
procedures
Authentication
features
Safety-of-Life
Service
Galileo
Galileo
Dual-
frequency
EGNOS
Sentinels
Sentinels
Copernicus Services
Copernicus Services
Sentinel-2
Sentinel-1
Sentinel-1
Sentinel-3
Sentinel-3
Land  
(CLMS)
Atmosphere 
(CAMS)
Emergency 
(CEMS)

AVIATION AND DRONES
49
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
EUROPEAN PROJECTS
Latest EC and EUSPA project initiatives
MyGalileo Drone Competition 
Following the Galileo initial service declaration in 2016, the increasing availability of Galileo–
enabled receivers and the fast-growing market of drone-based applications and services, the EU 
Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) market activities have focused on Galileo ‘Good Use’ 
by increasing awareness and stimulating its use by entrepreneurs and general public.
The  aim of  the  contest was to design, develop, test and prepare the  commercial launch 
of a drone-based application and/or service able to provide a position and/or time fix by using 
a Galileo-enabled receiver. 
The  contest stimulated drone application developers and service providers to learn about 
Galileo’s potential and create new tools that could also be exploited in future projects. From 
the point of view of final users, the contest encouraged innovative applications and services 
based on drones and powered by Galileo, and showcased Galileo performance and benefits, 
fostering its introduction into this new market.
Link to the website: https://www.euspa.europa.eu/mygalileodrone
ARAIM Prototype Receiver for Dual Constellations - GLAD
Global 
the 
Advanced 
Receiver 
Autonomous 
Integrity 
Monitoring 
(ARAIM) for Dual-Constellation Project 
(together, GLAD), co-funded by the  EU 
Agency 
for 
the 
Space 
Programme 
(EUSPA), is developing the  ARAIM prototype receiver under 
the Fundamental Elements programme. 
The Consortium is made up by AIRBUS, NATS, GMV, Pildo Labs and led by Collins Aerospace. 
The purpose of GLAD Project is to implement the ARAIM algorithm developed by GNSS subject 
matter experts on a Collins’ Dual Frequency Multi-Constellation (DFMC) Multi-Mode Receiver 
(MMR) baseline.
The  ARAIM algorithm should support three possible architectures enabling different levels 
of performance, leveraging the use of Integrity Support Messages (ISMs). ARAIM is a targeted 
solution to ensure navigation integrity for en-route flight, terminal and approach operations 
supporting lateral and vertical guidance operations down to 200 feet decision height.
A Webinar was organised in June 2020 explaining the purpose of GLAD project as well as its 
main outcomes: the overall design; development; and experimentation.
Link 
to 
the 
website: 
https://www.euspa.europa.eu/newsroom/news/global-araim-dual-
constellation-webinar-took-place-24-june-2020
Drones and EGNSS  
for Low airspace urban  
mobility - DELOREAN
The DELOREAN (Drones and EGNSS for Low Airspace Urban mobility) H2020 project was 
awarded by EUSPA within the  framework program ‘EGNOS Adoption in Aviation’. Its main 
objective is to develop innovative EGNOS-based solutions that respond to increased mobility 
needs of people and goods, enabling efficient, sustainable, affordable and effective air services 
in challenging urban scenarios.
The consortium working behind this project is formed by CATEC, GeoNumerics, Airbus, Correos, 
Bauhaus Luftfahrt, Eurocontrol, UPV (Universitat Politècnica de València) and PildoLabs. 
Together they intend to test, evaluate and quantify how distinguishing features of EGNOS and 
Galileo can contribute to the positioning and integrity requirements of such air services.
Along with the introduction of EGNSS 
in future standards and regulations 
to ensure the safe navigation of UAM 
and UAD drones, an important goal 
of  DELOREAN is contributing to 
the definition of EGNSS requirements 
and standards that can be used as 
Acceptable Means of  Compliance 
(AMC) in the new European drone regulation. This particularly applies to the Specific drone 
category, as a result of the application of the Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) 
method.
Link to the website: https://sites.google.com/pildo.com/delorean
Scandinavian Air Ambulance – BSAA-REACH
The BSAA-REACH project is progressing with the implementation 
of  Point in Space (PinS) approach and departure procedures and 
Low Level Route (LLR) in three health regions in Sweden, connecting 
a pair of helipads in each region, resulting in a total of six locations.
The project’s objectives are to:
• implement 6 PinS procedures at 6 different sites in Sweden: Stockholm/Karolinska, Visby, 
Gallivare, Lulea/Sunderby, Östersund/Göviken HEMS base and Are Health Clinic, one 
of the first operational implementations of Helicopter EGNOS-based procedures in Sweden;
• develop the necessary enablers for the provision of a flight validation service on the basis 
of existing and proved in region technical solutions;
• enable Helicopter IFR operations in areas where no Air Traffic Service is available.
© Delorean project
© GLAD Project

50
AVIATION AND DRONES
REFERENCE CHARTS
Certified Electronic Conspicuity devices relying on the aircraft’s integrated GNSS receiver are included within the PBN application.
GADSS Aircraft Tracking will either use the GNSS receiver quantified under Performance Based Navigation ,or Electronic Conspicuity – certified.
Earth Observation applications, and ATM systems timing and Infrastructure timing, are not yet quantified and are therefore not presented in this edition of the Market Report.
Installed base of GNSS devices by application
Revenue of GNSS device sales by application
Revenue of GNSS device sales by region
Installed base of GNSS devices by region
1 250
11 250
21 250 
31 250 
41 250 
51 250 
0
250 
500 
750 
1 000 
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
Units (thousands)
Performance Based Navigation
 
Electronic Conspicuity - certiﬁed (for ATM)
 
Electronic Conspicuity - uncertiﬁed
 
VFR complement
 Drone navigation and guidance
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions)
Electronic Conspicuity  - certiﬁed (for ATM)
Electronic Conspicuity - uncertiﬁed
VFR complement
Performance Based Navigation
Drone navigation and guidance
400
600
800
1 000
1 200
1 400
1 600
1 800
0
200
400
600
800
1 000
1 200
1 400
1 600
1 800
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
 
€ (millions)
EU27
 
Non-EU27 Europe
 
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
 
South America + Caribbean
0
5 000
10 000
15 000
20 000
25 000
30 000
35 000
40 000
45 000
50 000
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
Units (thousands)
EU27
 
Non-EU27 Europe
 
North America
 
Asia-Paciﬁc
 
Middle East + Africa
 
South America + Caribbean

BIODIVERSITY, ECOSYSTEMS  
AND NATURAL CAPITAL
BIODIVERSITY, ECOSYSTEMS AND NATURAL CAPITAL 
An ecosystem (or ecological system) consists of all the organisms and the abiotic pools 
(or physical environment) with which they interact. Together with natural resource 
stocks and land, ecosystems comprise the notion of natural capital, seen as “natural 
assets in their role of providing natural resource inputs and environmental services for 
economic production”.
All the living organisms within a single ecosystem or habitat, comprise its biodiversity. 
This includes numbers and diversity of species and all environmental aspects such as 
temperature, oxygen and carbon dioxide levels and climate. Biodiversity can be measured 
globally or in smaller settings, such as ponds.
Nowadays data on parameters related to biodiversity and ecosystems is collected 
almost exclusively through on-site observations. Nonetheless, both public and private 
entities are developing some applications relying on EO data, due to its capacity to 
assess quantifiable parameters in various environments: land, water, coast, and snow 
and ice, and to detect when an imbalance in these parameters can inflict damage on 
the local flora and fauna. Notable examples of such applications are the UN Biodiversity 
Lab which provides EO data to put nature at the center of sustainable development, 
the EU Soil Observatory, aiming to develop a soil health database, and the Natura 2000 
Land Cover product, meant to help assess the effectiveness of measures taken to protect 
specific grassland-rich sites. 
GNSS, on the other hand, has more limited use in the segment, and supports biodiversity 
and ecosystems by providing data for the tracking of animals whose habitats are 
threatened. 
While some of these topics are also covered in other segments (notably when considering 
sustainability aspects of: Agriculture, Fisheries and aquaculture, Maritime, Forestry, and 
others) their biodiversity aspects have been considered in the following pages.
What you can read in this chapter
• Key trends: Biodiversity, ecosystem and natural capital policies are driving and 
generating demand for EO data and applications.
• Recent developments and future market evolution: Recent and future EO developments 
hold great potential for biodiversity, ecosystem and natural capital applications.
• European systems and projects: Several key projects use Copernicus data for 
biodiversity, ecosystems and natural capital purposes.
• Reference charts: Yearly evolution of EO revenues by application and region.
51
© Adobe Stock
Application descriptions can be found in Annex 3.
Water ecosystems monitoring
• Water ecosystems monitoring
Animal tracking for biodiversity 
purposes
• Animal tracking for biodiversity purposes
Terrestrial ecosystems monitoring
• Terrestrial ecosystems monitoring
Snow and ice ecosystems 
monitoring
• Snow and ice ecosystems monitoring
Coastal ecosystems monitoring
• Coastal ecosystems monitoring
Legend
EO application
GNSS application
Synergetic application  
(combined use of EO and GNSS)

52
BIODIVERSITY, ECOSYSTEMS AND NATURAL CAPITAL
KEY TRENDS
Key market trends
• Policy commitments drive ecosystem monitoring developments on the global stage; in Europe these are spearheaded by the new Biodiversity Strategy
• Natural capital and ecosystem accounting efforts benefit from Earth Observation services including those offered by Copernicus
• The intensification of efforts to understand and protect soil health and ocean health is paramount for food security and carbon sequestration
Use of EO for the implementation of biodiversity policies
Geospatial data supports biodiversity monitoring and decision making in numerous ways. This support 
is being bolstered through recent initiatives implemented by international and regional actors. In 2018 
the UN launched the UN Biodiversity Lab. This interactive mapping program contains spatial data on 
protected areas, endangered species, climate and carbon variables, land cover, marine areas, human 
impacts on natural systems and socio-economic data. It is aimed at decision-makers, particularly from 
countries who do not have the technical capabilities and/or access to their own geospatial data. 
In Europe, the EU’s Biodiversity strategy 
for 2030 could also make extensive use 
of EO data. Indeed, EO data is already 
used in policies such as the monitoring 
of  Natura 2000 sites, an initiative for 
preserving and protecting breeding and 
resting sites for rare and threatened 
species, and specific natural habitat types, 
covering over 18% of the terrestrial and 
8% of  the  marine territory of  the  EU. 
Through 
this, 
specific 
Copernicus 
products have been developed such as 
the Copernicus Land Monitoring Service’s 
Natura 2000 Land Cover product.
Copernicus in support of natural capital & ecosystem accounting
Earth’s stock of natural resources – its geology, soils, air, water and all living organisms – forms its 
natural capital. Some of  these assets directly contribute to humanity’s wellbeing by providing so-
called ecosystem services which underpin our economy and society, making human life possible 
(e.g., clean water, fertile soil, waste decomposition, crop pollination, climate regulation, etc.). To help 
mainstream ecosystem services in policies and in business decision making, the Earth Observation for 
Ecosystem Accounting (EO4EA) and the ARIES initiatives are seeking to identify and link the data 
needs of ecosystem accounting producers to key earth observation data sources. Preliminary studies 
have shown that the Copernicus products are well-suited for providing data on some simple physical, 
structural and functional characteristics of  ecosystems; although, in most cases, the  Copernicus 
products for ecosystem condition variables are likely to require further processing to make them suitable 
for ecosystem accounting. As new policies place increased attention on ecosystem accounting, 
improvements on the EO-based solutions supporting it can be expected. 
GNSS technologies for wildlife tracking
GNSS technologies also provide support to biodiversity. GNSS beacons in devices such as collars, 
harnesses, or directly attached to the  animal, can be deployed on a  targeted sample size of  an 
endangered species and used for tracking. Two types of devices are used; those that allow downloading 
of data once the animal/device has been retrieved, and a more advanced type where data is transmitted 
remotely, sometimes in real time. The  signals help scientists and conservationists map behaviour, 
population demographics and inter-species interactions, including with the  predatory environment. 
Such devices already provide knowledge on how far, and where exactly, birds travel to migrate, or how 
water temperature influences fish migration. 
In sanctuaries the use of GNSS trackers has specific purposes; for instance, showing if an endangered 
animal is injured, sick, trapped by poachers or has escaped from a reserve.
Initiatives exploiting Earth Observation in soil health monitoring 
A  quarter of  all known species live in the  soil, and life above ground depends on the  soil and its 
countless inhabitants. Yet global strategies to protect biodiversity have so far paid little attention to this 
habitat. Suffering considerable stress because of intensive cultivation with heavy machinery, fertilisers 
and pesticides, compaction, coverage with buildings and exposure to wind and water erosion, soil 
health is declining – according to the Joint Research Centre, 970 million tonnes of soil are lost every 
year in Europe. Improving soil health is relevant not only for promoting food security, but, perhaps 
more importantly, for fighting climate change – achieving just a 0.4% increase in the amount of carbon 
in soil could greatly reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. In Europe, the recently launched EU 
Soil Observatory merges Copernicus EO data with field assessments from the European Soil Centre 
to create a soil health database. Worldwide, initiatives such as NASA Harvest and Soil BON seek 
to determine which regions of  the  world need protection and which protective measures are most 
appropriate. Although satellites can only currently observe the surface, technology is fast progressing. 
Shortly, imaging spectrometers are expected to enable measurements of the carbon content of soil and 
some pollutants.
Biodiversity, ecosystem and natural capital policies are driving 
and generating demand for EO data and applications
The EO for biodiversity Value Chain
GEOSPATIAL NEEDS
Increasing need for EO data on
biodiversity and ecosystems
POLICY CONTEXT
International and EU policies establishing 
a global biodiversity framework
POTENTIAL USE 
OF EO DERIVED INFO
Potential for increased spatiotemporal 
resolution and integration of satellite 
with in situ data
IMPACT
Halt and reverse biodiversity loss, restoring
nature at global, regional and local levels
STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED
UN, COP, European Union
DG ENV, Copernicus services
Copernicus services, JRC, EUROSTAT, 
EEA, Member States, DG ENV
OUTCOME
2
2
3
1
1
4
3
4
Effective monitoring of progress towards goals 
of biodiversity policy frameworks and relevant SDGs
CURRENT USE 
OF EO DERIVED INFO
EO data used to develop indicators/products
to monitor ecosystems and biodiversity 
© EC

BIODIVERSITY, ECOSYSTEMS AND NATURAL CAPITAL
53
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AND FUTURE EVOLUTION
Recent and future EO developments hold great potential for biodiversity, 
ecosystem and natural capital applications
Decommissioned oil rig structures supporting thriving marine 
ecosystems
There are more than 12,000 offshore oil and gas platforms built on continental shelves 
worldwide, with thousands due for decommissioning in the  coming decades. Constructed 
out of  corrosion-resistant steel that withstands breakup, rigs have a  large, open structure 
that allows easy circulation for fish whilst also providing hard substrate for barnacles, corals, 
sponges, clams, etc. Certain countries have reconsidered their decommissioning procedures as 
an opportunity to convert oil rigs into artificial reefs: more than 500 rigs are converted to 
date in the United States. With an emerging wind farm decommissioning market and oil and 
gas decommissioning ramping up, Earth observation could play a key role in these activities, 
providing a regional overview of the maritime environment and allowing operational data from 
teams in the field to be interrogated in real-time. To this end, through the 4EI project, ESA is 
investigating the feasibility of using space-based data to support the decommissioning of energy 
assets. It is seeking to provide accurate information relating to hazards such as sea and weather 
conditions, maritime traffic and environmental pollution. EO-based products which allow for 
the planning of rig decommissioning in advance could contribute to a decrease in the overall 
costs related to these activities and reduce the need for using vessels (thus ultimately reducing 
fuel usage and the related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions).
Making the most of Earth Observation in coral reef mapping & 
monitoring
According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), between 2014 
and 2017 more than 75% of the world’s tropical coral reefs experienced heat-stress severe 
enough to trigger bleaching and acidification, and that 25% of  the  ocean’s fish depend on 
healthy coral reefs. Consequently, significant research and monitoring activities are being 
undertaken to progress our scientific understanding of  these complex environments. Given 
the  vast size of  such areas, Earth Observation is well positioned to support these efforts. 
Notably, Copernicus monitors monthly global ocean acidification, Sentinel-3 and NASA’s 
Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data inform the 3D water quality 
model of  the  entire Great Barrier Reef whereas Sentinel-2 data has been used to develop 
algorithms for the mapping (habitat, bathymetry, and water quality) and detection of change 
for coral reef health assessment and monitoring. 
Temperature stress maps are a useful tool in identifying areas of potential risk during bleaching 
events, while habitat maps can be used to: a) locate suitable sites for restoration programs 
at ecologically relevant spatial scales; b) identify resilient reefs with high coral cover that are 
a priority for conservation; c) model ecosystem services (e.g. wave attenuation, fish nurseries); 
and d) detect detrimental changes in reef environments. 
Potential & challenges in using Earth Observation for coastal monitoring
Coastal areas are complex and abundant ecosystems, a direct result of the interaction of terrestrial, 
aquatic, atmospheric and human landscapes. With approximately 356,000 square kilometres 
of global coastline benefiting from this convergence of productive and dynamic natural systems, 
coasts provide a large range of ecosystem services. Understanding how to sustainably manage 
them is necessary and required by the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations 
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and other similar commitments at international 
level. It is also required by several European policies, such as the Marine Strategy Framework 
Directive and the Water Framework Directive. As such, endeavours are bound to require large 
amounts of different types of data from multiple sources. Incorporating ‘big’ EO data could make 
a difference as it would ensure the spatiotemporal information required for historical analysis 
and current status mapping whilst also enabling global coverage. EO data has proven useful 
for mapping natural resources along the  coast, covering (but not limited to) fisheries, water 
quality and bathymetry and natural hazards (i.e., storm surges, coastal inundation, and rising sea 
levels). Regarding fisheries, although satellite imagery cannot be used to identify individual fish 
species, it can provide critical information on the environmental pressures that shape a species 
population’s survival (e.g., the Sargassum Watch System). Water quality measurements are also 
complemented by data on agricultural land use in coastal zones and trophic status. These have 
the potential to inform actions promoting sustainable agricultural practices thus contributing to 
tackling biodiversity loss and an improved ecosystem health.
In 2021 the annual revenue from EO data and services for Biodiversity, ecosystems and natural capital 
reached €196 m, expected to increase steadily to €297 m in 2031. The markets of the four applications 
will grow in parallel and will keep their relative shares: the biggest one being held by the market 
of Snow and ice ecosystems monitoring data and services, with Terrestrial ecosystems monitoring 
coming a close second. Much smaller parts of the market are (and will remain) held by Water and 
Coastal ecosystems monitoring.
Revenue from EO data & services sales by application
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
2021
 2022
 2023
 2024
 2025
 2026
 2027
 2028
 2029
 2030
 2031
 
 
€ (millions)
 
 
Water ecosystems monitoring
 
Coastal ecosystems monitoring
 
Terrestrial ecosystems monitoring
 
Snow and ice ecosystems monitoring

54
BIODIVERSITY, ECOSYSTEMS AND NATURAL CAPITAL
EUROPEAN SYSTEMS AND PROJECTS
Several key projects use Copernicus data for biodiversity, ecosystems and 
natural capital purposes
Current usage of Copernicus
The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) 
project Sectoral Information System (SIS) 
for Global Biodiversity is developing tailored 
climate information for the biodiversity sector to 
support the fight against biodiversity loss. 
The  climate-biodiversity indicators developed 
within the  project can contribute to assessing 
the  impact of  temperature, rainfall, and other 
atmospheric, terrestrial or oceanic variables on: 
habitat suitability; species distribution; species 
fitness 
and 
reproduction; 
and 
ecosystem 
services.
The  indicators will be suitable for biodiversity 
and ecosystem service assessments for both 
fauna and flora in both the  terrestrial and 
the marine biosphere for different climatic zones 
around the globe. This will provide support for 
decision making, currently made difficult due to 
lack of relevant climate data.
Europa Biodiversity Observation Network 
(EuropaBON): integrating data streams 
to support policy
The  EuropaBON coordination and support project aims to 
develop a trans-national system for monitoring biodiversity and 
ecosystems in Europe and to track a range of so-called ‘Essential 
Biodiversity Variables’ that will provide a coherent overall picture 
of Europe, helping to form the basis for political decisions. 
Copernicus and other remote-sensor data streams contribute 
to developing such novel monitoring systems and support 
the European habitats directive and restoration & climate policy.
More information available at: https://europabon.org/
Commercial service platform for user-relevant 
coastal water monitoring services based on Earth 
observation
CoastObs is an EU H2020 funded project that aims to use 
satellite remote sensing to monitor coastal water environments 
and to develop a user-relevant platform that can offer validated 
products to users. This will include biodiversity related products, 
such as monitoring of seagrass and macroalgae, phytoplankton 
size classes, primary production and harmful algae as well as 
higher level products such as indicators and integration with 
predictive models.
More information available at: https://coastobs.eu/
Bringing Earth Observation Services 
for Monitoring Dynamic Forest Disturbances 
to the Users
EOMonDis service providers and research partners have worked 
together to overcome existing challenges in tropical forest 
monitoring by integrating dense time series from optical and radar 
sensor systems, especially from the Sentinels of the European 
Copernicus programme. EOMonDis developed user-tailored 
forest monitoring products such as forest cover and land use 
maps, near real-time forest disturbance maps and respective 
change products.
More information available at: https://eomondis.info/
Platform for wildlife monitoring integrating 
Copernicus and ARGOS data
The 
EO4wildlife 
project 
brought 
together 
a 
variety 
of multidisciplinary scientists in an effort to promote the use of EO 
in wildlife monitoring. The project-designed open cloud platform 
includes a toolbox of interoperable data processing services and 
features that connect to animal tracking databases, access large 
data collections from the Copernicus Marine core service, sample 
relevant environmental indicators, and run environmental models 
in a scalable processing environment.
More information available at: http://eo4wildlife.eu/
Sentinels
Sentinel-1
Sentinel-2
Sentinel-3
Copernicus Services
Climate Change 
(C3S)
Marine  
(CMEMS)
Land  
(CLMS)
EUROPAB    N

BIODIVERSITY, ECOSYSTEMS AND NATURAL CAPITAL
55
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
REFERENCE CHARTS
Revenue from EO data sales by application
Revenue from EO services sales by application
Revenue from EO services sales by region
Revenue from EO data sales by region
0 
2 
4 
6 
8 
10 
12 
14 
16 
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions)
 
Water ecosystems monitoring
Coastal ecosystems monitoring
Terrestrial ecosystems monitoring
Snow and ice ecosystems monitoring
0 
50 
100 
150 
200 
250 
300 
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions)
 
Water ecosystems monitoring
Coastal ecosystems monitoring
Terrestrial ecosystems monitoring
Snow and ice ecosystems monitoring
0 
50 
100 
150 
200 
250 
300 
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031
€ (millions)
 
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
South America + Caribbean
 
Middle East + Africa
0 
2 
4 
6 
8 
10 
12 
14 
16 
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions)
 
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe 
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
 
South America + Caribbean
Middle East + Africa

CLIMATE SERVICES
56
CLIMATE SERVICES
The  growing awareness of  the  climate crisis and the  imminent need for informed 
adaptation and mitigation actions has driven up the demand for climate services. The main 
users are traditional actors in the climate domain such as national and international public 
bodies, notably policy makers and environmental agencies. Nonetheless, the popularity 
of  climate services among non-governmental organisations, corporations and even 
the general public is also increasing.
Satellite data plays a  major role as source of  information for these services. EO and 
GNSS data are often used together with in-situ observations in climate models. These 
constitute an invaluable source of climate monitoring and climate forecasting, which 
provide the necessary awareness of the state of our climate and its evolution. In recent 
years, EO-based applications for climate change mitigation and adaptation have also 
emerged, in certain cases resulting in actual strategies.
For all of  the  above, EO enables the  monitoring of  the  status of  snow, ice caps and 
the permafrost, sea-level rises, the quantity of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and 
on many other direct consequences of climate change.
GNSS has limited applicability within the climate domain. Nonetheless, there are a number 
of techniques such as GNSS radio occultation sounding and GNSS reflectometry used 
to measure phenomena such as vegetation and soil moisture, which support climate 
modelling. 
What you can read in this chapter
• Key trends: Global climate and environment-related trends and policies are driving 
and generating demand for EO data and applications.
• Industry: Climate Services EO Value Chain.
• Recent developments: Recent and future developments in EO and GNSS have a strong 
impact on climate applications.
• ΁Future market evolution: New launches, political will and technological convergence 
pave the way for a dynamic market for climate-related services and applications.
• EU Systems & Projects: Several key projects are developing climate services using 
Copernicus.
• Reference charts: Yearly evolution of EO revenues by application and region. 
© Adobe Stock
Application descriptions can be found in Annex 3.
Climate monitoring 
and forecasting
• Climate forecasting
• Climate monitoring
Climate change mitigation 
and adaptation
• Climate change mitigation 
and adaptation
Climate modelling
• EO-based climate modelling
• GNSS-based climate modelling
Legend
EO application
GNSS application
Synergetic application  
(combined use of EO and GNSS)

CLIMATE SERVICES
57
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
KEY TRENDS
Global climate and environment-related trends and policies are driving 
and generating demand for EO data and applications
Key market trends
• Funding for applications and services linked to climate change is growing in tandem with increased political priority
• The role of EO in climate services is well-established and continues to grow, driven by synergy with other technologies
• Satellite-acquired data is increasingly exploited in carbon offset and monitoring products, which are expected to form a sizable and sustainable market for EO services and products
Funding and innovation support for climate applications is growing globally
Concurrent with the climate crisis and the political momentum around it, a multitude of funding streams 
have been unlocked to stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship on climate-related products, services 
and applications. Globally, international actors are experimenting in novel ways to engage with climate 
change mitigation and adaptation ventures, including projects and initiatives stimulating the demand for 
EO data and services. While this funding has traditionally been institutional – coming from the United 
Nations, the World Bank, Development Banks and other financial institutions, or from national or big 
regional players such as the European Union – private investment in this field is also steadily increasing, 
partially thanks to green financing incentives and schemes. The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is 
an independent financial organisation providing grants for projects related to environmental issues, 
including climate change. For three decades of operational activity, GEF has distributed over $20 billion 
through loans related to environmental problems. As attested by the 2020 report ‘Earth Observation 
&  The  Global Environment Facility’, EO has proven to be an invaluable tool for achieving GEF 
objectives. In 2020, a GEF project implemented by UNIDO (the United Nation Industrial Development 
Organization) was granted, aiming to combine financial modelling and climate projections (from 
the Copernicus Climate Change Service) in order to provide data to investors and decision-makers. 
These actors could then account for social, economic, and environmental parameters when making 
decisions related to nature-based large-scale infrastructure investments. 
EO-based solutions are at centre-stage of major climate-related initiatives 
in the EU
Opportunities for EO data and services providers in Europe continue to emerge – this is unsurprising 
considering the  European Union’s Climate Fund will dispatch €10 billion over 2021-2030, and 
the  European Commission’s aim to mobilise at least €1 trillion of  sustainable investment over this 
period. The Climate-Knowledge and Innovation Community (Climate-KIC) recently concluded a call for 
strategic partnerships aimed at building and developing investment capability to mobilise capital for 
climate innovation projects, while also in the process of launching a revamped accelerator programme 
and investor marketplace. The  goal is to invest €100 million (and leveraging over €1 billion) in 
innovation for climate action by 2022. Another example, specifically focused on climate resilience 
is the  EO4SD Climate Resilience initiative. The  ESA-led project provides EO data and products for 
decision-makers through several pilot projects developed in cooperation between EO companies who 
provide the services and International Financing Institutions who, having the appropriate experience in 
climate financing, help define the user requirements.
Satellite data has a central role in climate change mitigation and adaptation 
The use of satellites for climate monitoring is nothing new – 2022 marks the 50th anniversary from 
the launch of the first USGS Landsat satellite. Nonetheless,  the technical capabilities of EO have been 
growing exponentially in the past years, as has the awareness of their benefits. A significant amount 
of credit can be attributed to the abundance of free and open data offered from Copernicus and other 
sources, which, in turn, have helped to incorporate satellite data in policy-making. a
In 2021 the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Space published the ‘Space for Net 
Zero’ white paper. It examines the use of EO, and space technologies in general, for climate change 
adaptation and mitigation, particularly for greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction. It notes satellite data’s 
primary role in quantifying essential climate variables, more than 50% of which are measurable only 
from space.. The white paper highlights the need for a one-stop-shop for climate-related satellite data, 
expertise and capabilities1.
The ‘Space for Net Zero’ white paper is only one instance of a series of reports praising the use of EO in 
climate change mitigation and adaptation, as well as advocating for its increased use. Another notable 
example is the 2021 IPCC Report identifying EO satellites as a critical tool to monitor the causes and 
effects of climate change.
1 To some extent this is offered by Copernicus e.g. the Climate Adapt platform managed by the EEA is based mostly on C3S data as well 
as data coming from Copernicus DIAS. 
© ESA

58
CLIMATE SERVICES
INDUSTRY
Climate Services EO Value Chain1
END USERS
INFORMATION  
PROVIDERS
EO PRODUCTS 
AND SERVICE  
PROVIDERS
PLATFORM  
PROVIDERS
DATA PROVIDERS
INFRASTRUCTURE 
PROVIDERS
• AWS
• BARCELONA 
SUPERCOMPUTING 
CENTRE*
• CLOUDEO*
• CODE 
• COLLAB GS
• COPERNICUS DIAS*
• GOOGLE CLOUD 
PLATFORM
• IBM CLOUD
• INTEL GEOSPATIAL
• MICROSOFT AZURE
• PENGUIN COMPUTING
• PEPS
• AIRBUS*
• BLACKSKY
• COPERNICUS DIAS*
• DESCARTES LABS
• E-GEOS*
• EARTH-I*
• ECMWF*
• EUMETSAT*
• ICEYE*
• MAXAR
• PLANET
• UP42*
• ADAM*
• CLEOS*
• CLOUDEO*
• COPERNICUS DIAS*
• MAXAR ARD
• PLANET EXPLORER
• SENTINEL HUB*
• TERRADUE*
• UP42*
• 4 EARTH  
INTELLIGENCE*
• BERRING DATA 
COLLECTIVE*
• CONSTELLR*
• EOLAB*
• LOBELIA*
• MEEO*
• STRATOLLOON*
• CLIMATE TRACE
• CLIMATE ANALYTICS
• DYNAMHEX
• JUPITER
• TOMORROW*
CLIMATE CHANGE 
MITIGATION:
• ACCLIMATISE*
• POLICY MAKERS
• NGOS
• CORPORATES
• GENERAL PUBLIC
• ENVIRONMENTAL 
AGENCIES
• INTERNATIONAL 
AGENCIES (E.G. UN…)
• COPERNICUS 
COLLABORATIVE 
GROUND SEGMENT*
• COPERNICUS 
SENTINELS*
• USGS/NASA LANDSAT
• RELEVANT IN-SITU 
NETWORKS
• ESA (CATE TOOLBOX)
• THEMATIC 
EXPLOITATION 
PLATFORM 
COASTAL, THEMATIC 
EXPLOITATION 
PLATFORM POLAR  
(ESA TEPS)
• COPERNICUS  
SERVICES*
NOTES
1 The value chain considers the key global and European companies involved in  EO downstream activities.
* European-based companies. The region is defined with respect to the headquarters of the company, though the actual area of activity might be wider.
LEGEND
	Commercial Offering
	Public Offering
	User segments

CLIMATE SERVICES
59
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AND FUTURE EVOLUTION
Recent and future developments in EO have a strong impact on climate 
applications
An emerging role for Earth Observation in carbon offset markets
Satellites, artificial intelligence and big data are expected to increasingly contribute to the implementation 
of the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement. Driven by the need to provide regular and accurate 
monitoring, reporting and verification of greenhouse gas emissions as well as a need to offset some side 
effects of growing economies, EO solution developers are finding a source of new demand. For example, 
the Climate TRACE initiative seeks to track carbon emissions in real time. Concurrently, companies are 
using machine learning and Earth Observation to monetise carbon offset opportunities, either by 
allowing landowners to earn money for under-utilising their land or by connecting companies with 
carbon offset projects, thus slowly contributing to the development of a Forest Carbon Credit market.
Increasing demand for EO data in climate modelling
Climate models are computer-simulated, dynamic projections of the Earth systems’ behavior and used 
to investigate to what extent observed climate changes are due to human activities versus natural 
causes. Due to insufficient observations and an incomplete understanding of  physical processes, 
climate models always contain some biases. Consequently, more accurate and reliable the data fed 
into the developed models can lead to more instructive outcomes. In this context Earth Observation 
provides invaluable large-scale data which, combined with in-situ measurements, results in higher 
accuracy in reconstructing the historical, present and future states of the Earth’s climate system. 
These models (created and used both by national meteorological offices and other institutions such 
as ECMWF, NOAA, etc.) support the forecasting of phenomena in the atmosphere, the oceans, and on 
land over seasonal, decadal and centennial time scales. Besides their vital support in informing policy 
(e.g. IPCC Reports, the Paris Agreement, Green Deal, etc.), climate models are also made available by 
the entities developing them for commercial purposes.
The ultimate sustainability project – Earth’s Digital Twin and the Destination 
Earth initiative 
To achieve climate neutrality by 2050 the  European Union’s ‘Green Deal’ and ‘Digital Strategy’ 
programmes make use of the ‘Destination Earth’ (DestinE) policy initiative. It is intended to progressively 
develop ‘…a very high precision digital model of the Earth to monitor and simulate natural and human 
activity, and to develop and test scenarios that would enable more sustainable development and 
support European environmental policies’. Based on the already existing weather and climate models 
and Copernicus data and models, DestinE – an initiative implemented by ECMWF, ESA, and EUMETSAT 
– will seek to make the most of technology by: (i) integrating AI across the numerical prediction chain; 
(ii) tailoring supercomputing to increasing processing needs; (iii) maximising Cloud capabilities; and 
(iv) advancing data-collection instruments besides ‘onboarding’ all Earth system science and Earth 
observation data and products onto the digital twin. 
The DestinE digital twin for climate change adaptations and extreme events will give users access 
to high-quality information, services models, trustworthy and reliable scenarios and visualisations, 
while also enabling them to interact with the systems and to bring their own scenarios, thus potentially 
assisting the public sector in carrying out better informed decision-making processes. 
Companies/
goverments
needing to meet
their emissions
targets
CO2
Carbon offsets,
including
tree planting
& renewable
energy projects
Certiﬁcate obtained
for payment of
carbon offsets
Investments
in emission reduction
projects in
developing countries
Credits: UN Environment Programme
Carbon offset scheme

60
CLIMATE SERVICES
FUTURE MARKET EVOLUTION
New Sentinels, missions, and sensors providing enhanced scope for 
synergy
Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich makes an invaluable contribution to climate change adaptation 
and mitigation through its sea height measurements (similarly available through Sentinel-3). 
It provides continuity for such measurements, forming part of a chain going back almost three 
decades, and securing the future of the dataset until at least 2030. Sentinel-6 climate products 
will improve our understanding of climate change in the context of the Paris Agreement and 
will support adaptation policies in coastal areas and small-island states threatened by rising 
sea levels. Sentinel-6 also carries a GNSS Radio Occultation (GNSS-RO) instrument, which will 
collect highly accurate global temperature and humidity information.  
Moreover, the Copernicus programme is set to further extend its constellation of Sentinels with 
six high-priority candidate missions, several of which directly monitor climate-related variables 
and phenomena, such as polar ice and snow (Copernicus Polar Ice and Snow Topography 
Altimeter, CRISTAL), CO2 (Copernicus Anthropogenic Carbon Dioxide Monitoring, CO2M) and 
the Copernicus Imaging Microwave Radiometer (CIMR) Mission.
In parallel, a number of private actors have launched, or are preparing to launch, missions which 
would complement the Sentinels by filling gaps in temporal resolution and in thematic content 
(through providing, for instance, VHR optical, radar, and hyperspectral data).
The integration of AI is increasing the quality of climate-related 
applications
The Earth’s climatic and environmental processes work in complex and non-linear ways. There 
is growing awareness and urgency to understand them better, underscored by the political 
momentum in response to climate change. More data than ever, including EO, have been 
gathered on climate, weather and the environment. This has opened an opportunity for artificial 
intelligence (AI), and particularly machine learning (ML) algorithms, which need vast quantities 
of relevant training data in order to produce accurate outputs (through classification, detection, 
indexing, prediction and data fusion). 
AI is already in use within the Copernicus C3S and CAMS services for spotting changes in 
tree and land cover (which is very effective when in-situ monitoring is lacking), transposing air 
quality forecasts to city scale and processing imagery. The share of private companies applying 
AI/ML to environmental EO data is steadily and sustainably growing, resulting In a  range 
of services in the environmental domain.
The revenues from the sale of both EO data and services in the Climate services sector in 2021 amounted 
to €318 m, and will grow by almost 50% over the next decade to reach €451 m in 2031. The breakdown 
in terms of applications shows that EO-based climate modelling holds by far the largest market share 
in the  segment, with the  other applications (Climate monitoring, Climate forecasting, and Climate 
change mitigation and adaptation strategies) having similar market shares over the decade.
New launches, political will and technological convergence will drive 
the market of climate-related services and applications
© ESA/ATG medialab
Revenue from EO data & services sales by application
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
 
€ (millions) 
 
Climate change mitigation and adaptation
EO-based climate modelling
Climate monitoring
Climate forecasting

CLIMATE SERVICES
61
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
EUROPEAN SYSTEMS AND PROJECTS
Several key projects are developing climate services using Copernicus
Current usage of Copernicus
The European Climate Adaptation Platform Climate-
ADAPT is a  partnership between the  European 
Commission and the  European Environment Agency 
(EEA). Climate-ADAPT is maintained by the EEA with 
the  support of  the  European Topic Centre on Climate 
Change Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation (ETC/
CCA). The  platform uses C3S data and aims at 
supporting Europe in its adaption to climate change by 
helping users access and share data and information 
on topics such as expected climate change in Europe, 
current and future vulnerability of regions and sectors, 
national 
and 
transnational 
adaptation 
strategies 
and actions, adaptation case studies and potential 
adaptation options and tools that support adaptation 
planning.
Current usage of EGNSS
Although there is limited use of  GNSS and thus 
EGNSS within the climate domain, there are a number 
of techniques such as GNSS radio occultation sounding 
and GNSS 
Reflectometry 
that support climate 
modelling. Both techniques can benefit from improved 
performances offered by Galileo and its services.
Terminology used on this page is explained in Annex 2 for both GNSS and EO performance parameters.
Improving the reliability and usability of C3S 
information
The 
aim 
of 
CONFESS 
(Consistent Representation 
of 
Temporal 
Variations 
of  Boundary Forcings in 
Reanalyses and Seasonal 
Forecasts) is to improve 
the  reliability and usability 
of 
C3S 
information 
in 
the 
land-atmosphere 
coupled system by exploiting new and improved Earth 
Observations data records of  land-use, vegetation states 
and surface-emitted aerosols delivered across different 
Copernicus Services. 
More information available at:
https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101004156
Accurate space geodesy and modelling to 
better understand the impact of climate 
change
This multidisciplinary fellowship within the  GEOCLIME 
(Climate Change and Geodetic Deformation) project will 
improve understanding of  the  water cycle and the  impact 
of climate change on Earth’s shape via the study of loading 
effects using accurate space geodesy and modelling. 
Combining an innovative method and highly complementary 
data in terms of both spatial and temporal resolution – GNSS 
and space-borne gravity data (GRACE) – this fellowship will 
allow precise determination of loading effects and to invert 
for associated mass variations.
More information available at:
https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/785919
Improving the production, access to 
and use of climate information, services 
and applications for decision makers
The  six-year Intra-ACP [African, Caribbean, Pacific Group 
of States] Climate Services and Related Applications (ClimSA) 
project – with €85 million in funding from the European Union 
– aims to improve the production, access to and use of climate 
information, services and applications for decision makers. 
The  project will foster sustainable development through 
the prevention of desertification, preservation of ecological 
biodiversity and the  implementation of  sustainable water 
management in ACP countries. 
More information available at:  https://www.climsa.org/
Multi-scale Earth observation indicator 
system for land degradation assessment 
of transitional Mediterranean climates
The  evidence of  geological field studies and that of  Earth 
Observation sensors is vital to understanding how 
ecosystems cope with changes and loss of  vegetation, 
representing a complex interaction. The PantEOn (a multi-
scale Earth observation indicator system for land degradation 
assessment of transitional Mediterranean climates) project is 
working on a multi-scale framework that will link vegetation 
patterns with water resources and sediment formation, with 
a view to managing desertification.
More information available at: 
https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/845146
Copernicus Services
Sentinels
Land  
(CLMS)
Climate Change 
(C3S)
Atmosphere 
(CAMS)
Sentinel-1
Sentinel-2
Sentinel-3
Sentinel-6
Sentinel-5P

62
CLIMATE SERVICES
REFERENCE CHARTS
Revenue from EO data sales by application
Revenue of EO services by application
Revenue from EO services sales by region
Revenue from EO data sales by region
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions) 
Climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies
EO based climate modelling
Climate monitoring
Climate forecasting
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions) 
Climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies
EO based climate modelling
Climate monitoring
Climate forecasting
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions) 
 
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
South America + Caribbean
Middle East + Africa
0 
2 
4 
6 
8 
10 
12 
14 
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions) 
 
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
South America + Caribbean
Middle East + Africa

CONSUMER SOLUTIONS,  
TOURISM AND HEALTH
CONSUMER SOLUTIONS, TOURISM AND HEALTH
GNSS-enabled Consumer Solutions comprise a multitude of applications, tailor-made 
to satisfy different usage conditions and needs (e.g. lifestyle, tourism, health, etc.). 
These applications are supported by several categories of  connected devices; mainly 
smartphones and tablets, but also specific equipment such as personal tracking devices, 
wearables, digital cameras and portable computers. 
Nowadays, with a combination of technologies such as GNSS, 5G, Wi-Fi and Internet 
of  Things (IoT), any physical device can become a  connected device, enabling new 
applications to facilitate the end user’s wellness and lifestyle. On top of this, Artificial 
Intelligence (AI) provides an additional layer to this connectivity enabling greater 
capabilities and sophistication to these devices.
Technological advances and substantial reductions in the costs associated with operation 
and  supporting infrastructure (e.g. data storage) for satellites, have led to a dramatic 
rise in the availability of satellite imagery for civilian use in recent years. This significant 
amount of information on Earth’s condition, often available on (at least) a daily basis, 
has enabled application developers to create service and information layers that enable 
dozens of apps for various purposes. 
What you can read in this chapter
• Key trends: Now more than ever, GNSS solutions facilitate our ways of living.
• User perspective: Cutting-edge consumer applications require high-performance 
space data.
• Industry: Consumer Solutions, Tourism and Health Value Chain.
• Recent developments: Smartphone shipments continue to dominate the  market as 
the industry experiences a slow down.
• Future market evolution: Despite maturing device markets, revenues are soaring 
thanks to EO and GNSS-enabled apps.
• Focus on European Systems: Start-ups and SMEs testify that EU space programme 
features are making a difference.
• Reference charts: Yearly evolution of installed base of GNSS devices and revenues as 
well as EO revenues by application and region.
63
© Adobe Stock
Application descriptions can be found in Annex 3.
Corporate
• Billing
• Geo-advertising
• Mapping and GIS
• Satcom users
• Workforce management
Tourism
• Points of interest
Health & Lifestyle
• Air quality monitoring
• Games
• Geo-tagging
• mHealth
• Safety and emergency
• Social networks
• Sport, fitness and wellness  incl. 
specialist support tracking
• UV monitoring
Robotics
• Consumer robotics
• Enhanced human
Navigation & Tracking
• Navigation
• Personal & asset tracking
• Visually impaired support
Legend
EO application
GNSS application
Synergetic application  
(combined use of EO and GNSS)

64
CONSUMER SOLUTIONS, TOURISM AND HEALTH
KEY TRENDS
Key market trends
• COVID-19 has heavily impacted day-to-day life, leading to increased adoption of context-aware apps to solve societal problems introduced by the virus 
• A renewed focus on health, including public health, personal health and mental wellbeing is driving uptake of personal fitness mobile apps and wearables 
• Online purchasing behaviour is causing changes in fraud patterns, with location data a key tool to fight digital fraud
• Consumer interest in sustainability is driving growth in repairable phones and longer replacement cycles
Now more than ever, GNSS solutions facilitate our ways of living
Context-aware apps in the spotlight to deal with COVID emergency 
The importance of context-aware services has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. New 
apps such as DiAry and Zostaň Zdravý, have taken the approach of using location data, shared 
in an anonymised format with public authorities, to help map and track the spread of the virus. 
Context-aware apps have played an essential role in dealing with 
issues that have arisen in the era of social distancing. Filaindiana 
handles queue management at shops, FreMEn Adviser allows 
users to avoid crowds and peak visit times in public places such 
as parks, Coronamadrid helps people to access nearby medical 
services, UberEats allows contact-less deliveries and Swishd 
provides help with grocery deliveries for vulnerable people. 
These context-aware apps are expected to stay post-COVID, boosting re-integration and 
the returning of lives to ‘normal’, particularly for individuals from vulnerable groups.
Context-aware authentication used to fight rise in cyber fraud
The ‘new normal’ introduced by the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increased use of online financial 
services, including mobile banking and online shopping. However, as mobile banking and eCommerce 
increases, digital fraud also rises. To combat the growth in digital fraud, fraud monitoring based on user 
authentication has become a key role for online financial services.
In today’s complex world, anti-fraud strategies require a  layered approach, where the  user’s true 
identity is verified using various contextual factors. GNSS positioning data plays a  role as a  layer 
of security against fraudulent purchases as purchases and money transfers from unusual locations can 
immediately be flagged as suspicious and require additional authentication. Many financial technology 
providers move beyond two-factor authentication and are now using geolocation data as part 
of a ‘context-aware’ authentication approach, including Venmo, Mastercard, Visa and Revolut. When 
unusual activity occurs, other attributes like time/date and the device used to make the purchase can be 
used to verify the user’s identity.
Change in exercise patterns boost personal fitness apps and wearables
The COVID-19 pandemic and related social distancing requirements have changed patterns of exercise 
for sports enthusiasts. It has also renewed interest in personal health and wellbeing, encouraging more 
people to begin exercise routines. The result is an increased uptake of cycling, running, walking and 
other outdoor activities.
The  increased popularity of  outdoor exercise has aligned well with 
green initiatives of  many regions and cities, with more than €1bn 
spent on cycling-related infrastructure worldwide since the pandemic 
began. The public health investment and personal health focus have 
been reflected in a  boost in uptake of  fitness tracking apps, with 
providers such as Strava reporting one million new users each month 
of the pandemic. 
New to fitness apps and wearables are the improved functions 
offered through Augmented Reality (AR). Google Live AR 
Navigation combines GNSS localisation and visual mapping 
providing floating arrows on your camera feed, making it easier 
to follow directions or find a way out of unfamiliar areas whilst 
out on a run. 
For sport enthusiasts looking for a stronger motivation and some competition with their former self, 
the AR glass manufacturer Ghost Pacer is introducing an AR holographic running partner for you to 
keep pace with.
Sustainability advancements in the smartphone market 
Sustainable phones which ensure easy maintenance, either through 
long warranties which include all repairs (Teracube), and user-
replaceable modules (Fairphone 3) are beginning to take off, although 
are still niche products in the smartphone market. With a consumer 
focus on sustainability, longer replacement cycles are demanded– 
phones designed to be long-lasting will bolster this trend. Premium 
phone prices continue to rise year on year, which ensures higher 
value for producers to offset longer device lifetimes.
© Ghost Pacer 
© Fairphone
© Adobe Stock
© Adobe Stock

CONSUMER SOLUTIONS, TOURISM AND HEALTH
65
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
USER PERSPECTIVE
Cutting-edge consumer applications require high-performance space data 
Increasing demand for sensor fusion and battery life
Applications such as augmented reality (AR) and robotics are pushing the boundaries of performance 
of  positioning solutions in order to reach the  next level of  functionality, such as fully immersive 
augmented reality and operations in outdoor uncontrolled environments for robotics. The next generation 
of applications will require not just GNSS, but sensor fusion to reach the required performance. For 
example, to reach the full capabilities of immersive AR, the iPhone 12 now includes LiDAR sensors for 
better visual mapping. 
In addition to more demanding positioning needs, there is a demand across all consumer applications 
for longer battery lives. At the 2020 GSA User Consultation Platform, 91% of users considered power 
consumption as crucial. The size of the devices (and their chips) is another critical requirement for 
consumer solutions. In the case of elite sport applications (e.g. tracking of rugby players) for example, 
the size, weight and shape of the device are very important criteria. 
Every improvement which can lead to the  decrease 
of  the  power consumption and the  size of  the  user 
device will open up new markets and new applications.
Current EU projects and the  industry are working on 
tackling those challenges. An example is the  Apollo 
project that aims at providing a Galileo-based geolocation 
solution for the  IoT market by considerably decreasing 
the  material bill of  the  GNSS function and reducing its 
power consumption by at least 95% via remote server 
storage.  
Since the advent of the IoT era in the 2010s, great improvements have been realised in terms of cost 
and size reduction as well as the  consumption of  power. Whilst these improvements will boost 
the deployment of IoT in mass markets (e.g. vehicles, wearables, etc.) it also opens up the market for 
more niche applications and communities. Together with the democratisation of EO data in smartphones, 
low-powered IoT is revolutionising the way niche communities operate. 
For instance, BeeLive is a beekeeper’s decision 
making and social networking tool, based on 
GNSS-enabled devices and using EO satellite 
data to support the  beekeepers’ community 
to 
select 
location 
of 
desired 
vegetation 
(e.g. flowers, pine etc.), providing real-time 
notifications on weather conditions or events 
in the  area. The  BreezoMeter API relies, 
among other sources, on free and open data 
of  the  Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring 
Service (CAMS) to provide personalised health 
recommendations based on air quality forecasts.
Earth Observation enables many consumer applications
Many key consumer applications would not function without 
the  information from EO data. For example, consumer 
applications which rely on mapping, such as smartphone 
navigational applications, require the  accurate mapping 
of the Earth’s surface by Earth Observation satellites. Tourists 
are using such data for identification of  interest points and 
route planning. 
Earth observation is also key to many other apps which help 
us live convenient and healthy lives. Air quality apps such 
as IQAir’s AirVisual allows smartphone users to track air 
pollutants such as NO2 and facilitates pollen monitoring, 
providing quantitative information on air quality to users in 
their location. In addition, apps like Accuweather allow users 
to monitor the UV index level in their location, avoiding harmful UV exposure. 
Key EO and GNSS user requirements
The key GNSS and EO user requirements for the different application 
groups within the Consumer Solutions, Tourism and Health segment 
are, at EU level, collected using the following procedures:
• For GNSS, information is collected through extensive interactions with 
user groups, providers and experts in a continuous process culminating 
at the User Consultation Platforms (UCP). All relevant requirements 
are documented in detail and updated regularly within the Report on 
Location-Based Services user needs and requirements.
• User requirements for Copernicus services and products – as well 
as their evolution – are collected through an integrated process that 
involves different channels: (i) dedicated studies (e.g. “NEXTSPACE” 
project, “Copernicus for EC (C4EC)” study, Commission Staff Working 
Document on user needs), (ii) targeted consultations organised by 
the European Commission or the Entrusted entities with the relevant 
communities, (iii) regular and structured exchanges among representatives of  the  Copernicus 
governance structure and Member States through the Copernicus User Forum. 
From the 2022 EUSPA`s UCP onward, EO user needs and requirements of commercial users will be 
validated and discussed with industry experts and user groups, mirroring the process implemented for 
GNSS. 
REPORT ON LOCATION-BASED SERVICES USER NEEDS AND REQUIREMENTS
1
Report on Location-Based 
Services User Needs and 
Requirements
Outcome of the EUSPA
User Consultation Platform
Oostvadersplassen – a nature reserve in 
the Netherlands captured by Sentinel-2.
© Adobe Stock
© Adobe Stock
© ESA

66
CONSUMER SOLUTIONS, TOURISM AND HEALTH
INDUSTRY
COMPONENT 
AND RECEIVER 
MANUFACTURERS
DEVICE 
INTEGRATORS 
AND VENDORS
APP DEVELOPERS/ 
RETAILERS
USERS
SERVICE & 
CONTENT 
PROVIDERS
APP STORES
OPERATING 
SYSTEM 
DEVELOPERS
• ANALOG DEVICES
• ALLYSTAR
• BROADCOM
• GLOBAL FOUNDRIES
• HISILICON
• INFINEON*
• INTEL
• MEDIATEK
• NIHON DEMPA KOGYO
• QUALCOMM
• SAMSUNG
• SEIKO EPSON
• SPREADTRUM 
COMMUNICATIONS
• SONY
• STMICROELECTRONICS*
• U-BLOX*
• APPLE (IOS)
• CANONICAL* 
(UBUNTU)
• GOOGLE (ANDROID)
• JOLLA* (SAILFISH)
• LINUX FOUNDATION 
(LINUX)
• MICROSOFT 
(WINDOWS)
GNSS
MOBILE NETWORK 
OPERATORS AND 
ASSISTANCE DATA 
PROVIDERS:
• AT&T MOBILITY
• ORANGE*
• RXNETWORKS
• TELEFÓNICA*
• VERIZON WIRELESS
• VODAFONE*
EO MAP PROVIDERS
APPLE, GOOGLE, 
HERE, MAPQUEST, 
MICROSOFT, 
OPENSTREETMAP
EO DATA PROVIDERS
AIRBUS*, COPERNICUS 
DIAS*, MAXAR, PLANET*
GENERAL APP 
DEVELOPERS:
APPLE, FACEBOOK, 
FOURSQUARE, GOOGLE, 
IAC, MICROSOFT, 
NIANTIC, NOKIA, 
TRIPADVISOR, YELP, 
ZYNGA, and many small 
app developers
mCOMMERCE:
AMAZON, 
FOURSQUARE, 
GROUPON, PAYPAL, 
ZALANDO*
mHEALTH:
AZUMIO, EPOCRATES, 
FITBIT, FITNOW, 
IHEALTH, SANOFI*
RETAILERS: AIRLINES, 
BANKS, GENERAL 
RETAILERS, MEDIA 
COMPANIES, MOBILE 
NETWORK OPERATORS, 
TRANSPORT 
PROVIDERS, VEHICLE 
MANUFACTURERS
• 360 MOBILE 
ASSISTANT
• AMAZON APP STORE
• APPLE APP STORE
• BLACKBERRY WORLD
• GOOGLE PLAY
• TENCENT MYAPP
• WINDOWS PHONE 
STORE
SMARTPHONE/
TABLETS: 
APPLE, BLACKBERRY 
LIMITED, DORO, HTC, 
HUAWEI, LENOVO, LG, 
MALATA, MICROSOFT, 
NOKIA, ONEPLUS, OPPO, 
SAMSUNG, SONY, VIVO, 
XIAOMI, ZTE
WEARABLES: APPLE, 
AMER SPORTS*, CITIZEN, 
FITBIT, GARMIN, 
MICROSOFT, POLAR*, 
SAMSUNG, SUUNTO*, 
TIMEX*, XIAOMI 
PEOPLE 
TRACKING DEVICE 
MANUFACTURERS
ORIGINAL DESIGN 
MANUFACTURERS
CAMERA 
MANUFACTURERS
PC MANUFACTURERS
• CITIZENS
• ELDERLY AND 
VULNERABLE GROUPS
• TOURISTS
• SPORT ENTHUSIASTS
• WORKFORCE
LEGEND
	Commercial Offering
	Public Offering
	User segments
Green denotes EO-enabled services. 
• COPERNICUS  
SERVICES*
Consumer Solutions, Tourism and Health Value Chain1
NOTES
1 The value chain considers the key global and European companies involved in GNSS and EO downstream activities.
2 In the market share analysis, Europe is defined as EU27 plus Norway, Switzerland and the UK.
* European-based companies. The region is defined with respect to the headquarters of the company, though the actual area of activity might be wider.
European2 GNSS industry in the global 
arena
With STmicroelectronics, Infineon Technologies and 
U-Blox, Europe held three of  the  top 10 positions 
among GNSS Component and Receiver manufacturers 
in 2019. Europe had a share of turnover of 7%, behind 
North America (47%) and Asia (45%). European GNSS 
system integrators (e.g.. smartphone and wearable 
manufacturers) generated 3% of the turnover in 2019, 
trailing behind Asia (63%) and North America (34%)

CONSUMER SOLUTIONS, TOURISM AND HEALTH
67
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
Smartphone shipments continue to dominate the market as the industry 
experiences a slow down
Endless possibilities for combining location data and Human 
Enhancement
Human enhancement refers to methods for altering the  human body to enhance mental or 
physical performance. An example of well-developed technology  in this area is the HoloLens 
2 Industrial Edition, an untethered mixed reality device designed to support large variety 
of  industrial environments. HoloLens 2 are used to build the  Orion spacecraft and reduce 
tough manual labour e.g. an eight-hour shift was completed in just 45 minutes. Another more 
futuristic  example is the brain-computer interfaces, which Facebook and Neuralink are looking 
to commercialise in the coming decades. Developments have also been made in digital tattoos 
– temporary tattoos that use the skin’s reactivity and conductive metals to create a flexible 
computer chip, which can house sensors such as Near Field Communication (NFC) and haptics. 
As the technology develops, the scope of its possible 
applications seems vast – GNSS position could be 
combined with optical feedback and 3D mapping to give 
users full situational awareness and the most accurate 
navigation. This is particularly interesting for emergency 
responders such as firefighters and paramedics.
Robots that can roam wide and far
HThe 2020s are set to be the decade of robotics adoption. Since the start of 2020, we have seen 
an acceleration in the deployment of robots in outdoor environments to deal with the COVID-19 
pandemic. CloudMinds robots have been used to deliver medicine and food to sick people 
in China, and the Boston Dynamics Spot robot has been used in Singapore to enforce social 
distancing in public parks. We have also seen advancements in consumer robotics for indoor 
environments, such as responsive pet robots like Qoobo and smart personal assistant robots 
like Samsung’s Ballie. The market is open to many SMEs and start-ups. The European start-
up 10Lines is developing autonomous parking lot robots to facilitate the creation of parking 
lots and increase efficiency in the sector, while Rover4RT 
provides a robotic alternative to chemical herbicides for 
the weed control in railway tracks. 
Another example is the service provided by Unmanned 
Life, a platform for seamless orchestration of autonomous 
robotics. These examples are just the  beginning, as 
the  market for robotics is still in its infancy and there 
is plenty of room for growth foreseen in the upcoming 
years.
With roughly 90% of  a  1.5 bn unit market, smartphones continued to greatly outnumber other 
consumer devices in terms of shipments. Nevertheless, the number of smartphones shipments has 
been decreasing significantly for the first time with the 2019-2020 year-on-year growth becoming 
negative (-9%). This can be explained by the increasing saturation of the market (mature EU, North 
American and China markets), the COVID-19 pandemic and consumer interest in sustainability which 
drives growth in repairable phones and longer replacement cycles (see Key Trends). 
Other GNSS-enabled devices accounted altogether for around 161 m units in 2020. With 64 m units 
shipped that year, sports & wearable devices represented the  second largest group of  consumer 
solutions.  Their shipments saw an annual increase of 30% between 2015 and 2020, with Chinese 
manufacturers dominating the smart wearables market. Driven by reducing device prices and growing 
consumer awareness, personal tracking devices continue to witness the highest growth rate across all 
Consumer Solution applications, with a CAGR of 79% between 2010 and 2020.
The remaining devices all saw their share shrink over the last couple of years. Shipments for personal and 
low-power asset tracking devices have been shrinking the most in 2020, mainly due to the slowdown 
in activities caused by the global pandemic. The declining shipments for tablets, digital cameras and 
portable computers are due to the maturity of these devices  and their market as well as a general 
decline in the use of GNSS for said devices.
© MIT
© Straits Times
Shipments of GNSS devices by type
250
750
1 250
1 750
2 250
0
125
2010  
2011  
2012  
2013  
2014  
2015  
2016  
2017  
2018  
2019  
2020  
Units (millions) 
Tablets
Digital cameras
Portable computers
Sport & Wearables
Personal tracking devices
Low-Power Asset Tracking Devices
Smartphones
MIT Digital Skin Tatoo Touchpad
Boston Dynamics Spot Robot enforcing social 
distancing in a Singapore park

68
CONSUMER SOLUTIONS, TOURISM AND HEALTH
FUTURE MARKET EVOLUTION
Despite maturing device markets, revenues are soaring thanks to EO 
and GNSS-enabled apps
Whereas the market for GNSS-enabled devices has been maturing over the past decade (see 
previous page), GNSS-enabled revenues generated by apps are expected to soar from 
roughly €73 bn in 2021 to €250.0 bn by 2031, growing by a CAGR of 15%.
The chart on the right, focuses on the four biggest categories as well as the largest individual 
applications. The  largest group covers apps under ‘Health & Lifestyle’ for a  total market 
of €34 bn in 2021, of which the biggest ones are Social Networks (roughly €18 bn in 2021), 
Sport-related apps (almost €4 bn) and Games (over €2 bn). The remaining apps in this category 
(i.e. ‘Other Health & Lifestyle’ in the chart) add up to almost €10 bn.
‘Navigation & Tracking’ apps combine for almost €29 bn in 2021, and the Navigation apps 
themselves have global revenues worth €23 bn. Albeit a  niche category, the  revenues 
of the Visually Impaired Support apps have an estimated revenue of almost €4 bn. Personal & 
Asset Tracking follow at almost €2 bn. 
The remaining app categories, namely, ‘Tourism’ and ‘Corporate’, generate a combined €10 bn 
GNSS-enabled revenues in 2021.
Over the  next decade, it is forecasted that global GNSS-enabled revenues from apps in 
the ‘Navigation & Tracking’ category will reach  €103 bn, remaining the second largest category 
behind ‘Health & Lifestyle’ which is expected to generate a total of €113 bn. Combined, these 
two app categories would dominate the global revenues with a share of 86% of the market.
With an estimated CAGR of 6%, the global EO market of data and service revenues in consumer 
solutions, tourism and health will grow progressively from roughly €175 m in 2021 to almost €321 m 
in 2031.
The largest EO service in the consumer market belongs to Geo-advertising. The associated revenue 
will increase from €152 m in 2021 to €270 m in 2031. Mapping & GIS is foreseen to remain the second 
most important revenue-generator, with annual growth rates of around 10%, which is higher than the 
CAGR% of geo-tagging (7%). 
With the lowest CAGR of 2% between 2021 and 2031, UV monitoring (from €764,000 in 2021 to 
€959,000 in 2031) and air quality (from €2 m in 2021 to almost €3 m in 2031) are the two applications 
expected to see the slowest growth over the next decade. However, this can be explained by looking at 
the nature of the applications which are clearly serving less a commercial role and more an informative 
one for the end users. 
Finally, despite having the fastest growth forecasts of all EO applications (13% CAGR), EO-enabled 
games remain a niche amongst the mobile games. Whilst games themselves generate large revenues, 
the  share associated to actual EO contributions is negligible compared to, for example, in-game 
purchases for in-game content. 
Revenue from EO data & services sales by application
GNSS-enabled app revenues
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
 
€ (millions) 
Mapping & GIS 
Geo-tagging
Geo-advertising
 
Games
UV monitoring
Air quality monitoring
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (billions)
 
Navigation for smartphone users
Personal & asset tracking 
Visually impaired support
Social Networks
Sport, Fitness 
& Wellness (sport tracking)
Games
Other Health & Lifestyle
Corporate
Tourism
Tourism
Corporate
Health 
& lifestyle 
Navigation 
& tracking

CONSUMER SOLUTIONS, TOURISM AND HEALTH
69
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
EUROPEAN SYSTEMS AND PROJECTS
Start-ups and SMEs testify that EU space programme features are making 
a difference 
Current usage of EGNSS
More than 800 different Galileo-compatible smartphone 
models and  over 130 different Galileo-compatible wearable 
models were available on the market by end of Q3 2021. 
Current usage 
of Copernicus
The 
Copernicus 
Atmo-
sphere Monitoring Service 
(CAMS) 
provides 
daily 
near-real-time 
analysis, 
reanalysis 
and 
four-day 
forecasts 
of 
European 
air quality, thus enabling 
a  permanent assessment 
of  the  air we breathe. Ap-
plications such as real-time 
pollen and air quality track-
ers have already found their 
way into our Consumer de-
vices such as Smartphones 
and Tablets. 
Shorter Time
To First Fix
Dual-
frequency
High Accuracy 
Service
Authentication 
features
Greater
Availability
Higher
Accuracy
Authenticated
Positioning
Galileo
Galileo
EUSPA continues it’s support to SMEs and start-ups through its competitions
In 2020 the GSA launched  #MyGalileoSolution, a contest aimed at developing a location-based solution such as a mobile 
application, wearable-based solution, asset management, tracking solution or robotics, leveraging Galileo as a  source 
of positioning, navigation and/or timing. Track 1 of the contest focused on the implementation of an idea into a prototype, 
whilst Track 2 focused on the development of a final product. The winners were: VisionAnchor (Track 1), with the world’s 
first video anchor monitoring system for boats; and 10Lines (Track 2), with an autonomous parking lot marking solution.
Building up on #MyGalileoSolution experience, EUSPA launched in 2021 a new competition for innovators and entrepreneurs 
called MyEUspace. The competition, organised in two tracks and six innovation areas,  challenges participants to develop 
and commercialise innovative solutions that leverage EU space data and services, including Galileo, Copernicus and their 
synergies as well as synergies with other technologies. 
As a new initiative and additional stimulation for the space market uptake, the European Commission introduced the Cassini 
initiative to stimulate entrepreneurship in the area of space technology and applications building on space data. Its aim is to 
align the funding instruments better to the need of entrepreneurs, covering the whole life cycle of innovation from start-up 
to support during different stages of SME growth. Cassini will comprise mentoring and hackathons in at least 10 different 
locations.
Copernicus services contribute to safer water sports
The surf industry amounts for over ten million surfers worldwide, increasing at 12%-16% per annum. Information about 
met-oceanic conditions is vital for their safety. 
MeteoSurf is a  free multi-source weather forecasting App designed to provide wind and wave conditions for 
the Mediterranean Sea. It is an application for smartphones and tablets, able to supply detailed and updated maps and 
data showing heights of sea waves. MeteoSurf shows data collected from three different forecasting system sources, 
amongst which is the Copernicus Marine Service ocean forecast model. Another project beneficial for the tourism sector is 
iSWIM. It is a Bathing Water Quality Monitoring in the Black Sea, web-based and mobile-friendly decision support system 
to enhance the management, monitoring and forecasting of the bathing water quality in the Black Sea. The app integrates 
numerical models downscaled from the  Copernicus Marine Service Black Sea model with in-situ measured data and 
Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service (CMEMS) remote sensing products. Finally, following a partnership 
agreement, over 800,000 users of the popular weather application Windy can now access global air quality information 
provided by Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, (CAMS). Three new layers using CAMS data can be seen via 
Windy’s user-friendly interface: fire intensity; surface ozone; and total column sulphur dioxide (SO2).Windy already uses 
information from European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (ECMWF) to provide its users with a range 
of weather parameters including wind, rain, lightning and cloud types.
Sentinel-3
Sentinel-5P
Sentinels
Copernicus Services
Climate Change  
(C3S)
Atmosphere 
(CAMS)

70
CONSUMER SOLUTIONS, TOURISM AND HEALTH
REFERENCE CHARTS
Installed base of GNSS devices by region
Revenue of GNSS device sales and services by region
Revenue of GNSS device sales and services by type
Installed base of GNSS devices by type
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
Units (billions)
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
€ (billions)
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
0
5
10
15
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
€ (billions)
 
Smartphones, Moblies and PDAs
Tablets
Digital cameras
Portable computers
Sport & Wearables
Personal tracking devices
Low-Power Asset 
Tracking Devices
GNSS-enabled 
revenues enabled by apps†
Data revenue 
(smartphones and tablets)**
**: Only data revenue arising from the use of Location-based services considered;
†: Pay-to-download, In-app-purchases and adrevenue from health & lifestyle, 
   navigation & trackings, tourism, and corporate apps
0
0,5
1
1,5
2
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
Units (billions)
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Tablets
Digital cameras
Portable computers
Sport & Wearables
Personal tracking devices
Low-Power Asset Tracking Devices
Smartphones

CONSUMER SOLUTIONS, TOURISM AND HEALTH
71
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
REFERENCE CHARTS
Revenue from EO data sales by application
Revenue of EO services sales by application
Revenue from EO services sales by region
Revenue from EO data sales by region
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions) 
Mapping & GIS
Geo-tagging 
Geo-advertising
 
Games
UV monitoring
Air quality monitoring
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
 
€ (millions) 
 
Mapping & GIS
Geo-tagging 
Geo-advertising
 
Games
UV monitoring
Air quality monitoring
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
 
€ (millions) 
 
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
South America + Caribbean
Middle East + Africa
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
 
€ (millions) 
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
South America + Caribbean
Middle East + Africa

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT  
AND HUMANITARIAN AID
72
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND HUMANITARIAN AID
The domain of Emergency Management and Humanitarian Aid, although often seen as a market by and 
for public entities, relies on an array of commercial players for the provision of services, applications and 
devices. These products support actors both in the field and behind the desk at coordination centres 
across the world. Actors within this segment are national governments, international organisations, 
NGOs, dedicated agencies and private companies. 
GNSS and EO capabilities are used in response to emergency management situations such as drought, 
earthquake, extreme temperatures, flood, landslide, mass movement, storm, volcanic activity, avalanches 
and tsunamis. Downstream applications of GNSS and EO are deployed in all phases of emergency 
management, from preparedness and early warning to rapid mapping and post-event analysis. 
GNSS-enabled beacons have revolutionised Search and Rescue operations by transmitting positions 
of  persons in distress over the  406MHz distress frequency band, which can be picked up by 
the  international Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking (COSPAS-SARSAT) programme. This 
programme acts as a distress detection and information distribution system that provides accurate, 
timely and reliable distress alert and location data for the use of search and rescue authorities. Such 
operations are now greatly improved by relying on EO-enabled situational awareness.
GNSS provides mapping and navigational assistance to international humanitarian surveyors in order 
to save lives and help people in need (e.g. the homeless, refugees, victims of natural disasters/wars/
famines etc.). UN organisation Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) uses Geographic 
Information Systems (GIS) as a communication tool to evaluate the humanitarian situation, whilst EO 
data and services provide the  means to monitor displacement of  refugees and internally displaced 
persons (IDPs), among other uses such as conducting population counting.
What you can read in this chapter
• Key trends:  Developments in GNSS and EO help to save lives.
• User perspective: New technical capabilities are bringing better performance and new communications 
possibilities for emergency management operations.
• Industry: Emergency Management and Humanitarian Aid Value Chains.
• Recent developments: Better management of unpredictable natural and man-made disasters thanks 
to EO and GNSS capabilities.
• Future market evolution: New technologies for efficient emergency information platforms, supporting 
professional emergency rescue teams.
• Focus on European Systems: EGNSS and Copernicus contribute to more up-to-date Search and 
Rescue operations.
• Reference charts: Yearly evolution of installed base of GNSS devices and revenues as well as EO 
revenues by application and region.
© Adobe Stock
© Adobe Stock
Application descriptions can be found in Annex 3.
1 Incl. Emergency locator transmitter (ELT), 
Emergency locator transmitter Distress Tracking 
(ELT-DT) and Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs)
2 Incl. PLBs
3 Incl. Emergency Position Indicating Radio 
Beacon (EPIRB), PLB, Automatic Identification 
System Search And Rescue Transponder (AIS-
SART) and Automatic Identification System Man 
Overboard Beacon (AIS-MOB)
Search and Rescue
• Beacons for Aviation1
• Beacons for Land2
• Beacons for Maritime3
• Situational awareness supporting 
search and rescue
Early warning
• Early warning
• GNSS-enabled ocean monitoring buoys
Rapid mapping
• Rapid mapping
Migration and settlement 
• EO human displacement monitoring 
• Management of refugee camps
• Population counting
• Telematics for Humanitarian Aid
Preparedness
• Preparedness
Post-event analysis
• Post-event analysis
Legend
EO application
GNSS application
Synergetic application  
(combined use of EO and GNSS)

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND HUMANITARIAN AID
73
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
EUROPEAN SYSTEMS AND PROJECTS
Key market trends
• EO and GNSS are increasingly combined to provide the full picture needed for context-aware emergency response
• MEOSAR is close to full operational capability – Galileo Search and Rescue ground facilities have upgraded for MEOSAR Full Operational Capacity (announced December 2020)
• Galileo Return Link Service has been declared operational and the first Return Link-enabled PLBs have hit the market in Europe
• Whereas the services covered under this segment are public services mainly used by first responders and governmental agencies, commercial businesses are often the ones implementing these 
emergency services, through governmental contracts and providing on-site support
Developments in GNSS and EO help to save lives
EO and GNSS are contributing to all aspects of emergency management
Earth Observation provides information for emergency response and disaster risk management at each 
of the following stages: 
• For preparedness, prevention, risk reduction and recovery phases, EO provides risk assessment and 
simulation models.
• For early warning, EO provides continuous observations and forecasts for many types of disasters 
such as flooding (e.g. hydrological modelling), earthquakes (e.g. surface deformation), landslides (e.g. 
terrain deformation), volcanic eruptions (e.g. atmospheric composition), tsunamis (e.g. wave height), 
wild fires (e.g. moisture conditions) and others. GNSS receivers also help to detect earthquakes and 
floods. This could bring an additional 10 to 30 seconds of warning to a city or nuclear reactor of an 
imminent quake, which could result in enormous social benefits.
• During a  disaster, EO and GNSS provided rapid mapping (e.g. crowd-sourced mapping updates) 
allowing emergency responses to be coordinated as efficiently as possible.
• Finally, during post-event analysis, the comparison of recent and archival EO data assists relevant 
actors with an accurate damage assessment. 
The components of Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS) provide various ways to access 
or download the data through individual data access points. On top of this, open data sources such 
as GEOSS, OGC, Terralook, CEMS, Google Earth and other commercial services (e.g. 24/7 Emergency 
Service by Airbus) provide information to cover all kinds of natural and human-made disasters. 
In all previously mentioned disaster examples, GNSS also plays a crucial role in search and rescue 
operations by providing locations of disasters and distressed persons (see topics adjacent). 
MEOSAR to support Search and Rescue worldwide 
The COSPAS-SARSAT programme is in the process of upgrading its satellite system to complement 
the  existing Geostationary (GEOSAR) and  Low (LEOSAR) systems with the  new Medium Earth 
Orbit Satellites Search and Rescue (MEOSAR) system, which is close to full operational capability. 
MEOSAR is bringing together the benefits of GEOSAR (global coverage) and LEOSAR (which works 
without GNSS) and overcomes their limitations by providing distress message transmission and 
independent beacon location (in addition to GNSS beacon location for GNSS-enabled beacons) with 
near real-time worldwide coverage. MEOSAR provides improved availability, due to increased satellite 
redundancy and dependent GNSS localisation of the distress alert, 95% of the time. Galileo contributes 
to the MEOSAR system, which helps to save 2000 lives per year.
MEOSAR facilitates other enhancements such as a return link transmission to confirm to distressed 
parties that their distress signal has been received. Galileo is the first GNSS providing this service. It has 
to be noted that although not all produced Search and Rescue beacons are GNSS-enabled, there is an 
increasing trend towards GNSS uptake amongst these beacons.
Galileo Return Link Service PLBs enter the market
At the 12th European Space Conference in 2020, the Galileo Return Link Service was declared operational. 
The Return Link Service (RLS) allows persons in distress to receive automatic acknowledgement that 
their signal has been received. This service is the first of its kind and will contribute to increased rescue 
success, providing an important and critically-timed psychological boost and reduction in panic. In 
December 2020, the first Galileo return link-enabled beacon, the Fastfind ReturnLink PLB made by 
Orolia, hit the market with availability across 32 countries globally. This number is expected to increase 
over the following years when more countries update their beacon regulations.
The FastFind ReturnLink was developed in the frame of Horizon 2020 in close collaboration with EUSPA. 
Persons in distress – whether on land or at sea – will see a blue light blinking on their beacon, around 
5 minutes after confirmation that the distress signal and the beacon’s location has been detected. 
© Adobe Stock

74
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND HUMANITARIAN AID
USER PERSPECTIVE
New technical capabilities are bringing better performance and new 
communication possibilities for emergency management operations
Humanitarian aid uses EO to go from reactive to proactive actions
NGOs are increasingly looking to use data and predictive analytics to forecast and mitigate 
emergencies. Satellite imagery data allows researchers to build predictive models to help forecast 
the  risk of  disasters, enabling recommendations for proactive measures in order to mitigate 
the disaster – e.g. allowing proactive evacuation plans when a severe risk of a landslide, forest fire 
or other natural disaster is detected. 
The  Global Wildfire Information System (GWIS) is a  joint initiative of  the  Geosynchronous 
Equatorial Orbit (GEO) and the Copernicus Work Programmes, which provides tools to support 
early operational wildfire management.
GWIS builds upon ongoing activities of the European 
Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), the  Global 
Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS), the  Global 
Observation of  Forest Cover - Global Observation 
of  Land Dynamics (GOFC-GOLD) and the  Fire 
Implementation Team (GOFC Fire IT).
Tsunami Early Warning Systems (TEWS) are a  set 
of procedures used by national governments to ensure 
that warning messages are sent to all relevant officials 
for near-field warning in very short time frames. EO 
data can effectively reduce the  warning time and 
improve its reliability.
Downstream space services shape emergency warning and Search and Rescue 
operations  
As per the  new Regulation 2021/696 from the  Council of  28 April 20211, Galileo will offer 
an emergency warning service (EWS), free of charge for users. This will broadcast, through emitting 
signals, warnings regarding natural disasters and other emergencies in particular areas. The service 
will have global coverage and will be complementary to the Public Warning System which must be 
implemented by mobile networks before June 2022 as per the Directive (EU) 2018/1972, establishing 
the European Electronic Communications Code. The service can be accessed on any Galileo-enabled 
Receiver with this capability implemented.
Galileo will revolutionise the  current Search and Rescue operations with 
the  introduction of  its unique feature: Return Link Service (RLS), operational 
since 2020, and with the  first certificated beacon already on the  market (FastFind 
ReturnLink Personal Locator Beacon). This feature will enable the additional service 
of Remote Beacon Activation service (RBA). RBA will give authorised users (from 
aviation and maritime backgrounds) the ability to remotely activate a beacon when 
a situation of distress is declared by relevant authorities, accelerating the localisation 
and organisation of targeted Search and Rescue operations.
Two-Way Communication service (TWC) and Beacon Distress Positioning Sharing service (BDPS) are 
two additional features which will contribute to a reduction of intervention times, improved detection 
of false alarms and better dimensioning of rescue means.
Key EO and GNSS user requirements
The key GNSS and EO user requirements for the different application groups within the Emergency 
Management and Humanitarian Aid segment are, at EU level, collected using the following procedures:
• For GNSS, information is collected through extensive interactions with user groups, providers and 
experts in a continuous process culminating at the User Consultation Platforms (UCP). 
• User requirements for Copernicus services and products – as well as their evolution – are collected 
through an integrated process that involves different channels: (i) dedicated studies (e.g. “NEXTSPACE” 
project, “Copernicus for EC (C4EC)” study, Commission Staff Working Document on user needs), (ii) 
targeted consultations organised by the European Commission or the Entrusted entities with the 
relevant communities, (iii) regular and structured exchanges among representatives of the Copernicus 
governance structure and Member States through the Copernicus User Forum. 
From the 2022 EUSPA`s UCP onward, EO user needs and requirements of commercial users will be 
validated and discussed with industry experts and user groups, mirroring the process implemented for 
GNSS. 
© Orolia
© Adobe Stock

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND HUMANITARIAN AID
75
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
INDUSTRY
Emergency Management and Humanitarian Aid Value Chains1
USERS OF POSITIONING 
INFORMATION
SEARCH AND RESCUE 
BEACON USERS
NOTES
1 The value chain considers the key global and European companies involved in GNSS and EO downstream activities.
2 In the market share analysis, Europe is defined as EU27 plus Norway, Switzerland and the UK.
* European-based companies. The region is defined with respect to the headquarters of the company, though the actual area of activity might be wider.
END USERS
INFORMATION  
PROVIDERS
EO PRODUCTS 
AND SERVICE  
PROVIDERS
PLATFORM  
PROVIDERS
DATA PROVIDERS
INFRASTRUCTURE 
PROVIDERS
• AWS
• CODE-DE*
• COLLGS*
• GOOGLE CLOUD 
PLATFORM
• COPERNICUS DIAS*
• IBM SPECTRUM 
COMPUTING
• INTEL GEOSPATIAL
• MICROSOFT AZURE
• PENGUIN COMPUTING
• PEPS*
• H R SMITH*
• OROLIA*
• QUECTEL
• STMICROELECTRONICS*
• SYRLINKS*
• U-BLOX AG*
• AIRBUS*
• BLACKSKY
• COPERNICUS DIAS*
• DESCARTES LABS
• DMC INTERNATIONAL 
IMAGING
• EARTH-I
• E-GEOS*
• ICEYE*
• MAXAR
• NEC CORPORATION
• PLANET
• TWENTY FIRST 
CENTURY AEROSPACE 
TECHNOLOGY 
EPIRB & PLB
ACR ELECTRONICS, H R SMITH*, JOTRON AS*, 
MOBIT TELECOM, OCEAN SIGNAL*, OROLIA*, 
SYRLINKS*, WÄRTSILÄ*
AIS-SART & AIS-MOB
ACR ELECTRONICS, JOTRON AS*, KONGSBERG 
MARITIME*, OCEAN SIGNAL*, OROLIA*, WÄRTSILÄ*
ELT
ACR ELECTRONICS, ASTRONICS CORPORATION, 
ELTA, ECA GROUP, H R SMITH*, OROLIA*, 
SAMYUNG ENC, SYRLINKS*
• 4EARTHINTELLIGENCE
• CLOUDEO*
• COPERNICUS DIAS*
• EO4GEO
• SERCO
• SPATIAL SERVICES 
GMBH 
• UP42
• AIRPLANES AND 
HELICOPTERS PILOTS
• HIKERS
• FISHING BOAT 
OPERATORS
• MOUNTAINEERS
• OFF-SHORE OPERATORS
• RECREATIONAL 
BOATERS
• SHIP OPERATORS
• SOLE MARINERS
• BEIJING PIESAT 
INFORMATION 
TECHNOLOGY 
• DARES
• DEWBERRY LLC
• DHI GRAS A / S
• E-GEOS*
• GAF*
• GEOVILLE*
• INDRA SISTEMAS
• KAYRROS*
• KONGSBERG SATELLITE 
SERVICES AS*
• SKYGEO
• TRE ALTAMIRA (CLS 
GROUP)
• VERISK ANALYTICS
E-GEOS*
EMERGENCY 
MANAGEMENT SERVICES: 
PINKMATTER
HUMANITARIAN AID 
SERVICES:
GEOHUM
• CIVIL PROTECTIONS, 
SMALL PUBLIC SPACE 
AGENCIES
• INTERNATIONAL 
BODIES (GROUP ON 
EARTH OBSERVATIONS 
(GEO))
• NATIONAL 
GOVERNMENTS 
• NGOS (UNHCR, RED 
CROSS, MEDICINS SANS 
FRONTIERES (MSF))
• REGIONAL 
AUTHORITIES
SEARCH AND RESCUE RESPONSE
• COAST GUARDS
• COSPAS-SARSAT
• DISASTER MANAGEMENT TEAMS
• JOINT COORDINATION CENTRES
EARTH 
OBSERVATION
SAR BEACON MANUFACTURERS
COMPONENT 
AND RECEIVER 
MANUFACTURERS
GNSS
• COPERNICUS 
COLLABORATIVE 
GROUND SEGMENT*
• COPERNICUS 
SENTINELS*
• USGS/NASA LANDSAT
• RELEVANT IN-SITU 
NETWORKS
• GEOHAZARDS, 
HYDROLOGY TEP*
• COPERNICUS SERVICES*
LEGEND
	Commercial Offering
	Public Offering
	User segments
European2 GNSS  
and EO industry 
in the global arena
Europe held several top 
positions among GNSS 
Component and Receiver 
manufacturers in 2019, 
with Orolia in second 
ahead of  U-Blox, H R 
Smith and Syrlinks. Over-
all, European companies 
held a share of 33% be-
hind only North America 
with 43%. In EO, the mar-
ket is mainly divided be-
tween 
North 
America 
(36%) and Asia-Pacific 
(34%), followed by the EU 
market (17%). THALES 
(e-Geos) and Indra Siste-
mas are the  leading EU 
companies.

76
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND HUMANITARIAN AID
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
Better management of unpredictable natural and man-made disasters 
thanks to EO and GNSS capabilities
GNSS telematics for dynamic and safe humanitarian management 
GNSS-enabled telematics are used by humanitarian organizations working in crisis zones, 
where humanitarian aid reaches the  most vulnerable populations. These telematics allow 
humanitarian response management teams to improve staff safety and security by locating 
and tracking personnel working in emergency response and delivery vehicles. GNSS telematics 
also improves fleet performance, leading to vehicle fleet optimisation up to 15% and 
allowing management teams to monitor vehicle health and create smart routing. This reduces 
the environmental footprint and the operational costs linked to fuel and maintenance. 
Novacom CLS Services has partnered with HERE 
Technologies to provide a ‘reverse-geolocation’ service 
(or georeverse coding, the  process of  converting 
geographic coordinates into a  readable address), 
where a vehicle’s geolocation can be combined with 
contextual factors such as nearby hazards. This allows 
close monitoring of staff when driving near hazardous 
zones, and re-routing as dynamic threats are identified, 
such as in conflict zones or during an ongoing natural 
disaster. 
GNSS and EO deployed to support monitoring of COVID-19
The Copernicus Emergency Management Services (CEMS) has delivered rapid mapping services 
(high-resolution maps from geospatial information within hours or days of activation) to aid 
the response to the COVID-19 crisis.  e-GEOS participated in this project, providing satellite 
maps to support Civil Protection in enforcing lockdown measures by identifying areas 
of interest such as hospitals, outdoor markets and parks. Correlating data on the location 
of hospitals and mobile facilities with population size and age allowed public authorities to 
mitigate hospital overcrowding, while details on outdoor markets and parks allowed authorities 
to manage safe access to these facilities.
The evolving field of GeoAI, which combines geospatial 
data with Artificial Intelligence, can also be used to 
map the spread of COVID-19 based on the location 
of currently infected people. For example, the Spanish 
application 
AsistenciaCovid-19 
collects 
location 
data on an anonymised basis, feeding tools such as 
visualisation and geoanalytics to help authorities better 
track the spread of COVID 19. Other examples include 
TRACER (Cyprus) and ‘Smittestopp app’ (Norway). 
With close to 100,000 units in 2020, Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs), are by 
far the largest group of GNSS-enabled search and rescue beacons being sold each year. The second 
largest category sold in 2020 are Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs), reaching nearly 100,000 units.
 Although AIS-SART (Automatic Identification System Search and Rescue Transmitters) shipments have 
been growing at the highest historical CAGR (25% since 2010),  in 2020 the category is outnumbered 
tenfold by AIS-MOB (Man OverBoard) with over 41,000 units.
In 2020, the global installed base of search and rescue beacons (see reference charts) was roughly 
1.6m beacons, an almost fourfold increase compared to less than half a million units in use in 2010. 
PLBs contributed to around 43% of  this global installed base and along with EPIRBs (36%) have 
been dominating the  global installed base in absolute numbers. The  installed base of  AIS-MOBs, 
quite popular among recreational boaters and crews of smaller vessels has reached 225,000 units or 
roughly 14% of the market. The remaining 106,000 beacons, corresponding to 7% of the installed base 
worldwide in 2020, is made up by Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs) (6%) and AIS-SART beacons 
(1%).
Shipments of GNSS devices by application
PLB
EPIRB
AIS-MOB
AIS-SART
 
ELT
Telematics for humanitarian Aid
0
100
50
200
150
250
300
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
Units (thousands)
© Adobe Stock
© Adobe Stock

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND HUMANITARIAN AID
77
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
FUTURE MARKET EVOLUTION
New technologies for efficient emergency information platforms, supporting 
professional emergency rescue teams
UAVs for Search and Rescue
UAVs have great potential for helping saving lives during Search and Rescue missions. UAVs 
can add critical situational awareness through video data and analytics. However, current 
limitations on drone flight time make the use of UAVs in such operations difficult. 
Future-facing innovations will change this picture, unlocking 
the potential for UAVs in Search and Rescue. 
An example of this is the H2020 SARA project funded by 
EC/EUSPA, which is building up a  semi-automatic system 
using Earth Observation data to preliminarily detect suspect 
pontoons’ trajectories (Surveillance) and support SAR 
operations based on a deployable RPAS (Remotely Piloted 
Aircraft System). 
This technological contribution is supporting vessels to 
detect people lost at sea. Using thermal infrared sensors, 
the SARA solution increases situational awareness at night, 
which is currently a  particularly challenging scenario for 
search and rescue operations. 
Use of 3D data to support better disaster risk reduction
Public authorities and NGOs can both benefit from EO data for disaster risk reduction and 
management. Future developments will see the incorporation of 3D data and modelling to 
provide additional layers of situational awareness to relevant authorities.
Euro-Maps 3D DSM (digital surface model) is now also available via the Copernicus Data 
Access Portfolio. The model  provides maps of homogeneous quality, suitable for large-scale, 
trans-national applications such as risk mapping. These 3D maps can improve planning and 
disaster risk management activities by providing better situational awareness. 
PREDICT is a French start-up involved in the 
H2020 Anywhere project (EnhANcing emergencY 
management and response to extreme WeatHER 
and climate Events), helping local governments 
and enterprises to become more resilient against 
extreme meteorological events related to climate-
change. Their risk management platform integrates 
various sources of data including satellite imagery 
from commercial and public providers.
Sales of EO data and services are foreseen to continue growing, reaching almost €340 m by 2031 and 
almost doubling revenues from 2021. In the long run, all services will grow progressively at a similar 
pace, with a CAGR between 6% and 7% (Search and Rescue is the exception, at 4%). 
EO data and services for Preparedness will grow from almost €47 m in 2021 to almost €89 m in 2031, 
corresponding to over 26% of the total revenues. By 2031, the market for EO data and services 
for Rapid Mapping is expected to become the largest one, totalling over €91 m or 27% of the total 
revenues. Post-event Analysis and Early Warning rank 3rd  and 4th with 16% and 15% of total revenues 
respectively.
The smallest market share is attributed to EO services for Management of refugee camps. This market 
will grow from around €1.4 m in 2021 to roughly €2.7 m in 2031. 
The service which is already relatively mature, and therefore will not grow much in the future is 
Situational awareness supporting Search and Rescue, with revenues going from around €11 m in 
2021 up to €16 m in 2031.
© SARA Project
Revenue from EO data & services sales by application
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
 
€ (millions) 
 
Preparedness
Early warning
Rapid mapping
Post event analysis
Situational awareness supporting search and rescue
Human displacement monitoring
Management of refugee camps
Population counting
© Adobe Stock

78
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND HUMANITARIAN AID
EUROPEAN SYSTEMS AND PROJECTS
EGNSS and Copernicus contribute to more up-to-date Search and Rescue 
operations 
Current usage of EGNSS
The  Galileo Return Link Service (RLS) is 
a  free-of-charge global service available 
to COSPAS-SARSAT RLS compatible 
beacons. 
The 
new 
functionality, 
currently 
offered 
only 
by 
Galileo, 
enables a communication link that relays 
Return Link Messages (RLM) back to 
the  originating beacon, thus informing 
the user that the alert has been detected 
and localised. Via this new service, Galileo 
Search and Rescue is demonstrating how 
Europe is at the forefront of technological 
emergency management operations. 
Current usage of Copernicus
The Copernicus Emergency Management Service 
(CEMS) provides information for prevention, 
preparedness, response and recovery activities 
for different natural and man-made disasters 
and other humanitarian crises. The  service 
includes an on-demand mapping component 
and an Early Warning component, compiled 
from the Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), 
the  Flood Awareness System (EFAS) and 
the Drought Observatory (EDO). 
As part of  the  Copernicus Security Service, 
the Maritime Surveillance component is coping 
with challenges related navigation safety, 
fisheries control, combatting marine pollution 
and law enforcement at sea. The  other two 
components of  the  Security Service, namely 
Border Control and Support to EU External 
Action, provide the European Union with means 
to contribute to the  fight against cross-border 
crime as well as to promoting stable conditions 
for human and economic development.
SINSIN is paving the way to an effective terrestrial Search and Rescue 
service based on SAR/Galileo
The  objectives of  the  SINSIN project are to develop an advanced Personal Locator Beacon 
(PLB)  with an embedded EGNSS receiver and to enhance the latest Medium-Earth Orbit Local 
User Terminal (MEOLUT) by enabling localisation with only one or two satellites in view. This 
will result in improving the standard ‘slow moving beacon’ localization accuracy by a factor 
of ten. SINSIN is particularly effective in mountainous terrains, forests and jungles, where few 
satellites are in view. SINSIN technology  could be implemented in MEOLUTs of specific regions 
where the tests have shown to increase the accuracy of localisation and thus reducing the final 
time to rescue.
The E2mC project has developed  a new Copernicus EMS component 
with crowdsourcing capabilities for early confirmation of a natural 
disaster
The  project demonstrates the  integration of  social media analysis and crowdsourced 
information within both the Mapping and Early Warning Components of CEMS. The Project 
developed a  prototype of  a  new CEMS Service Component, called Copernicus Witness, 
with the innovative and scalable Social&Crowd (S&C) Platform as the technological enabler. 
The purpose of the service is to improve the timeliness and accuracy of geo-spatial information 
provided to Civil Protection authorities during the overall crisis management cycle, especially in 
the first hours immediately after the event.  The service is subject to the availability of mobile 
networks.
The  incorporation of  this component will result in 
an early confirmation of  alerts from running Early 
Warning Systems, as well as a  first rapid impact 
assessment from the  field. The  involvement of  social 
media and crowdsourcing communities will thus 
foster the engagement of a large number of people in 
supporting crisis management.
Sentinels
Sentinel-1
Sentinel-2
Copernicus Services
Security
(CSS)
Emergency  
(CEMS)
Marine  
(CMEMS)
Search and
Rescue service
SAR Return
Link
SAR Forward
Link
Higher
Accuracy
Greater
Availability
MEOSAR
contribution
Dual-
frequency
Galileo
Galileo
© Adobe Stock
Terminology used on this page is explained in Annex 2 for both GNSS and EO performance parameters.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND HUMANITARIAN AID
79
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
REFERENCE CHARTS
Installed base of GNSS devices by region
Revenue of GNSS device sales by region
Revenue of GNSS device sales by application
Installed base of GNSS devices by application
0
500
1 000
1 500
2 000
2 500
3 000
3 500
4 000
4 500
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
Units (thousands)
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
€ (millions)
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean
PLB
EPIRB
AIS-MOB
AIS-SART
ELT
Telematics for humanitarian Aid
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
€ (millions)
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
PLB
EPIRB
AIS-MOB
AIS-SART
ELT
Telematics for humanitarian Aid
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031 
0
500
1 000
1 500
2 000
2 500
3 000
3 500
4 000
4 500
Units (thousands)

80
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND HUMANITARIAN AID
REFERENCE CHARTS
Revenue from EO data sales by application
Revenue of EO services by application
Revenue from EO services sales by region
Revenue from EO data sales by region
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031
€ (millions) 
 
 
Preparedness 
Early warning
Rapid mapping
 
Post event analysis
Situational awareness supporting search and rescue
 
Human displacement monitoring
Management of refugee camps  
Population counting
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions) 
 
Preparedness 
Early warning
Rapid mapping
 
Post event analysis
Situational awareness supporting search and rescue
 
Human displacement monitoring
Management of refugee camps
Population counting
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031  
€ (millions) 
 
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
South America + Caribbean
Middle East + Africa
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions) 
 
 
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
South America + Caribbean
Middle East + Africa

ENERGY AND RAW MATERIALS
81
ENERGY AND RAW MATERIALS
The complex field of energy and raw materials includes a long list of stakeholders such 
as governmental authorities, energy and utility companies, energy traders and supply 
chain managers and mining companies. For them, satellite technologies can provide 
invaluable data under the form of various EO and GNSS applications.
EO has multiple applications related to renewable energy and raw materials: for instance, 
helping select locations with optimal conditions (e.g. forecasting UV radiation or wind 
conditions for renewables and assessing abundancy of certain minerals for mining), or 
planning and monitoring the construction process. At the next stage, EO data is used to 
monitor a plant’s operational life, its wider conditions and its environmental impact. For 
mining in particular, high-resolution EO data is used to monitor pit slopes and ground 
motion effects. Another upcoming raw materials application is the use of multispectral 
EO imagery in the field.
Similarly to EO, GNSS is also used for site selection, planning and operational activities 
for raw materials and renewables. Another use of GNSS in renewable resources relates 
to the synchronisation of energy networks and smart grids, particularly in helping to 
distribute produced energy. 
In mining and raw materials, high-accuracy GNSS is used to survey sites and safely guide 
earth movers, bulldozers or other machinery – in recent years many of these are operated 
fully autonomously thanks to GNSS guidance. Moreover, satellite data (both EO and 
GNSS) is invaluable in the post-operational phase for the mining industry, especially in 
site clean-up, rehabilitation and waste management.
What you can read in this chapter
• Key trends: Post-COVID recovery and goals on climate-neutrality drive innovation in 
the energy and raw materials market.
• User perspective: Users across the  full spectrum of  energy and raw materials 
applications exploit services powered by EO and GNSS.
• Industry: Energy and Raw Materials Value Chains.
• Recent developments: The EU Space Programme is powering decisions and operations 
worth millions - Earth Observation provides inputs for the  development of  various 
energy and raw materials applications.
• Future market evolution: From mining operations to waste management, GNSS 
enables smart and sustainable activities – new satellite capabilities and more advanced  
AI-backed methods allow novel applications to emerge.
• European Systems: Current usage of Galileo and Copernicus in the energy and raw 
materials sector.
• European projects: EU projects cover a vast range of GNSS and EO applications for 
energy and raw materials.
• Reference charts: Yearly evolution of installed base of GNSS devices and revenues as 
well as EO revenues by application and region.
© Adobe Stock
Application descriptions can be found in Annex 3.
Renewable Energy
•  Renewable energy assessment 
potential and forecast
• Power plant design optimisation
•  Risk assessment for energy assets
• Site selection, planning and monitoring 
for renewable energy
Energy Network Fidelity
• Energy Network conditions monitoring
• Phasor Measurement Units (PMU)
Raw Materials
• Illegal mining monitoring
• Mining machinery guidance
• Mining Surveying 
• Site selection, planning and monitoring 
for raw materials
Environmental Impact Monitoring
• Environmental impact assessment 
of energy and mineral resources plants
Market Intelligence
• Supply chain insights
Legend
EO application
GNSS application
Synergetic application  
(combined use of EO and GNSS)

82
ENERGY AND RAW MATERIALS
KEY TRENDS
Key market trends
• Europe’s post-COVID recovery, the European Green Deal and the EU energy package as an opportunity for the renewable energy and raw materials markets alike
• A greener future with EO supporting power-to-X solutions
• EU Space Programme will aid the European Raw Materials Alliance to provide innovation in the EU’s raw materials supply chain
• New Time- and Synchronisation- as-a-service business models for the energy sector
Post-COVID recovery and goals on climate-neutrality drive innovation 
in the energy and raw materials market
Europe’s post-COVID recovery as an opportunity for the renewable energy 
market
Many global and local initiatives aim for climate neutrality – however, it is Europe who are drafting 
the most ambitious policies in the sector. Before the rise of the pandemic the European Green Deal had 
already confirmed the essential role that renewable energy would have in Europe. The deal aims to 
make Europe climate neutral by 2050 and establish an EU-wide target of 32% of power coming from 
renewable energy as early as 2030 (in 2018 this figure was 18.9%, with large differences between 
Member States). Moreover, the  EU’s post-COVID recovery plan, 
worth €750 billion, singles out renewables (particularly wind and 
solar) as one of the four strategic pillars of the EU’s path towards 
a resilient, inclusive and green recovery and a low-carbon future.
The achievement of these goals will heavily rely on information 
and services powered by the EU Space Programme as discussed 
within this report. 
EO support for power-to-X solutions
Apart from using batteries as enabling technologies, electricity can be stored by being converted 
into hydrogen or heat. The process of converting the power generated from solar and wind sources 
to different types of  energy carriers (gas, heat, nitrogen) for use across multiple sectors, or to be 
reconverted back into power, has the potential to greatly increase the flexibility of the power grid. 
For instance, power-to-hydrogen involves using electrolysis to split water into hydrogen and oxygen 
using electricity. Hydrogen is a versatile, clean and safe energy carrier that can be used as a fuel for 
power or as a feedstock in industry. Power-to-gas is the process of converting renewable energy to 
gaseous energy carriers such as hydrogen. 
While EO applications related to renewable energy production are more widely known and utilised in 
the planning and monitoring phase, when it comes to power-to-X solutions, EO data have the potential 
to support the post-transformation phase – for instance, by monitoring the storage and transporting 
infrastructure (important for energy network conditions monitoring). Nowadays, similar solutions are 
based on EO radar and optical data, and may go as far as offering mapping, prevention and emergency 
alerts to the infrastructure owners. However, the sensitivity to detectable hazards is largely dependent 
on resolution. The use of EO data in this these applications is expected to grow alongside the popularity 
of power-to-X solutions themselves.
Ambitions for sustainability of the EU’s raw materials supply chain drive 
opportunities for innovation in the market
The COVID pandemic has highlighted vulnerabilities in the EU’s raw material supply chains. At the same 
time, the strategic goal of building a greener future requires access to key raw materials. To address 
this, the EU has set up the European Raw Materials Alliance that will seek to bolster the creation 
of environmentally sustainable and socially equitable innovations and infrastructure for the European 
Raw Materials sector. This will enable the implementation of a circular economy of complex products 
like electric vehicles, clean tech and hydrogen-powered technology. All this will rely on capabilities 
enabled by the EU Space Programme for the identification of raw materials (e.g. using hyperspectral 
imaging satellites for detection of global-scale subterranean minerals), the safe operation of mining 
activities (e.g. guiding autonomous haulage systems in deep open pit mines) and the environmental 
monitoring of their footprint (e.g. monitoring waste leakages from tailing dams).
Innovative T&S service and new business models increasingly offered
The  issue of  GNSS vulnerability and complexities with installing traditional antenna-based GNSS 
timing infrastructure solutions have become a  growing concern to Infrastructure operators and 
authorities. It led the industry to develop and offer ‘Time-as-a-Service’ (TaaS) and ‘Synchronisation-
as-a-Service’ (SaaS) solutions (together, T&S). A wealth of areas can benefit from these solutions such 
as IoT infrastructure, where high-volume data flows generated by IoT devices need to be synchronised 
precisely, or critical processes of datacenters, where time-stamping precision and accuracy is critical 
both across servers within a data center and between data centers in a network. 
These TaaS and SaaS services can also offer 
their customer with a ‘certified’ time complying 
with Service Level Agreements in the  order 
of  microseconds allowing traceability and 
resilience of the timing function. New business 
models have also been put in place along 
with this new technology that aim to increase 
operational flexibility for the  Infrastructure 
operators. The services are generally proposed 
on a subscription basis on top of hardware and 
installation costs.
© Adobe Stock
© Adobe Stock

ENERGY AND RAW MATERIALS
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EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
USER PERSPECTIVE
Users across the full spectrum of energy and raw materials applications 
exploit services powered by EO and GNSS
Earth Observation opens new horizons for solar cadastre
Three quarters of the global energy supply is consumed in the urban environment, and the percentage 
is expected to continue growing. The need for energy can be met more efficiently by renewable energy 
solutions such as solar energy systems, whereby production and consumption do not occur far from 
each other. 
Using PVs (photovoltaics) in urban environments is nonetheless a  challenging endeavour due to 
the  shadow effect caused by buildings, roof superstructures and vegetation. To address this, there 
is a growing market of ‘solar cadastres’: companies identifying available spaces with strong solar 
potential and high efficiency for installation of PVs in the city, with a corresponding solar resource 
evaluation for each, taking into account the shadow effect and the local orientations of roofroofs. This 
relies on 3D models of buildings acquired through photogrammetric or LiDAR aerial surveys.
Earth observation data (e.g. data on solar irradiance, water vapour, aerosols, etc.) are used in forecasting 
and nowcasting models. This ultimately results in more precise data and helps electricity grid operators 
to adapt their production quickly and even stimulates other markets, such as energy-trading, specifically 
in relation to re-grouping portfolios of PV systems. EO data can also be used for mapping different 
zones of a city to understand better the amount, regularity and distribution of electricity needs (e.g. 
foreseeing daytime consumption in business areas). 
Multiple user groups benefit from similar applications; from regulators and policy-makers, to energy 
providers who need to anticipate consumption, to private users who are interested in foreseeing 
the amount of energy to be produced by their installed PVs.
Synchronisation at the core of Energy Distribution Systems
Energy efficiency is facing many challenges with rising electricity demand and the need to comply with 
sustainable development objectives. In this context, new digital technologies are increasingly used 
to enable greater control and optimisation of grids and contribute to making energy management 
systems more reliable. Energy operators are therefore increasingly integrating high-resolution 
synchronised measurements from Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) to improve grid reliability, 
efficiency and stability. With cybersecurity of the synchrophasor measurements generated by PMUs 
becoming a  growing concern, precise robust and resilient timing and synchronisation is needed. 
Moreover, smart gas grid and smart power grid interactions and integration of renewable energy and 
electric power generated by private power devices also need synchronization to ensure grid stability. 
Key EO and GNSS user requirements
The key GNSS and EO user requirements for the different application groups within the Energy and 
Raw Materials segment are, at EU level, collected using the following procedures:
• For GNSS, information is collected through extensive interactions with user groups, providers and 
experts in a continuous process culminating at the User Consultation Platforms (UCP). In the case 
of Energy and Raw Materials the relevant requirements can be found in two separate documents. 
On the  one hand, information on requirements for geomatic applications within the  Energy and 
Raw Materials segment can be found in the Report on Surveying user needs and requirements. On 
the other hand, information on requirements for timing and synchronisation applications (i.e. PMUs) 
can be found in the Report on Time & Synchronisation User needs and requirements. 
• User requirements for Copernicus services and products – as well as their evolution – are 
collected through an integrated process that involves different channels: (i) dedicated studies (e.g. 
“NEXTSPACE” project, “Copernicus for EC (C4EC)” study, Commission Staff Working Document on 
user needs), (ii) targeted consultations organised by the  European Commission or the  Entrusted 
entities with the relevant communities, (iii) regular and structured exchanges among representatives 
of the Copernicus governance structure and Member States through the Copernicus User Forum. 
From the 2022 EUSPA`s UCP onward, EO user needs and requirements of commercial users will be 
validated and discussed with industry experts and user groups, mirroring the process implemented for 
GNSS. 
Report on Surveying User 
Needs and Requirements
Outcome of the EUSPA
User Consultation Platform
REPORT ON TIME & SYNCHRONISATION USER NEEDS AND REQUIREMENTS
1
Report on Time & 
Synchronisation User 
Needs and Requirements
Outcome of the EUSPA
User Consultation Platform

84
ENERGY AND RAW MATERIALS
INDUSTRY
• FUGRO*
• HEMISPHERE (ATLAS)
• HEXAGON*
• SAPCORDA*
• SWIFT
• TERIA*
• TOPCON
• TRIMBLE
High Accuracy
• HEMISPHERE
• HEXAGON*
• NOVATEL
• SEPTENTRIO*
• TOPCON
• TRIMBLE
Timing & Synchronisation
• FURUNO
• MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY 
INC
• SEPTENTRIO
• STMICROELECTRONICS*
• TRIMBLE
• U-BLOX*
High Accuracy
• CATERPILLAR
• DURA VERMEER*
• MODULAR MINING
• POSITION PARTNERS
• STONEX
• VOLVO*
• WENCO
Timing & Synchronisation
• ABB*
• ALSTOM*
• CHRONOS TECHNOLOGY*
• EATON*
• IBM
• JUNIPER
High Accuracy
• CHCNAV
• HEMISPHERE 
• HEXAGON
• HI-TARGET
• STONEX*
• TOPCON
• TRIMBLE
Timing & Synchronisation
• ARBITER
• BRANDYWINE
• CHRONOS TECHNOLOGY*
• ELPROMA*
• ENDRUN
• GORGY TIMING*
• HOPF ELEKTRONIK*
• JACKSON LABS
• MASTERCLOCK
• MEINBERG*
• MICROSEMI
• OMICRON*
• OROLIA SPECTRACOM*
• OSCILLOQUARTZ*
• SEIKO
• SEL
• SEVEN SOLUTIONS*
• SYNERGY SYSTEMS
• TIMELINK*
• TRANSMISSION SYSTEM 
OPERATORS
• MINING COMPANIES
• REGULATORY AUTHORITIES
• ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCIES
• NATIONAL AND 
REGIONAL RTK 
NETWORK PROVIDERS
AUGMENTATION 
SERVICE 
PROVIDERS
COMPONENT 
AND RECEIVER 
MANUFACTURERS
DEVICE MANUFACTURERS
END USERS
SYSTEM INTEGRATORS
DESIGN CONSULTANCIES
TESTING & MAINTENANCE
NOTES
1 The value chain considers the key global and European companies involved in GNSS downstream activities.
2 In the market share analysis, Europe is defined as EU27 plus Norway, Switzerland and the UK.
* European-based companies. The region is defined with respect to the headquarters of the company, though the actual area of activity might be wider.
Energy and Raw Materials GNSS Value Chain1
LEGEND
	Commercial Offering
	Public Offering
	User segments
European2 GNSS industry in the global 
arena
GNSS receivers in Energy and Raw Materials are used for 
timing and synchronisation purposes and the industry 
supporting the segment overlaps with that serving both 
Infrastructure and Insurance and Finance. European 
companies such as Orolia, u-Blox, and Meinberg hold 
36% of the timing and synchronisation market, withw 
a  slightly higher intensity on Energy and Mineral 
Resources applications than their largest international 
competitors, yielding an estimated European share 
of  40% of  the  Energy and Mineral Resources market. 
GNSS also supports surveying and guidance operations 
for mining, whereby major European companies such as 
Hexagon compete well on the global stage.

ENERGY AND RAW MATERIALS
85
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
INDUSTRY
Energy and Raw Materials EO Value Chain1
END USERS
INFORMATION  
PROVIDERS
EO PRODUCTS 
AND SERVICE  
PROVIDERS
PLATFORM  
PROVIDERS
DATA PROVIDERS
INFRASTRUCTURE 
PROVIDERS
• AWS
• CLOUDEO*
• COPERNICUS DIAS*
• GOOGLE CLOUD 
PLATFORM
• HEWLETT PACKARD ENT.
• IBM CLOUD
• INTEL GEOSPATIAL
• MICROSOFT AZURE
• PENGUIN COMPUTING
• 4EI*
• AIRBUS*
• COPERNICUS DIAS*
• DEIMOS IMAGING*
• E-GEOS*
• EARTH-I*
• ICEYE*
• MAXAR
• PLANET
• UP42*
• ADAM*
• CLEOS (E-GEOS)*
• COPERNICUS DIAS*
• MAXAR ARD
• PLANET EXPLORER
• UP42*
• BIRD.I*
• BLUEFIELD*
• CGG*
• DARES*
• DHI GRAS*
• E-GEOS*
• KAYRROS*
• SINERGISE*
• SKYGEO*
• SOLEA*
• TRANSVALOR*
• TRE ALTAMIRA*
• 1SPATIAL*
• BLUEFIELD*
• ESRI
• ICIS*
• INSUNWETRUST*
• KAYRROS*
• S&P GLOBAL
• THE SNIFFERS*
• TSV ENERGY
• SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGERS
• ENERGY TRADERS
• GRID OPERATORS
• ENERGY COMPANIES
• MINING COMPANIES
• UTILITY COMPANIES
• GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITIES
• COPERNICUS 
COLLABORATIVE 
GROUND SEGMENT*
• COPERNICUS 
SENTINELS*
• USGS/NASA LANDSAT
• RELEVANT IN-SITU 
NETWORKS
• THEMATIC 
EXPLOITATION 
PLATFORM ENERGY  
(ESA TEP)
• COPERNICUS SERVICES*
NOTES
1 The value chain considers the key global and European companies involved in EO downstream activities.
2 In the market share analysis, Europe is defined as EU27 plus Norway, Switzerland and the UK.
* European-based companies. The region is defined with respect to the headquarters of the company, though the actual area of activity might be wider.
LEGEND
	Commercial Offering
	Public Offering
	User segments
European2 EO industry in the global arena
In 2019, there were 162 active European EO companies 
in the  Energy and raw materials segment. They held 
a  market share of  35.1% (EU27) and 6.8% (Non-
EU27 Europe) of  the  global market, which for that 
period, accounted to 320 million euros. Moreover, five 
of the world‘s top-10 EO companies in the sector are 
European.

86
ENERGY AND RAW MATERIALS
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
Shipments of GNSS devices by application
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
2010
 
2011
 
2012
 
2013
 
2014
 
2015
 
2016
 
2017
 
2018
 
2019
 
2020
 
Units (thousands)
Mining (Surveying and Machine Control)
 
Site selection, planning and monitoring
 
PMU
 
The EU Space Programme is powering decisions and operations worth 
millions
Supply chain analytics with the help of EO data and advanced AI 
techniques
The  global energy supply chain is massive, globally distributed, dynamic, complex, and 
poorly understood. Traditional information sources are highly local, focusing on narrow parts 
of the energy supply chain, and can be biased and/or subjective. EO data has the potential to 
shed light on this complexity by providing new, unique, and more timely intelligence enabling 
advanced analytics. Thus, innovative EO service providers make use of advanced analytics to 
extract information from EO data and offer solutions supporting reservoir monitoring, heavy oil 
production mapping, underground gas storage and sophisticated methane-detection, to name 
a few examples.
The 
corresponding 
market 
is 
growing 
rapidly (16% CAGR), and so is the need by 
market analysts, traders, investors, energy 
operators and regulators, governments and 
international banking institutions to utilise 
such EO-based analytics solutions in their 
effort to better understand the  new energy 
dynamics, 
shifting 
under 
the 
pressure 
of climate change.
SCADA facility management solutions for energy operations
In the  energy sector, SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) is a  system 
of computer-aided tools used by operators of electric utility grids to monitor, control and optimise 
the performance of the generation and/or transmission system. According to GlobeNewswire, 
the global electrical SCADA Market was valued at $1,580 million in 2019 and is expected to 
reach over $2,880 million by 2026, growing at a CAGR of around 9% during the period.
SCADA is utilised for different 
operations 
within 
electricity 
production, 
transmission 
and 
distribution. These systems are 
also used to monitor and control 
pipeline networks that are used 
to 
transport 
natural 
gas 
at 
high pressure. GNSS provides 
a  reference to UTC and ensures 
frequency 
synchronization 
between SCADA substations and 
components.
Modern energy facilities increasingly rely on GNSS  
Frequent, synchronised and accurate time monitoring has been increasingly required in modern utility. 
Even if GNSS PMU remains a niche market compared to the other segments which rely on GNSS for 
T&S, the shift towards green energy and the modernisation of electricity substations has accelerated 
the deployment of PMU. A solid CAGR of 25% was therefore observed for the PMU shipments over 
the 2010 – 2020 period almost 8,000 units in 2020.
The use of GNSS-powered geomatics solutions for energy and raw materials 
has been steady over the past decade
Mining site operators have been early adopters of GNSS solutions for site selection, planning and 
monitoring but also for machine guidance. Thus, over the past decade the use of GNSS-based solutions 
in these domains has been steady, showing only marginal growth. 
© Adobe Stock
© Adobe Stock

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EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
Earth observation provides inputs for the development of various energy 
and raw materials applications
The proliferation of wind farms relies on accurate insights from EO
The  EU has been an early mover on renewable energy 
and is committed to becoming the  global leader in 
renewables. While most of  the  wind energy (89%) 
continues to be produced onshore, the EU currently holds 
70% of  the  world’s floating wind energy capacity and 
investments in offshore are steadily growing.
The  EO contribution to offshore wind data and atlases 
(mostly from space-borne scatterometers, Syntehtic 
Aperture Radar (SAR) and in-situ data, weather services 
and forecasts) are used in the  planning phase to select 
an appropriate location for a  windfarm. Moreover, site wind characteristics can also assist 
in the  determination of  the  optimal location of  each individual wind turbine, subsequently 
minimising energy production losses. 
In the  operational phase, EO-based services can support the  establishment of  optimal site 
maintenance needs, optimal weather windows for maintenance, and help foresee and monitor 
possible rain erosion effects on the blades. 
While numerous feasibility studies are assessing the potential of EO applications in the sector 
and roadmaps are being created (e.g. under H2020 FIRE), commercial companies seek to make 
the most of EO data for windfarm operational insights.
EO has become an essential tool for oil seepage mapping and 
monitoring
Thanks to its global coverage and to the  high resolution and frequently updated images it 
offers, satellite-based remote sensing is a valuable and cost-effective tool for the detection and 
monitoring of natural oil seepage.
While on-the-ground seep detection mainly relies on optical data whose availability is weather-
dependent, offshore detection relies on cloud penetrating radar imagery and therefore does not 
suffer the same limitation. Thus, satellites equipped with SAR capabilities enable a night and 
day systematic screening of offshore basins worldwide and the detection of any oil seepage on 
the sea surface. By doing so, they facilitate the identification of the areas to be more extensively 
explored by providing high-value insights on the existence and probable location of oil reserves 
and also support pollution monitoring in already exploited areas.
Due to the  absence of  weather-related limitations with SAR imagery and the  emergence 
of new constellations of small satellites offering higher spatial resolution and more frequent 
revisits than current missions, SAR should favour future developments in the realm of offshore 
monitoring.
The revenues from the sale of both EO data and services to the energy and raw materials sector in 
2020 amounted to €305 m. The breakdown in terms of application shows three major market shares: 
Site selection, planning and monitoring for Raw Materials; Site selection, planning and monitoring for 
Renewable Energy; and Environmental impact assessment of energy and mineral resources plants. 
These held 34%, 24% and 17% market share respectively. 
The  dominant market share held by the  environmental impact assessment of  energy and mineral 
resources plants application is a strong reflection of the large focus on sustainability in the sector. 
The  energy and raw materials sector can sometimes hold a  less than favourable reputation when 
it comes to GHG emissions or toxic waste. This large market share shows the  focus this aspect 
of the sector and how valuable EO can help to monitor and reduce the sector’s environmental footprint. 
EO lends itself very well to site selection, planning and monitoring for both raw materials and 
renewable energy due to the fact that many sites are being developed in more and more isolated parts 
of the world. The substantial market shares for both are a reflection of the efficacy and efficiency of EO 
in remotely and cost-effectively enabling discovery, planning and management of sites. 
© Adobe Stock
Revenue from EO data & service sales by application in 2020
24%
10%
2%
34%
1%
17%
5%
5%
2%
Site selection, planning and monitoring 
(Renewable Energy)
Renewable energy assessment
potential and forecast
Risk assessment for energy assets
Site selection, planning and monitoring
(Raw Material)
Mining Surveying
Illegal mining monitoring
Environmental impact assessment 
of energy and mineral resources plants
Supply chain insights
Energy Network conditions monitoring
€305 million

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ENERGY AND RAW MATERIALS
FUTURE MARKET EVOLUTION
Shipments of GNSS devices by region 
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
Units (thousands)
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean
From mining operations to waste management GNSS enables smart 
and sustainable activities
Guiding the largest vehicles and detecting the slightest ground 
movements make GNSS and EO invaluable tools for the mining industry
The mining sector has been a proficient user of augmented GNSS solutions for many years. 
Recently, however, as mining operations are moving to increased automation, GNSS has 
become a  truly invaluable tool for the  mining industry. Thus, from surveying mining sites 
to enabling fully autonomous operations of gigantic machinery, GNSS is a  key enabler for 
the management of mining operations. This is supported by advanced connectivity features 
which enable seamless combination of GNSS with other technologies (e.g. LiDAR) to provide 
access to previously inaccessible areas. 
Moreover, the  ingestion of  different data streams 
from satellites, drones and in-situ sensors enables 
the construction of a high-resolution digital ‘picture’ 
of the entire mining area.  This is done with advanced 
machine learning algorithms and then projected through 
smart visualisation tools so that mining operation 
managers get actionable intelligence for safety, 
environmental monitoring and overall productivity 
throughout the full cycle of exploration, extraction and 
closure.
GNSS to support water and wastewater system monitoring and control 
for sustainable and clean energy 
Managing and efficiently using water resources for renewable, sustainable and clean energy 
is on all nations’ agenda as safe drinking water is a prerequisite for protecting public health 
and all human activity (energy for water and water for energy). Properly treated wastewater 
is indeed vital for preventing disease and protecting the  environment. Thus, ensuring 
the supply of drinking water and wastewater treatment and service is essential for the society 
and the economy.
According to Industry ARC, Water Treatment 
Systems Market size in 2019 is estimated to 
be $5.85 billion and is projected to grow at 
a CAGR of 7.6% during the 2020-2025 period. 
GNSS receivers can be used to time stamp 
measurements across a  wide geographical 
area through SCADA systems. The  purpose 
of such synchronisation is to augment water 
and wastewater system monitoring and to 
strengthen control and protection functions.
Asia Pacific and North America are at the forefront of Energy infrastructure 
modernisation
Asia-Pacific is a leading region for PMU deployment with around 50% of shipment in 2021. In North 
America the  old energy network is already under modernization with PMU deployment currently 
underway, leading to a limited growth of GNSS shipments (CAGR of 3% over the 2021 – 2031 period). 
EU27 is expected to have a stronger growth of 12% CAGR over the same period as the third region to 
engage with PMU rollout.
These regions are also driving shipments of  GNSS receivers used in geomatics applications. This 
can be largely attributed to the deployment of multiple mega-sites of power plants and the steady 
modernisation of mining operations with environmental aspects in mind. 
© Adobe Stock
© Adobe Stock

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EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
FUTURE MARKET EVOLUTION
Revenue from EO data & services sales by application
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions) 
 
Site selection, planning and monitoring (Renewable Energy)
Renewable energy assessment potential and forecast
Risk assessment for energy assets
Site selection, planning and monitoring (Raw Materials)
Mining Surveying
 
Illegal mining monitoring
Environmental impact assessment of energy and mineral resources plants
 
Supply chain insights
Energy Network conditions monitoring
New satellite capabilities and more advanced AI-backed methods allow 
novel applications to emerge
Hyperspectral for raw materials detection 
Hyperspectral imagery has the  capability to analyse a  vast portion of  the  electromagnetic 
spectrum by creating unique ‘fingerprints’ for the  monitored objects. Known as spectral 
signatures, these ‘fingerprints’ enable the  identification of  the  materials that make up 
the observed object and while hyperspectral technology cannot penetrate below ground or 
through vegetation or buildings, it can be combined with radar to obtain even better results.
While very few hyperspectral satellites are in orbit or planned, their impact on mineral 
exploration could be enormous: the technology be used to map vast amounts of land and 
narrow down the search area for valuable deposits of minerals. In some cases, hyperspectral 
imaging can be used to pinpoint the particular minerals of interest either directly or by locating 
indicator minerals i.e. minerals that suggest proximity 
of a valuable ore deposit. 
Common minerals like kaolinite and arsenic, which are 
products of  standard geological processes, are clearly 
visible with hyperspectral imaging in open landscapes. 
Another example are kimberlite pipes, the most important 
source of  mined diamonds today, which can be easily 
analysed with hyperspectral imagery. 
Offshore renewable energy unfolding its potential
Oceans represent an enormous potential resource of clean and renewable energy. According to 
Ocean Energy Europe, by 2050 10% of Europe’s electricity (100 GW) is expected to come from 
marine energy. Established offshore solutions such as wind and solar, as well as technologies 
currently piloted for harnessing the energy of the ocean - such as wave and tidal, can benefit 
from information provided by Earth Observation. For instance, through the provision of weather, 
ocean and sea status forecasts, EO helps in planning and optimising operations during 
the construction and maintenance phases. 
Moreover, the  measurement of  ocean parameters 
such as temperature, wave height, salinity and 
speed of ocean currents contributes to better energy 
forecasting and consequently better forecasting 
of  profitability. Finally, Earth Observation helps to 
monitor the environmental impact of ocean energy 
installations by comparing the surroundings before 
and after deployment.
For the energy and raw materials sector, the revenues from the sale of EO data and services in 2021 
amount to €312 m and are expected to grow at a moderate rate year on year, reaching aggregate 
revenues of €402 m by 2031.
The application with the fastest growth is environmental impact assessment of energy and mineral 
resource plants, which is foreseen to double from €57 m in 2021 to €105 m in 2031. This could be 
a reflection of strict regulations and monitoring requirements in many parts of the world when it 
comes to the impact of the energy and mining sectors, as well as a result from the subsequent new and 
stronger focus on sustainability policies that multinational companies are adopting.
Site selection, planning and monitoring for the mining of raw materials holds the largest market 
share over the next decade, growing from €105 m to €122 m between 2021 and 2031. Again, as 
many raw materials become more difficult to find, the use of EO opens up possibilities for efficiently 
scouting, selecting and monitoring mining sites and their operations in remote locations.
© ESRI
© Adobe Stock

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ENERGY AND RAW MATERIALS
EUROPEAN SYSTEMS
Current usage of Galileo and Copernicus in the energy and raw materials 
sector
Current usage of Copernicus
The  Copernicus Land Monitoring Service (CLMS) provides data on albedo and land cover 
(useful for raw materials and onshore energy production), the Copernicus Marine Environment 
Monitoring Service (CMEMS) provides data related to surface temperature, water conditions and 
water level (useful for onshore energy installations, marine and tidal energy) and the Copernicus 
Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) provides solar radiation data important for planning and 
operating solar installations. The Copernicus Climate Service (C3S) also contributes to the energy 
sector, notably through the C3S Energy operational service. Moreover, Sentinel-1 enables InSAR 
services for ground motion monitoring, including the upcoming European Ground Motion Service 
(EGMS). Such services, often working in conjunction with GNSS, are essential for mining. 
The CLMS provides a wide range of biophysical parameters (land surface temperature, land cover, 
imperviousness, etc.) which support site selection and monitoring in this sector. The C3S Energy 
operational service delivers key information for climate-related indicators relevant to the European 
energy sector. This includes data of electricity demand and the production of power from wind, 
solar and hydro sources. The tools developed within C3S Energy are principally derived from 
the work of the two C3S Proof-of-Concepts (POCs) – CLIM4ENERGY (C4E) and the European 
Climate Energy Mixes (ECEM) – with additional elements from the work of other relevant services. 
The CAMS solar radiation services provide historical values (2004 to present) of Global, Direct, 
and Diffuse Solar Irradiance, as well as of Direct Normal Irradiance. These support European and 
national policy makers and help the development of commercial downstream services (e.g. for 
the integration of solar energy systems into the energy supply grid).
Current usage of EGNSS
Implementing Galileo in multi-constellation products offers more reliability and accuracy 
of the Timing solution with quantified integrity, multiple source comparison and versatile adaptive 
approach in mixing constellations and satellites. Galileo Open Service already provides UTC Time 
dissemination better than 30ns [95%] and a Frequency dissemination better than 3*10-13 [95%].
Similarly to most segments, T&S device manufacturers integrate GNSS chipsets that are often 
Galileo-ready. Galileo is also extensively used in mining operations as part of a multi-constellation 
paradigm that improves the outputs of augmented GNSS solutions. Galileo is also greatly used 
in the positioning systems of autonomous mining vehicles, which ultimately improves the safety 
of mining operations.
EGNSS services and features to be explored
The Galileo High Accuracy Service (HAS) provides a multitude of new business opportunities 
in mining operations. Combined with anti-spoofing services – such as the Galileo Open Service, 
Navigation Message Authentication (OSNMA) and Galileo Commercial Authentication Service 
(CAS) – the high accuracy service provides precise and secure tools for the autonomous machinery 
employed in the mining sector. Moreover, the increased robustness against GNSS spoofing offered 
by OSNMA and CAS will improve the T&S resilience of the energy networks.
EGNOS contributes to improved time accuracy and stability. Trustability is also enhanced via 
the provision of an independent time source, the EGNOS Network Time, and built-in integrity that 
could be used to provide a certified Time service in the future.
High Accuracy 
Service
Authenticated
time
Greater Timing
service
Availability
Resilience
Higher (Timing) 
Accuracy
Authentication
features
Multi-
frequency
Galileo
Galileo
Sentinels
Sentinel-1
Sentinel-2
Sentinel-3
Copernicus Services
Climate Change 
(C3S)
Marine 
(CMEMS)
Land  
(CLMS)
Security
(CSS)
Emergency 
(CEMS)
Atmosphere 
(CAMS)
Terminology used on this page is explained in Annex 2 for both GNSS and EO performance parameters.

ENERGY AND RAW MATERIALS
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EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
EUROPEAN PROJECTS
EU projects cover a vast range of GNSS and EO applications for energy and 
raw materials
EO supporting the smart solar energy planning and real-time management
The  e-shape (EuroGEOSS Showcases: Applications Powered by Europe) project constitutes 
the largest coordinated effort to highlight operational services in the field of EO research in Europe. 
Articulated around 27 cloud-based pilot applications under seven thematic areas, it aims to 
develop operational EO services and demonstrate the benefits of EO at national and international 
scales. The nextSENSE pilot project falls under the umbrella of the ‘Energy’ showcase, actively 
supporting the smart solar energy planning and real-time management. Exploiting the synergy 
of EO data and radiative transfer modelling with image processing, optical flow technologies, 
machine learning and high-performance computing architectures, it addresses the  need for 
improved solar energy potential monitoring solutions. Thes are key enablers for an increasing 
integration of solar farms into electricity grids and load exchanges, as well as efficient electricity 
distribution. Relying on existing and new EO techniques dealing with accurate, nowcast, short-
term and long-term forecast estimations of solar energy, the nextSENSE interface allows users 
to navigate, zoom and click at any pixel of the 1.5 million matrix retrieving solar energy potential 
information for three hours either side of real time at 15-min intervals.
More information on: https://e-shape.eu/index.php/showcases/
Building skills and Earth observation related expertise through Copernicus
The RawMatCop Programme aims to develop skills, expertise and applications of Copernicus 
data for the  raw materials sector. It is funded in major part by a  series of  grants from 
the European Commission (DG DEFIS). Copernicus, the European Union’s Earth Observation 
Programme, offers information services based on satellite Earth Observation and in-situ (non-
space) data free of charge.
The RawMatCop Programme demonstrates, disseminates, educates and develops new skills 
and applications of  Copernicus and other Earth Observation data through the  following 
activities:
• Post-doctoral research projects developing innovative new skills, expertise and applications 
of Copernicus data and services for the raw materials sector. 
• Placements for academic researchers in industry, companies and public authorities to facilitate 
the technological transfer of Copernicus skills to end-users.
• Orgainisng the RawMatCop Academy, which offers a hands-on approach and shows how to 
unlock the power of Copernicus for companies, organisations and research institutions along 
the entire life cycle of raw materials.
More information on: https://eitrawmaterials.eu/eit-rm-academy/rawmatcop/
Asset Mapping Platform for Emerging countRies Electrification
The  AMPERE (Asset Mapping Platform for Emerging countRies Electrification) project aims 
to provide a dedicated solution for electrical power network information gathering. AMPERE 
will support decision making actors (e.g. institutions and public/ private companies in charge 
of managing electrical networks) to collect all needed information to plan electrical network 
maintenance and upgrades. In particular, a similar need is present in emerging countries where 
the access to electricity is still far from being achieved in a reliable way. 
The challenge facing such communities goes beyond the lack of infrastructure assets. What is 
needed is a mapping of already deployed infrastructure in order to perform holistic assessments 
of the energy demand and its expected growth over time. In such a context, Galileo is a key 
enabler, especially considering its free-of-charge ‘High Accuracy Service’ (HAS) and its highly 
precise E5 AltBOC code measurements as core components to map electric utilities, optimise 
the decision-making process and therefore increase time and cost efficiency.
More information on: https://h2020-ampere.eu/
InnovativeGNSS technologies for safe mining operations
The GOLDENEYE project is seeking to demonstrate how improved use of Earth Observation and 
GNSS data systems can offer additional exploitation and environmental control and increase 
the productivity of mines. To that end, GOLDENEYE is developing a platform to allow satellites, 
drones and in-situ sensors to collect high-resolution data from an entire mine. These data, after 
processing, will be converted into actionable intelligence to be used for safety, environmental 
observation, more efficient exploitation and 
increased extraction. 
The  project combines remote sensing and 
positioning 
technologies 
to 
take 
advantage 
of  Earth Observation and GNSS data together 
with data fusion and processing powered by data 
analytics and machine learning algorithms.
More information on: https://cordis.europa.eu/
project/id/869398
Co-funded by the
European Union
© www.euractiv.com

92
ENERGY AND RAW MATERIALS
REFERENCE CHARTS
Installed base of GNSS devices by region
Revenue of GNSS device sales by region 
Revenue of GNSS device sales by application
Installed base of GNSS devices by application
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
Units (thousands)
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
 
€ (millions)
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
€ (millions)
Mining (Surveying and Machine Control)
Site selection, planning and monitoring
PMU
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
Units (thousands)
 
Mining (Surveying and Machine Control)
Site selection, planning and monitoring
PMU

ENERGY AND RAW MATERIALS
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EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
REFERENCE CHARTS
Revenue from EO data sales by application
Revenue from EO services sales by application
Revenue from EO services sales by region
Revenue from EO data sales by region
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions) 
 
Site selection, planning and monitoring (Renewable Energy)
Renewable energy assessment potential and forecast
Risk assessment for energy assets
Site selection, planning and monitoring (Raw Materials)
Mining Surveying
Illegal mining monitoring
Environmental impact assessment of energy and mineral resources plants
Supply chain insights
Energy Network conditions monitoring
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions) 
Site selection, planning and monitoring (Renewable Energy)
Renewable energy assessment potential and forecast
Risk assessment for energy assets
Site selection, planning and monitoring (Raw Materials)
Mining Surveying
Illegal mining monitoring
Environmental impact assessment of energy and mineral resources plants
Supply chain insights
Energy Network conditions monitoring
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions) 
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions) 
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean

ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING
94
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING
National and international public bodies (and related agencies and institutions) are 
the main actors in charge of monitoring and protecting the environment, and the main 
user of relevant data and services.
Satellite data – EO in particular – have decades-long history of  contributing to 
environmental monitoring. These are largely used for environmental resources 
management of  multiple resources in various environments (e.g. water and oceans, 
coasts, atmosphere and land). Environmental data for these domains could also be used 
for more specific purposes, such as environment auditing and thus providing data on 
the human impact on the environment.
Due to the  increase in public investments, and to the  resulting technical innovation, 
private companies have also developed keen interest in using EO data and services 
for the purposes of impact studies and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Corporate 
Governance), to mostly assess the  impact of  their activities or show compliance to 
applicable policies.
What you can read in this chapterv
• Key trends: The policies behind Environmental Compliance (Assurance) at EU level will 
drive the demand for EO data and applications.
• Industry: Environmental Monitoring EO Value Chain.
• Recent developments: The major market shares are already claimed by a few specific 
EO applications, while innovative projects and niche capabilities are finding their way.
• Future market evolution: Public authorities through public-private partnerships, 
flexible procurement schemes, and further regulation and standardisation, will open 
new market opportunities.
• European systems and projects: Current usage of Copernicus in the environmental 
monitoring segment
• Reference charts: Yearly evolution of EO revenues by application and region.
Impact studies and ESG
• Impact studies and ESG1
Environmental Auditing
• Environmental auditing1
Environmental Resources 
Management
• Environmental resources management1
© Adobe Stock
1 All three applications are applied across the same four 
different environmental systems being Atmosphere, 
Coasts, Land, and Water & Oceans.
Application descriptions can be found in Annex 3.
Legend
EO application
GNSS application
Synergetic application  
(combined use of EO and GNSS)

ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING
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EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
KEY TRENDS
The policies behind Environmental Compliance (Assurance) at EU level will 
drive the demand for EO data and applications
Key market trends
• Environmental compliance assurance has just been defined as a self-standing concept in EU policy
• Environmental compliance requirements create opportunities for emerging EO markets
• Broadly, global climate policies are driving demand for data and services
Global climate policies are driving demand for environmental services
The  influence of  climate-related policies on the  demand for data and services enabled by Earth 
Observation is increasing thanks to the political momentum engendered by the Paris Agreement and 
the  Sustainable Development Goals. The  European Union’s Green Deal policy package positions 
Copernicus as a key complementary source of policy monitoring information for the European Climate 
Law and the Circular Economy Action Plan. 
The Regulation on the European Space Programme (Art. 50) extends the scope of the Copernicus 
Services to include compliance assurance services. The Communication and Action Plan on improving 
compliance assurance and governance cites satellite imagery as one of  nine forms of  support for 
ensuring environmental compliance. Furthermore, the  use of  geo-spatial intelligence is included in 
the Work Programme 2020-2022 by the Environmental Compliance and Governance Forum. Last but 
not least, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development opens up opportunities for the increased use 
of Earth Observation in the context of reporting on the Sustainable Development Goals. All this drives 
demand for EO-based solutions in the market.
Environmental compliance assurance: a regulatory perspective in Europe
Environmental compliance assurance (ECA) is an overarching concept throughout the environmental 
policies of  the  EU.  It aims at creating ‘…smart and collaborative culture of  compliance with EU 
environmental rules on activities such as industrial production, waste disposal and agriculture…’ 
through ‘…prohibitions, general binding rules, permits and other measures put in place to protect 
the environment, public health and society’s long-term resource needs’.
As Earth Observation in Europe plays a central role in environmental monitoring and compliance, within 
the framework of ‘the endorsed work programme 2020-2022 to improve environmental compliance’, 
geo-intelligence (Copernicus in particular) is seen as an essential tool for the  realization of  ECA 
objectives across the three branches of ECA activities: compliance promotion; compliance monitoring; 
and follow-up and enforcement. This is due to the programme’s operational capacity to provide data on 
multiple parameters, such as land cover/land cover change information, emission databases, monitored 
gas emissions in the atmosphere and oil spills or other pollution into water.
EO companies assisting Environmental compliance assurance
Environmental compliance assurance comes from international, EU and national policies and involves 
practitioners and duty holders both in the creation  phase and implementation of policies. Nonetheless, 
the efforts to use EO best practices and capabilities would have limited effects if it were not for the full, 
free and open Copernicus data, and the ability of innovative EO companies to combine it with data from 
commercial satellites in their provision of value-added services.
Thus, private EO actors provide expertise to support aspects of environmental compliance in relation 
to regional and local norms (e.g., impact assessment, risk assessment, legal audit, damage evidence, 
law enforcement, etc.) and related products, such as alerts and reports. The exact type of expertise 
required may include, other than technical and EO expertise, some legal knowledge of the applicable 
regulations. The  potential and actual user base is broad and includes governments, NGOs, law 
enforcement agencies and law firms.
So far, the number and the role of private companies in the ECA ecosystem has been limited due to 
factors such as the novelty of the concept, the lack of EO as a reference method across policies, an 
overall missing link between EO data and policy implementation and a lack of awareness, presence 
of reluctancy or legal impediments of public institutions to make use of it. This is expected to change 
as the legal framework on ECA becomes more elaborate. An example of this elaboration process is 
through the  EU’s biannual work programmes and the  implementation of  actions contained therein, 
which will in turn help ECA to affirm itself as an autonomous concept and to streamline policies and 
delineate market niches. 
The regulatory cycle divided in sequential 
phases. In this context the possible uses of EO 
are explored. Credits: IMPEL

96
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING
INDUSTRY
Environmental monitoring EO Value Chain1
END USERS
INFORMATION  
PROVIDERS
EO PRODUCTS 
AND SERVICE  
PROVIDERS
PLATFORM  
PROVIDERS
DATA PROVIDERS
INFRASTRUCTURE 
PROVIDERS
• AWS
• BARCELONA 
SUPERCOMPUTING 
CENTRE*
• CLOUDEO*
• CODE 
• COLLAB GS
• COPERNICUS DIAS*
• GOOGLE CLOUD 
PLATFORM
• IBM CLOUD
• INTEL GEOSPATIAL
• MICROSOFT AZURE
• PENGUIN COMPUTING
• PEPS 
• AIRBUS*
• BLACKSKY
• COPERNICUS DIAS*
• DESCARTES LABS
• E-GEOS*
• EARTH-I*
• ECMWF
• EUMETSAT
• GHGSAT
• ICEYE* 
• MAXAR
• PLANET
• UP42*
• ADAM*
• CLEOS*
• CLOUDEO*
• COPERNICUS DIAS*
• MAXAR ARD
• NOR 
• PLANET EXPLORER
• SENTINEL HUB*
• TERRADUE*
• UP42*
• BLUE LATITUDES
• CYBELE*
• ECOMETRICA*
• EOMAP*
• GEOVILLE*
• OVERSTORY*
• PLANETEK*
• SATELLIGENCE*
• WATER INSIGHT*
AIR QUALITY:
• AIRQAST*
• BREEZE TECHNOLOGIES*
• EARTHSENSE*
• WORLD FROM SPACE*
CARBON CREDITS:
• PACHAMA
• SINGLE.EARTH*
EMMISSIONS:
• BLUEFIELD* (METHANE)
• KAYRROS* 
(GREENHOUSE GAS)
FORESTS:
• C.O.D.E. COMPANY*
• FÖRA*
WATER:
• DELTARES*
• POLICY MAKERS
• DUTY HOLDERS
• LEGAL PRACTITIONERS
• JUDICIARY 
• NGOS
• CORPORATES
• GENERAL PUBLIC
• ENVIRONMENTAL 
AGENCIES
• INTERNATIONAL 
AGENCIES (E.G. UN…)
• COPERNICUS 
COLLABORATIVE 
GROUND SEGMENT*
• COPERNICUS 
SENTINELS*
• USGS/NASA LANDSAT
• RELEVANT IN-SITU 
NETWORKS
• ESA THEMATIC 
EXPLOITATION 
PLATFORMS
• COPERNICUS SERVICES*
NOTES
1 The value chain considers the key global and European companies involved in GNSS and EO downstream activities.
* European-based companies. The region is defined with respect to the headquarters of the company, though the actual area of activity might be wider.
LEGEND
	Commercial Offering
	Public Offering
	User segments

ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING
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EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS 
The major market shares are already claimed by a few specific EO applications, 
while innovative projects and niche capabilities are finding their way
Private sector actors entering the greenhouse gas monitoring market
Despite the  strong scientific and institutional character of  the  greenhouse gases (GHG) monitoring 
sector, several private-sector firms are also active in this field. Methane, carbon and other trace gas 
emissions are being monitored via satellite remote sensing, in combination with ground-based sensor 
measurements, generally in the context of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) data provision. 
Companies are also monitoring emissions at power-plant level and selling access to their datasets. 
As an example, Climate TRACE is a global coalition of non-profit and private sector actors working 
together to monitor nearly all human-caused GHG emissions worldwide, independently and in real 
time.  
Although monitoring of  GHGs from space remains 
largely an institutional and scientific endeavour, there 
is a clear need for such information, both for policy-
level support and for operational applications. 
The wide gap in technology adoption means that there 
is a niche for commercial actors to fill in this area. This 
is what also drives increased investment in companies 
that build EO constellations with specific focus on 
GHG monitoring.
More and more companies are moving toward an environmental, social, 
and governance (ESG) culture
Be it driven by ‘sustainable’ financing opportunities, sector-specific environmental regulations, 
or the company’s vision as upheld by its pool of customers, the corporate world is steadily moving 
towards an ESG culture. In practice, this means that increasing numbers of companies are becoming 
aware of  and demonstrating an interest in the  impact their resource (energy included) and waste 
chains have on the  community and society overall, leading them to take conscious steps towards 
improving their social impact and governance. In this context, thanks to its broad spatiotemporal 
availability and standardised nature, Earth Observation is well positioned to support such efforts as it 
enables consistent and comparative analyses at a continental scale. For example, dedicated methane 
analytics and reporting are enabled by a number of EO-based businesses which are using Artificial 
Intelligence and Machine Learning to support asset managers and stakeholders responsible for ESG 
factors to understand investment risk and growth opportunity. Similarly, big corporations are using 
EO-enabled solutions to certify deforestation-free production of commodities (e.g. palm oil, cocoa, etc.). 
With major investors also implementing ESG-aware decisions, this recent trend can be expected to 
grow offering plenty of opportunity for EO-based solutions across multiple sectors.  
Use of EO for harmful algae bloom (HABs) monitoring and reporting under 
the Water Framework Directive
The  Water Framework Directive (WFD) bounds the  Member States to regular monitoring and to 
periodical reporting on parameters relevant for determining the  ecological and chemical status 
of water bodies. These parameters include, macrophytes and chlorophyll-a, transparency and salinity. 
Chlorophyll-a levels are a prime indicator for detecting harmful algae blooms in the observed water 
body, which are detrimental towater flora and fauna, and with possible repercussions on recreation, 
tourism and human health. 
The monitoring activities of Member States related to the WFD are traditionally dependent on in-situ 
measurements. For some parameters, such as the chlorophyll-a, the use of Earth observation data and 
numerical modelling could (often in combination with in-situ) lead to more precise results, reduction 
of manual measurements and possibly even  the saving of some costs related to traditional in-situ-only 
monitoring. This would benefit both public authorities in charge of monitoring and reporting under 
the WFD (i.e., environmental ministries, agencies and similar bodies) and the interested private sector 
(e.g., tourism and fisheries associations).
Data from the  Copernicus programme (e.g., Sentinel-2 Multispectral Instrument) can be used for 
the purpose, as well as value added products and services offered by commercial providers.
Use of EO to fight against environmental crime in the domain of waste disposal
Over the years, the European Union has gradually adopted a complete set of environmental legislation 
but still faces a number of implementation challenges. With 15% of waste placed on sites which do not 
meet the EU standards, waste disposal is part of these challenges. 
During the last decades, the production of waste has significantly increased, thus requiring more 
sophisticated and costly waste management systems. Difficulties in treating waste have opened 
the  door to illegal activities which cause significant harm to the  environment and human health, 
resulting in losses of income representing several billion euros at a global scale for public authorities 
and private businesses.
Already largely used for environmental monitoring purposes, satellite imagery can also play a crucial 
role in environmental law enforcement and help public authorities in fighting against ‘waste crime’. 
For instance, automated change detection routines applied to multitemporal radar data can detect 
the presence and monitor the evolution of illegal landfill sites, over large areas and at a reasonable cost. 
They can also be used to monitor legal landfills to ensure they remain within authorised boundaries. 
In this context, very high resolution optical data (mostly commercially available) can be an invaluable 
source of information, to potentially trigger on-site inspections and to constitute evidence files for use 
in a court of law.
© Adobe Stock

98
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING
FUTURE MARKET EVOLUTION
Long way to go: use of Earth observation imagery as evidence in 
environment-related court proceedings
Prosecuting environmental crime is arguably the most obvious instance or use of EO imagery 
in the courtroom. Determining if air, water or soil emission standards have been breached are 
only a few of the concrete applications where satellite data could be indispensable. However, 
the operational use of EO data in similar circumstances is still limited. This is due to procedural and 
technical barriers. Procedural barriers vary among jurisdictions, as do the conditions for data to 
be considered evidence and used in court. Technical barriers common among jurisdictions include 
a lack of awareness of satellite capabilities and limited ability in interpreting satellite data. In 
recent years significant efforts have been undertaken to overcome such barriers by entities such 
as the European Union Network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law 
(IMPEL) who have been working actively to raise awareness of the possibilities of EO among 
environmental legal professionals. As for the  question of  interpretation and authentication 
of the satellite data, it is necessary that standardization efforts ramp up so that imagery or 
measurements can unequivocally be used in court. 
Each of these two developments will eventually open new opportunities for EO companies as 
providers, interpreters and potentially authenticators of data and value-added services. 
Public-private partnerships and novel procurement schemes
The increased involvement of private actors within Environmental Compliance-related services 
seems imminent. There is a push from public authorities for this involvement, notably under 
the form of public-private partnerships (PPPs) where EO companies provide the EO data (or 
the  value-added-service based on it) to the  authority in charge of  policy implementation/
monitoring. For instance, this is the  case for many EU Member States where the  Common 
Agricultural Policy stimulates environmentally friendly practices through subsidies. When it 
comes to the maintenance of permanent grassland, farmers are entitled to subsidies as long 
as they mow the grasslands periodically. While in the past this was verified by the personnel 
of  the  Paying Agencies through on-site inspections, the  responsible authorities are now 
partnering with local or international EO companies to automate the process. 
The  result is openly accessible online platforms where Copernicus data (and machine 
learning algorithms) are used to display the status of grassland mowing obligations at field 
level, allowing the responsible authority to objectively, automatically and remotely manage 
compliance checks and therefore distribute subsidy payments fairly. This improves the policy 
implementation process and potentially reduces costs of  personnel inspections and from 
subsidising uncompliant claimants, while contributing to the  principles of  transparency and 
public accountability.
Further steps in using cutting edge technologies 
such as EO in the  policy cycles of  environmental 
compliance assurance will inevitably require more 
flexible procurement practices under the form of pre-
commercial procurement, such as those already 
implemented by H2020 projects for specific EO 
sectors (e.g., the Marine EO project) as well for GNSS 
(e.g., the BroadGNSS project).
The revenues from the sale of both EO data and services in the environmental monitoring sector in 2021 
amount to €120 m, and will grow to reach €190 m in 2031. The breakdown in terms of applications 
shows the three major market shares ranked as follows: Environmental resources management; 
Environmental auditing; and Impact studies and ESG.
The dominant market share held by the Environmental resources management represents –   and will 
continue to represent – over half of the revenue in the entire Environmental monitoring market. This is 
a reflection of the large focus on environmental monitoring across sectors, both vstrongoluntary and 
pursuant to compliance required by sectoral or overarching requirements. Similar are the factors driving 
the increasing demand in the field of Impact studies and ESG.
Public authorities through public-private partnerships, flexible procurement schemes, 
and further regulation and standardisation, will open new market opportunities
Mowing 
detection 
map 
showing 
compliant  
and non-compliant fields. Credits: © KappaZeta
Revenue from EO data & services sales by application
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions)
Environmental resources management
Impact studies and ESG
Environmental auditing

ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING
99
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
EUROPEAN SYSTEMS AND PROJECTS
Current usage of Copernicus in the environmental monitoring segment
Current usage of Copernicus
Extensive usage of  Copernicus data and services is 
made by environment and climate applications. For 
the purposes of environmental monitoring, a vast range 
of data is used or can be used, depending on the subject 
of the environmental regulation or law at hand (e.g., air 
quality, waste management, atmospheric emissions, 
etc.). Data can also be provided to support Member 
states and bodies in reporting under directives.
This is the  case of  the  Joint Copernicus Marine 
- EMODnet catalogue, released in June 2021 
and soon to be extended to all European seas. 
The catalogue is aimed at supporting Member States 
in the  implementation of the Marine Safety Framework 
Directive and its descriptors. The underlying free and 
open data is a combination of satellite and modelling 
(from CMEMS) and in-situ data (from EMODnet).
Supporting Environmental Law Enforcement 
with Earth Observation 
At present, satellite-derived information is not used on a regular 
basis as primary evidence in environmental law enforcement. 
The ‘Copernicus for environmental law enforcement support’ 
project aims to bridge the gap for the utilisation of capacities  
provided by Copernicus for environmental law enforcement 
and related cross-cutting sectors. To these ends, the project’s 
objective is to deliver EO-based services providing evidence 
on environmental incidences and legal violations in order to 
support the  evidence-gathering process and to foster data-
driven decision-making.
More information on: https://envirolens.eu
Observation-based system for monitoring 
and verification of greenhouse gas fluxes 
As the negative impacts of global warming become increasingly 
evident, public authorities and private stakeholders are 
enhancing efforts to curve down the emissions of greenhouse 
gases (GHG). 
This project is developing a system to estimate greenhouse gas 
emissions, based on land, ocean and atmospheric observations, 
to support countries’ emissions reporting to the  UN Climate 
Change Convention Secretariat. It focuses on the three major 
greenhouse gases responsible for global warming: carbon 
dioxide (CO2); methane (CH4); and nitrous oxide (N2O).
More information on: http://verify.lsce.ipsl.fr
Defining the future of inland water services 
for Copernicus 
The  availability of  free Copernicus data has started 
transforming approaches to the  assessment, monitoring and 
sustainable management of  aquatic environments. However, 
the  water-related products are delivered through several 
different Copernicus services.
This project aims to develop a  roadmap for a  centralised 
provision of  Copernicus water-related services, addressing 
(amongst other things) the  quality of  inland and coastal 
waters. This roadmap will support user uptake as well as the  
implementation of relevant policies.
More information on: https://waterforce.eu
Prototype system for a Copernicus CO2 service 
The CoCO2 project is a continuation of the CO2 Human Emissions 
(CHE) project, and builds on some of  the  work initiated in 
the  Verifying Greenhouse Gas Emissions (VERIFY) project. 
Its objective is to design and build the prototype systems for 
a  European Monitoring and Verification Support capacity for 
anthropogenic CO2 emissions (CO2MVS), bringing together 
existing capacities and innovative ideas from a  wide range 
of European and international players. The prototypes will link 
to as much of the already existing Copernicus infrastructure as 
possible, and will ensure that all the components needed for 
the attribution of CO2 emissions are designed and developed 
(e.g. Earth system models, data assimilation techniques, prior 
emission estimation, etc.). 
More information on: https://coco2-project.eu
Copernicus Services
Land
(CLMS)
Atmosphere 
(CAMS)
Marine  
(CMEMS)
Sentinels
Sentinel-6
Sentinel-5P
Sentinel-1
Sentinel-2
Sentinel-3

100
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING
REFERENCE CHARTS
Revenue from EO data sales by application
Revenue from EO services sales by application
Revenue from EO services sales by region
Revenue from EO data sales by region
0 
5 
10 
15 
20 
25 
30 
35 
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions)
Environmental resources management
Impact studies and ESG
Environmental auditing
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions)
Environmental resources management
Impact studies and ESG
Environmental auditing
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031
€ (millions)
 
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
 
€ (millions)
 
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean

FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE
101
FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE
Fisheries and aquaculture are an essential part of the economy and a major contributor 
to food production – fishermen, fishing companies and societies are dependent on having 
sufficient and sustainable catch.
Several applications of satellite data support this segment. In the domain of fisheries, 
EO is used to assess the  location of  fish stocks and to potentially optimise fishing 
efforts. Optical and radar data is also used to trace and ‘see’ fishing vessels and assess 
the legality of their actions, thus also helping to prevent and combat illegal, unreported 
and unregulated (IUU) fishing. GNSS also contributes to IUU detection with its traditional 
use in the field, namely tracking the location of vessels through Automatic Identification 
System (AIS) and Vessel Monitoring System (VMS). Another no less important application 
of GNSS data for fisheries relates to improving safety at sea for fishing vessels and their 
crews by using GNSS-enabled navigation devices as well as AIS for collision avoidance.
In the  field of  aquaculture, EO-based applications mostly support site selection for 
future fish farms (with input of  environmental conditions, forecasts and predictions, 
often in the form of maritime spatial planning products). Both EO and GNSS applications 
contribute to the  optimisation and planning of  aquaculture operations by providing 
a host of information to aquafarmers. 
What you can read in this chapter
• Key trends: Growing food demand and aims for sustainability are the main drivers in 
the fisheries and aquaculture markets.
• Industry: Fisheries and Aquaculture Value Chains.
• Recent developments: GNSS-enabled navigation and AIS boost safety of navigation, 
whilst IUU control supports monitoring of global fishing activities.
• Future market evolution: Increased satellite-enabled capabilities open new frontiers 
for fisheries and aquaculture.
• EU systems and projects: GNSS and EO capabilities power innovative R&D efforts for 
fisheries and aquaculture.
• Reference charts: Yearly evolution of installed base of GNSS devices and revenues as 
well as EO revenues by application and region.
© Adobe Stock
Application descriptions can be found in Annex 3.
Aquaculture
• Aquaculture operations optimisation
• Aquaculture site selection
Fisheries
• Illegal, unreported and unregulated  
fishing (IUU) control
• Catch optimisation
• Fish stock detection
• Fishing aggregating devices
• Fishing vessels navigation
Legend
EO application
GNSS application
Synergetic application  
(combined use of EO and GNSS)

102
FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE
KEY TRENDS
Growing food demand and aims for sustainability are the main drivers in the 
fisheries and aquaculture markets
Key market trends
• Fisheries  are becoming increasingly important as land for agriculture diminishes and food demand increases
• Investment and Innovation seek to boost the Blue Economy including the fisheries and aquaculture sector
• Key policy efforts drive demand for solutions that enable sustainable and more resilient fisheries and aquaculture
Fisheries and aquaculture form a key component of the Green Deal
The EU’s commitment to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050 is driven by the European 
Green Deal. This commitment requires decisive steps towards restoring the  health of  our oceans, 
securing food production through fisheries and aquaculture and fostering a sustainable blue economy. 
Today the  blue economy represents roughly 5.4 million jobs and generates a  gross added value 
of almost €500 billion a year. When it comes to fisheries, Europe has seen a gradual progress towards 
environmental and economic sustainability. The Green Deal calls for 30% of the Maritime Fisheries 
Fund to contribute to climate action and biodiversity conservation.
For instance, whilst in 2009 the EU fishing fleet was barely profitable, in 2019 it documented estimated 
net profits of €1.3 billion. At the same time great strides have been made to fight illegal, unreported 
and unregulated (IUU) fishing and preserve fish stocks. In parallel, aquaculture is gaining strong 
political momentum as exemplified through the recent strategic guidelines for a more sustainable and 
competitive EU aquaculture, also in the light of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 – Life below 
water. Overall, the effort to modernise, strengthen and to make the fisheries and aquaculture sector 
more resilient and sustainable increasingly relies on GNSS and EO, both of which have proven to be 
invaluable tools supporting  multiple applications.
Healthy oceans and sustainable food production become pillars of innovation and 
investment efforts
Accounting for about 3.3% of global fisheries and aquaculture production, the EU is the fifth largest 
producer worldwide. 80% of this production comes from fisheries and 20% from aquaculture. Forming 
part of the Blue Economy, this sector has been increasingly relying on cutting-edge solutions for safe 
navigation of fishing vessels, fish detection and catch optimisation, but also for improving aquaculture 
operations. Many of these topics are expected to show significant growth powered by recent trends 
around investment, research and innovation. Thus, the BlueInvest initiative aims to boost innovation 
and investment in sustainable technologies for the blue economy by supporting readiness and access 
to finance for early-stage businesses, SMEs and scale-ups. It is enabled by the European Maritime and 
Fisheries Fund. 
With global rise in fisheries an aquaculture consumption, traceability for 
sustainable fishing is crucial   
The seafood market is growing due to increased demand worldwide, reductions in loss and waste 
and increased awareness of the health benefits linked to a seafood-based diet. In addition, the greater 
awareness of climate change has led to the creation of different initiatives (public, private and NGOs) 
for the  protection of  the  oceans, seas, inland waterways and marine resources with the  objective 
of supporting sustainable fishing. Organisations such as the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) 
are establishing standards to address key social and environmental impacts and stress the importance 
of traceability. EO and GNSS technologies are key enablers of traceability features. For instance, AIS 
can be used in combination with GNSS to seamlessly track certified fishing fleets, informing sustainable 
production all the way to the final product. 
© Adobe Stock

FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE
103
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
INDUSTRY
Fisheries and Aquaculture Value Chains1
END USERS
INFORMATION  
PROVIDERS
USERS OF 
POSITIONING 
INFORMATION
EO PRODUCTS 
AND SERVICE  
PROVIDERS
USERS
PLATFORM  
PROVIDERS
SYSTEM 
INTEGRATORS
DATA PROVIDERS
COMPONENT 
AND RECEIVER 
MANUFACTURERS 
INFRASTRUCTURE 
PROVIDERS
MARITIME 
ORGANISATIONS
• AWS
• CLOUDEO*
• COPERNICUS DIAS*
• GOOGLE CLOUD 
PLATFORM
• HEWLETT PACKARD 
ENTERPRISE
• IBM CLOUD
• INTEL GEOSPATIAL
• MICROSOFT AZURE
• PENGUIN COMPUTING
CIRM is an international 
association for marine 
electronics companies
• AIRBUS*
• COPERNICUS DIAS*
• DAMPIER
• DEIMOS IMAGING*
• E-GEOS*
• EARTH-I*
• EUROGOOS*
• FONDEN*
• GOOGLE
• HAWKEYE 360
• ICEYE*
• MAXAR
• MERCATOR OCEAN*
• PLANET
• COBHAM*
• COBRA ELECTRONICS
• FURUNO
• GARMIN
• NAVICO*
• KONGSBERG*
• OROLIA*
• SAMYUNG ENC
• WÄRTSILÄ *
• ADAM*
• CLEOS (E-GEOS)*
• COPERNICUS DIAS*
• MAXAR ARD
• PLANET EXPLORER
• RHETICUS (PLANETEK)*
• UP42*
• INMARSAT*
• IRIDIUM
• KINEIS (ARGOS)
• PRONAV
• ST ELECTRONICS
• YANMAR
• WÄRTSILÄ *
• ACRI *
• CLS*
• DEIMOS*
• EOMAP*
• KSAT*
• MARIS PLATFORM   
• OCEANMIND*
• PLANETEK*
• PML*
• SKYTRUTH
• VAKE*
• VITO*
• WATER INSIGHT*
• FISHING BOAT OPERATORS
• RECREATIONAL BOATERS
• BREVISCO*
• CLS*
• DELTARES*
• DNV*
• GLOBAL MARITIME*
• ILVO*
• INNOVASEA
• SEASCAPE*
• FISHING COMPANIES
• PORT AUTHORITIES
• SURVEILLANCE 
AUTHORITIES
• DATA-ANALYTICS 
COMPANIES:
MARINETRAFFIC, 
MYSHIPTRACKING, 
VESSELTRACKER
• FISHERIES
• AQUAFARMERS
• ENVIRONMENTAL 
AGENCIES
• CONSERVATION GROUPS
• NGOS
• MARINE RESEARCH 
INSTITUTES
• MARINE PROTECTION 
AGENCIES
• SUPERMARKETS
EARTH 
OBSERVATION
GNSS
• COPERNICUS 
COLLABORATIVE GROUND 
SEGMENT*
EFCA EUROPEAN FISHERIES 
CONTROL AGENCY
EMSA EU agency charged 
with reducing risks of maritime 
accidents, marine pollution 
and loss of human lives at sea
• COPERNICUS SENTINELS*
• USGS/NASA LANDSAT
• RELEVANT IN-SITU 
NETWORKS
• METEOROLOGICAL 
AGENCIES
• OCEANOGRAPHIC 
AGENCIES
• THEMATIC EXPLOITATION 
PLATFORM COASTAL (ESA 
TEP)*
• EMODNET*
• COPERNICUS SERVICES*
NOTES
1 The value chain considers the key global and European companies involved in GNSS and EO downstream activities.
2 In the market share analysis, Europe is defined as EU27 plus Norway, Switzerland and the UK.
* European-based companies. The region is defined with respect to the headquarters of the company, though the actual area of activity might be wider.
LEGEND
	Commercial Offering
	Public Offering
	User segments
European2 EO and 
GNSS industry in 
the global arena
With CLS and ACRI (FR), 
Leonardo (IT), DHI FONDEN 
(DK) and Dampier (LU) there 
are 5 European companies in 
the top 10 worldwide com-
panies providing EO data/
services for fisheries and 
aquaculture. With regards 
to the  data processing ser-
vices, these companies hold 
roughly 60% of  the  glob-
al share, with their share 
amounting at almost 90% 
of  the  global market with 
regard 
to 
the 
provision 
of services such as Analysis, 
insights & decision support.
GNSS receivers in Fisheries 
and Aquaculture are similar 
to those used in Maritime 
and 
Inland 
Waterways, 
with a significant overlap in 
terms of industry. European 
companies such as Navico, 
Kongsberg, and Wärtsilä 
hold 47% of  the  total 
maritime market.

104
FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS 
GNSS-enabled navigation and AIS boost safety of navigation, whilst IUU 
control supports monitoring of global fishing activities
Combatting illegal fishing with the help of satellites
Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing makes up about 20% of the global catch. IUU fishing costs the global economy between € 9 and €21 billion 
annually. Most importantly, the underlying practices, arising from lacking, unenforced or breached regulations, pose a threat to biodiversity and human rights. 
There is therefore a need to increase transparency and stop IUU fishing by providing precise information on these illicit practices to policy makers and regulators, 
researchers, advocates, businesses and consumers. To this end, EO-based services, including the Maritime Surveillance component of the Copernicus Security 
Service and GNSS-based solutions utilising VMS and AIS, are important contributors to the fight against IUU. New tools are also emerging such as Radio-
Frequency (RF) data analytics offered by NewSpace startups. All this is leveraged in major multi-actor collaborations. 
This is the case of The Global Fishing Watch – an initiative supported by major IT companies, NGOs and governmental 
actors – which produces a map that represents the world’s first dynamic, global, near real-time measure of fishing activity. 
The free and open platform makes use of VMS and AIS data, satellite technology, cloud computing and machine learning. 
The satellite data used is a combination of data coming from various sources – a partnership with NOAA provides Visible 
Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) data, while other data is bought from space agencies (e.g., NASA, NOAA, ESA) 
or acquired from commercial satellite data providers (in the latter case either through agreements in place or through ad 
hoc requests). 
Another example is the Norwegian Coastal Authority who, in collaboration with Mercator Ocean, have developed a tool called barentswatch.co. By combining 
GNSS and EO data with Artificial Intelligence (AI), the tool is capable of identifying vessels with ‘suspicious’ route patterns, contributing to a more efficient 
identification and monitoring of vessels that are possibly conducting illicit activities or are engaged with IUU fishing.
Over the past decade, the annual sales of navigation devices doubled from roughly 75,000 units in 
2010 to slightly over 150,000 sales in 2020. The underlying reasons for this growth are twofold. First, 
safety of navigation is improved by relying on a dedicated navigation device, especially in combination 
with an Automatic Identification System (AIS) that supports collision avoidance. Second, innovative 
applications such as GNSS-tracked fishing buoys or EO products supporting fish stock detection (see 
next page) rely on trustworthy GNSS navigation to direct the fishing vessel to fishing grounds.
When it comes to aiding Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing control, the sales of Vessel 
Monitoring Systems (VMS) reached almost 20 thousands units in 2020, a figure very similar for the AIS 
shipments (roughly 18 thousand units).
VMS, mandatory for vessels of twelve metres or longer, is a satellite-based monitoring system providing 
data to the fisheries authorities on the location, course and of vessels. In turn, AIS is a safety radio 
system which enables the exchange of navigation and other dspeedata (ship-to-ship and with shore-
based facilities) and is required for vessels of 15 meters or longer. Since both systems assist authorities 
with the monitoring of vessel movement, they provide useful information to combat IUU activities. For 
this reason, they are covered together under the IUU control application.
© EC
© Global Fishing Watch
© BarentsWatch
Shipments of GNSS devices by application 
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
2010
 
2011
 
2012
 
2013
 
2014
 
2015
 
2016
 
2017
 
2018
 
2019
 
2020
 
Units (thousands)
Fishing vessels navigation
 
IUU control (VMS and AIS)

FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE
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EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
FUTURE MARKET EVOLUTION
Increased satellite-enabled capabilities open new frontiers for fisheries 
and aquaculture
Aqua Farmers benefit from innovative services utilising Copernicus 
Aquaculture production is projected to reach 109 million tonnes in 2030, an increase of 32 
percent (26 million tonnes) over 2018. For this to be realised in an efficient, sustainable and 
environmentally friendly way, aquafarmers and governmental authorities responsible for 
regulation need information that helps them make informed decisions and timely interventions. 
This is precisely what Earth Observation in general, and Copernicus in particular, can offer for 
aquaculture site selection and operations optimisation. By integrating satellite measurements 
with in-situ observations and operational modelling, innovative EO companies provide 
solutions such as maps of suitability conditions for farm management that take into account key 
parameters such as temperature, salinity, turbidity and Chlorophyll-a. Moreover, EO-enabled 
systems can generate alerts for hazardous conditions, including heat waves and oxygen depleted 
conditions. Such solutions are progressively becoming operational, following their design 
and implementation in Research and Innovation projects such as H2020 FORCOAST, which 
supports the  development of  an advanced 
platform and cloud computing for Copernicus-
based downstream services utilising one 
of  the  Data and Information Access Services 
(DIAS) systems. Much of the innovation work 
is also supported by the European Aquaculture 
Technology and Innovation Platform, often 
in collaboration with Mercator Ocean as 
the  manager of  the  Copernicus Marine 
Environment Monitoring Service, and through 
platforms such as the WekEO DIAS.
Aquaculture entering deeper waters with help from EO and GNSS
The  share of  fish production destined for human 
consumption is expected to continue to grow, 
reaching 89 percent by 2030. This will lead 
aquaculture production to new frontiers, further 
away from the  shore. Still an emerging approach, 
offshore or open ocean aquaculture entails 
the positioning of  farms in deeper and less sheltered 
waters, where ocean currents are stronger than they 
are inshore. 
This comes with significant challenges. Firstly, the positioning of offshore platforms requires 
a host of data that would indicate the optimal conditions (e.g., salinity, currents, temperature, 
etc.). This is precisely and clearly where Copernicus Services and EMODnet data can add 
value. Secondly, the operation of offshore farms is often done by fully automated vessels (e.g. 
Ocean Farm 1 and Jostein Albert) which rely on accurate positioning and navigation provided 
by augmented GNSS solutions – mainly PPP due to the offshore nature of aquaculture. Other 
setups such as seaweed farms also benefit from IoT configurations that make use of GNSS for 
the localisation of networks of buoys. 
The annual revenue from the sale of both EO data and services to the fisheries sector is estimated to 
grow from €54 m in 2021 to €92 m in 2031. 
Fish stock detection and Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing control hold almost 
equal shares throughout the projected timeframe. The structure of the total revenue for each of the two 
applications is, however, very different. 
For Fish stock detection revenues from services make up to 97% of the total by 2031. On the other 
hand, IUU fishing control revenues will comprise in 2031 of 67% in services and 33% in data sales. 
The revenues from applications using EO data for aquaculture activities are not plotted, as this market is 
currently in its infancy. Nonetheless, given the importance aquaculture has gained in recent key policies 
as well as the overall growth of the market, one can expect that in the very near future such revenues 
will become substantial. 
© DNV
Revenue from EO data & services sales by application
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions)
Fish stock detection
IUU control
© Adobe Stock

106
FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE
EUROPEAN SYSTEMS AND PROJECTS
Current usage of Copernicus
The  Copernicus Marine Service (CMEMS) User Uptake 
programme 
showcases 
important 
operational 
uses 
of the associated data and products. One illustrative example 
is  SkyFISH: a web-based and free-to-use platform that can 
serve as a decision support tool for finding the most favourable 
fishing zones in the  Black Sea, analysing the  suitability 
of specific areas for aquaculture activities and the monitoring 
of  existing ones. Most of  the  measured parameters are 
updated daily and result in a  multitude of  value-added 
services, primarily based on the suitability indices for fishing 
and aquaculture activities.
Current usage of EGNSS
With around 40 GNSS receivers for fishing vessel navigation 
enabled with Galileo, fishermen already rely on improved 
positioning and navigation information. When it comes to 
the monitoring of fishing vessels and their activities, a key role 
is set out for AIS and VMS, to which Galileo and its services 
can provide added value.
 
The upcoming evolution from AIS towards VDES (Very High 
Frequency Data Exchange System) and the possibility to use 
the authenticated signal from Galileo Open Service Navigation 
Message Authentication (OSNMA) could be a gamechanger 
for the efficient and effective monitoring of fishing vessels. 
GNSS and EO capabilities power innovative R&D efforts for fisheries 
and aquaculture
Towards the establishment of a marine-thematic European Open Science Cloud
To address the global climate, environmental and societal challenges, a pressing need has been identified for a new approach to 
ocean science and blue resource management. Indeed, a growing number of actors propose infrastructure collecting, accessing 
and managing marine data. Yet the currently existing capabilities cannot be used for complex or global challenges where multi-
disciplinary and worldwide information is key.
A practical approach towards addressing this gap is proposed by Blue-Cloud, a Horizon 2020 project combining Copernicus with 
other distributed marine and interdisciplinary data sources, computing facilities and analytical services, working towards establishing 
a marine-thematic European Open Science Cloud. In their plankton genomic demonstrator, Copernicus data is combined with data 
from biomolecular and environmental domains to assess plankton distributions and fill the scientific knowledge gaps on its biology 
and biodiversity. A second demonstrator integrates existing services from Copernicus Marine Service, ECMW and EMODNET to 
combine parameters from marine environment, oceanography, meteorology and acidification. This will provide decision makers and 
environmental agencies with unified marine environmental indicators. A third tool, the aquaculture monitor, uses Copernicus data 
in producing national aquaculture sector overviews.
More information available at: https://www.blue-cloud.org/
Complete shipborne equipment with integrated GNSS
GNSS supports position reporting within VMS. In the EU, all vessels above 15 metres are fitted with a VMS, and a ‘blue box’ which 
transmits the GNSS-derived vessel position to the Fisheries Monitoring Centre (FMC) in the flag state, which then communicates 
this information to the state or regional fisheries body in whose waters the vessel is fishing.
A new EU project, called Bluebox Porbeagle aims to develop close-to-market complete shipborne integrated equipment, compliant 
with regulatory standards for Vessel Monitoring Devices required by EFCA and countries’ regulations. The new product will disrupt 
current market solutions through the first use of anti-spoofing cybersecurity protection technology and improved accuracy with 
dual frequency, enhancing the fishery VMS with Galileo Open Service (OS). 
The Bluebox Porbeagle VMS shipborne equipment will decode dual frequency position, velocity, and time (PVT) information from 
E1/E5a Galileo signals and perform autonomous GNSS data messages authentication based on OSNMA.
More information available at: https://blueporbeagle.eu/
Sentinels
Copernicus Services
Marine  
(CMEMS)
Sentinel-6
Sentinel-1
Sentinel-2
Sentinel-3

FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE
107
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
REFERENCE CHARTS
Installed base of GNSS devices by region 
Revenue of GNSS device sales by region
Revenue of GNSS device sales by application
Installed base of GNSS devices by application 
0
200
400
600
800
1 000
1 200
1 400
1 600
1 800
2 000
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
Units (thousands)
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
€ (millions)
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
€ (millions)
Fishing vessels navigation
 
IUU control (VMS and AIS)
0
200
400
600
800
1 000
1 200
1 400
1 600
1 800
2 000
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
Units (thousands)
Fishing vessels navigation
 
IUU control (VMS and AIS)

108
FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE
REFERENCE CHARTS
Revenue from EO data sales by application
Revenue from EO services sales by application
Revenue from EO services sales by region
Revenue from EO data sales by region
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions)
Fish stock detection
IUU control
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions)
 
Fish stock detection
IUU control
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions)
 
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18 
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions)
 
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean

FORESTRY
109
FORESTRY
Given the vast sizes and often remote locations of many forests, the use of EO and GNSS 
in the forestry sector is fast becoming a key enabler for forestry managers to efficiently 
execute forestry operations and for governmental bodies to monitor environmental 
impacts related to forestry activities. 
EO allows for the  remote monitoring and health assessment of  forest inventories as 
well as the detection of issues such as illegal logging and deforestation, an issue that 
is becoming more and more critical as forest resources around the world become more 
vulnerable.
GNSS, particularly when coupled with EO, allows for the execution of precision forestry 
operations such as the guidance of machinery and variable rate application of fertilisers 
and irrigation, something particularly effective for the cultivation of young trees. 
What you can read in this chapter
• Key trends: Forest protection, restoration & sustainable management requires 
ambitious policies and technological solutions to support them.
• Industry: Forestry Value Chains.
• Recent developments: Recent and future developments in EO have a strong impact on 
forestry applications.
• Future market evolution: Protecting and managing our forests will increasingly require 
high-tech solutions.
• European systems and projects: Several key projects use Copernicus and Galileo data 
to innovate in the forestry sector.
• Reference charts: Yearly evolution of installed base of GNSS devices and revenues as 
well as EO revenues by application and region.
© Adobe Stock
Application descriptions can be found in Annex 3.
Environmental monitoring
• Biomass monitoring
• Deforestation/degradation monitoring
Operations management
• Automatic steering
• Forest asset management 
• Forest exploitation certification
• Forest machinery guidance
Natural resources monitoring
• Forest Inventory monitoring
• Forest vegetation health monitoring
• llegal logging monitoring 
Legend
EO application
GNSS application
Synergetic application  
(combined use of EO and GNSS)

110
FORESTRY
KEY TRENDS
Securing sustainable timber supply chains
Given the enormity and complexity of global supply chains, it can be extremely difficult to know where 
products were sourced from and if they were produced sustainably. The  global timber market is no 
exception, with the World Bank estimating that 15-30% of timber is harvested and exported illegally. To 
help fight against illegal and unsustainable timber production, GNSS is one of the technologies that 
can be adopted to help trace timber movements, right down to the tracking of individual logs. This can 
help increase the transparency and traceability of the timber supply chain, reducing the likelihood of illegal 
exportation going unnoticed. Not only does this practice help to bolster the sustainability of our timber 
supply chains, but it also increases operational efficiency. Timber handlers can reduce time and effort 
in finding logs and know exactly the location of the next pile for processing, allowing them to calculate 
optimal routes for timber transportation. Increasing visibility and oversight of timber supply chains also 
helps in overall market monitoring and supply planning. For example, during the COVID-19 lockdowns, 
homebuilders in the  US took the  opportunity to begin construction projects while they had the  time, 
increasing timber demand. Unfortunately, suppliers were not able to meet demand in time, thinking 
the pandemic would have had a similar effect to previous economic downturns. As a result, prices surged 
and the market experienced huge fluctuations. Clearly, supply chain transparency, supported using GNSS, 
is crucial for many parts of the sector.  
Key market trends
• The EU has a new Forest strategy that will cover the whole forest cycle and promote the many services forests provide
• Copernicus and EGNSS are fast becoming extremely valuable tools in monitoring and maintaining our ‘forests of the future’
• Sustainable and traceable timber management helps secure our supply chains and aids in market monitoring  
Planting Trees as part of the carbon offsetting trend
As climate change continues, we are all becoming more aware of and responsible for our CO2 
emissions. Leading companies and organizations are pledging to become carbon neutral (i.e. 
zero net CO2 emissions) and are voluntarily purchasing carbon offsets. Forest carbon offsets are 
a cost-effective way to reach carbon neutrality goals. Restoring forests offsets CO2 emissions 
while supporting biodiversity and helping communities thrive. EO can help by measuring 
the biomass present in a forest. This can help in estimating the forest’s capacity for carbon 
absorption and can be achieved by deriving indices such as NDVI from remotely sourced optical 
imagery. The  EU’s 2030 climate plan explicitly emphasises the  need for efficient forestry 
conservation and management in order to help offset some of the harm done so far and help 
reach carbon neutrality goals. Moreover, the use of EO and Copernicus in particular is regarded 
as key to achieving forest carbon offsetting activities over large areas. 
Forests of the future
Sustainable management of forests is also a key component of the EU’s effort to tackle climate 
change and build resilience. From carbon monitoring to sustainable logging, Copernicus 
and EGNSS are becoming indispensable tools which together with drones, robots and  
AI-powered capabilities allow for evidence-based management of  forests. This is directly 
reflected in the new European Forest Strategy and has already translated in the proliferation 
of products and services by innovative companies all across Europe. Thus, forest management 
authorities in countries with long tradition in forestry are now increasingly partnering with 
companies that provide solutions for autonomous and automated forest maintenance tasks. 
This entails the processing of imagery obtained by satellites or drones (often equipped with 
LiDAR) to develop a digital inventory of forests, catalogue tree measurements and document 
species details. This in itself is very valuable for the whole supply chain, which has seen heavy 
disruptions in the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, the ability to proactively manage the forests 
can maximise the carbon sequestration of trees. Finally, the increased use of robots could fill 
an employment gap due to a lack of interest in forestry jobs, thus helping the sector to meet 
the challenges of the future.  
Forest protection, restoration & sustainable management requires ambitious 
policies and technological solutions to support them
© Adobe Stock

FORESTRY
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EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
INDUSTRY
SEARCH AND RESCUE 
BEACON USERS
END USERS
SYSTEM 
INTEGRATORS
• CNH INDUSTRIAL N.V.*
• DEERE & CO
• J.C.B SERVICE*
• KUBOTA CORPORATION
• ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCIES
• FORESTRY CONSULTANTS
• FORESTRY MANAGERS
• FORESTRY-INSURERS
• INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES (E.G. 
FAO, WFP…)
• LOGGING COMPANIES
• MACHINE MANUFACTURERS
• PAYING AGENCIES
Forestry Value Chains1
NOTES
1 The value chain considers the key global and European companies involved in GNSS and EO downstream activities.
2 In the market share analysis, Europe is defined as EU27 plus Norway, Switzerland and the UK.
* European-based companies. The region is defined with respect to the headquarters of the company, though the actual area of activity might be wider.
END USERS
INFORMATION  
PROVIDERS
EO PRODUCTS 
AND SERVICE  
PROVIDERS
PLATFORM  
PROVIDERS
DATA PROVIDERS
INFRASTRUCTURE 
PROVIDERS
• ARAG S.R.L*
• AVMAP S.R.L*
• CNH INDUSTRIAL N.V.*
• COMNAV TECHNOLOGY LTD
• DEERE & CO
• HEXAGON AB*
• TOPCON CORPORATION
• TRIMBLE NAVIGATION LTD
• AWS
• CLOUDEO*
• COPERNICUS DIAS*
• GOOGLE CLOUD 
PLATFORM
• IBM CLOUD
• INTEL GEOSPATIAL
• MICROSOFT AZURE
• PENGUIN COMPUTING
• DEERE & CO 
• HEMISPHERE 
• HEXAGON AB*
• TOPCON CORPORATION
• TRIMBLE NAVIGATION LTD
• AIRBUS*
• BLACKSKY
• COPERNICUS DIAS*
• DESCARTES LABS
• E-GEOS*
• EARTH-I*
• ICEYE*
• MAXAR
• PLANET
• ZHUHAI ORBITA 
• BEIJING PIESAT 
INFORMATION 
TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
• CLEOS*
• CLOUDEO*
• COPERNICUS DIAS*
• MAXAR ARD
• NOR*
• PLANET EXPLORER
• SINERGISE* (SENTINEL 
HUB)
• TERRADUE*
• UP42*
• VITO*
• ARBONAUT*
• BEIJING SUPERMAP 
SOFTWARE CO.
• DAVEY TREE EXPERT 
COMPANY
• EARTH DAILY
• ECOMETRICA*
• GAF*
• GEOVILLE*
• GMV*
• KONGSBERG SATELLITE 
SERVICE AS*
• METRIA*
• NIRAS ALECTIA FONDEN*
• SATELLIGENCE*
• SINERGISE*
• SPACE IMAGING MIDDLE 
EAST
• SPACEBEL*
• VITO*
• XYLENE*
• COLLECTIVE CRUNCH*
• F&W
• FORLIANCE*
• SYMBIA SOLUTIONS*
• WUUDIS*
• ENVIRONMENTAL 
AGENCIES
• FORESTRY CONSULTANTS
• FORESTRY MANAGERS
• FORESTRY-INSURERS
• INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES 
(E.G. FAO, WFP…)
• MACHINE 
MANUFACTURERS
• PAYING AGENCIES
EARTH 
OBSERVATION
AUGMENTATION 
SERVICE PROVIDERS
COMPONENT 
AND RECEIVER 
MANUFACTURERS
GNSS
• COPERNICUS 
COLLABORATIVE GROUND 
SEGMENT*
• COPERNICUS SENTINELS*
• USGS/NASA LANDSAT
• RELEVANT IN-SITU 
NETWORKS
• NATIONAL AND 
REGIONAL RTK NETWORK 
PROVIDERS
FORESTRY TEP*
• COPERNICUS SERVICES*
LEGEND
	Commercial Offering
	Public Offering
	User segments
European2 EO and GNSS 
industry in the global arena
With 
Leonardo 
(parent 
company 
of 
e-GEOS) 
(IT), 
Airbus 
(NL), 
Ecometrica (UK) and Kongsberg (NO), 
there are 4 European companies in 
the  top 10 of  the  global EO data 
processing (roughly 41% of the global 
share). 
GNSS 
receivers 
in 
Forestry 
are 
similar to those used in Agriculture, 
with a  significant overlap in terms 
of 
industry. 
European 
companies 
such as Hexagon and CNH again 
hold 20% of the total forestry market 
with a  slightly lower intensity on 
Forestry applications than their largest 
international 
competitors, 
yielding 
an estimated European share of 15% 
of the Forestry market.

112
FORESTRY
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS 
Recent and future developments in EO have a strong impact on forestry 
applications
Overall, the shipments of GNSS receivers over the past decade have not exhibited strong growth. 
Despite a promising upwards trend in growth towards the middle of the decade, ultimately shipment 
numbers are slightly down on where they were 10 years ago.
Forest Machinery Guidance held the most dominant share of shipments throughout the last ten years 
and over the past three to four years has gained almost all market share compared to the Forest 
Inventory Monitoring application, which began the decade with close to a 40% share but has declined 
almost year-on-year since. 
EO for forest carbon monitoring
Mapping of  forest biomass allows for 
forest carbon sequestration potentials 
to be understood. The  monitoring 
of  carbon stocks in forested regions 
of  the  world, particularly the  tropics, 
has attracted a great deal of attention in 
recent years as deforestation and forest 
degradation account for up to 30% 
of anthropogenic carbon emissions. 
The REDD+ initiative has the objective 
of  mitigating climate change through 
reduced emissions from deforestation 
and forest degradation by enhancing 
forest management in developing countries. Organisations such as FAO have supported more 
than 50 countries in their development of robust National Forest Monitoring Systems (NFMS) 
and assessments. NFMS components include EO land monitoring systems which monitor forest 
biomass to help estimate carbon sink capacities all across the globe. 
Copernicus: an essential tool to battle deforestation and degradation
The ongoing explosion of new satellite data sources presents novel opportunities for forest 
monitoring, with satellites of many types producing massive amounts of data daily. At regional 
to national scales, methods have been progressively developed to detect and map forest 
degradation, with these based on multi-resolution optical, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and 
LiDAR data. 
Particularly interesting for the global forestry community are the optical and radar instruments 
onboard the  Sentinel satellites that provide global data with high acquisition frequency 
free of  charge. Copernicus and other international and national EO programmes offer 
an unprecedented opportunity to monitor forest ecosystems from space. For more information 
visit: https://land.copernicus.eu/pan-european/high-resolution-layers/forests.
Shipments of GNSS devices by application
0,0
0,5
1,0
1,5
2,0
2,5
3,0
3,5
4,0
4,5
5,0
2010
 
2011
 
2012
 
2013
 
2014
 
2015
 
2016
 
2017
 
2018
 
2019
 
2020
 
Units (thousands)
Forest Machinery Guidance
 
Forest Inventory Monitoring
© Adobe Stock

FORESTRY
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EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
FUTURE MARKET EVOLUTION
Protecting and managing our forests will increasingly require high-tech 
solutions
North America is expected to dominate the market in revenue from both the sales of EO data and 
services over the coming decade, reaching €157 m by 2031.
The Asia Pacific region will more than double its market share within the next 10 years, to almost match 
the share captured by the EU.
South America will too, slowly but steadily gain market share year-on-year given the relevance 
of forestry related activities in the Amazon. 
New generation of robots and drones at the service of forestry
Could swarms 
of 
robots 
and 
drones 
become 
a commonplace in forest management practices? Thanks 
to supreme, real-time localisation capabilities powered 
by GNSS aand advanced sensing features enabled by 
LiDAR and cameras (including hyperspectral) the answer 
seems to be in the  affirmative. Many innovative 
companies are seeking to make the  most of  such 
capabilities and have provided advanced analytics that 
help build inventories, map forests for preservation, 
measure biomass and prevent the spread of wildfires. 
Drones are also used for reforestation, planting a variety of species that are native to each 
location with the aim of maximising biodiversity. At the same time, unmanned ground vehicles 
are being deployed to support heavier operations such as log loading and planting.  
Battling the increased and more extreme occurrence of forest fires will 
need full support from the EU Space Programme
Ensuring a sustainable future for our forests requires not only improved management practices 
and increased reforestation efforts but also protection from fires. Due to drier seasons, 
heatwaves and high winds, the occurrence, magnitude, and impact of devastating wildfires has 
dramatically increased. Reports on the 2020 wildfires show that over 18.6 m ha were charred 
in Australia, 3.9m ha in the USA, and 0.32m ha in Europe. Major wildfires such as those recently 
experienced in California and Australia cause economic losses over €10 billion for each country. 
Moreover, long term effects of air pollution and biodiversity loss are often hard to quantify but 
leave a significant footprint. 
To battle the  phenomenon of  wildfires and minimise their impact, decision makers and 
practitioners (civil protection agencies and fire departments) are increasingly seeking the help 
of Earth Observation. Thanks to its wide geographic coverage, ability to see through clouds 
(with radar satellites) and rapid capture of images, Earth Observation is used to forecast fire 
threats and then monitor wildfire events (e.g. through spread speed, burnt areas, etc.). Thus, 
the  European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) – a  key component of  the  Copernicus 
Emergency Management Service – or GWIS (the  global equivalent) are used to monitor 
fires across the  world. The  CAMS Global Fire Assimilation System (GFAS) also produces 
daily estimates of wildfire and biomass burning emissions. Additional added-value products 
developed by downstream companies enable fire management authorities to make informed 
decisions and take swift actions. Further information on the Copernicus Emergency Management 
Service can be found under the Emergency Management & Humanitarian Aid segment of this 
report.
Forest inventory monitoring allows for efficient operations 
Forest inventory and management requirements are changing rapidly in the  context of  an 
increasingly complex set of economic, environmental and social policy objectives.  Traditionally, 
forest inventory data were collected using cost-intensive field surveys in combination with yield 
tables. For small forestry owners this is often collected on the basis of questionnaires (e.g. 
wood felling reports). Now, up-to-date forest inventory information relating the characteristics 
of managed and natural forests is fundamental to sustainable forest management and required 
to inform conservation of  biodiversity and assess climate change impacts and mitigation 
opportunities. Forest Asset Management Services allow forest owners to input the relevant 
data from inventories to create the optimal felling plan.
Strategic forest inventories are difficult to compile over large areas and are often quickly 
outdated or spatially incomplete as a function of their long production cycle. As a consequence, 
automated approaches supported by remotely sensed data are increasingly sought to provide 
exhaustive spatial coverage for a set of core attributes in a timely fashion. As a result, increasing 
numbers of advanced remote sensing technologies are being developed to provide data to help 
address the escalating information needs of the sector. 
Revenue from EO data & services sales by region
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions)
 
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean
© Adobe Stock

114
FORESTRY
EUROPEAN SYSTEMS AND PROJECTS
Current usage of Copernicus
Extensive usage of Copernicus data and 
services are made by forest monitoring 
applications. The  programme provides 
dedicated services for land monitoring 
(Copernicus Land Monitoring Service, 
CLMS) 
climate 
change 
(Copernicus 
Climate Change Service, C3S), and 
with particular relevance to forest 
fires; emergency response (Copernicus 
Emergency 
Management 
Service, 
EMS). Each of  these have downstream 
communities. 
The  programme also provides satellite 
data from the  Sentinels, which are 
integrated into many forest management 
services and applications. 
Current usage of EGNSS
Galileo is used in a  multi-
constellation paradigm to power 
precision 
forestry 
operations. 
Thanks to its more robust signals, 
Galileo performs better under tree 
canopy thus enabling machine 
guidance in forest environments. 
Moreover, Galileo helps to guide 
drones which are increasingly 
used 
in 
forest 
management 
operations. 
Several key projects use Copernicus and Galileo data to innovate in the 
forestry sector
Structured Approaches for Forest Fire Emergencies in Resilient Societies 
In order to support societies becoming more resilient when acting against forests fires, the Horizon 
2020 project SAFERS ‘Structured Approaches for Forest Fire Emergencies in Resilient Societies’ is going 
to create an open and integrated platform featuring a forest fire Decision Support System. 
The  platform will use information from different sources: Copernicus  and  GEOSS;  fire sensors  in 
forests; topographic data; weather forecasts; and even crowdsourced data from social media and other 
apps that can be used by citizens and first responders to provide situational in-field information.
More information: https://safers-project.eu/  
Assessing the future Copernicus EO forest monitoring service component
The REDDCopernicus project aims prepare a framework for a Copernicus REDD+ service which can 
make use of  the  planned Copernicus Data and Information Access Services (C-DIAS) platform for 
improving EO data and product accessibility and functionality to end users. Moreover, the project will 
additionally review the potential for EO applications for Sustainable Forest Management and identify 
exactly where the research gaps lie in the field of forest monitoring all across Europe. 
More information: https://www.reddcopernicus.info/
Next Generation Land Management services for Agriculture and Forestry
The  Horizon 2020 NextLand project will develop 15 
operational commercial midstream agriculture and forestry 
Earth observation services. The services developed will be fully 
scalable across the globe. The services will be able to leverage 
GEOSS and Copernicus data and products in the scope of seven 
use cases. Overall, the project will create an ecosystem that 
exhibits the  strengths of  European service providers along 
the entire value chain of the hi-tech agroforestry sector.
More information: https://ec-nextland.eu/
Sentinels
Sentinel-1
Sentinel-2
Copernicus Services
Climate Change
(C3S)
Emergency 
(CEMS)
Land 
(CLMS)
Greater
Availability
Greater
Continuity
Higher
Accuracy
Shorter Time
To First Fix
High Accuracy
Service
EGNOS
Authentication
features
Open Service
Galileo
Galileo
Multi-
frequency
© Adobe Stock

FORESTRY
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EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
REFERENCE CHARTS
Installed base of GNSS devices by region 
Revenue of GNSS device sales and services by region
Revenue of GNSS device sales and services by application
Installed base of GNSS devices by application
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
Units (thousands)
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
0
500
1 000
1 500
2 000
2 500
2021 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
€ (thousands)
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean
0
500
1 000
1 500
2 000
2 500
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
€ (thousands)
Forest Asset Management Services Revenues
 
Forest Machinery Guidance
Forest Inventory Monitoring
 
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
Units (thousands)
Forest Machinery Guidance
 
Forest Inventory Monitoring

116
FORESTRY
REFERENCE CHARTS
Revenue from EO data sales by application
Revenue from EO services sales by application
Revenue from EO services sales by region
Revenue from EO data sales by region
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions)
 
Illegal logging monitoring
Forest vegetation health monitoring
Forest inventory monitoring
Forest exploitation certiﬁcation
Biomass monitoring
0
50
100
150
200
250
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031
€ (millions)
Illegal logging monitoring
Forest vegetation health monitoring
Forest inventory monitoring
Forest exploitation certiﬁcation
Biomass monitoring
0
50
100
150
200
250
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions)
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions)
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean

INFRASTRUCTURE
117
INFRASTRUCTURE
GNSS and EO are invaluable assets in the  toolbox of  construction companies, 
infrastructure managers, public authorities and utility operators.
Used through handheld devices or receivers integrated within heavy machinery or 
drones, GNSS supports the various phases of the infrastructure life cycle, from the initial 
site selection to the monitoring of construction and post-construction operations. GNSS 
also helps to further protect and improve the resilience of critical infrastructure relying 
on timing and synchronisation, such as telecom networks.
Thanks to its capacity to provide historical data on risk exposure and projections on 
the future impacts of climate change, EO supports site selection as well as the design 
of more resilient infrastructure. Satellite-based imagery also supports the monitoring 
of  construction operations and the  long-term monitoring of  infrastructure health and 
environmental impact.
Whatever the  type of  infrastructure (e.g. buildings, bridges, roads, dams, factories, 
power plants, telecommunication networks, etc.),  GNSS and EO help actors involved in 
infrastructure management to increase the safety of operations and productivity, while 
improving infrastructure resilience and safeguarding the environment.
What you can read in this chapter
• Key trends: The  EU Space Programme supports robust, resilient and sustainable 
infrastructure.
• User perspective: New infrastructure deployment requires more performant and 
robust technologies.
• Industry: Infrastructure Value Chains.
• Recent developments: GNSS and EO uptake is consolidated by the emergence of new 
usages and applications.
• Future market evolution: New GNSS service provision schemes and the combination 
of  Copernicus data with new constellations will ensure sustainable growth 
of the market.
• European systems: The  EU Space Programme provides invaluable benefits for 
infrastructure.
• European Projects: A number of European funded projects combine EO and GNSS 
to propose solutions in support of  resilience and monitoring of  various types 
of infrastructure.
• Reference charts: Yearly evolution of the installed base of GNSS devices and revenues 
as well as EO revenues by application and region.
© Adobe Stock
Application descriptions can be found in Annex 3.
Timing & Synchronisation 
of Telecommunication Networks
• Data Centre
• Digital Cellular Network (DCN)
• Professional Mobile Radio (PMR)
• Public Switched Telephone Network 
(PSTN)
• Satellite Communication (SATCOM)
• Small Cells
Environmental Impact Monitoring
• Environmental impact assessment 
of infrastructure
Infrastructure Planning
• Infrastructure Site Selection and Planning
• Permitting
• Vulnerability Analysis
Infrastructure Construction 
and Monitoring
• Construction Operations
• Monitoring of impact of human activities 
on infrastructure
• Oracle Database Appliance (ODA) 
Support Monitoring
• Pipeline Monitoring
• Post-Construction Operations
Legend
EO application
GNSS application
Synergetic application  
(combined use of EO and GNSS)

118
INFRASTRUCTURE
KEY TRENDS
Climate Neutrality and Climate Resilience are driving the infrastructure market
Climate neutrality has become a major global goal. In this regard, Europe aspires to become the first 
continent to reach climate neutrality by 2050. Achieving this will require a wide range of actions that 
reduce the environmental footprint of infrastructure and strengthen its climate resilience. A key area is 
the construction sector, which is responsible for over a third of the EU’s total waste generation and 5-12% 
of  its GHG emissions. Combined with the  strong momentum on infrastructure projects, embedded in 
the Next Generation EU plans as a driver for the economy, it is apparent that the need for smart solutions 
that enable a sustainable built environment is stronger than ever. In this regard, all phases of planning, 
design, construction, operation and maintenance of  infrastructure can benefit from GNSS and EO 
solutions. From enabling better spacing in our cities to securing resilience to extreme weather events, 
and from supporting objective environmental impact assessments to helping optimise supply chains 
of infrastructure projects, the EU Space Programmes are expected to be a critical component in achieving 
the goals of climate neutrality and resilience.
ITU standard on the use of GNSS as a primary time reference 
in telecommunications (ITU TP-GSTR-GNSS)
In July 2020, the International Telecom Union (ITU) released a technical report 
on the use of GNSS as a primary time reference in telecommunications. 
The report provides information relevant to optimal GNSS reception in telecom 
applications where highly accurate time recovery is critical. 
In particular it provides guidance on designing and operating telecommunication 
GNSS-based clocks for accurate time-recovery applications. Moreover 
the report references several relevant reports on GNSS vulnerability prepared 
by the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS).
The ITU TP-GSTR-GNSS report is available for free download here.
Key market trends
• The EU goal to be climate-neutral by 2050 drives a paradigm shift in planning, construction and maintenance of infrastructure
• Infrastructure resilience is increasingly supported by EU Space programme solutions from robust timing to accurate deformation monitoring
• The ‘Next Generation EU’ recovery plan provides strong impetus for infrastructure development and modernisation for the future
• The 5G telecom infrastructure roll out – a major driver of multiple economic activities – will rely heavily on solutions enabled by EU Space Programmes
The EU Space Programme supports robust, resilient and sustainable 
infrastructure
 
 
 
 
 
I n t e r n a t i o n a l  T e l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n  U n i o n  
 
 
ITU-T  
Technical Report 
TELECOMMUNICATION 
STANDARDIZATION SECTOR 
OF ITU 
 
(07 February 2020) 
 
 
 
GSTR-GNSS 
Considerations on the use of GNSS as a primary 
time reference in telecommunications 
A growing awareness of the role of GNSS-based solutions in European Critical 
Infrastructure and the need to protect them
Infrastructure faces increased threats from cyber attacks. In light of  this, ensuring the  resilience 
of European infrastructure is both a major goal and a major challenge. To this end, the EU seeks to 
utilise Galileo for critical infrastructure that depends on timing and synchronisation, a topic addressed 
in the Joint Communication to the European Parliament and the Council’s Joint Framework on countering 
hybrid threats. Moreover, EU-funded projects are looking to further protect and improve the resilience 
of critical infrastructure that relies on the timing and synchronisation elements of satellite navigation, 
leveraging the key differentiator offered by Galileo in this respect. This is all the more important with 
the first deployment of 5G networks in Europe. On the other side of the Atlantic, similar considerations 
have triggered Space Policy Directive-7, which takes the form of a memo to Cabinet officers, directing 
them to take specific steps to protect, toughen and augment GPS signals with other PNT services.
Uptake of InSAR service across countries and regions
Interferometric Synthetic-Aperture Radar (InSAR) is a remote-sensing technique which can generate 
maps of surface deformations and elevation gradients. It has a wide range of applications, including – 
in the context of infrastructure – monitoring the movement of tunnels, roads, bridges and pipelines, or 
the displacement of dams to a precision of millimetres. It can thus can offer support across the design, 
construction and operational phases of infrastructure projects; from gaining insights into historic ground 
conditions, to monitoring the settlement of foundations. Likewise it is utilised in monitoring (for example) 
landslides and tsunamis, ensuring that the public, housing and infrastructure remain safe. A number 
of  public authorities across Europe have already adopted InSAR solutions powered by Copernicus 
Sentinel-1 for such purposes. This uptake is also reflected both at EU level, with the recently launched 
European Ground Motion Service of Copernicus, and at Member State level (in Germany, Italy, Spain 
and France), with the roll out of regional or nationwide InSAR services. Finally, the number of currently 
deployed private satellite constellations with high-resolution SAR capabilities is increasing.

INFRASTRUCTURE
119
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
USER PERSPECTIVE
New infrastructure deployment requires more performant and robust 
technologies
5G opportunities and challenges for GNSS and EO
5G networks will enable new applications across a wealth of sectors. The expected high data rates, low latency and massive type communications on the same mobile infrastructure leads to stringent 
time and phase accuracy requirements, but also tight security and robustness requirements. The need for synchronisation in the radio access network has grown as new radio technologies and network 
architectures emerge to boost efficiency and support demanding 5G use cases. GNSS is instrumental in the global distribution of a UTC-traceable reference. A GNSS-based solution installed directly at 
base station sites can provide cost-efficient, accurate and predictable time synchronisation of the radio network without any support from the transport network. 5G efficiency relies, among other things, 
on signal strength and coverage to reach remote areas and enable the high-speed transmission of large amounts of data. On the EO side, Sentinel-2-derived land cover maps are being used for 5G 
infrastructure planning. Other means of EO such as Radio Frequency (RF) sensing can be applied to map wireless spectrum and available infrastructure to optimise wireless networks at planning stage 
or in monitoring (e.g. to detect and localise interference). In return, 5G may be a crucial enabler in the uptake of EO usage. In smart farming for instance, it would enable (two-way) transmission of EO 
data and integrate it into agricultural applications in real-time. At the same time, concerns around interference created by 5G networks impacting satellite-based weather forecasts need to be addressed 
by regulators and standardisation.
The construction market is embracing updated GNSS standards
During the  User Consultation Platform 2020 the  user community discussed 
user requirements around autonomous construction and its related ecosystem 
of  sensor fusion, simultaneous localisation and mapping (SLAM), robotics, 
virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), cloud computing and 3D modelling, 
among others. Several GNSS performance parameters were identified as viable 
for construction: Accuracy (cm level, especially for height determination); 
Orientation (GNSS/Internal Measurement Unit (IMU) fusion for vehicle 
orientation and levelling); Availability (especially in complex environments 
such as mountains and reflective surfaces); and Reliability (for optimised work 
and vibration robustness). Furthermore, two GNSS standards important for 
construction surveys and infrastructure monitoring were published in 2020. 
The first concerns IGS SSR1 which was released after a long push from the user 
community. This is the  first open standard for dissemination of  real-time 
PPP products to support the IGS Real-Time Service to the wider community. 
The  messages support multi-GNSS and include corrections for orbits, clocks, 
differential code biases (DCBs), phase-biases and ionospheric delays. This 
standard may be well utilised by construction GNSS receiver manufacturers 
and facilitate high-accuracy GNSS workflows in the lack of network Real Time 
Kinematics (RTK) coverage – especially in remote construction areas.
The  second is RINEX version 3.05 for static GNSS observations, which now 
provides better integration of Russian and Chinese GNSS (GLONASS and BeiDou 
respectively) for maximum high-accuracy applications, such as infrastructure 
monitoring, where precise post-processing of static GNSS data is increasingly 
demanded.
Key EO and GNSS user requirements
The  key GNSS and EO user requirements for the  different application groups 
within the Infrastructure segment are, at EU level, collected using the following 
procedures:
• For GNSS, information is collected through extensive interactions with user 
groups, providers and experts in a continuous process culminating at the User 
Consultation Platforms (UCP). In the  case of  Infrastructure, the  relevant 
requirements can be found in two separate documents. On the  one hand, 
information on requirements for geomatic applications within the Infrastructure 
segment can be found in the Report on Surveying user needs and requirements. 
On the other hand, information on requirements for timing and synchronisation 
applications (i.e. telecommunication networks) can be found in the  Report on 
Time & Synchronisation User needs and requirements. 
• User requirements for Copernicus services and products – as well as their 
evolution – are collected through an integrated process that involves different 
channels: (i) dedicated studies (e.g. “NEXTSPACE” project, “Copernicus for EC 
(C4EC)” study, Commission Staff Working Document on user needs), (ii) targeted 
consultations organised by the European Commission or the Entrusted entities 
with the  relevant communities, (iii) regular and structured exchanges among 
representatives of  the  Copernicus governance structure and Member States 
through the Copernicus User Forum. 
From the  2022 EUSPA`s UCP onward, EO user needs and requirements 
of commercial users will be validated and discussed with industry experts and 
user groups, mirroring the process implemented for GNSS. 
Report on Surveying User 
Needs and Requirements
Outcome of the EUSPA
User Consultation Platform
REPORT ON TIME & SYNCHRONISATION USER NEEDS AND REQUIREMENTS
1
Report on Time & 
Synchronisation User 
Needs and Requirements
Outcome of the EUSPA
User Consultation Platform
1 More information on: https://www.igs.org/new-igs-ssr-format-has-been-released/

120
INFRASTRUCTURE
INDUSTRY
• HEMISPHERE (ATLAS)
• HEXAGON (LEICA 
GEOSYSTEMS, 
NOVATEL)*
• SAPCORDA*
• SPACEOPAL*
• SWIFT
• TERIA*
• TOPCON
• TRIMBLE 
Geomatics
• BEIJING BDSTAR 
NAVIGATION
• HEXAGON*
• NOVATEL
• QIANXUN SPATIAL 
INTELLIGENCE
• RENESAS ELECTRONICS
• SEPTENTRIO*
• SIERRA WIRELESS
• TAI-SAW TECHNOLOGY
• TRIMBLE
• U-BLOX*
• UNITED ELECTRONIC 
INDUSTRIES
Timing & Synchronisation
• FURUNO
• MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY 
INC
• SEPTENTRIO*
• STMICROELECTRONICS*
• TRIMBLE
• U-BLOX*
Geomatics
• AB VOLVO*
• ACCUVER
• CATERPILLAR
• CHCNAV 
• CNH INDUSTRIAL*
• DEERE & CO
• FARO TECHNOLOGIES
• GEMTECH TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LTD
• HITACHI
• IDEAL AEROSMITH
• INTELIBS
• INTELLION TECHNOLOGIES
• J.C.B. SERVICE*
• KOMATSU LTD
• KONGSBERG SATELLITE SERVICES*
• KRATOS DEFENCE AND SECURITY 
SOL. INC
• SOCIEDAD IBERICA DE 
CONSTRUCCIONES EL
• VAISALA OYJ*
• VRT FINLAND OY*
• ZTE CORP
Timing & Synchronisation
• ABB LTD*
• ACCENTURE
• CHRONOS TECHNOLOGY*
• EATON*
• ERICSSON*
• HUAWEI
• IBM
• JUNIPER
• MOTOROLA
• NOKIA*
• SIEMENS*
Geomatics
• BEIJING UNISTRONG SCIENCE & 
TECHNOLOGY
• CAMPBELL SCIENTIFIC
• FARO TECHNOLOGIES
• HEXAGON*
• HI-TARGET SURVEYING INSTRUMENT CO
• KONGSBERG MARITIME*
• MEISEI ELECTRIC CO
• SYNERGY SYSTEMS
• TOPCON
• TRIMBLE
Timing & Synchronisation
• ARBITER
• BRANDYWINE
• CHRONOS TECHNOLOGY*
• ELPROMA*
• ENDRUN
• FREQUENCY ELECTRONICS INC
• GORGY TIMING*
• HEXAGON*
• HOPF ELEKTRONIK*
• JACKSON LABS
• MASTERCLOCK
• MEINBERG*
• MICROSEMI
• OMICRON*
• OROLIA SPECTRACOM*
• OSCILLOQUARTZ*
• SEIKO
• SEL
• SEVEN SOLUTIONS*
• TIMELINK*
• CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES
• ENGINEERS
• PIPELINE OPERATORS
• REGULATING AUTHORITIES
• SURVEYORS
• TELECOM OPERATORS
• NATIONAL AND 
REGIONAL RTK 
NETWORK PROVIDERS
AUGMENTATION 
SERVICE 
PROVIDERS
COMPONENT 
MANUFACTURERS
RECEIVER MANUFACTURERS
USERS
SYSTEM INTEGRATORS
DESIGN CONSULTANCIES
TESTING & MAINTENANCE
NOTES
1 The value chain considers the key global and European companies involved in GNSS downstream activities.
2 In the market share analysis, Europe is defined as EU27 plus Norway, Switzerland and the UK.
* European-based companies. The region is defined with respect to the headquarters of the company, though the actual area of activity might be wider.
Infrastructure GNSS Value Chain1
LEGEND
	Commercial Offering
	Public Offering
	User segments
European2 GNSS industry 
in the global arena
GNSS receivers in Infrastructure are either used for 
T&S or geomatics-related purposes. The industry 
supporting the segment therefore overlaps with 
that serving Insurance and Finance, Energy and 
Material Resources and Urban Development and 
Cultural Heritage markets. European companies 
such as Orolia, u-Blox, and Meinberg hold 36% 
of the T&S market, with a slightly higher intensity 
on Infrastructure applications than their largest 
international competitors, yielding an estimated 
European share of  40% of  the  Infrastructure 
market. Conversely, European companies such 
as Hexagon hold 35% of the geomatics market, 
with a slightly higher intensity on Infrastructure 
applications than their largest international 
competitors, yielding an estimated European 
share of  40% of  the  Infrastructure market for 
geomatics devices. The  total European share 
of the Infrastructure market is therefore estimated 
at 40%.

INFRASTRUCTURE
121
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
INDUSTRY
Infrastructure EO Value Chain1
NOTES
1 The value chain considers the key global and European companies involved in EO downstream activities.
2 In the market share analysis, Europe is defined as EU27 plus Norway, Switzerland and the UK.
* European-based companies. The region is defined with respect to the headquarters of the company, though the actual area of activity might be wider.
END USERS
INFORMATION  
PROVIDERS
EO PRODUCTS 
AND SERVICE  
PROVIDERS
PLATFORM  
PROVIDERS
DATA PROVIDERS
INFRASTRUCTURE 
PROVIDERS
• AMAZON WEB SERVICES
• CLOUDEO*
• COPERNICUS DIAS*
• EODC*
• GOOGLE CLOUD 
PLATFORM
• IBM CLOUD
• INTEL GEOSPATIAL
• MICROSOFT AZURE
• PENGUIN COMPUTING
• AIRBUS*
• AXELSPACE
• BIRD.I
• CAPELLA SPACE
• CGG*
• CHANG GUANG SAT. TECH.
• COPERNICUS DIAS*
• EARTHDAILY
• E-GEOS *
• EODC*
• GEOCENTO*
• GEOIMAGE
• ICEYE*
• MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES
• ORBITA AEROSPACE
• PLANET
• SATELLOGIG
• 21AT
• AIRBUS *
• CLOUDEO *
• COPERNICUS DIAS*
• E-GEOS*
• EODC*
• EXOLABS*
• MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES
• PICTERRA*
• PLANETEK*
• SKYGEO
• SPACESUR
• AIRBUS *
• C-CORE
• CLS*
• E-GEOS *
• EXOLABS *
• GEO4I*
• GAF*
• GEOVILLE*
• HYDROSAT
• INSAR.SK*
• MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES
• ORBITAL EYE*
• PIXSTART*
• PLANETEK *
• SATSURE
• SKYGEO
• SPACEPT
• SPACESUR
• TERRASIGNA*
• TRE ALTAMIRA*
• VITO*
• 3DEO*
• 21AT
• 4EARTHINTELLIGENCE
• BUILDING RADAR*
• DARES TECHNOLOGY*
• DEWBERRY
• ESRI
• FUGRO*
• LIVEEO*
• MONITEYE
• ORBITAL EYE *
• SATSURE
• SENSAR*
• SIXENSE*
• SPACEKNOW
• SUPERVISION*
• TRIMBLE
• CONSTRUCTION 
COMPANIES
• FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
• INFRASTRUCTURE 
MANAGERS
• INTERNATIONAL DEV. ORG.
• LOCAL & REGIONAL GOV.
• PUBLIC WORKS 
COMPANIES
• PIPELINE OPERATORS
• OIL & GAS PRODUCERS
• UTILITY COMPANIES
• COPERNICUS 
COLLABORATIVE GROUND 
SEGMENT*
• COPERNICUS SENTINELS*
• USGS/NASA LANDSAT
• RELEVANT IN-SITU 
NETWORKS
• COPERNICUS SERVICES*
LEGEND
	Commercial Offering
	Public Offering
	User segments
European2 EO industry in the global arena
Except for the ‘Infrastructure providers’ where US giants 
Amazon, Google and Microsoft dominate, European 
companies have a strong presence in the market. Several 
companies like Airbus and e-GEOS have an international 
presence. In addition, a host of innovative service providers 
– including many European ones, offer added value services 
meeting the needs of the infrastructure sector.

122
INFRASTRUCTURE
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
GNSS powers both traditional and novel solutions in the infrastructure 
sector
Online gaming  to generate new opportunities for network time 
synchronisation solutions  
Online video gaming has  steadily  progressed 
over  the last  decade  in  terms  of  audience and 
volume of  data broadcast. According to Mordor 
Intelligence, the  global gaming market was 
valued at €135 billion in 2020 and is expected to 
reach a value of €245 billion by 2026, registering 
a  CAGR of  10.5% over that period. In particular, 
the  emergence of  cloud gaming is driving 
the  market with a  strong recent boost of  video 
game live streaming that has gained further 
traction during the COVID-19 pandemic. 
To ensure an engaging user and spectator experience, voice and video must be precisely 
synchronised in streaming applications and online gaming. Maintaining precise time 
synchronisation across the  network is paramount to support seamless operations of  digital 
infrastructure used in online gaming, such as ensuring the  chronological order of  play in 
multiplayer games. GNSS is expected to be among the most relevant solutions to ensure this 
T&S function, and is therefore expected to benefit from this market development.
Integration of GNSS with autonomous robotics and drones for optimal 
site operations
As the Construction GNSS market share rises globally, more innovative solutions aiming for 
increased work safety and productivity are being developed. The fusion of GNSS with other 
sensors in this segment represents technological cutting-edge. Construction-grade GNSS 
receivers are being integrated with autonomous robots and 3D laser scanning into intelligent 
operating machines. The  continuous uptake of  drone applications across infrastructure life 
cycles is also of vast interest. Drones have become the fastest growing tool for site selection 
and mapping, with techniques like hybrid aerial mapping on the rise. They can access hard-
to-reach places faster, cheaper and at a lower risk than manual inspections, enabling remote 
engineering and network planning tasks, automated tower inspections and the  enhanced 
measurement of wireless coverage and performance. Telecom operators apply deep learning-
based algorithms to analyse drone video footage to detect defects and anomalies on cell 
towers remotely and in real-time. Drones are also expected to help accelerate the rollout of 5G 
networks and to enable new use cases leveraging 5G connectivity. In 2017, PwC estimated that 
the total addressable market value of drone-powered enterprise solutions exceeded €105 bn, 
with 35% of that value in infrastructure applications. GNSS is a key solution in ensuring drone 
navigation and providing PNT data to the video payload, thus benefiting from and contributing 
to that market potential. 
Modern infrastructure drives the demand for high end GNSS solutions
The  GNSS Infrastructure Timing and Synchronisation market witnessed solid growth over the  last 
decade favoured by the deployment of modern communication infrastructure such as 4G, small cells 
and, more recently, data centres. In particular, DCN operators, which benefited from the 4G base 
stations rollout, have driven the growth of the GNSS T&S market with more than 40% of the TSCI 
revenues in 2020 (and 28% of shipments). More recently, shipment growth was observed during 
the pandemic as the demand for high data transfer rate, high reliability and low latency connectivity 
positively affected the market. This trend is expected to sustain market growth in the future. This is also 
the case of the newly analyzed GNSS T&S data centre market that has gained importance thanks to 
an increased level of required timing accuracy and the need to comply with regulation. Consolidation is 
increasingly taking place in the data centre market towards hyperscale data centres; this growth should 
remain robust after 2020. 
The same applies to all phases of construction work, whereby GNSS-based surveying and machine 
guidance solutions have become an invaluable tool for practitioners. This covers both handheld devices 
and those used in heavy machinery, both powering geomatics applications that support site selection 
and planning, but also operations during and after construction. In that regard, the  strong growth 
of the construction industry up over the past decade and until COVID-19 (6% for residential, 10% for 
commercial) is mirrored by the increase of GNSS shipments over the same timeframe. 
Shipments of GNSS devices by application
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
2010
 
2011
 
2012
 
2013
 
2014
 
2015
 
2016
 
2017
 
2018
 
2019
 
2020
 
Units (thousands)
Digital Cellular Network
Professional Mobile Radio
Satcom
Public Switched Telephone Network
Data centres
Small cells
Construction Operations
Post Construction Operations
Surveying
 
Timing &
Synchronisation 
 
© Adobe Stock

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EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
Both traditional and emerging EO applications in infrastructure  
are on the rise
Developing climate change-resilient infrastructure
Generally designed to operate for long periods in very diverse locations, infrastructure is 
inevitably exposed to the  rapid evolution of  meteorological conditions caused by climate 
change, as wind, temperature, precipitation and natural disasters can significantly impact 
their durability and operation continuity. To address these evolving environmental constraints, 
EO-based developments such as the  Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) provide 
trustworthy and traceable climate information (past, current and future) on how extreme 
events and weather patterns impact infrastructure in Europe and worldwide. Relying on 
climate indicators (e.g. frequency and intensity of  extreme events such as intense rainfall, 
heat waves or wind storms, extreme air pollution levels, etc.) this information can be used 
by civil engineers to build infrastructure in a more resilient way. Supporting development 
and application of suitable practices and standards, especially in the planning and construction 
phases, the C3S toolbox can be used to support the assessment of climate change impact on 
infrastructure and to define robust risk assessment methodologies. In 2020, the International 
Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) notably integrated Copernicus climate data into its 
sustainable asset valuation methodology, enhancing its models that now include and monetise 
a variety of climate impacts on infrastructure.
Monitoring pipelines from Space
The  use of  InSAR imagery allows the  measurement of  millimetre-scale changes in 
deformation over spans of  days to years, and has proven its worth for geodesy-related 
applications, including construction and infrastructure monitoring. Pipelines are an excellent 
example of this EO technique’s significant added value. Whatever matter they convey, pipelines 
are indeed critical infrastructure that must be monitored throughout their entire lifecycle, 
from planning, construction and operations up to their decommission. Used for long-distance 
transportation (e.g. fossil fuels), or inside cities (e.g. water, gas, sewage), they are built both 
above and below ground (or even underwater) and are therefore potentially exposed to 
environmental forces (e.g. natural disasters, soil movements), but also third party interference 
(e.g. theft, sabotage). They generally operate under strict safety and environmental regulations, 
and must guarantee a high-level of service continuity. Impacts on their integrity could lead to 
damages and leaks, with significant economic and environmental implications. In this context, 
satellite observations can support the identification of ground deformation and leaks (e.g. 
water, methane), allowing for targeted and timely maintenance in risk areas, contributing to 
a reduction of maintenance and downtime costs.
The  use of  EO data is progressively penetrating all infrastructure management activities at all 
stages of the infrastructure life cycle. From the initial site selection and planning to the assessment 
of  infrastructure environmental impact and the  regular monitoring of  construction operations, 
the increasing exploitation of EO-based information brings solutions to an ever-growing user base in 
the infrastructure management area.
In 2020, the revenues from the sales of EO data and services to the infrastructure sector represented 
€192 m, the three largest application domains in terms of market shares (with a cumulative total of 66%) 
being, respectively: site selection and planning; environmental impact assessment of infrastructure; and 
post-construction operations. In the first application domain the main added value of EO is its capacity 
to provide historical data (e.g. exposure to natural risks) on potential sites, as well as projections related 
to the future impacts of climate change. The main added value of EO in the two other domains resides 
in its ability to deliver frequently updated (very) high resolution data to infrastructure managers 
wherever the infrastructure they are responsible for is located.
Today, the vast majority of revenues resulting from the sales of EO data and services can be attributed 
to application domains in which synergies with other space-based assets such as GNSS exist. This 
should remain the case in the years to come but ‘EO-based only’ applications should slightly increase 
their share.
Revenue from EO data & service sales  by application in 2020
33%
5%
5%
10%
9%
2%
2%
17%
17%
Site selection and planning
Vulnerability Analysis
Permitting
Construction operations
Post-construction monitoring 
Pipeline monitoring
ODA support monitoring
Monitoring of impact of human 
activities on infrastructure
Environmental impact assessment 
of infrastructures
€192 million

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INFRASTRUCTURE
FUTURE MARKET EVOLUTION
New service provision schemes ensure sustainable growth of the GNSS 
market
Time Monitoring to Safeguard Transport Infrastructure
GNSS is used in several forms of transport infrastructure (e.g. Airport, Railway and Maritime), 
in particular for Timing and Synchronisation, which are both critical components for this 
infrastructure to operate. However, the GNSS interference threat is rising, as pinpointed by 
US Coast Guards or by several pilots in NASA’s Aviation Safety Reporting System. Several 
technology providers have therefore developed solutions to increase situational awareness at 
the level of local infrastructure (e.g. ports, airports, etc.) to ensure that the ‘Timing’ service is 
provided safely. 
This technology consists of monitoring GNSS observables and comparing the expected GNSS 
signal characteristics with observed characteristics in order to detect anomalies. Some systems 
can identify the type of interference as well 
as pinpointing the  location of  the  devices 
causing the interference, allowing authorities 
to  take immediate remedial action. These 
time monitoring systems can be combined 
with atomic clocks and trusted time 
distribution to secure the communications 
network. Although they are not quantified in 
this report, new business opportunities and 
services are appearing that ensure protection 
and greater resilience of  the  transport 
infrastructure that relies on GNSS. 
Infrastructure development companies form strategic alliances for new 
solutions at lower risk
Compared to industries like Urban Development, the  Construction/Infrastructure industry is 
still lagging behind in terms of digital strategy and maturity – many customers engaged in 
infrastructure development, even in Europe, are still not using GNSS-guided machinery, let 
alone more advanced technologies. Despite that, many companies are feeling pressure to 
increase the pace of digital investments in GNSS-enabled workflows, provided that they will 
deliver value and return. One approach that is becoming familiar is for companies to identify 
ecosystem partners that they can work with to enable connected construction together. This 
ecosystem approach will continue to be a key enabler for adjusting to new market realities 
and better responding to disruptions like COVID-19. Post-COVID, construction surveying 
companies that embrace digital and form strategic ecosystems will be more prepared for future 
disruptions. The interest in joint products will be increasing and will find new customers, as many 
infrastructure projects across the globe are launched in the current post-COVID environment. 
Eventually, the integration of advanced technological solutions will help to protect personnel 
safety on site. 
Asia Pacific, EU27 and North America pushing GNSS adoption 
Wide-scale 5G deployment is still at its early stage in several regions, with EU27, Asia Pacific and 
North America leading the telecommunication infrastructure modernisation (with over 60% of global 
shipments combined). The  peak of  GNSS T&S sales is expected around 2024, coinciding with 
the most intense period of 5G rollout. Regarding the newly analyzed GNSS T&S data centre market, 
Asia Pacific (22% of shipments in 2021 and 29% in 2031) is expected to close in on North America 
(39% of  shipment in both 2021 and 2031) within the  next decade, at the  expense of  EU27 (22% 
of shipments in 2021 and 17% in 2031). Overall, the demand for more sophisticated devices should 
only impact the Telecom market marginally. Price stability or limited growth is expected in the coming 
years with new functionalities appearing (e.g. anti jamming, anti spoofing, integrity, multi bands and 
multi constellations).
At the same time, construction activities are expected to show significant growth again (after a drop in 
2020 due to COVID-19), with this effect spilling over to a steady growth of related GNSS shipments. 
This covers handheld devices and those used in heavy machinery, both powering geomatics applications 
where the use of GNSS has undoubted value. 
Shipments of GNSS devices by region
0
200
400
600
800
1 000
1 200
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
Units (thousands)
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean
© Adobe Stock

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EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
FUTURE MARKET EVOLUTION
Copernicus and emerging EO constellations support market growth
EO in support of development projects
Developing countries typically lack specific infrastructure (e.g. transport networks) and utilities 
(e.g. water, electricity, sewage), preventing them from competing with industrialised countries 
in terms of quality of life that they can guarantee to their citizens.
In general, filling this gap requires major infrastructure projects, which are often co-financed 
by international institutions such as the  World Bank. While Earth Observation can support 
the implementation of such projects in many domains (see https://eo4society.esa.int/eo_clinic/ 
for instance) and many ways – from detecting needs and performing feasibility studies to 
monitoring operations and assessing their environmental impact – it can also be a  crucial 
element in the financing itself.
In this regard, Earth Observation can help to verify that the aid is indeed used for the purpose 
and under the  conditions at which it has been granted. For instance, satellite imagery can 
support the monitoring of construction operations and their adequation to agreed plans. While 
on-site inspections are costly and may not be easy to organise due to local conditions (e.g. 
remoteness), satellites can remotely spot progress and deviations, support progress reporting 
and thus enable smoother disbursement schemes.
Improved revisit and resolution – the rise of private EO constellations
Copernicus offers a full, free and open access to the data coming from its dedicated satellites, 
the Sentinels. For infrastructure monitoring, many applications based on ground deformation 
monitoring and change detection are benefiting from the radar and optical images delivered by 
Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 respectively.
However, certain applications such as construction monitoring, asset monitoring, vegetation 
monitoring and environmental impact monitoring require optical and/or radar imagery with 
higher revisit rates and higher resolution. In the near future, this gap will be increasingly filled 
by commercial constellations of Earth Observation satellites.
Up until recently, the manufacturing of Earth Observation satellites was limited to the historical 
actors of the sector, but the emergence of low-cost small satellite technology has enabled 
the arrival of new private actors on the market. These newcomers plan to launch and operate 
large fleets of small satellites at a reasonable cost, serving a growing user base ready to pay 
for sub-meter resolution images updated every hour or even less.
Behind a global revenue increase there are strong regional disparities
Globally, the use of EO data and services for infrastructure management purposes is expected to increase 
over the next decade. However, significant regional disparities exist, with the clear dominance of North 
America (predominantly the US) in terms of cumulative income, followed closely by the Asian-Pacific 
region (predominantly China). Between them, these regions account for more than 60% of the revenue 
over the period.
Although the capacity to develop and commercialise EO-based services – which are expected to drive 
the  growth of  EO-related sales for infrastructure management – is not necessarily dependent on 
regional upstream capacities (value-added service providers can purchase data from any observation 
satellite operator in the world), the fact is that the two dominant regions are also the ones that happen 
to have the most dynamic upstream sector. This can be partly explained by a trend towards vertical 
integration which leads most observation satellite operators to offer their own value-added services 
in addition to the provision of EO data. This increases the corresponding revenue in the regions where 
a large number of observation satellite operators exist.
While Europe also plays an important role in the  provision of  EO-based data and services for 
infrastructure management-related activities, this is not fully reflected in the corresponding revenue 
since the data coming from the Sentinels and the products delivered by the Copernicus services (made 
available free-of-charge) are not accounted for in data and service sales. 
Revenue from EO data & services sales by region
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
2021  
2022  
2023  
2024  
2025  
2026  
2027  
2028  
2029  
2030  
2031
 
€ (millions)
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean

126
INFRASTRUCTURE
EUROPEAN SYSTEMS
Current usage of Galileo
Galileo is integrated in GNSS Timing & Synchronisation devices to improve 
the availability and robustness of the overall Timing solution. Implementing Galileo in 
multi-constellation products offers more reliability and accuracy of the Timing solution 
with quantified integrity, multiple source comparison and a versatile adaptive approach 
in mixing constellations and satellites. Galileo Open Service currently exceeds 
the target performance for UTC Time dissemination as during Q1 2021 it achieved 
4.4 ns [95%] (Galileo OS mission requirement aims to achieve less than 30 ns [95%]) 
and a Frequency dissemination of 1.4*10-14 [95%]. Similarly, to most segments, T&S 
device manufacturers integrate GNSS chipset that are often Galileo-enabled.
During the  User Consultation Platform 2020, operators of  several national RTK 
networks* in Europe reported an increased availability when Galileo satellites have 
contributed to their measurements. As an example, Galileo is used in an ongoing 
geodetic re-survey of  the  national boundary between Sweden and Norway, 
facilitating the GNSS operations in dense vegetation. Another example is the Galileo 
utilisation in the milestone infrastructure project ’Norrbotniabanan’, in which Galileo is 
mandatory for all contractors working on the project because of the benefits it bring 
to the construction site. 
EGNSS services and features to be 
explored
Galileo’s Open Service Navigation Message 
Authentication will be particularly relevant 
to Infrastructure operators to improve trust, 
resilience and ease of traceability for network 
synchronisation. 
In addition, the  Precise Point Positioning 
(PPP) approach of  Galileo’s High Accuracy 
Service (HAS) will provide highly accurate 
measurements as required during the phases 
of infrastructure planning and construction.
EGNOS contributes to improve position and 
time accuracy and stability. Trust is also 
enhanced via the provision of an independent 
time source, the EGNOS Network Time, and 
built-in integrity that could be used to provide 
a certified Time service in the future.
The EU Space Programme provides invaluable benefits for infrastructure
High Accuracy
Service
Authenticated
time
Greater Timing
service
Availability
Resilience
Higher Timing
Accuracy
Authentication
features
Multi-
frequency
Galileo
Galileo
Current usage of Copernicus
With its Full, Free and Open (FFO) data policy, Copernicus provides a one-of-a-kind data access for infrastructure developers 
and operators and supports the development, monitoring and maintenance of safe, sustainable and resilient infrastructure.
The Sentinels offer a spatial coverage which goes beyond any other in-situ-only monitoring solution, allowing the quick receipt 
of valuable information over large and/or difficult-to-access areas. They also offer possibilities of change detection free of charge 
that can then be followed-up with other High Resolution (HR) or Very High Resolution (VHR) imagery (tip and cue paradigm).
The diversity and the amount of data and products offered by Copernicus enable the development of a wealth of applications 
that address the various phases of the infrastructure life cycle. In the planning phase for instance, the programme’s services allow 
for the efficient assessment of the impact of climate change on future construction, in order to consider such effects from the very 
early phases of the projects. During the entire lifetime of infrastructure, the myriad of data delivered by Copernicus (e.g. related 
to land cover, atmosphere, emergency risks and mapping) also offers the possibility to assess impacts on the environment and 
on local surroundings, and to closely monitor structural health. This latter capacity will be further improved with the European 
Ground Motion Service (EGMS) to be delivered in 2022 as part of the Copernicus Land Monitoring Service, which will provide 
millimetre-accuracy deformation measures of great interest to infrastructure monitoring activities.  
* More on RTK networks and the quantification of this application can be found in the ‘Urban Development and Cultural Heritage’ segment
Terminology used on this page is explained in Annex 2 for both GNSS and EO performance parameters.
Copernicus Services
Sentinels
Sentinel-1
Sentinel-2
Land  
(CLMS)
Climate Change  
(C3S)
Atmosphere 
(CAMS)
Marine  
(CMEMS)
Emergency 
(CEMS)

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EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
EUROPEAN PROJECTS
A number of European funded projects combine EO and GNSS to propose 
solutions in support of resilience and monitoring of various types of infrastructure 
Development of a Decision Support System for increasing the Resilience 
of Transportation Infrastructure based on combined use of terrestrial and 
airborne sensors and advanced modelling tools - PANOPTIS
The  3.5-year project PANOPTIS aims to improve the  resilience of  road infrastructure and 
ensure reliable network availability under unfavourable conditions, such as extreme weather, 
landslides and earthquakes. The  project combines climate change scenarios with structural 
and geotechnical simulation tools, using actual data from sensors (terrestrial and airborne) to 
provide operators with an integrated tool able to support more effective management of their 
infrastructure at planning, maintenance and operation level.
To do so, the project will utilise high-resolution modelling data to determine and assess climatic 
risks, existing structural health monitoring data, weather forecasts and multi-temporal, multi-
sensor UAV- and satellite-based observations.
More information on: http://www.panoptis.eu/
Rolling Out OSNMA for the secure synchronisation of Telecom networks - 
ROOT
ROOT is a  18-month EU-funded project which will assess the  benefits introduced by 
the Galileo authenticated signals (OSNMA) in the specific context of the synchronisation of 5G 
telecommunication network.
Based on a  four-step experimental approach (selection of  the  attack within a  set of  radio-
frequency and cyberattacks / setting-up of the experimental testbed and intentional attacks 
/ test and post-processing analysis / quantification of  benefits), the  project will perform 
measurements of the increased level of robustness provided by new multi-frequency, OSNMA-
ready Galileo receivers and will estimate the increased resilience that OSNMA can bring to 
GNSS-based timing sources.
ROOT will foster the  adoption of  Galileo signals featuring authentication mechanisms in 
terrestrial infrastructure that depend on satellite-derived time.
More information on: https://www.gnss-root.eu
Corridor and Asset Monitoring using Earth Observation - CAMEO
CAMEO is  a 2-year project funded by the European Space Agency under the ‘EO science for 
society’ activity which aims to boost the understanding and integration of satellite EO services 
by companies and agencies managing pipeline and energy transmission corridors.
Based on the  gathering of  user requirements and the  analysis of  existing practices and 
challenges, the project will develop a set of prototype services which will showcase the added-
value of EO data to corridor and asset monitoring stakeholders. These prototype services will 
address three main domains: structural integrity (e.g. surface deformation, leak occurrence); 
environmental and geo-hazards (e.g. flooding, landslides, vegetation condition monitoring); and 
threat assessment (e.g. third-party interference, encroachment).
The  services developed by CAMEO will be implemented in scalable cloud computing 
environments and will combine EO and non-EO data to provide users with information, having 
a true operational value.
More information on: https://eo4society.esa.int/projects/cameo/
Deployed Applications and Monitoring of Critical Mobile Broadband 
Communication Infrastructure and Assets for PPDR - BroadGNSS
BroadGNSS is a 40-month EU-funded Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP) project which will 
procure Innovation activity for Applications, Synchronisation and Monitoring of Critical Mobile 
Broadband Communication Infrastructure and Information Assets for Public Protection and 
Disaster Recovery (PPDR) Operations.
This PCP will pull innovative solutions from the user-side that will bring higher accuracy and 
higher reliability EGNSS applications to support public safety communications.
The project will enable discussions between a buyers’ group of three public bodies (the French 
Ministry of Interior, the Estonian State Infocommunication Foundation and the Finnish State 
Security Network Group) and potential suppliers. The  PCP process will consist of  three 
phases which will eventually lead to the selection of one or several EGNSS-based solutions 
for potential commercial roll-out. Thus, BroadGNSS will contribute to increase Galileo market 
penetration in the domain of high precision timing and synchronisation.
More information on: https://www.broadgnss-info.eu

128
INFRASTRUCTURE
REFERENCE CHARTS
Installed base of GNSS devices by region 
Revenue of GNSS device sales by region 
Revenue of GNSS device sales by application
Installed base of GNSS devices by application
0
1 000
2 000
3 000
4 000
5 000
6 000
7 000
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
Units (thousands)
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean
0
1 000
2 000
3 000
4 000
5 000
6 000
7 000
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
€ (millions)
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean
0
1 000
2 000
3 000
4 000
5 000
6 000
7 000
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031 
€ (millions)
Digital Cellular Network
 
Professional Mobile Radio
 
Satcom 
Public Switched Telephone Network
Date Centre
Small cells
 
Construction Operations
Post-Construction Operations
Surveying
Timing &
Synchronisation 
0
1 000
2 000
3 000
4 000
5 000
6 000
7 000
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
Units (thousands)
Digital Cellular Network
 
Professional Mobile Radio
 
Satcom 
Public Switched Telephone Network
Date Centre
Small cells
 
Construction Operations
Post-Construction Operations
Surveying
Timing &
Synchronisation

INFRASTRUCTURE
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EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
REFERENCE CHARTS
Revenue from EO data sales by application 
Revenue from EO services sales by application
Revenue from EO services sales by region
Revenue from EO data sales by region
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
 
€ (millions)
Site selection and planning
Vulnerability Analysis
Permitting
Construction operations
Post-construction operations
Pipeline monitoring
ODA support monitoring
Monitoring of impact of human activities on infrastructure
Environmental impact assessment of infrastructures
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
2021  
2022  
2023  
2024  
2025  
2026  
2027  
2028  
2029  
2030  
2031  
€ (millions)
Site selection and planning
Vulnerability Analysis
Permitting
Construction operations
Post-construction operations
Pipeline monitoring
ODA support monitoring
Monitoring of impact of human activities on infrastructure
Environmental impact assessment of infrastructures
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
2021  
2022  
2023  
2024  
2025  
2026  
2027  
2028  
2029  
2030  
2031  
€ (millions)
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
2021  
2022  
2023  
2024  
2025  
2026  
2027  
2028  
2029  
2030  
2031
 
€ (millions)
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean

INSURANCE AND FINANCE
130
INSURANCE AND FINANCE
The  Insurance and Finance market segment contains services and products provided 
and consumed by institutions and organisations in the insurance and financial service 
domains. This includes insurers (and re-insurers) and international and local financial 
institutions (e.g. private and commercial banks, stock exchanges or traders). 
From claims assessments in the insurance industry to time-stamping of transactions in 
finance, GNSS timing and positioning information plays a key role. In addition to time-
stamping of transactions in financial (bank and stock exchange) applications, GNSS is 
used for claim assessment (using GNSS-enabled drones for pre- and post-event analysis 
and data gathering) in the insurance industry. 
Earth Observation is used to compute indices for parametric products particularly for 
crops and livestock insurance (i.e. index production), calibration of risk models (i.e. risk 
modelling) and assessing damage and thereby claim management (i.e. event footprint), 
benefitting both the insurance and finance stakeholders. In addition, EO data supports 
screening processes (i.e. risk assessments) undertaken by financial institutions for their 
investments and contributes to the development of logistics strategies of organisations 
exploiting natural resources (e.g. indices for commodities trading).
What you can read in this chapter
• Key trends: Rising stakes for spatial finance and insurance.
• User perspective: Satellite data provides more accurate intelligence for informed 
decision-making.
• Industry: Insurance and Finance Value Chains.
• Recent developments: Space data integration goes hand in hand with sectors’ 
digitalisation.
• ΁Future market evolution: EO set to become and instrumental tool in the financial world.
• European Systems and projects: Copernicus and Galileo working together for more 
sustainable finance.
• Reference charts: Yearly evolution of sector and application specific EO revenues; 
GNSS devices’ installed base and revenues by application and region.
© Adobe Stock
Application descriptions can be found in Annex 3.
Finance
• Commodities trading
• Risk assessment
• Timing and synchronisation for finance
Insurance for natural disasters
• Event footprint
• Index production
• Risk modelling
Legend
EO application
GNSS application
Synergetic application  
(combined use of EO and GNSS)

INSURANCE AND FINANCE
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EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
KEY TRENDS
Insurance and finance are working better with space-based solutions
Parametric insurance is a relatively new innovative approach to insurance provision whereby payouts 
are based on a predetermined index for loss of assets and investments as a consequence of weather 
and/or catastrophic events. Satellite imagery is a tool used to monitor remotely conditions on ground 
and a source of information to verify claims.
Satellite-based insurance emerges as a way to assist smallholder farmers facing the consequences of  
natural perils. CGIAR (formerly known as Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research) 
Water, Land and Ecosystems policy briefs provide further evidence and recommendations on the way 
such insurance schemes can  improve disaster preparedness and response, advance equity and 
strengthen institutions, particularly when they are incorporated in wider disaster-management plans. 
These refer to pilot projects in India and Bangladesh which show how index-based weather insurance 
products assisted by Earth Observation (EO) data can reduce financial risks to smallholder farmers as 
a consequence of floods and droughts.
At the same time, financial institutions (FIs) face a similar, increasing need to consider climate risks in 
their assessments. EO constitutes a major source of data to feed FI’s screening processes. Combined 
with other relevant data, EO data help investors and asset managers to better understand current and 
future risks to their investments (e.g. inland flood risk, coastal erosion, etc.).
With accessible satellite data, existing insurance programmes can potentially be extended to cover 
a range of natural hazards,  (e.g. encompassing cyclones, droughts and coastal inundation), while for FIs, 
EO can translate into more responsible investment decisions (e.g. by providing an impartial assessment 
of the environmental impacts, such as deforestation, that investment projects have).
Key market trends
• EO data helps financial institutions to improve their processes for more informed and responsible investment decisions towards a more sustainable future
• In parallel, synchronisation services based on GNSS time continue to support the financial markets 
• Insurers keep integrating satellite data into their product portfolios for increased granularity in risk selection and pricing
Rising stakes for spatial finance and insurance
Growing offer of synchronization services to comply with regulation and 
provide competitive advantage 
Since 2018, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has imposed on EU member 
states a series of technical requirements on business clock synchronization in the Commission 
Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/574, which complements the  MiFiD II Directive 2014/65/
EU in markets of financial instruments. The most stringent requirement is 100 microseconds 
deviation from UTC with 1 microsecond of  timestamping granularity. Traceability and 
the capacity to demonstrate where the timestamp is applied and that it remains consistent 
are also required. In the  US, the  Securities and Exchange Commission’s Rule 613 imposes 
a less stringent requirement with a synchronization accuracy requirement of 50 milliseconds to 
the time maintained by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. However, financial 
institutions often go beyond these 50 ms accuracy to be competitive. In trading especially, time 
lags as small as 10 microseconds can be a deadly disadvantage. 
In the  meantime, financial institutions are increasingly concerned by the  potential impact 
of GNSS disruption or outage. A host of GNSS receiver vendors offer services to implement, 
operate and maintain their networks according to the MiFID II regulation requirements, but also 
to protect timekeeping from any GNSS issues. Synchronization service for business clocks offers 
are therefore growing accordingly.
Accelerated digital transformation in Agri-insurance 
Based on a  recent survey conducted by Agroinsurance, the  main innovations introduced 
for underwriting needs in 2020 due to COVID-19 included a  more extensive use of  digital 
solutions for crop monitoring, mobile applications for online premium payments and electronic 
communication with the insurance buyers. The use of satellite technology for loss assessment 
remains limited in the  global market, although more initiatives emerge to showcase its 
advantages.
For instance, Swiss Reinsurance are working with start-up 
GreenTriangle’s remote monitoring software to improve the loss 
adjustment processes. The platform integrating satellite data 
helps settle claims in a more transparent and efficient way – 
from detection of erroneous insurance claims to differentiating 
impacts of adverse weather events as opposed to diseases on 
the crop’s yield – benefiting both insured and insurers.
Programme/Product
Key partners
Risk covered
Geographic coverage
Global Index Insurance 
Facility (GIIF)
World Bank Group, EU, Japan
Multi Peril
Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, 
and Latin America and the 
Caribbean.
Index Based Flood 
Insurance (IBFI)
Indian Council for Agricultural 
Research, Disaster Management 
Department, Institute of Water 
Modelling (IWM), SwissRe
Flood
India, Bangladesh
G4AW
Netherlands Space Office, 
research institutions, NGOs 
and EO-data providers
Multi perils
Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia
© Adobe Stock

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INSURANCE AND FINANCE
USER PERSPECTIVE
Satellite data provides more accurate intelligence for informed  
decision-making
Insurance companies require complete and accurate data to understand risk exposure both in traditional, 
indemnity insurance and index products.
Risk modelling (or catastrophe modelling) is the process of building a probabilistic model estimating 
the  likelihood and severity of  a  loss. In support of   underwriting, premium pricing and portfolio 
management, satellite imagery can be used as inputs for calibration and improvement of models. EO 
data is used mostly by Value Added Services (VAS) companies, and few large (re)insurance groups. 
For instance, Willis Re utilise satellite data (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) and Sentinel-2 
multispectral imagery) with artificial neural networks for better flood risk modelling in  South East Asia. 
For post event-analysis or Event footprint, inputs from EO allow (re)insurance companies to obtain 
a  comprehensive view of  the  affected area. This allows companies to anticipate organisation and 
planning, including being able to provide a better customer service for the benefit of policy holders. 
Finally, for the most innovative approach to insurance, Index products, EO data is linked with local 
parameters and knowledge (e.g. agronomists in crop insurance) for a more accessible (e.g. reduced 
basis risk and wider coverage in remote areas), efficient and transparent means of risk transfer.
Event footprint – clear overview and distribution of damages
Fast and accurate analysis of  the  extent of  destruction caused during a  natural disaster is 
essential to assess its economic impact. EO imagery from Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 satellites 
can be used for the mapping of natural hazard footprints and to determine the hazard impact, 
thereby supplementing and augmenting existing information in the claims management phase.
A Kick-start Activity by ESA, the EO-Claim Ledger B2B platform, was designed to support 
the insurance industry to overcome high administrative costs associated with managing a large 
number of related claims issued from an increasing number of natural disasters. The automated 
claim management system makes use of EO imagery for mapping damages caused by natural 
hazards and GNSS positioning data from field visits. In turn, using blockchain technology allows 
the provision of a secured system to prevent fraud and is expected to lower insurance premium 
for the benefit of the insured.
Key EO and GNSS user requirements
The key GNSS and EO user requirements for the different application 
groups within the  Insurance and Finance segment are, at EU level, 
collected using the following procedures:
• For GNSS, information is collected through extensive interactions with 
user groups, providers and experts in a continuous process culminating 
at the User Consultation Platforms (UCP). All relevant requirements 
are documented in detail and updated regularly within the Report on 
Time & Synchronisation User needs and requirements.
• User requirements for Copernicus services and products – as well 
as their evolution – are collected through an integrated process that 
involves different channels: (i) dedicated studies (e.g. “NEXTSPACE” 
project, “Copernicus for EC (C4EC)” study, Commission Staff Working 
Document on user needs), (ii) targeted consultations organised by 
the European Commission or the Entrusted entities with the relevant communities, (iii) regular and 
structured exchanges among representatives of the Copernicus governance structure and Member 
States through the Copernicus User Forum. 
From the 2022 EUSPA`s UCP onward, EO user needs and requirements of commercial users will be 
validated and discussed with industry experts and user groups, mirroring the process implemented for 
GNSS. 
REPORT ON TIME & SYNCHRONISATION USER NEEDS AND REQUIREMENTS
1
Report on Time & 
Synchronisation User 
Needs and Requirements
Outcome of the EUSPA
User Consultation Platform
•  Calibration of risk models 
and refinement of hypotheses
•  Imputs for digital models such  
as elevation maps
•  Reinsurers
•  Insurers
•  Catastrophe modelling 
companies
•  Reinsurers
•  Insurers
•  Insured people
•  Emergency services
•  Reinsurers
•  Insurers
•  Farmers or local authorities
• Financial institutions
•  Comprehensive vision  
of the affected area
•  First estimates of extent  
of damages
•  Computation of indexes based  
on image analyses
•  Provision of informative maps  
for farmers
EO FOR:
END USERS
RISK 
MODELLING
EVENT 
FOOTPRINT
TRADITIONAL
INDEX 
PRODUCTS
APPLICATIONS
Three types of EO-based activities in insurance for natural disasters

INSURANCE AND FINANCE
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EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
INDUSTRY
Insurance and Finance Value Chains1
SEARCH AND RESCUE 
BEACON USERS
END USERS
SYSTEM INTEGRATORS
DESIGN CONSULTANCIES
TESTING & MAINTENANCE
• ACCENTURE
• CHRONOS TECHNOLOGY*
• IBM
• JUNIPER
BANKS AND STOCK EXCHANGES
NOTES
1 The value chain considers the key global and European companies involved in GNSS and EO downstream activities.
2 In the market share analysis, Europe is defined as EU27 plus Norway, Switzerland and the UK.
* European-based companies. The region is defined with respect to the headquarters of the company, though the actual area of activity might be wider.
END USERS
INFORMATION  
PROVIDERS
EO PRODUCTS 
AND SERVICE  
PROVIDERS
PLATFORM  
PROVIDERS
DATA PROVIDERS
INFRASTRUCTURE 
PROVIDERS
• ARBITER
• CHRONOS TECHNOLOGY*
• ELPROMA*
• ENDRUN
• GORGY TIMING*
• JACKSON LABS
• MASTERCLOCK
• MEINBERG*
• MICROCHIP
• OROLIA SPECTRACOM*
• OSCILLOQUARTZ*
• SEVEN SOLUTIONS*
• AWS
• CODE-DE*
• COLLGS*
• COPERNICUS DIAS*
• CLOUDEO*
• GOOGLE CLOUD 
PLATFORM
• IBM CLOUD
• PENGUIN COMPUTING
• USGS EARTH EXPLORER
• FURUNO
• NOVATEL
• SEPTENTRIO*
• STMICROELECTRONICS*
• TRIMBLE
• U-BLOX*
• AIRBUS SE*
• COPERNICUS DIAS*
• DESCARTES LABS
• EARTH-I
• E-GEOS*
• MAXAR
• PLANET
• URSA
• ATOS
• CLOUDEO*
• COPERNICUS DIAS*
• GBDX PLATFORM
• MAPBOX
• ONEATLAS
• SINERGISE* (SENTINEL 
HUB)
• EARTHDAILY ANALYTICS
• EARTH-I LTD
• GAF*
• GEOVILLE*
• LUXCARTA S.À R.L.*
• SATELLIGENCE*
• SINERGISE*
• SPACEKNOW
• SPARK INSIGHTS INC
• VANDERSAT*
• VITO*
• ACCLIMATISE*
• ACCUWEATHER INC
• ASSET RESOLUTION*
• EARTHLAB AI SYSTEMS
• ECOMETRICA
• EQT MID MARKET 
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
• FLINT PRO 
• GEOSPATIAL FINANCIAL 
HUB
• GREEN TRIANGLE
• RISCOGNITION*
• VERISK ANALYTICS
RE/INSURANCE SECTOR
• AIG
• SWISS RE*
• WILLIS TOWERS 
WATSON*
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
• REFINITIV LTD
• INTERNATIONAL 
DEVELOPMENT 
ORGANISATIONS
EARTH 
OBSERVATION
COMPONENT 
AND RECEIVER 
MANUFACTURERS
DEVICE MANUFACTURERS
GNSS
• COPERNICUS 
COLLABORATIVE 
GROUND SEGMENT*
• COPERNICUS 
SENTINELS*
• USGS/NASA LANDSAT
• RELEVANT IN-SITU 
NETWORKS
• GEOHAZARDS-TEP
• COPERNICUS SERVICES*
LEGEND
	Commercial Offering
	Public Offering
	User segments
European2 GNSS & EO industry in the global arena
GNSS receivers in Insurance and Finance are used for timing and synchronisation purposes and the industry supporting 
the segment overlaps with that serving both Infrastructure and  Energy and Raw Materials. European companies such 
as Orolia, u-Blox, and Meinberg hold 36% of the timing and synchronisation market, with a slightly lower intensity on 
Insurance and Finance applications than their largest international competitors, yielding an estimated European share 
of 25% of the Insurance and Finance market.
In EO, the EU market is dominant with almost 58 % of the total share and a segment value of €0.17bn.

134
INSURANCE AND FINANCE
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
GNSS equipment is used for Time Stamping functions, to log events in a  chronologic manner and 
therefore be able to recreate causal links. All stock exchanges are equipped with large data centres 
holding the exchanges’ matching engines in racks of interconnected servers using GNSS receivers as 
timing and synchronisation sensors.
The MiFID II (in EU) and FINRA (US) regulations had a distinct, positive impact on sales of GNSS receivers 
peak of shipments in 2017: over 33,000 units of new equipment were acquired by financial institutions. 
With the average device lifetime of about 5 years and the volume of funds at stake, financial markets 
are more likely to keep up the  pace with latest technological developments. Although the  market 
appears to reach a maturity in terms of shipments from 2018 onwards, the willingness of finance users 
to pay a premium in order to acquire state of the art timing and synchronisation solutions, provided 
the benefits outweigh the costs, is expected to maintain the historical trend of equipment purchase. In 
addition, financial markets will be encouraged renew their current devices by additional amendments to 
regulation: for instance, from 2021 onwards FINRA will begin supporting timestamps up to nanosecond 
granularity. 
On top of  the  need for accurate timestamps, as explained below, GNSS location data is becoming 
essential for the evolving financial landscape being sourced from various devices and applications.
Space data integration goes hand in hand with sectors’ digitalisation
Role of drones in insurance*
Insurers use drones to deliver and document aerial footage of houses, building sites, landscapes, 
and events that are known to be occurring. When it comes to assessing risks and measuring 
losses, they already represent significant extra value to the  industry. For loss adjustment 
purposes, using drones for insurance inspections dramatically reduces the time for processing 
claims – a crucial factor for people whose properties have affected by natural disasters such 
as hurricanes. In the underwriting process, drones can be used to pro-actively monitor risk in 
disaster-prone areas, gathering data for more accurate quotes to residents. Drones equipped 
with infrared cameras have proven effective at detecting water and air leaks, previously a time-
consuming process for loss adjusters. 
The new harmonised regulation on the use of drones 
in the  EU (2021) and technology developments 
(e.g. AI) will pave the  way in the  future towards 
seamless integration between various data sources 
within the  (re)insurance value chain (including 
autonomous drones capable of  covering greater 
areas), collection and integration (e.g. via AI pattern 
recognition) of  more useful information, and 
further optimisation of the underwriting and claim 
management processes.
Big data, Machine Learning and GNSS increasingly used by fintech to 
develop new services
According to a recent note from the Worldbank on Finance competitiveness and innovation, 
credit reporting service providers are increasingly using artificial intelligence and machine  
learning to assess credit risk. Some service providers have developed proprietary credit  scoring  
technology  to  process  up  to  20,000  data  points  per  application,  the  majority  of which 
are drawn from social media to estimate human behavior. These algorithms use advanced 
analytics and Machine Learning to process a range of data pulled out of users’ phones, including  
telephone   use   data,   messaging   content,   browser data and GPS locational data.
With these new algorithms enabled (among other technologies) by GNSS, the credit reporting 
landscape is being evolving and new fintech players are driving the whole sector towards more 
innovation. However, the new solutions introduce new challenges with respect to  cybersecurity  
concerns,  potential  for  fraud  and  data  privacy  and  protection  issues. This calls for robust 
and reliable data to be used in the AI and ML algorithms, including GNSS data.
*Drones are quantified in Aviation and Drones segment, and the revenues from this activity (described in the box) are attributed 
to the dedicated segment.
Shipments of GNSS devices by application
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
2010
 
2011
 
2012
 
2013
 
2014
 
2015
 
2016
 
2017
 
2018
 
2019
 
2020
 
Units (thousands)
Bank transactions
Stock Exchange transactions
© Adobe Stock

INSURANCE AND FINANCE
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EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
FUTURE MARKET EVOLUTION
The total amount of EO data and services for 2021 accumulates to €145 m across the five categories 
of applications (event footprint, risk modelling, index production, risk assessment and commodities 
trading) considered in this market report. From 2021, the EO data and services for the insurance and 
financial market segment will see a CAGR of 20% by 2031, resulting in almost €1 bn total revenues. 
The massive boost which will accelerate the uptake of both EO data and value-added services across 
the industry is related to the use of parametric insurance products in the context of disaster resilience 
frameworks as well as by commercial entities in areas with high exposure to extreme events at global 
level.
In 2021, around 46% of the total revenues come from risk modelling, presenting the largest customer 
base for EO data and services. However due to its slower future growth, which is below the average 
of the whole market segment in terms of CAGR  (8%), the revenues from this application will represent 
only 15% of the total revenues in 2031, even if the revenue generated will amount for €151 m, 
compared to €67 m in 2021. 
Risk assessment and commodities trading are the two applications with the biggest growth rate 
(32%) between 2021 and 2031. The revenues from risk assessment go from €12 m in 2021 up to €189 
m in 2031. In its turn, the revenues from commodities trading goes from almost €22 m up to more than 
€343 m in 2031.
EO set to become and instrumental tool in the financial world
Earth Observation to support smallholders’ access to microfinance
A significant portion of the world’s population remains unbanked and for these people, who 
mostly live in developing countries, accessing financial services is very challenging. The lack 
of financial history, limited incomes and the difficulty for lenders to assess credit risk are part 
of the obstacles they face. When these people are in remote areas, the high operational costs 
to reach them constitute an additional barrier. 
Combined with other digital technologies like Artificial Intelligence, EO can help financial 
institutions develop products fitted to these potential customers. In the domain of agriculture for 
instance, EO can provide historical information on farm performance, estimate crop production 
thanks to vegetation, soil and water-related data, and help to monitor the progress of farming 
activities. These EO-based insights can support loan decision-making by feeding credit risk 
assessment models and help to assess small farmers’ creditworthiness. EO can also support 
loan monitoring by identifying or forecasting events likely to have an impact on reimbursement, 
while limiting the  need for on-site inspections. Thus, EO can help financial institutions to 
provide numerous smallholder farmers, who were previously considered as unreachable, with 
access to microfinance.
GNSS to support authentication in financial transactions
Improving security of financial transaction and ensuring protections of his customers against 
attempted frauds is increasingly high on the agendas of banking institutions and regulatory 
authorities. In EU, the revised Directive on Payment Services (PSD2) reflects this concern as 
an important element of PSD2 is the requirement for strong customer authentication on most 
electronic payments which came into full effect on 31 December 2020.
While cell phones have now reached full maturity, a  new area of  GNSS usage is linked to 
improving security transaction and fraud detection leveraging on mobile-enabled GNSS as 
a security mechanism. The interest would be to adopt multi-layered security with a context-
aware online security approach to fraud detection that would include GNSS data. Using mobile 
GNSS data as an added layer of security allows banks or service providers to use the geolocation 
information gained from mobile app to determine whether a transaction aligns with the location 
of the customers’ mobile, giving them another way to detect that a fraudulent transaction is 
underway. Several banks and fintech payment providers have already incorporated location-
based authentication based on a mobile phone’s GNSS data such as PayPal’s Venmo, Velmie, 
Temenos, MasterCard and Visa. 
Revenue from EO data & services sales by application
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions) 
Event footprint
Risk modelling
Index production
Risk assessment
Commodities trading

136
INSURANCE AND FINANCE
EUROPEAN SYSTEMS AND PROJECTS
Current usage of EGNSS
Galileo is integrated into GNSS Timing 
& 
Synchronisation 
devices 
to 
improve 
the availability and robustness of the overall 
Timing solution. Implementing Galileo in 
multi-constellation products offers more 
reliability and accuracy of the Timing solution 
with quantified integrity, multiple source 
comparison and versatile adaptive approach 
in mixing constellation and satellites. Galileo 
Open Service already provides UTC Time 
dissemination better than 30 ns [95%] and 
a Frequency dissemination better than 3*10-
13 [95%].
Similarly to most segments, T&S device 
manufacturers 
integrate 
Galileo-enabled 
chipsets.
Current usage of Copernicus
Both the Copernicus Sentinel and the Copernicus core 
services are providing useful information and data to 
insurance companies. Sentinel data are particularly 
useful to conduct risk assessments: Sentinel-2 
images are used to collect environmental impacts 
and land classification data (e.g. farms detection) 
at high resolution with high revisit capability, or 
can be used for plant growth monitoring through 
the  delivery of  timely data on numerous plant 
indices (particularly useful for precision farming and 
agricultural insurance). Sentinel-1 radar imagery 
also increases the  transparency of  crop insurance 
programmes and speeds up pay-outs regardless 
of weather conditions. 
Copernicus and Galileo working together for more sustainable finance
High Accuracy
Service
Authenticated
time
Greater Timing
service
Availability
Resilience
Higher Timing
Accuracy
Authentication
features
Multi-
frequency
Galileo
Galileo
Boosting Agricultural Insurance based on Earth Observation data - 
BEACON
The  BEACON project aims to develop a  commercial 
service package enabling insurance companies to exploit 
the  untapped market potential of  Agricultural Insurance, 
taking advantage of innovations in EO, weather intelligence 
and ICT/ blockchain technology. The  service will help 
insurers alleviate the effect of weather uncertainty, optimise 
operational and administrative costs for monitoring, contract 
handling and on-site visits and design more accurate and 
personalised contracts.
Data products will be developed using EO data derived by Copernicus Sentinel missions and 
contributing missions. BEACON services are expected to be piloted with ten representatives 
from the insurance sector to globally confirm their value proposition.
More information on: https://beacon-h2020.com/
Transforming Weather Water data into value-added Information 
services for sustainable Growth in Africa - TWIGA
The overarching objective of TWIGA is to provide currently unavailable geo-information on 
weather, water and climate for sub-Saharan Africa by enhancing satellite-based geo-data 
with innovative in-situ sensors and developing related information services that answer needs 
of  African stakeholders and the  Global EO System of  Systems (GEOSS) community. One 
of the defined target ‘user clusters’ are (crop) insurance providers, seen as an essential part 
of the agricultural value chain for smallholders trying to move from subsistence farming to 
market-oriented production.
An 
optimal 
combination 
of 
satellites, 
in-situ 
observations and models will support insurance 
providers with products, including climate map 
of rainfall, detailed near-real-time rainfall maps, hail 
maps and information such as drought risk maps, 
actual rainfall at farm level and hail storm trails.
More information on: https://www.twiga-h2020.eu/
Copernicus Services
Sentinels
Sentinel-1
Sentinel-2
Climate Change
(C3S)
© Beacon project
© Adobe Stock

INSURANCE AND FINANCE
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EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
REFERENCE CHARTS
Installed base of GNSS devices by region 
Revenue of GNSS device sales by region 
Revenue of GNSS device sales by application
Installed base of GNSS devices by application
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
Units (thousands)
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
€ (millions)
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
€ (millions)
Bank transactions
Stock Exchange transactions
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
Units (thousands)
Bank transactions
Stock Exchange transactions

138
INSURANCE AND FINANCE
REFERENCE CHARTS
Revenue from EO data sales by application 
Revenue from EO services sales by application
Revenue from EO services sales by region
Revenue from EO data sales by region
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions) 
Event footprint
Risk modelling
Index production
Risk assessment
Commodities trading
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions) 
 
Event footprint
Risk modelling
Index production
Risk assessment
Commodities trading
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions) 
 
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions) 
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean

MARITIME AND INLAND WATERWAYS
MARITIME AND INLAND WATERWAYS
GNSS and EO contribute substantially to the maritime and inland waterways sector, 
assisting a diverse pool of stakeholders ranging from vessel operators and recreational 
boaters to port authorities in their day-to-day operations and activities.
In addition to safe and efficient navigation, GNSS devices provide a  multitude 
of applications for inland waterways and port operations, while High Accuracy Services 
enable automation. Combined with EO, navigation efficiency can be optimised, and 
further explored in areas previously considered too dangerous or inaccessible such as 
new maritime routes or shallow inland waters. 
Besides supporting different synergetic applications with GNSS, EO data itself provides 
precious insights for ocean services such as ocean monitoring, forecasting and ocean 
climate records, generating many coastal and marine environment applications. 
What you can read in this chapter
• Key trends:  The Maritime sector is sailing towards a more green, autonomous and 
digital future.
• User perspective: Towards more secure and resilient maritime operations.
• Industry: Maritime and Inland Waterways Value Chains.
• Recent developments: Stable growth of GNSS shipments despite historical stall in 
international maritime trade.
• ΁Future market evolution: EO market is showing steady growth supported by public 
sector demand.
• European Systems and projects: Enhanced devices and advanced data for better 
performance in maritime activities.
• Reference charts: Yearly evolution of installed base of GNSS devices and revenues as 
well as EO revenues by application and region.
139
© Adobe Stock
Application descriptions can be found in Annex 3.
Environmental monitoring
• Marine pollution monitoring
Vessel tracking
• Dark vessel monitoring
Inland Waterways
• Inland waterways navigation
Recreational craft
• Recreational navigation
Maritime engineering
• Marine surveying and mapping
• Dredging
Ocean services
• Metocean
Ports
• GNSS automated port operations
• Piloting assist at ports 
• Port safety 
• Port security
• Ports1 
Merchant vessels
• Collision avoidance (AIS)
• GNSS vessel engine management 
systems
• Merchant navigation
• Navigation through sea ice
• Ship route optimisation
1 incl. Port-based Port navigation devices, PPUs and 
Vessel docking)
Legend
EO application
GNSS application
Synergetic application  
(combined use of EO and GNSS)

140
MARITIME AND INLAND WATERWAYS
KEY TRENDS
Key market trends
• GNSS has been used to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on the maritime sector, and GNSS-enabled digitalisation efforts have helped companies cope with social distancing requirements
• GNSS and EO expected to contribute to green maritime solutions at the European level
• Synergetic use of EO and GNSS will lead to more fuel-efficient and safer navigation of maritime vessels through shipping route optimisation
Maritime sector is sailing towards a more green, autonomous and digital 
future
Importance of uninterrupted supply chains highlighted through maritime 
GNSS data analytics
Maritime has been profoundly impacted by COVID-19, with global changes to trade and 
a highlighting of the fundamental importance of uninterrupted supply chains. Maritime tracking 
insights obtainemeasuringd via GNSS data from Automatic Identification System (AIS) are 
a great method for the impact of the the pandemic on trade. GNSS has allowed various bodies 
to track global changes to shipping patterns and frequency and provide important information. 
Data from Marine Traffic and other providers has offered an overview of the decline in port calls 
in 2020 relative to the same period in 2019, while companies such as the Maritime intelligence 
specialist VesselsValue are using AIS data to map cruise ship activity throughout the pandemic. 
In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that digitalisation has become more important 
than ever, as has reducing staff onboard while ensuring safety, thus paving the  way for 
automated solutions. 
Standards for autonomous vessels pave the way for adoption
While there have been many developments in autonomous vessels in recent years, there is a lack 
of standard for communication formats, international legislative framework, terminology and 
data exchange. This gap in standards makes it difficult to deploy port-to-port autonomous ship 
trials. Nations and port authorities have begun to work together to agree a set of standards in order 
to facilitate port-to-port autonomous vessel voyages. These standards will be key to the wider 
adoption of autonomous vessels, which are at present largely confined to single-port or national 
trials.
Operational guidelines have been developed by 
taking into consideration the Interim Guidelines 
for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) 
trials developed at the  International Maritime 
Organisation (IMO). The  creation of  these 
operational guidelines also came as the product 
of enhanced co-operation among the European 
Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and all parties 
involved MASS trials. The  objective of  thoee 
guidelines is to provide assistance for relevant 
actors that want to perform tests/trials on MASS 
systems in a  safe, secure and environmentally 
friendly manner. 
5G enables greater adoption of autonomous port use cases
5G is accelerating the  path towards automation, enabling vessels, 
port vehicles and port equipment such as gantries to operate more 
autonomously (due to its high bandwidth and low latency capabilities), 
and in larger quantities (given its ability to support a  massive amount 
of connected devices). 5G trials are ongoing at ports around the world, 
including Hamburg, Rotterdam, Singapore, Shanghai and Antwerp. 
The port of Antwerp, in particular, created a 5G-connected tugboat to relay 
images and radar data of the port’s conditions in real-time, with a view to 
employ autonomous ships and trucks in the near future. The trend towards 5G in ports in turn is 
increasing the adoption of GNSS-based navigation tools, as equipment that was previously manually 
operated becomes automated.
In addition to automation, 5G has the potential to impact a wide range applications within ship-to-
ship, ship-to-shore, and onboard communication. As part of the H2H Project, SINTEF has looked into 
the potential applications of 5G communication within the context of maritime operations in various 
waters.
Regulatory focus on green solutions
The EU Green Deal has heralded change across many fields, sustainable transport being one of them. 
Technologies such as EO and GNSS applications will play a role in addressing the Green Deal call for 
innovative ways to manage maritime fuel and space more sustainably. 
In this context, many European projects have been put in place. The FLAGSHIPS project showcases 
the readiness of zero-emission waterborne transport by demonstrating two commercially operated 
hydrogen fuel cell vessels, while NEXUS will develop and demonstrate novel, state of  the  art, 
specialised vessels and logistics for safe and sustainable servicing of offshore wind farms. 
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MARITIME AND INLAND WATERWAYS
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EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
USER PERSPECTIVE
Towards more secure and resilient maritime operations
Maritime Resilience is of utmost importance 
Increasing cybersecurity risks, ship traffic and volume, in combination 
with the advanced automated function of vessels and future autonomous 
capabilities, together make the integrity concept for maritime positioning 
of  utmost importance. Maritime positioning requirements for integrity 
services are assessed by organisations such as the  Resilient Navigation 
and Timing Foundation (RNTF) and the Royal Institute of Navigation (RIN), 
stressing the needs of users. 
To tackle this challenge, the R-MODE BALTIC project is developing and 
demonstrating a  new maritime backup system for position, navigation 
and time purposes. It provides a  safe ship navigation solution when 
the established GNSS fail due to interference or jamming. In fact, the project promotes the first 
worldwide operational test area for a new maritime system for PNT as a backup for GNSS in 
the Baltic Sea.
Another project (MarRINav) has explored the  vulnerabilities of  the  GNSS PNT solutions to 
complement current GNSS performance by adding layers of integrity and resilience.
Increased cyberattacks calls for advanced solutions
The  IMO has issued Resolution MSC.428(98) for maritime 
cyber-risk management, effective from January 2021. 
The resolution focuses on cyber threats against the integrity 
and availability of technology systems. 
An increase in shipping cyberattacks has been seen during 
the  COVID-19 pandemic, as hackers attempt to exploit 
the  vulnerabilities of  maritime systems during a  period 
of reduced staffing. The long-term focus for maritime users 
will be on ensuring continuity of  service and protection 
against cyber-threats.
With low-cost spoofing devices being easily available and such cyber attacks becoming a recurring issue, 
a key role for authenticated GNSS is envisioned as a response to the growing threat of spoofing at 
sea or at ports. EU projects such as Prepare Ships and Bluebox Porbeagle are addressing this issue by 
creating secure devices equipped with authentication services. 
Key EO and GNSS user requirements
The key GNSS and EO user requirements for the different application groups within the Maritime and Inland Waterways segment are, at EU level, collected using the following 
procedures:
• For GNSS, information is collected through extensive interactions with user groups, providers and experts in a continuous process culminating at the User Consultation 
Platforms (UCP). All relevant requirements are documented in detail and updated regularly within the Report on Maritime and Inland Waterways user needs and requirements.
• User requirements for Copernicus services and products – as well as their evolution – are collected through an integrated process that involves different channels: (i) dedicated 
studies (e.g. “NEXTSPACE” project, “Copernicus for EC (C4EC)” study, Commission Staff Working Document on user needs), (ii) targeted consultations organised by the European 
Commission or the Entrusted entities with the relevant communities, (iii) regular and structured exchanges among representatives of the Copernicus governance structure and 
Member States through the Copernicus User Forum. 
From the 2022 EUSPA`s UCP onward, EO user needs and requirements of commercial users will be validated and discussed with industry experts and user groups, mirroring 
the process implemented for GNSS. 
Report on Maritime and 
Inland Waterways User 
Needs and Requirements
Outcome of the EUSPA 
User Consultation Platform
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142
MARITIME AND INLAND WATERWAYS
INDUSTRY
END USERS
INFORMATION  
PROVIDERS
EO PRODUCTS 
AND SERVICE  
PROVIDERS
PLATFORM  
PROVIDERS
DATA PROVIDERS
INFRASTRUCTURE 
PROVIDERS
• AWS
• CODE-DE*
• COLLGS*
• COPERNICUS DIAS*
• GOOGLE CLOUD 
PLATFORM
• IBM SPECTRUM 
COMPUTING
• INTEL GEOSPATIAL
• MICROSOFT AZURE
• PENGUIN COMPUTING
• PEPS
• AIRBUS SE*
• BLACKSKY
• COPERNICUS DIAS*
• DESCARTES LABS
• EARTH-I
• E-GEOS*
• ICEYE
• KANVAS
• MAXAR
• PLANET
• UP42
• BLACKSKY GLOBAL
• BLUEFIELD
• CAPELLASPACE
• COPERNICUS DIAS*
• EOS DATA ANALYTICS
• ACRI*
• AIRBUS SE*
• BEIJING PIESAT INFO TECH 
CO LTD
• BMT ARGOSS HOLDINGS 
BV*
• CLS*
• EQT MID MARKET
• GMV
• INDRA SISTEMAS
• KONGSBERG SATELLITE 
SERVICES AS
• LEONARDO SPA*
• MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES 
• VITO*
COASTAL AND MARITIME 
EXPLOITATION AND 
PRESERVATION:
• BROCKMANN CONSULT
• EOMAP*
• GEOOPTICS 
• GHGSAT
• HYSPECIQ
SHIPPING AND MARITIME 
TRANSPORT:
• ESRI UK
• HERA SYSTEMS
• OCEANROUTE
• SAT-OCEAN
• STORMGEO
• DATA-ANALYTICS 
COMPANIES
• PORT AUTHORITIES
• PUBLIC-PRIVATE 
COMPANIES
• SHIP OPERATORS 
• SURVEILLANCE 
AUTHORITIES  
(both national and 
international)
EARTH 
OBSERVATION
• COPERNICUS 
COLLABORATIVE GROUND 
SEGMENT*
• COPERNICUS SENTINELS*
• USGS/NASA LANDSAT
• RELEVANT IN-SITU 
NETWORKS
• COASTAL TEP
• MARITIME CONNECTIVITY 
PLATFORM
• COPERNICUS SERVICES*
USERS OF 
POSITIONING 
INFORMATION
USERS
SYSTEM 
INTEGRATORS
COMPONENT 
AND RECEIVER 
MANUFACTURERS 
MARITIME ORGANISATIONS
CIRM is an international association for 
marine electronics companies
EMSA EU agency charged with reducing risks 
of maritime accidents, marine pollution and 
loss of human lives at sea
IALA is an international technical association 
harmonising aids to navigation
IAPH and ESPO port & harbour associations
ICS and BIMCO shipping associations
IMO sets the standards for safety, security 
of shipping and pollution prevention
IMPA and EMPA maritime pilots associations
• BEIJER ELECTRONICS*
• BEIJING BDSTAR 
NAVIGATION
• BEIJING UNISTRONG
• COBHAM*
• COBRA ELECTRONICS
• FURUNO
• GARMIN
• GMT CO
• JAPAN RADIO CO
• JOHNSON OUTDOORS
• KONGSBERG 
MARITIME*
• NAVICO*
• OROLIA*
• SAMYUNG ENC
• WÄRTSILÄ*
• AB VOLVO*
• HYUNDAI HEAVY 
INDUSTRIES
• INMARSAT*
• KAWASAKI HEAVY 
INDUSTRIES
• MITSUBISHI HEAVY 
INDUSTRIES
• PRONAV
• ST ELECTRONICS
• SUNGDONG 
SHIPBUILDING & 
MARINE ENGINEERING
• YANMAR
SHIP OWNERS/
OPERATORS
• APL
• CMA CGM 
GROUP*
• EVERGREEN LINE
• HAPAG-LLOYD*
• MAERSK LINE*
• MSC*
OFF-SHORE 
OPERATORS
RECREATIONAL 
BOATERS
SOLE MARINERS
• DATA-ANALYTICS 
COMPANIES:
MARINETRAFFIC, 
MYSHIPTRACKING, 
VESSELTRACKER
• PORT AUTHORITIES
• SURVEILLANCE 
AUTHORITIES
GNSS
NOTES
1 The value chain considers the key global and European companies involved in GNSS and EO downstream activities.
2 In the market share analysis, Europe is defined as EU27 plus Norway, Switzerland and the UK.
* European-based companies. The region is defined with respect to the headquarters of the company, though the actual area of activity might be wider.
Maritime and Inland Waterways Value Chains1
LEGEND
	Commercial Offering
	Public Offering
	User segments
European2 GNSS  and EO 
industry in the global arena
GNSS receivers in Maritime and 
Inland 
Waterways 
are 
similar 
to those used in Fisheries and 
Aquaculture, 
with 
a 
significant 
overlap 
in 
terms 
of 
industry. 
European 
companies 
such 
as 
Navico, Kongsberg, and Wärtsilä 
hold 47% of the maritime market. 
In EO, EU has a  very large share 
of  the  overall market at 64%, 
followed 
by 
North 
America 
(22%). The biggest EU players are 
Leonardo, Airbus and Thales.

MARITIME AND INLAND WATERWAYS
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EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
In 2020, the global size of the GNSS application shipments totalled 1.8m units across all applications 
used for positioning and navigation for maritime vessels and port operations. Over the last decade, 
maritime GNSS shipments have witnessed a 6% CAGR, from 1.0m units in 2010. 
Growth in international maritime trade stalled in 2019, reaching its lowest rate since the global financial 
crisis of 2008–2009. Until 2019, total gross tonnage witnessed a CAGR of 3% whereas the world 
merchant fleet has only grown by a CAGR of 1.9% as ships continue to become bigger in size. 
Recreational navigation remains the largest market, totalling over 1.6m units shipped in 2020, up from 
0.9m units in 2010. Maintaining the historical trend, the category of Ports applications which includes 
applications such as Portable Pilot Units (PPUs), saw the largest growth with a CAGR of 25% over this 
timeframe. 
Stable growth of GNSS shipments despite historical stall in international 
maritime trade
Augmented Reality (AR) can become a main digital tool for the Maritime 
sector
Once only available to military and professional users, Augmented Reality as a navigational 
aid is now becoming a reality for any ship-owner. Systems such as Raymarine’s ClearCruise 
AR integrated with its Axiom chart plotters use real-time video to overlay a view of the horizon 
with AR markers, which highlight ships or buoys and display information such as their distance, 
identity and heading. AR eases the navigation by helping understand complex navigational 
situations and increase safety, especially in difficult meteorological conditions. 
On top of  this, AR provides real situational 
awareness, thus improving decision making via 
maintenance assistance for machinery and remote 
assistance from land offices.  AR can also be used 
for training with real-world videos, when  advanced 
technology equipment are introduced to the crew. 
In future, AR technology could be improved with 
AI-based object recognition features to tag ships 
which do not have AIS identification. By combining 
natural and digital experience, AR technology can 
revolutionise many maritime operational tasks.
Remotely assisted pilotage improves collision avoidance in busy 
waterways
Tugboats are key for the safe and efficient operation of ports and other busy waterways. They 
allow port masters to quickly spot potential hazards and divert traffic away from them to 
prevent collisions. New automation solutions are developed to enhance their capabilities, such 
as semi-automated remotely assisted pilotage to increase their efficiency of hazard detection, 
while enhancing safety. Further, Crowley Engineering Services developed and completed 
the design of the first fully autonomous electric tugboat for the US market. In Europe, Svitzer has 
remotely controlled a harbour tug using Kongsberg Maritime’s bridge and dynamic positioning 
technology in several trials.
Moreover, the  Hull to Hull (H2H) project 
developed a  system that allows maritime 
vessels to navigate safely in close proximity 
to other vessels and to stationary objects, 
supporting decision-making and creating 
the fundamental conditions for autonomous 
maritime navigation. The project leverages 
EGNSS, particularly the  accuracy offered 
by Galileo’s dual frequency and multi-
constellation capacity. 
Shipments of GNSS devices by application
0
40
80
120
160
200
2010
 
2011
 
2012
 
2013
 
2014
 
2015
 
2016
 
2017
 
2018
 
2019
 
2020
 
Units (thousands)
 
Ports
Collision Avoidance (AIS)
Dark Vessel Monitoring
Dredging
Marine Surveying and Mapping
Inland Waterways Navigation
Merchant Navigation
Recreational navigation
1 200
2 200
© Adobe Stock
© Adobe Stock

144
MARITIME AND INLAND WATERWAYS
FUTURE MARKET EVOLUTION
The total amount of EO data and services for the Maritime sector for 2021 accumulates to €78 million 
across the six main regions (Europe, non-EU Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa 
& Middle East) considered in this market report. 
North America is the dominant region in the market segment, with generated revenues forecasted 
to grow from €23 m in 2021 up to €32 m in 2031. Market growth overtime in North America (CAGR 
of 4%) will be slightly below the one from Asia Pacific and Europe (both with a CAGR of 5%). 
Europe represents the second largest market and will become the largest market over the coming 
decade: revenues will rise from €21 m in 2021 up to €34 m in 2031, corresponding to 28% of the total 
data and service sales. The highest growth rate over the next ten years in the market segment will be 
registered in South America + Caribbean (7% CAGR). 
EO data revenues for the maritime sector are representing between 38% (2021) and 26% (2031) 
of the total revenues, data and services included. The customers of EO data are mainly public entities 
(mostly defence and coastguard agencies). Their demand is not likely to increase much over time, 
explaining why the growth in revenues for this market segment is lower compared to other segments.
EO market is showing steady growth supported by public sector demand
Ship-route optimisation combines GNSS and EO for speed and efficiency
With the risk of congestion in ports, the importance 
of  significantly shortened shipping time and 
the  speed of  container movements is growing in 
the  shipping sector. This is leading to pressure on 
vessels to transport and return containers as quickly 
as possible. In addition, there is a  focus on fuel 
efficiency to lower costs and reduce environmental 
impact. 
Due to these pressures, the  optimisation of  ship 
routes for speed and fuel efficiency is more important 
than ever. GNSS and Earth Observation can be 
combined to achieve higher levels of optimisation 
than previously possible. The Prepare Ships project 
provides a  robust and accurate navigation solution 
based on the features of Galileo signals and EO data, 
in combination with other in-ship sensors for full route optimisation, reduction in environmental 
impact of emissions and an overall increase in safety of operations.
EO and GNSS amongst the technologies needed to achieve Zero-Emission 
Shipping
Maritime 
shipping 
represents 
about 
2-3% 
of  the  world’s total annual greenhouse gas 
emissions (in turn this pollution is present in ports 
and can potentially affect nearby residents). Without 
immediate and concerted efforts, emissions from 
the sector could increase between 50% and 250% 
by 2050. 
Denmark, Norway and US are leading the  new Zero-emission Shipping Mission, aiming 
to accelerate the  international public-private collaboration when it comes to scaling and 
deployment of green maritime solutions. 
The ambition is to work on zero-emission international shipping via technological innovation 
such as the  combined use of  EO and GNSS, usage of  clean energy and leveraging 
international collaboration (e.g. with Singapore, France, India and the UK). The main goals 
of  the  Mission are to develop, demonstrate and deploy zero-emission fuels, ships and fuel 
infrastructure in a  coordinated way, taking into account the  entire maritime value chain. 
The  Zero-Emission Shipping Mission is part of  Mission Innovation, a  global initiative of  24 
countries and the European Commission working to accelerate clean energy innovation. 
Revenue from EO data & services sales by region
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions) 
 
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean
© Adobe Stock
© Adobe Stock

MARITIME AND INLAND WATERWAYS
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EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
EUROPEAN SYSTEMS AND PROJECTS
EGNSS services and features to 
be explored
GNSS authentication, both at data level and 
at range level, is important for the  overall 
trustworthiness of  the  service. ​OSNMA, 
as an integral part of  Galileo OS, will be 
a  data authentication function available 
worldwide for free, which will protect from 
service disruption (jamming and spoofing) 
and incidents. 
Galileo High Accuracy Service (HAS) 
will be gradually rolled out for the  benefit 
of  the  Maritime sector. This will be useful 
specifically 
for 
Merchant 
Navigation 
and Pilotage operations in Ports, Inland 
Waterways, Offshore supply vessels with 
dynamic positioning, Autonomous Surface 
Vessels​ and others. 
Current usage of Copernicus
EO has the  ability to contribute to most 
of  the  main maritime activities as different 
products can be derived (e.g. maps, images, 
forecasts, etc.). EO data can complement 
EGNSS 
capabilities; 
for 
example, 
ship 
routing can be optimised with the availability 
of measurements of sea surface water, height, 
sea surface temperature, ocean currents 
and waves, thus aiding the  development 
of current maps. EO data is used for shipping, 
ice navigation and costal management. 
In the  specific domain of  inland waterway 
navigation 
(e.g. 
rivers, 
canals, 
etc.) 
the information on the water levels, provided 
also by Copernicus data, gives boat operators 
the needed insights to manoeuvre their boat 
through shallow or uncharted waters.
Enhanced devices and advanced data for better performance in maritime 
activities
Search and
Rescue service
High Accuracy
Service
SAR Return
Link
Authenticated
Positioning
Higher
Accuracy
Integrity
Information
Authentication
Open Service
features
Multi-
frequency
EGNOS
Galileo
Galileo
Advanced shipborne Receivers to take advantage of all Galileo Open 
Service (OS) features 
The ASGARD project was launched under the Fundamental Elements R&D funding mechanism 
supporting the development of EGNSS-enabled chipsets, receivers and antennas. It is a research 
project targeting de-development of shipborne double-frequency receivers. ASGARD focused 
on developing a multi-constellation and double frequency (E1/E5) maritime receiver that uses 
Galileo and that complies with European and International specifications. This receiver must 
implement the required algorithms to process OSNMA encrypted GNSS signals.
ASGARD shipborne receiver will take benefit of all Galileo OS features (improved performance 
and robustness thanks to dual-frequency and OSNMA capabilities), which in turn will ease 
the use of the Resilient PNT concept in maritime navigation. 
More information on: https://www.asgard-project.eu/
Resilient and smart positioning based on EGNSS and EO data  for safer 
navigation
The ‘PREParE SHIPS’ project develops a collaborative resilience navigation solution. It aims 
to develop and enhance existing software solutions by exploiting the distinguished features 
of  the  Galileo signals as well as combining it with other nautical information and sensor 
technologies. The  accurate position of  the  solution is based on EGNSS, data and machine 
learning. The project is also using the Copernicus Marine Service Analysis and Forecast model 
products for wind, current and waves. The project is using eight EO products (one example 
being analysis-forecast outputs). 
The benefits generated by this smart positioning solution are: reduction of the environmental 
impact (in line with IMO targets); prediction behaviour of vessels; decreased risk for collisions; 
and more energy-effective manoeuvring. Those potential benefits are of critical importance, 
taking into consideration the current challenges the industry is facing, including vulnerability 
of safety critical applications, increased automation and increased traffic. 
To address these challenges, ‘PREParE SHIPS’ is focusing on a support system covering EGNSS 
resilience positioning, Real time dynamic predictor, Ship-to-ship/ship-to-shore interaction and 
geo-fencing.
More information on: https://prepare-ships.eu/
Copernicus Services
Sentinels
Sentinel-1
Sentinel-2
Sentinel-3
Marine 
(CMEMS)
Security
(CSS)
Terminology used on this page is explained in Annex 2 for both GNSS and EO performance parameters.

146
MARITIME AND INLAND WATERWAYS
REFERENCE CHARTS
Installed base of GNSS devices by region 
Revenue of GNSS device sales by region
Revenue of GNSS device sales by application
Installed base of GNSS devices by application
0
2 000
4 000
6 000
8 000
10 000
12 000
14 000
16 000
18 000
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
Units (thousands)
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean
0
200
400
600
800
1 000
1 200
1 400
1 600
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
€ (millions)
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean
700
900
1 100
1 300
1 500
1 700
0
100
200
300
400
500
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
€ (millions)
 
Ports
Collision Avoidance (AIS)
Dark Vessel Monitoring
Dredging
Marine Surveying and Mapping
Inland Waterways Navigation
Merchant Navigation
Recreational navigation
0
200
400
600
800
1 000
1 200
1 400
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
Units (thousands)
3 000
6 000
9 000
12 000
15 000
18 000
Ports
Collision Avoidance (AIS)
Dark Vessel Monitoring
Dredging
Marine Surveying and Mapping
Inland Waterways Navigation
Merchant Navigation
Recreational navigation

MARITIME AND INLAND WATERWAYS
147
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
REFERENCE CHARTS
Revenue from EO data sales by application
Revenue from EO services sales by application
Revenue from EO services sales by region
Revenue from EO data sales by region
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031
€ (millions) 
Navigation through sea ice
Ship route optimisation
Port security
Inland waterways navigation
Dark vessel monitoring
Metocean
Marine surveying and mapping
Maritime pollution monitoring
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions) 
Navigation through sea ice
Ship route optimisation
Port security
Inland waterways navigation
Dark vessel monitoring
Metocean
Marine surveying and mapping
Maritime pollution monitoring
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031
€ (millions) 
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions) 
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean

RAIL
148
RAIL
GNSS and EO serve the  rail sector in many ways. First, GNSS plays a  role in rail 
digitalization; from asset management to infrastructure monitoring and enhanced 
passenger information, GNSS is already largely deployed in non-safety critical 
applications. Moreover, a large number of initiatives are preparing for the introduction 
of GNSS in High- and Low-Density Command & Control Systems, paving the way for 
new train operations.
Furthermore, satellite-based imagery offers solutions around track deformation 
monitoring, vegetation encroachment detection and natural hazard risk assessments, 
leading to reduced needs for on-site inspections. 
GNSS and EO therefore both increase safety and reduce the  cost of  infrastructure 
management and operations compared to legacy solutions. The  number of  global 
initiatives demonstrates the consideration given to GNSS and EO-based developments 
in Rail. 
What you can read in this chapter
• Key trends: Satellite-based services contribute to transport use shifting towards rail.
• User perspective: New satellite-based services boost rail sector attractiveness and 
competitiveness.
• Industry: Rail GNSS Value Chain.
• Recent developments: The  growth of  the  GNSS market goes hand in hand with 
the diversification of its usage.
• ΁Future market evolution: A GNSS safety-related market is emerging.
• European GNSS: EGNSS is on track to integrate all kinds of  train location-based 
applications.
• Reference charts: Yearly evolution of GNSS devices’ installed base and revenues by 
application and region.
© Adobe Stock
1 Fleet management, Condition-based maintenance 
and Predictive maintenance are non-safety related 
applications relying on the  position of  fixed and 
moving elements of  the  railway environment (from 
the  infrastructure to the  track-side equipment, and 
also rolling stock, wagons…). On the  charts, these 
applications are grouped under the  name “Asset 
management”.
2 Used to monitor trackside vegetation, landslide and 
track deformation
Application descriptions can be found in Annex 3.
Attractiveness enhancement
• Passenger information systems
• Public Transport – Tram and Light Rail 
Train driving optimisation
• Driver Advisory Systems (DAS)
• Fleet management1
Maintenance improvement
• Condition-based maintenance1
• Infrastructure monitoring2
• Predictive maintenance1
Safety related
• Enhanced Command & Control Systems
• Trackside personnel protection systems
Legend
EO application
GNSS application
Synergetic application  
(combined use of EO and GNSS)

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EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
KEY TRENDS
Key market trends
• GNSS plays an important role in many non-safety related applications, improving railway services through digitalisation 
• The introduction of GNSS in future safety-related applications is expected to increase railway network capacity whilst decreasing operational costs
• Earth Observation (EO) services have great potential to enhance infrastructure monitoring at lower costs
Satellite-based services contribute to transport use shifting towards rail
Digitalisation is steering rail into a safer, more efficient and attractive segment
In order to increase rail efficiency and attractiveness, railway 
stakeholders are taking advantage of new digital and computer-
based technologies to become increasingly user-centred and to 
improve passenger and freight management services. 
GNSS is part of  the  digitalisation that is reflected in 
the development of new applications, allowing passengers to 
get real-time journey information and to reserve and to purchase 
tickets. These also aim to drive shipping back towards rail freight 
by proposing means to facilitate freight tracking. 
Railway operators and infrastructure managers benefit from 
digitalisation because it improves asset management and 
maintenance, 
thereby 
reducing 
the 
operational 
costs. 
A growing number of operators are deploying real-time remote 
diagnostics monitoring systems (e.g. SNCF Logistics with 
Traxens, DB Cargo, etc.). They collect various pieces of  data 
such as the loading of wagons, within-wagon temperature and 
humidity, and the  position and condition of  cargo and rolling 
stock (which can subsequently be remotely controlled). Such 
data and its analysis will increase rail freight efficiency, allowing 
the  planning of  preventive maintenance actions with greater 
efficiency.
Digital transformation is also driven by the development of digital twins, particularly for the predictive 
maintenance of railway infrastructure and rolling stock and for predicting future incidents. These models 
are based on the collection of real data, some of which is provided by GNSS and EO services. 
Enhanced infrastructure monitoring thanks to EO services
The maintenance of railway infrastructure is essential to ensure the safety, efficiency, availability and 
reliability of railway operations. Indeed, defects on tracks, catenary or signalling infrastructure can lead 
to traffic interruption or even derailments and accidents. Whereas classical infrastructure monitoring 
procedures rely on the use of measurement vehicles with dedicated runs, new methods based on EO 
data provided by satellites or drones are being introduced. The use of these technologies meets 
railway exploitation challenges and allows a global high-frequency monitoring capacity at lower costs.
Among the  potential railway applications of  EO, vegetation supervision is currently the  most 
industrialised. For the last two years, some railway operators, such as SNCF or Deutsche Bahn, have 
been using very high-resolution optical Earth-imaging satellites to get large amounts of information 
on vegetation development along tracks. This data is used to assist vegetation management teams to 
operate more efficiently.
Moreover, industrial R&D projects are carried 
out to study the  potential wide operational 
deployment 
of 
satellite-based 
synthetic 
aperture radar interferometry (InSAR) or 
LiDAR acquisition by drones. This application 
could be used to detect subsidence and 
monitor landslide risks over large areas with 
centimetre-level precision. 
More information on Infrastructure Monitoring 
can be found in the Infrastructure segment.
GNSS as part of the train signalling future
Ensuring the optimal train signalling system within European countries is a cornerstone of railway operations and is ensured by the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS), which is the standard 
of European signalling. Through the adoption of the own-initiative procedure 2019/2191 (INI) in July 2021, the European Parliament highlights the need to take advantage of the potential cost savings that 
GNSS offers in railway signalling. Indeed, GNSS may be used to increase the capacity of the railway network by allowing the development of future train operations such as moving block or virtual coupling. 
These systems are evaluated with the aim of ensuring fail-safe train location and location integrity. For example, this allows a reduction in trackside location equipment such as the replacement of physical balises 
(beacons) with virtual ones, or the introduction of a multi-sensor data fusion algorithm to compute a continuous and accurate train position. However, the use of GNSS requires current railway regulations and 
operations to be adapted.
© Adobe Stock
© Adobe Stock

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USER PERSPECTIVE
New satellite-based services boost rail sector attractiveness and 
competitiveness 
Rail contributes to the European Green Deal
The European Commission recognises the benefits of rail as a sustainable, smart and safe means 
of  transport, putting rail in the  spotlight across the  continent throughout 2021. Not only is rail 
exceptionally safe, it is also responsible for less than 0.5% of  transport-related greenhouse gas 
emissions across the  EU, making rail one of  the  most sustainable forms of  passenger and freight 
transport.
To contribute to the  EU Green Deal goal of  becoming climate-neutral by 2050, railway use must 
increase.
GNSS is a key enabler for improving railway attractiveness
GNSS-based solutions can contribute toward 
Rail’s goal of  improving its attractiveness with 
the development of client services and professional 
applications. 
Railway 
stakeholders 
benefit 
from 
predictive 
maintenance 
that 
allows 
the 
infrastructure 
managers to react before traffic interruptions occur, 
and from asset management that allows them 
to increase reliability, availability and efficiency 
alongside reducing operational cost. Overall this 
boosts the  attractiveness and competitiveness 
of the railway system.
Passengers or freight customers benefit from location-based applications such as enhanced real-time 
information as well as door-to-door flexible services, leading to efficiency in terms of punctuality and 
competitive prices.
EO facilitates tackling vegetation issues along tracks
Large stretches of European tracks are located in areas with vegetation 
that has to be monitored in order to ensure the  correct exploitation 
of the network. These surveillance operations represent one of the main 
areas of expenditure by railway operators, but vegetation issues still 
occur. For instance, trees falling onto tracks during storms has already 
brought a part of the German rail network to a standstill and led to over 
830 train-vegetation collisions between 2015-2017, costing Deutsche 
Bahn millions of euros.
As a result, railways have a substantial need to expand vegetation 
care along their lines. This is a complex task given the need to examine 
millions of trees and plants along the vast railway networks. In order 
to tackle this challenge, European railway companies are taking advantage of high-resolution optical 
Earth-imaging satellites, such as Pleiades, to improve vegetation monitoring at lower costs. Images 
provided by these satellites contain key information – multi-band imagery is used at various resolutions 
to distinguish different vegetation types and network assets, stereoscopic imagery provides information 
on tree height estimations, and difference detection aims at identifying changes alongside the tracks. 
This data can be used to optimise operations in monitoring ground vegetation in several ways. SNCF 
internally develops and uses technical solutions to inventory vegetation along its tracks, while Deutsche 
Bahn uses start-up solutions to identify trees that are particularly vulnerable to storms.
Key EO and GNSS user requirements
The key GNSS and EO user requirements for the different application groups within the Rail segment are, at EU level, collected using the following 
procedures:
• For GNSS, information is collected through extensive interactions with user groups, providers and experts in a continuous process culminating at 
the User Consultation Platforms (UCP). All relevant requirements are documented in detail and updated regularly within the Reports on user needs 
and requirements of respectively Rail and Public Transport.
• User requirements for Copernicus services and products – as well as their evolution – are collected through an integrated process that involves 
different channels: (i) dedicated studies (e.g. “NEXTSPACE” project, “Copernicus for EC (C4EC)” study, Commission Staff Working Document on 
user needs), (ii) targeted consultations organised by the European Commission or the Entrusted entities with the relevant communities, (iii) regular 
and structured exchanges among representatives of the Copernicus governance structure and Member States through the Copernicus User Forum. 
From the 2022 EUSPA`s UCP onward, EO user needs and requirements of commercial users will be validated and discussed with industry experts 
and user groups, mirroring the process implemented for GNSS.
© EC
REPORT ON RAIL USER NEEDS AND REQUIREMENTS
Report on Rail User 
Needs and Requirements
Outcome of the EUSPA
USer Consultation Platform
REPORT ON
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
USER NEEDS AND 
REQUIREMENTS
Outcome of the European GNSS
User Consultation Platform
June 2021
www.euspa.europa.eu

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EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
INDUSTRY
• ANALOG DEVICES INC
• BEIJING BDSTAR NAVIGATION
• BROADCOM
• COMNAV TECHNOLOGY 
LIMITED
• CORE CORPORATION
• GLARUN TECHNOLOGY
• GMV*
• HITACHI
• LANNER ELECTRONICS INC.
• NOTTINGHAM SCIENTIFIC 
LIMITED*
• OHB SE*
• SATEL OY*
• SEPTENTRIO*
• ST ELECTRONICS
• THALES*
• TRIMBLE NAVIGATION
• U-BLOX*
• ALSTOM TRANSPORT* 
• AZD PRAHA*
• CAF*
• CATERPILLAR INC.
• CRRC CORPORATION LIMITED
• GMV* 
• HITACHI
• INTERMODAL TELEMATICS
• KAWASAKI
• KINTETSU RAILCAR 
ENGINEERING 
• MITSUBISHI
• SIEMENS* 
• SOCIEDAD IBERICA 
DE CONSTRUCCIONES 
ELECTRICAS*
• ST ELECTRONICS
• THALES*
• VTG AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT*
• WABTEC
• XIAMEN YAXON NETWORK
TRAIN AND FREIGHT  OPERATING 
COMPANIES:
• ARRIVA*
• COLAS*
• DEUTSCHE BAHN*
• RENFE*
• SBB*
• SNCF*
• STAGECOACH*
• TRENITALIA*
• URBAN TRANSPORT OPERATORS
ROLLING STOCK OPERATING 
COMPANIES:
• CONSORTIA
• INVESTMENT BANKS 
• NATIONAL COMPANIES
• ALSTOM*
• CAF*
• CHINA SOUTH LOCOMOTIVE AND 
ROLLING STOCK
• HITACHI
• SIEMENS*
• STADLER RAIL AG
• WABTEC
• ADIF*
• DEUTSCHE BAHN*
• INFRAESTRUTURAS DE 
PORTUGAL*
• NETWORK RAIL*
• RFI*
• SBB*
• SNCF*
• URBAN TRANSPORT OPERATORS
COMPONENTS AND 
RECEIVER
MANUFACTURERS
SYSTEM 
INTEGRATORS
TRAIN MANUFACTURERS
INFRASTRUCTURE 
MANAGERS
TRAIN OWNERS /
OPERATORS
NOTES
1 The value chain considers the key global and European companies involved in GNSS downstream activities.
2 In the market share analysis, Europe is defined as EU27 plus Norway, Switzerland and the UK.
* European-based companies. The region is defined with respect to the headquarters of the company, though the actual area of activity might be wider.
Rail GNSS Value Chain1
LEGEND
	Commercial Offering
	User segments
European2 GNSS industry in the global arena
The bulk of the rail industry is spread across Europe, Asia/Russia and North America, 
considering components and receivers as well as system integrators. 
Over the past two years, European companies have had a stable market share of around 
15% among components and receivers manufacturers, whilst the market is largely being 
dominated by North Asian companies – Hitachi alone have almost 50% of the worldwide 
market share. European GNSS system integrators, led by Alstom Transport and Siemens, 
generated 36% of the turnover in 2019, trailing behind North America (41%).

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RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
The growth of the GNSS market goes hand in hand with the diversification 
of its usage
Non-safety applications are the main use of GNSS
The installed base of  GNSS receivers mainly consists of  GNSS integration in non-safety critical 
applications, highlighting the  importance of  these satellite-based systems in rail development and 
digitalization since 2011. Indeed, around 60% of GNSS receivers are integrated in asset management 
and 20% in passenger information systems respectively.  
With this recent growth comes the diversification of sectors and applications in which GNSS is used. For 
instance, the Driver Advisory System is an emerging market segment. Increasing numbers of Tram and 
Light Rail operators are taking advantage of GNSS to facilitate their activities and enhance passenger 
services.
The growing importance of safety related applications in the GNSS market
Primarily since 2016, GNSS devices have started to be integrated into enhanced Command & 
Control Systems. Even though GNSS receivers intended for such applications only represent 15% 
of the shipments, the revenue generated by them is disproportionately large because these receivers 
are much more expensive than those used in non-safety critical applications. 
Moreover, since 2018 GNSS has been used to ensure trackside personnel protection. This market is 
expected to grow mainly in the European and North African regions.
A first certified data fusion algorithm using GNSS for fail safe train location
Train location is a key element in enhancing railway capacity and fostering new concepts within the sector. Use of GNSS to compute train location may improve position accuracy and integrity at the same time 
as decreasing operational costs by reducing the need for trackside equipment. However, in a railway environment with tranches, vegetation and urban buildings, GNSS may suffer from performance degradation 
regarding accuracy or availability. In order to improve train positioning performances, multi-sensor architectures and data fusion algorithms are essential, and have been investigated in several R&D projects 
(see projects in section on European GNSS).
In June 2020, Alstom was certified to implement its data fusion algorithms using both GNSS and inertial movement in a new odometry system to accurately and safely measure the location and speed of trains. 
It is one of the first safety-related GNSS applications within railway signalling.
EGNSS empowers urban public transport efficiency  
As a  cornerstone of  urban development plans, public transport needs constant improvement. 
Tramway and light rail can take advantage of GNSS technology to facilitate operators’ activities and 
enhance passenger services. In this context, EGNSS constitutes an essential enabler for GNSS-based 
applications. This is because it improves location performance in urban environments, thanks to 
the introduction of multi-constellation, multi-frequency and mitigation of multipath capabilities. 
Prague Public Transit Company (DPP) has decided to modernise its tram fleet by replacing GPS-only 
receivers with Galileo-enabled multi-frequency and multi-constellation receivers. Tests that have been 
carried out have shown that it could allow tram location accuracy down to 1.5 metres. This will be used 
to improve the  user experience by providing enhanced real-
time data about tram departures. Furthermore, this will reduce 
operational costs by improving maintenance and tram on-
board systems (e.g. automatic speed limitation over switches).
1 Fleet management, Condition-based maintenance and Predictive maintenance applications are grouped under the label Asset Management.
Validation tools for fail-safe location systems - Gate4Rail/Sim4Rail
The  development of  fail-safe location systems must be accompanied by the  development 
of  validation tools. Due to safety needs and the  complexity of  the  railway environment, 
stakeholders require highly controllable laboratory tools. Some developments are supported 
by the  Shift2Rail programme (Gate4rail project) and ESA (Sim4Rail project). The  testbeds 
developed intend to simulate the behaviour of these future solutions under both nominal and 
extreme conditions. 
More information on: https://gate4rail.eu/home.aspx and https://space4rail.esa.int/projects/sim4rail
Installed base of GNSS devices by application
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
2010
 
2011
 
2012
 
2013
 
2014
 
2015
 
2016
 
2017
 
2018
 
2019
 
2020
 
Units (thousands)
Asset Management
Passenger Information Systems
Enhanced Command & Control Systems
Driver Advisory Systems (DAS)
Public Transport-Tram and Light Rail 
Trackside personnel protection systems

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FUTURE MARKET EVOLUTION
A GNSS safety-related market is emerging
A growing market over the world
GNSS receiver shipments are expected to increase significantly over the  next decade. Indeed, 
the current 250,000 yearly shipments of GNSS receivers could exceed 800,000 units in 2031. Such 
growth highlights the importance of GNSS in rail sector development.
Significant differences in market dynamics between regions
GNSS market growth is uneven across regions. Worldwide GNSS shipment growth is mainly driven 
by North America and Asia-Pacific. Yearly shipments in these regions represent around three-
quarters of the number of worldwide shipments. The remaining quarter is almost entirely comprised 
of the European market.
In contrast, while the forecast shows an incipient GNSS market in the Middle East, Africa, South America 
and the Caribbean, it nevertheless highlights the railway development divide between these regions 
and the regions driving future growth.
Autonomous Train development needs GNSS accuracy and integrity
Train operation is on the path towards automation. Automation will help the railway sector to boost 
its attractiveness by improving its capacity, punctuality, reliability, energy efficiency, flexibility, safety 
and cost effectiveness. The first automated trains are expected in early 2023, with driverless trains for 
passenger operations and unattended trains for shunting operations.
Automation is highly challenging in open railway environments because of the complexity of the system 
and environments, as well as the variety of trains, operations or stakeholders involved. To face such 
challenges, location data is required with strong accuracy and integrity requirements in order to 
ensure, among other complementary functions, automatic driving or obstacle detection. Automation is 
likely to mean an improvement to radio communication, the evolution of signalling, and the development 
of train control applications to become more modular and less expensive.
Drones as a future tool for rail asset management
With the development of drones, new railway applications can be envisioned. First of all, projects such as RADIUS (EUSPA) or In²Smart (Shift2Rail) study 
the potential of drones being used to inspect railway catenary lines and other vital aspects of railway infrastructure, such as the alignment of tracks and 
switching points. These activities are currently performed by humans and are highly demanding in terms of personnel labour costs and operational constraints. 
The use of drones will allow these inspections to be performed more regularly with improved safety, reliability and punctuality of the service, all while reducing 
operational costs. Drones can also be used to provide additional information to satellite-based observations. For instance, the possible use of drone LiDAR data 
to detect signs of landslides is being studied. 
GNSS to figure in future Technical Specifications for Interoperability
The Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSI) are prepared by the European Railway Agency 
and adopted in a Decision by the European Commission, to ensure the interoperability of the trans-
European rail system. They define the technical and operational standards, which must be met by each 
subsystem or part-subsystem in order to meet essential requirementas and ensure interoperability. 
Satellite location, as a game-changing technology underpinning future evolutions of the ERTMS system, 
will have to be included in future TSI. On-going actions are investigating how to include GNSS, but also 
how to ensure the on-board availability of EGNOS correction data in ETCS through the EURORADIO.
Shipments of GNSS devices by region
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1 000
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
Units (thousands)
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean
© Adobe Stock

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EUROPEAN SYSTEMS AND PROJECTS
Added value brought by EGNSS
Railway users (freight customers or passengers) benefit 
from direct EGNSS services with train tracking or enhanced 
passenger information applications. Stakeholders also benefit 
from EGNSS for system operations, such as better asset 
management and new cost-effective sensors for enhanced 
odometry. 
Galileo-enabled 
receivers 
already 
serve 
millions 
of  passengers using SNCF high-speed trains (TGV) with 
the provision of enhanced services (e.g. real-time, precise train 
location information in stations). Furthermore, GNSS receivers 
are currently used to track rolling stock (more than  50,000 
freight wagons of  multiple EU railway undertakings are 
already equipped with GNSS-based telematic solutions).
EGNSS services and features to be 
explored
The  on-going development of  fail-safe applications 
involves the  investigation of  the  multi-frequency 
potential of EGNSS for more availability, accuracy and 
integrity.
Although the refinement of the railway users’ specific 
needs and requirements is progressing, there is some 
concern on how an EGNSS-based safety service must 
be tailored to answer these requirements.
The High Accuracy Service (HAS) and authentication 
features could support an attractive and robust 
localization solution for the future digital rail agenda.
EGNSS is on track to integrate all kinds of train location-based applications
High Accuracy
Service
Better
Availability
Robustness
Higher
Accuracy
Redundancy
Authentication
Open Service
features
Multi-
frequency
Integrity
Galileo
Galileo
EGNOS
Development of an EGNSS-based safety service for rail - EGNSS-R 
and IMPRESS projects
In order to assess the feasibility of an EGNSS-based safety service improving the efficiency 
of train localisation within the future ERTMS evolution, two mission evolution studies, named 
EGNSS-R and IMPRESS, were launched in 2020 under H2020. The main challenge of these 
studies is to provide an appropriate integrity concept definition associated with the EGNSS 
service.
First of  all, an analysis has been performed in order to identify user needs, service 
performances, operational requirements and safety and legal requirements. Based on this 
information, an EGNSS-based rail safety service, including a  user-level integrity concept, 
has been defined. The success criteria of this new service 
has been analysed, focusing on actions that will be taken 
to influence the  decision-making process of  railway 
stakeholders. The next step will focus on aspects of service 
implementation to prepare its operational introduction and 
adoption by service providers and users. 
These activities involve key railway stakeholder reviews 
along the development process.
Integration of EGNSS in multi-sensor localisation units - CLUG 
and HELMET projects
To use EGNSS for rail safety applications such as signalling, sensor data fusion will be necessary 
to mitigate the known impact of local effects on GNSS performances. Two studies under H2020 
have been launched to investigate this topic.
The  CLUG project has developed a  proof-of-concept of  an on-board continuous and safe 
localisation unit providing information on the train’s position, velocity and acceleration. This 
localisation unit may be useful in replacing or enhancing the existing on-board equipment, such 
as odometry and balise readers. The cost of trackside equipment should therefore decrease 
whilst new railway concepts are fostered, such as the moving block for ERTMS.
The HELMET project has developed an augmentation and integrity monitoring platform for rail 
and road, given that railways and highways are often close to each other and share the same 
electromagnetic environment and similar requirements. A multimodal architecture has been 
designed, using Satellite-Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS) and Galileo services, to 
support a high integrity and high accuracy positioning service. 
More information on: http://clugproject.eu/en and https://www.helmet-project.eu/
Terminology used on this page is explained in Annex 2 for both GNSS and EO performance parameters.
© Adobe Stock

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EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
REFERENCE CHARTS
Installed base of GNSS devices by region
Revenue of GNSS device sales by region
Revenue of GNSS device sales by application
Installed base of GNSS devices by application
0 
1 000 
2 000 
3 000 
4 000 
5 000 
6 000 
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
Units (thousands)
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean
0
200
400
600
800
1 000
1 200
1 400
1 600
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
€ (millions)
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean
0
200
400
600
800
1 000
1 200
1 400
1 600
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
€ (millions)
Asset Management
Passenger Information Systems
Enhanced Command & Control Systems
Driver Advisory Systems (DAS)
Public Transport-Tram and Light Rail 
 
 
Trackside personnel protection systems
0
1 000
2 000
3 000
4 000
5 000
6 000
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
Units (thousands)
Asset Management
Passenger Information Systems
Enhanced Command & Control Systems
Driver Advisory Systems (DAS)
Public Transport-Tram and Light Rail 
 
 
Trackside personnel protection systems

ROAD AND AUTOMOTIVE
ROAD AND AUTOMOTIVE
Mobility is an important part of everyone’s daily lives. The Road and Automotive market 
segment encompasses services and products offered to and consumed by the automotive 
industry. This includes road transport operators, road infrastructure operators and OEMs 
(Original Equipment Manufacturers, i.e. passenger and commercial vehicle makers and 
suppliers). 
GNSS is used in safety-related applications in scenarios of potential harm to humans 
or damage to a system/environment (e.g. connected and autonomous cars, emergency 
assistance), liability applications (e.g. road user charging, smart tachographs) and fleet 
management systems including tracking of dangerous goods. Satellite navigation 
systems therefore significantly contribute to reducing congestion and associated 
emissions, improving the safety and efficiency of road transportation. 
When it comes to smart mobility applications (e.g. distribution of traffic and real-
time information to users and infrastructure managers), the contribution of GNSS is 
strengthened by fusion with satellite imagery.
What you can read in this chapter
• Key trends: COVID-19 hit hard but regulation is on track for safer and autonomous 
vehicles.
• User perspective: Safety first - the contribution of space technologies to autonomous 
driving.
• Industry: Road and Automotive GNSS Value Chain.
• Recent developments: New applications focusing on sustainable mobility continue to 
drive GNSS shipments.
• Future market evolution: Reinforced trend of IVS becoming the primary PNT source.
• Focus on European GNSS: EGNOS and Galileo contribute to smarter and more 
sustainable mobility.
• Reference charts: Yearly evolution of installed base of GNSS devices and revenues as 
well as EO revenues by application and region.
156
© Adobe Stock
1 Used by commercial vehicles, for dangerous goods 
tracking, by taxis, rental cars and car sharing
2 Supports automated driving for SAE levels 4 and 5
3 Supports turn-by-turn navigation and any location-
based inputs for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems 
(ADAS) (SAE levels 2 and 3)
Application descriptions can be found in Annex 3.
Fleet management systems
• Bike sharing
• Public transport - buses
• Road fleet management1
Smart mobility
• Congestion control
• Driving comfort
• Navigation – In-Vehicle Systems3 (IVS) 
& Personal Navigation Devices (PND)
Liability
• Insurance telematics
• Road User Charging (RUC)
• Smart tachographs
Safety related
• Connected and Automated Driving 
(CAD)2
• Emergency assistance
Legend
EO application
GNSS application
Synergetic application  
(combined use of EO and GNSS)

ROAD AND AUTOMOTIVE
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EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
KEY TRENDS
Key market trends
• COVID-19 is impacting global car production and sales, slowing down industry plans and uptake of GNSS
• With the ongoing shift towards added-value services and the vehicle as a platform, the industry accelerates its commitment to sustainable transport (e-mobility) in response to the Green Deal 
objectives
• Safer and more sustainable transport in urban environments will integrate autonomous vehicles, demanding improved robustness and availability of GNSS
• Safety regulation will further broaden the reach of GNSS in the European automotive market 
COVID-19 hit hard but regulation is on track for safer and autonomous 
vehicles
COVID-19 impacting global car production and sales, slowing uptake of GNSS
Initially, COVID-19 containment measures affected production of  both passenger and commercial 
vehicles. The plunge in sales that followed reflects the economic downturn triggered by the pandemic 
with 10-27% contractions of vehicle sales in China and other markets recorded in 2020. Forecasts 
indicate that vehicle sales are unlikely to return to pre-COVID levels until 2023.1 When it comes 
to implementing regulation, despite the initial delay of the type approval for eCall, no impact was 
observed over the year 2020. 
Besides production, COVID has influenced our use of transport with significant reductions in traffic 
volume (passenger transport and private vehicle traffic) registered during and post-confinement. 
Nevertheless, the road freight sector continued to secure essential supplies throughout the emergency 
situation. Here, the  ‘Galileo Green lanes’  app played an important role in easing traffic pressure 
at borders by providing better monitoring of transport flows for an efficient transit of critical goods. 
The prompt and cost-efficient implementation of the app was possible due to the widespread adoption 
of fleet management systems, with the majority of information collected from in-vehicle units located in 
trucks and made available through mobile devices. 
Autonomous and connected mobility: industry slowing down race to levels 4 
and 5 …
The automotive industry continues its activity, albeit at a slower pace as a result of the pandemic. Car 
models released in 2020 have been confirmed and committed the year before. Therefore a one year lag 
is expected for the COVID impact to be visible with fewer type approval applications.
COVID has also scaled down the sector’s future plans and investments, including the development 
of driverless car technology. The pandemic is expected to delay the deployment of level 4 models at 
least by 1 year. This includes BMW Group and Mercedes-Benz AG putting their joint development 
of  autonomous driving technology on hold, a  collaboration which set out to introduce autonomous 
driving (up to level 4) on passenger cars from as early as 2024. OEMs such as Daimler announced 
withdrawal from level 5 autonomy development altogether, preferring instead to focus on Level 4 
automation in commercial vehicles.  Finally, Ford’s ambitious plan to launch a fleet of robo-taxis by 
2021 was pushed back until at least 2022. 
… yet on track with safety regulation
The European revised General Safety Regulation entered into force on 5 January 2020. From July 
2022, new types of vehicle models introduced on the European market will be equipped with advanced 
safety features, such as intelligent speed assistance, technology to detect drivers’ drowsiness and 
distraction, improved impact zones to mitigate the risk of injury to pedestrians and cyclists, systems 
reducing dangerous blind spots on trucks and buses and data recording technology. Features improving 
the safety of road transport that will be able to take advantage of Galileo include:
• Intelligent speed adaptation, set automatically as a function of the speed limits indicated on the road 
and automatic lane keeping system independent of weather and the condition of lane markings;
• Event (accident) data recorders, where vehicles equipped with blackboxes recording location are 
linked with the eCall system in case of accident, while also influencing driving behaviour in relation to 
insurance costs (telematics based policies);
• Alcohol interlock, which would prevent driving with excess alcohol (with limits varying between 
countries) by requiring the driver to blow into an in-car breathalyser before starting the ignition.
1 The China automotive industry recovering fast from the pandemic: Aion, Xpeng and Hongqi car brands have relaunched level-4 models 
enabled by Galileo.
Green Deal calls for more sustainable mobility and transport efficiency
Efficiency across the whole transport system is essential. 
European GNSS, including EGNOS, is making everyone’s 
life on the road easier by significantly reducing congestion 
and consequently CO2 pollution, improving the efficiency of 
road transportation through navigation, fleet management 
opportunities and satellite road traffic monitoring. 
EGNSS impact will be especially strengthened by important future developments including 
automated mobility and smart traffic management systems, smart applications and 
‘Mobility as a Service’ where Galileo is expected to deliver new accuracy and reliability for 
location-dependant services to enhance urban mobility.
© Adobe Stock

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ROAD AND AUTOMOTIVE
USER PERSPECTIVE
Safety first - the contribution of space technologies to autonomous driving
V2X use cases are critically dependent on accurate time and position data
Robustness and availability are key GNSS requirements for forward-looking vehicle-to-everything 
(V2X) communication and automated driving technology. Continuous lane-accurate positioning  is 
seen as an important milestone in the expansion of autonomous capability and situational awareness. 
The  most important value added is safety achieved through redundancy (where GNSS-based lane 
determination acts as an independent source to supervise the vision-based systems) and alleviating tasks 
from the perception system (which can focus on changing surroundings). In such a way incorporating 
precision GNSS into LiDAR-based systems can unlock robustness and additional fallbacks for safety 
and utility, while high-integrity GNSS lane determination integrated into vision-based architectures can 
unlock lane-level manoeuvres and provide oversight to guarantee safety. 
V2X  is a communications technology for smart infrastructure, the exchange of information between 
vehicles helps avoid accidents, and information exchanges to road infrastructure in order to improve 
traffic efficiency. As autonomous vehicles will target operating beyond specific routes and cities, GNSS 
can emerge as a global standard to ensure interoperability across autonomous systems and act as 
a common reference for precise position and time information.
Key EO and GNSS user requirements
The key GNSS and EO user requirements for the different application groups within the Road and 
Automotive segment are, at EU level, collected using the following procedures:
• For GNSS, information is collected through extensive interactions with user groups, providers and 
experts in a continuous process culminating at the User Consultation Platforms (UCP). All relevant 
requirements are documented in detail and updated regularly within the Reports on user needs and 
requirements of respectively Road and Public Transport.
• User requirements for Copernicus services and products – as well as their evolution – are collected 
through an integrated process that involves different channels: (i) dedicated studies (e.g. “NEXTSPACE” 
project, “Copernicus for EC (C4EC)” study, 
Commission Staff Working Document on 
user needs), (ii) targeted consultations 
organised by the  European Commission 
or the Entrusted entities with the relevant 
communities, (iii) regular and structured 
exchanges 
among 
representatives 
of the Copernicus governance structure and 
Member States through the  Copernicus 
User Forum. 
From the  2022 EUSPA`s UCP onward, EO 
user needs and requirements of commercial 
users will be validated and discussed with 
industry experts and user groups, mirroring 
the process implemented for GNSS.
High performance GNSS paves the way towards autonomous driving
Autonomous driving is among the  most demanding road applications as its high accuracy 
requirement must be coupled to a  high level of  integrity. Reaching accuracies and integrity 
performance metrics simultaneously is enabled by GNSS receivers that can utilise data received 
from a  sufficient number of  satellites and correction services. Various industry players are 
developing Autonomous Driving Systems (ADS), relying on a range of sensors including GNSS 
for absolute localisation, HD maps, LiDAR, radar and Internal Measurement Units (IMUs). With 
ongoing trials, the emerging approach is that GNSS is a key component of the sensor fusion 
system contributing to the  safety of  autonomous systems. This is the  case for Navya, who 
reached a new milestone with its level 4 fully autonomous shuttle (tested without an operator 
on board) and VW who plan to roll out a first fleet of self-driving test cars in Hefei (China).  
Similarly, this combination of  sensors in Sensible 4’s autonomous driving software allows 
operation in various weather conditions and environments. Its performance will be tested in 
the north of Europe, together with Ruter and Holo, on Toyota vehicles to explore the integration 
of AVs into public transport service and new mobility services. In such a way GNSS continues 
to play a key role in the development of ADS with robustness (integrity) and availability as key 
requirements. 
A unified view of road conditions: the EO contribution to road safety
With 80% of  the  world’s road network not paved, road networks tend to be particularly 
vulnerable to environmental, weather and vehicle-related damage with direct impact on its 
users. Inferred to connected cars with autonomous driving features, Copernicus data can 
support drivers in remote areas and on roads affected by meteorological conditions.
The  start-up Bareways combines different data 
sources (e.g. ground sensors, Sentinel data, 
historical data) in a mobility platform to give users 
a  unified view of  specific road conditions (thus 
helping avoid risks, delays and fatal incidents). 
Current road condition information will be made 
available to the  vehicle navigation system, 
together with other criteria for route planning and 
optimisation such as vehicle type, load fragility 
and driver safety needs. The platform is expected 
to boost e-mobility applications by suggesting 
routes depending on battery charge status and 
possibilities for regenerative braking.  
REPORT ON ROAD USER NEEDS AND REQUIREMENTS
1
Report on Road User 
Needs and Requirements
Outcome of the EUSPA
User Consultation Platform
REPORT ON
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
USER NEEDS AND 
REQUIREMENTS
Outcome of the European GNSS
User Consultation Platform
June 2021
www.euspa.europa.eu
© Adobe Stock

ROAD AND AUTOMOTIVE
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EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
INDUSTRY
• ANALOG DEVICES
• BEIJING BDSTAR NAVIGATION
• BOSCH*
• BROADCOM
• CONTINENTAL*
• FURUNO ELECTRIC CO
• GARMIN
• HERE*
• HEXAGON*
• HIRSCHMANN*
• JAPAN RADIO CO
• KATHREIN-WERKE KG*
• LAIRD* 
• MEDIATEK
• NXP SEMICONDUCTORS*
• ORBCOMM
• PULSE ELECTRONICS
• QUALCOMM
• STMICROELECTRONICS*
• TE CONNECTIVITY*
• TOMTOM*
• TRIMBLE NAVIGATION
• U-BLOX*
• VALEO*
• ACTIA*
• ALPINE
• BOSCH*
• CONTINENTAL*
• DENSO
• FICOSA*
• GEMALTO (now part of THALES)
• PIONEER
• SIEMENS*
• STONERIDGE
• VALEO*
 HD MAP PROVIDERS
• GOOGLE
• HERE*
• TOMTOM*
MOBILE NETWORK OPERATORS:
AIRTEL, AT&T, CHINA MOBILE, 
T-MOBILE*, TELEFONICA*, 
VODAFONE*
TRAFFIC INFORMATION 
PROVIDERS:
GARMIN, GOOGLE, TOMTOM*
ROAD TOLLING:
KAPSCH*, MHIESA, NTPS*, 
SATELLIC*, SIEMENS*, SKY TOLL*, 
TOLL COLLECT*
AUGMENTATION SERVICE 
PROVIDER
SAPCORDA*
CAR SHARING OPERATORS
TELEMATICS SERVICE PROVIDERS
FUEL/FLEET CARD ISSUING 
COMPANIES
MAINTENANCE & DIAGNOSTICS
• GARMIN
• MAGNETI MARELLI*
• MASTERNAUT*
• OCTO TELEMATICS*
• TOMTOM*
• TRAKM8*
• WABCO
• BMW*
• CHINA FIRST AUTOMOBILE 
GROUP CORPORATION
• DAIMLER*
• FCA (FIAT CHRYSLER 
AUTOMOBILES)*
• FORD
• GM
• HONDA
• HYUNDAI
• MAZDA MOTOR
• NISSAN
• PEUGEOT-CITROEN*
• RENAULT*
• SUBARU
• SUZUKI
• TATA MOTORS
• TOYOTA
• VOLKSWAGEN*
• ZHEUJIANG GEELY HOLDING
• CAR OWNERS
• COMERCIAL VEHICLES DRIVERS
• ENFORCERS
• FLEET OPERATORS
• INSURANCE COMPANIES
• MEMBER STATES
• ROAD NETWORK OPERATORS
COMPONENTS AND 
RECEIVER
MANUFACTURERS
TIER 1 SUPPLIERS
VEHICLE 
MANUFACTURERS
USERS
AFTERMARKET DEVICE 
VENDORS
SERVICE PROVIDERS
NOTES
1 The value chain considers the key global and European companies involved in GNSS downstream activities.
2 In the market share analysis, Europe is defined as EU27 plus Norway, Switzerland and the UK.
* European-based companies. The region is defined with respect to the headquarters of the company, though the actual area of activity might be wider.
Road and Automotive GNSS Value Chain1
SYSTEM INTEGRATORS
LEGEND
	Commercial Offering
	User segments
Green denotes EO-enabled services.
European2 GNSS industry in the global 
arena
With 
Bosch, 
TomTom, 
Valeo, 
Hexagon, 
STMicroelectronics, 
u-Blox 
and 
Continental, 
Europe held seven of the top 15 positions among 
GNSS Component and Receiver manufacturers 
in 2020. Overall, EU companies lead this market 
with a share of 53%, followed by North America 
with 25%. European GNSS system integrators, 
led by Volkswagen, Fiat Chrysler and many others 
generated 30% of the turnover in 2020, trailing 
behind Asia (53%).

160
ROAD AND AUTOMOTIVE
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
New applications focusing on sustainable mobility continue to drive GNSS 
shipments
Satellite navigation supports on-demand bus services in remote and low 
density population areas
State of tolling - EU27 
Operational tolling schemes based on GNSS exist 
in Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, 
Hungary, Poland and Slovakia.
Recent adopters include Bulgaria, which successfully 
replaced its time-based vignette system introduced 
in 2004 with a freeflow ETC for HGVs in 2020, 
and Czech Republic, who in 2020 became the first 
country to switch from DSRC to a GNSS based 
system. By doing so, Czechtoll extended its road 
charge to another 900 km of class I roads, at the 
same time saving operational costs by 2/3 compared 
to the previous technical solution. Similar to the 
Czech example, in 2021 Poland launched its new 
toll collection system based on GNSS to replace the 
existing DSRC solution, covering 650km of tolled 
concession roads.
Since the end of the plateau in 2013, the road GNSS shipments grew by a CAGR of 10% leading 
to more than 110 million shipments in 2020. The automotive market continues to be dominated by 
the Navigation application as the trend of increasing In-Vehicle Systems (IVS) and shrinking Personal 
Navigation Devices (PNDs) shipments persists over the  same period: IVS shipment has more than 
doubled from almost 25 million units in 2013 to more than 48 million in 2020.
The development of telematics services contributes to the persistent growth in the automotive sector as 
insurance telematics reached almost 18 million units in 2020, witnessing the highest historical CAGR 
of 35%, compared with other applications.
Another application substantiating market growth is emergency assistance, which is linked in 
the European market to the growing number of cars equipped with the mandatory eCall system since 
2018.
Finally, during the pandemic, micro-mobility has once again emerged as a sustainable alternative to 
personal car usage. In particular urban bike sharing (along with e-scooter sharing) schemes account for 
about 7% of GNSS shipments in 2020.
A similar platform powered by satellite 
navigation, 
Shotl, 
supports 
the 
transition of companies with on-site 
employee movement to sustainable 
mobility, cutting costs and emissions in 
compliance with COVID-19 measures.
Geolocation 
technologies 
open 
up 
new 
opportunities to improve public mobility through 
various initiatives, such as demand-responsive 
transit services (on-demand buses) explored in 
the  H2020 Galileo 4 Mobility project. The  pilot 
was organised by Pildo Labs in collaboration with 
the  Metropolitan Area of  Barcelona (AMB), and 
aimed to tackle the  low usage of  bus services 
in the  area. Taking advantage of  the  willingness 
of the local authorities to permanently implement 
an on-demand bus service for small villages in 
the area, Pildo launched a spin-off to commercialise 
developments performed within the  project in 
the  form of  NE-MI, a  tool enabling flexible bus 
routes and making mobility in low-density areas 
feasible.
©UITP
 DSRC   
 GNSS used (also in conjuction with other technologies)  
 Time-based charge
Shipments of GNSS devices by application
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
2010
 
2011
 
2012
 
2013
 
2014
 
2015
 
2016
 
2017
 
2018
 
2019
 
2020
 
Units (millions)
Personal Navigation Device (PND)
In-Vehicle System (IVS)
Road User Charging (RUC)
Insurance telematics
Emergency assistance
Smart Tachograph
Road Fleet Management
Public Transport-buses

ROAD AND AUTOMOTIVE
161
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
FUTURE MARKET EVOLUTION
Reinforced trend of IVS becoming the primary PNT source
Growing with a CAGR of 5% over the next decade, the dominant role of IVS will continue, leading 
to annual shipments of 98 million units in 2031. Shipments of CAD, which will allow cars and their 
passengers to enjoy autonomous driving features (SAE level 4 and 5), are estimated to reach 247,000 
units in 2028. By 2031, this application is forecasted to surge to almost 2 million units, accelerating 
the deployment of autonomous vehicles. With all new vehicles equipped with a GNSS-enabled IVS, IVS 
evolves into the leading source of PNT data for a wide range of in-vehicle applications. 
After a  significant slowdown of  smart tachograph adoption in Europe with a  50% drop in annual 
shipments registered in 2020, the market is expected to pick up in the coming years due to regulatory 
developments. An extension of  the  tachograph’s scope to light commercial vehicles, retrofitting 
provisions for vehicles with analogue and digital tachographs (expected by winter 2024), as well as 
introducing the first version of the smart tachograph by autumn 2025, will drive annual shipments up 
to 167,000 units by 2025.
Although globally new vehicle sales are unlikely to return to pre-pandemic levels until 2023, as evident 
from the figures above, the penetration of GNSS-enabled applications is expected to grow substantially 
over the next decade.
Achieving proof of safety for autonomous systems: standards and testing 
Comprehensive evaluation of performance and safety considerations is 
critical to successful deployment of autonomous systems. International 
organisations contributing to proving safety for autonomous vehicles 
include ISO (standards related to safety of  execution, performance 
and intended functionality, as well as requirements for Electrical/Electronic/Programmable Electronic 
systems), Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services (RTCM), standards related to Integrity 
for High Accuracy GNSS-based Applications, Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standards 
linked to mobile GNSS assistance data and the emerging European standard EN16803. 
Focusing on this latest development by CEN-CENELEC, EN16803 explores the use of GNSS positioning 
in the  automotive framework and in particular the  assessment of  the  basic performance of  GNSS 
positioning terminals. In the ongoing phase, the main effort is concentrated on security performance 
including definition  and validation of future testing scenarios.
Ongoing standardisation activities continue to unlock the benefits of autonomous features in cars and 
pave the way towards a driverless future, which is in turn associated with increased road safety.
Extending the reach of GNSS through eCall for motorcycles
Road safety is one of  the  major elements of  the  European Union’s transport policy; eCall 
continues to contribute to the reduction of road fatalities and alleviating the severity of road 
injuries. One of the ongoing initiatives that is looking to expanding eCall reach to L3 vehicle 
categories (2-wheeled powered vehicles or motorcycles) is H-Gear. This project aims to develop 
a system composed of a device integrated into the motorcycle (provided by Honda), a software 
suite for the monitoring and control of the eCall and Anti-Theft services and a user mobile 
application for the interaction with the driver. 
The H-Gear system will leverage on EGNSS 
features such as spoofing incident from the Galileo 
navigation message detection and mitigation 
using OSNMA, as well as the use of GNSS raw 
measurements (jointly with accelerometer data) 
during the alert/theft or accident mode, in order to 
verify the motorcycle’s movement and position.
More information on:  
https://h-gear.vitrocisetbelgium.com/ 
©H-GEAR
Shipments of GNSS devices by application
0
25
50
75
100
125
150
175
200
225
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
Units (millions)
Personal Navigation Device (PND)
In-Vehicle System (IVS)
Road User Charging (RUC)
Insurance telematics
Emergency assistance
Smart Tachograph
Connected and Automated Driving (CAD)
Road Fleet Management
Bike sharing
Public Transport-buses

162
ROAD AND AUTOMOTIVE
EUROPEAN SYSTEMS AND PROJECTS
EGNSS services and features to be explored
Galileo 
will 
provide 
significant 
added 
value 
to 
the  connected and automated vehicles of  the  future, 
thanks to its dual-frequency, high accuracy and unique 
authentication feature. 
Galileo’s Open Navigation Message Authentication 
(OSNMA) 
feature 
will 
contribute 
to 
addressing 
the  security challenge faced by many applications as 
potential targets of  spoofing attacks, including smart 
tachographs used in trucks, taxis and ride-sharing 
vehicles, and tracking devices used in commercial cargo. 
Current usage of EGNSS
Present in all European new vehicle types equipped 
with eCall, Galileo is already contributing to  improved 
safety and transport efficiency on European roads.
EGNOS improves GPS accuracy and provides 
information on the  reliability of  the  positioning 
information. Together with Galileo and shortrange 
communications technologies implemented in smart 
tachographs, EGNOS contributes to enforce EU 
legislation (social regulation) on professional drivers’ 
driving and resting times.
Greater
Availability
Authenticated
Positioning
Higher
Accuracy
Shorter Time
To First Fix
Open Service
Authentication
features
Multi-
frequency
High Accuracy
Service
Galileo
Galileo
EGNOS
SPACE - Integrating automated vehicles (AVs) into the public transport 
network
MObiLIty sERvices Enhanced (MOLIERE) by Galileo & Blockchain
MOLIERE is a joint initiative led by Factual to coordinate a consortium formed, among others, 
by SEAT. The study’s main goal is to unlock much more precise, accurate and highly available 
location data enabled by Galileo through an open Mobility Data Marketplace underpinned by 
blockchain. 
The  demonstrated platform is 
expected to pilot Mobility as 
a  Service (MaaS) and Urban 
Mobility 
applications 
where 
geolocation 
data 
sourced 
by 
Galileo is  leveraged. The  focus 
on more accurate geolocation 
data in urban mobility of  this 
H2020 call, launched shortly after 
the start of the pandemic, becomes 
especially relevant  in the context 
of social distancing.
Terminology used on this page is explained in Annex 2 for both GNSS and EO performance parameters.
EGNOS and Galileo contribute to smarter and more sustainable mobility
The  introduction of  automated vehicles in 
cities represents a  unique opportunity for 
a  fundamental change in urban mobility. 
An  effort lead by UITP, together with over 50 
partners covering the  whole urban mobility 
sector, aims to place public transport at 
the centre of the automated vehicles revolution. 
SPACE will bring a  high-level reference 
architecture  to ensure a  seamless  integration 
of  driverless vehicles with other IT systems in 
the  mobility ecosystem. This will in turn help 
operators and cities make the  right technical 
decisions when integrating AVs into the public 
transport network, speeding up the deployment 
of driverless mobility services.
An effective integration of AVs as shared 
vehicles in the  public transport network 
(e.g. shuttle buses, car or ride-sharing 
schemes) is expected to drastically reduce 
car ownership, regain essential urban 
space, and result in better mobility for all.
©CAD
© Adobe Stock

ROAD AND AUTOMOTIVE
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EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
REFERENCE CHARTS
Installed base of GNSS devices by region
Revenue of GNSS device sales and services by region
Revenue of GNSS device sales and services by application
Installed base of GNSS devices by application
0
200
400
600
800
1 000
1 200
1 400
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
Units (millions)
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
€ (billions)
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean
0,0
0,5
1,0
1,5
2,0
2,5
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
€ (billions)
 
20 
40 
60 
80 
 
100 
 
120 
 
140 
Personal Navigation Device (PND) 
Road User Charging (RUC)
Smart Tachograph
Public Transport-buses 
Bike sharing
In-Vehicle System (IVS)
Insurance telematics
Emergency assistance
Map software updates
Road Fleet Management
Smartphone navigation apps†
Connected and Automated Driving (CAD)
†: Pay-to-download, In-app-purchases and ad-revenue from navigation apps
0
200
400
600
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
Units (millions)
Bike sharing
Personal Navigation Device (PND)
Road User Charging (RUC)
Insurance telematics
Emergency assistance
Smart Tachograph
Connected and Automated Driving (CAD)
Road Fleet Management
Public Transport-buses 
In-Vehicle System (IVS)
 
 
 
800
 
 
1 000
 
 
1 200
 
 
1 400

164
ROAD AND AUTOMOTIVE
REFERENCE CHARTS
Revenue from EO data sales by application
Revenue from EO services sales by application
Revenue from EO services sales by region
Revenue from EO data sales by region
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions) 
Congestion control
Driving comfort
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions) 
 
Congestion control
Driving comfort
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions) 
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions) 
 
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean

URBAN DEVELOPMENT  
AND CULTURAL HERITAGE
URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND CULTURAL HERITAGE
EO and GNSS are invaluable tools for the transition to smart, connected and climate-
neutral cities. City authorities, urban planners, real estate agencies, cultural heritage 
managers and surveyors all use solutions powered by EO and GNSS to perform a wide 
range of applications.
Earth Observation provides valuable information in support of urban planning, monitoring 
of  informal dwellings, and informing the  progress of  urban greening. Moreover,  
EO-based services provide essential information on air quality in urban environments, 
measuring particles that might affect the heath of citizens and monitoring greenhouse 
gas emissions. This is also critical when monitoring cultural heritage sites, whereby 
the impact of air quality and potential ground subsidence may become catastrophic. 
GNSS-based solutions are also used, in conjunction with EO, to accurately survey and 
map urban areas and to build advanced 3D models of the built environment. 
What you can read in this chapter
• Key trends: Making our cities climate-neutral, smarter and better connected will 
increasingly rely on digital solutions powered by EO and GNSS.
• User perspective: Multi-dimensional cadastre is the  backbone of  modern urban 
development.
• Industry: Urban Development and Cultural Heritage Value Chains.
• Recent developments: EO and GNSS solutions are driving several innovations at city 
level.
• Future market evolution: Digital solutions contribute to a  more resilient future for 
urban development and cultural heritage.
• EU Systems: The EU Space Programme presents a strong value proposition for urban 
development and cultural heritage applications.
• EU Projects: number of  European funded projects apply and combine EO and 
GNSS to solutions in support of digitalisation, resilience, and sustainability of urban 
environments. 
• Reference charts: Yearly evolution of installed base of GNSS devices and revenues as 
well as EO revenues by application and region.
165
© Adobe Stock
Application descriptions can be found in Annex 3.
Smart Cities Operations
• Smart streetlights
• Smart waste management
Environmental Monitoring
• Air quality monitoring in urban 
environments
• Light pollution
• Thermal auditing
• Urban greening
• Urban heat islands
Urban planning and monitoring
• Cultural heritage monitoring
• Informal dwellings
• Real estate
• Surveying and mapping of urban areas
• Urban modelling, 3D modelling, Digital 
Twins
• Urban planning
Legend
EO application
GNSS application
Synergetic application  
(combined use of EO and GNSS)

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KEY TRENDS
Key market trends
• Achieving climate-neutrality and climate-resilience in cities will require innovative solutions powered by EO data and GNSS services
• Smart cities are increasingly seeking to use EO or GNSS-based solutions to support a wide range of applications
• Digitalisation strategies – the most prominent of which is digital twins – will greatly benefit from EO and GNSS solutions
• Satellite-based technologies provide a fundamental contribution to the preservation and sustainable management of cultural heritage sites
Making our cities climate-neutral, smarter and better connected will 
increasingly rely on digital solutions powered by EO and GNSS
Digital solutions support a climate-neutral future in cities
Climate neutrality is a key goal on a global scale. In the EU, the Urban Agenda sets forth the priorities 
around air quality, housing, poverty, inclusion, sustainability, cultural heritage and  digitalisation to 
name a few. To this end, the adoption of digital solutions, including those powered by EO and GNSS, 
is increasingly recognised in policy making. In particular, digitalisation strategies such as the concept 
of digital twins, which also promises to be a useful tool for urban planning, will greatly benefit from EO 
and GNSS-based solutions.
Nature-based solutions drive innovation towards a more climate-resilient EU
Cost-effective solutions that are inspired and supported by nature, or in short nature-based solutions 
(NBS), are increasingly sought to provide environmental, social and economic benefits and to help 
build resilience in urban environments. NBS supports major EU policy priorities such as the European 
Green Deal, the  EU Biodiversity Strategy and the  EU adaptation strategy, making Europe more 
climate-resilient. Therefore, multiple EU-wide initiatives and Research & Innovation (R&I) projects are 
developing NBS in different contexts, all of which are represented in a dedicated platform (https://
platform.think-nature.eu/). The environmental and socioeconomic impact of NBS can be assessed with 
the help of Copernicus data and the unprecedented computing and modelling capabilities offered by 
different platforms (e.g. Urban-TEPS). 
The urban environment is well on the path to digital maturity
Advanced modelling capabilities are increasingly sought in relation to urban planning and modelling. 
This includes digital twins and 4D/5D Building Information Modelling (BIM). The integration of accurate 
and reliable GNSS and EO data into BIM assists urban planners to homogenise the geolocation of all 
city elements. Applications like land surveying and mapping/GIS provide the  necessary framework 
for collecting data and transforming observations to facilitate software-based solutions around smart 
cities. In practice, this enables city authorities to integrate and manipulate large amounts of versatile 
data, from the position and status of utility assets (streetlights, hydrants, pipelines, etc.) to 3D models 
of new quarters and 4D BIMs of whole buildings. Furthermore, GNSS-equipped augmented/virtual 
reality technologies provide immersive ways for the visualization of urban designs, either in the field 
or layered onto high-resolution satellite imagery. So far only a handful of digital twins of smart cities 
(DTSC) exist, with some prominent examples including Newcastle, Rotterdam, Boston, New York, 
Singapore, Stockholm and Helsinki. DTSC enable users from different sectors to develop sophisticated 
tools and applications for test-bedding concepts and to support decision-making along the  whole 
urban planning process. According to research from ABI, in 2025 there will be around 500 DTSCs. 
The future twins will provide a complete live city view through processing versatile sources of Big Data: 
live real-time data streams including sensor readings, transport updates and social media information 
(such as geolocated tweets), overlaid with photorealistic 3D models (created via vertical and oblique 
photography together with laser-scanned height measurements). 
Space opens-up new possibilities for the protection of cultural heritage 
Beyond the  economic asset it represents, cultural heritage also constitutes a  universal source 
of  remembrance and identity for humankind, thereby contributing to social cohesion and stability. 
While about 5% of the 1,121 UNESCO World Heritage sites are today in danger, the need for their 
protection is globally recognised. In this context, the increasing availability of free and open satellite-
based data and information, combined with the development of cutting-edge technologies (e.g. artificial 
intelligence, machine learning) can provide a crucial contribution to this field. In practice, EO data is used 
to monitor the impact of pollution, settlement pressure, climate change and natural hazards on cultural 
heritage sites.

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USER PERSPECTIVE
Multi-dimensional cadastre is the backbone of modern urban development
3D and 4D cadastre is where GNSS-EO joint capabilities make all 
the difference
Many Smart City initiatives focus on renewable energy and the reduction of greenhouse gases. 
This means that urban planning needs to reflect the exploitation of different sources (e.g. 
solar, geothermal, wind) and their respective impact on the built environment. Thus, to perform 
a proper evaluation of the energy balance, urban planning must progress from 2D (i.e. cadastral 
information on property distribution) to 3D (i.e. including geometry and semantics around wall 
and roof structure, number of windows, height between floors, etc.) and even 4D (temporal 
dimension). This vertical (3D) integration concept takes into account the source of the data and 
the production process. The 2D borders of the property’s building layer may be obtained (e.g. 
via cadastral GNSS surveying), and then merged with the third dimension from laser scanning 
as a topographic source. Another approach is to create 3D city models from high-resolution 
satellite images with footprint in the meter/submeter range. The standard format for 3D buildings 
is CityGML. In urban planning, GNSS-equipped mobile augmented reality is increasingly 
used in combination with CityGML building models to enhance some typical workflows in 
planning, execution and operation processes. A concrete example is the geo-referenced on-site 
visualization of  planned 
buildings 
or 
building 
parts, to simplify planning 
processes and optimise 
the 
communication 
between the participating 
decision-makers. 
AI powered solutions for cities require advanced computing capabilities
Smart Cities are urban areas whose infrastructure and services are made more efficient through 
the use of ICT and Big Data. Making sense of huge amounts of diverse data – including EO 
data – requires computing power and automation. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is an approach 
that allows machines to take over tasks such as analytics in an automated fashion. Algorithms 
are trained to recognise certain patterns (e.g. in EO imagery) and perform appropriate actions 
(e.g. annotation of imagery). Given the vast amount of data in terms of size, and the diversity 
of types and sources of data, computing power is needed to perform analysis that makes 
sense of this data in a reasonable time. High Performance Computing (HPC) has the capacity 
to meet this challenge and support applications like urban planning and modelling. It is regularly 
defined as a requirement to enable data-driven Smart Cities. With growing amounts of data and 
tasks, HPC capacity may not be sustainable; however, a further trend towards edge computing – 
distributed computing bringing storage and computing closer to each other – is evolving.
Key EO and GNSS user requirements
The  key GNSS and EO user requirements for the  different application groups within the  Urban 
Development and Cultural Heritage segment are, at EU level, collected using the following procedures:
• For GNSS, information is collected through extensive interactions with user groups, providers and 
experts in a continuous process culminating at the User Consultation Platforms (UCP). All relevant 
requirements are documented in detail and updated regularly within the Report on Surveying user 
needs and requirements.
• User requirements for Copernicus services and products – as well as their 
evolution – are collected through an integrated process that involves 
different channels: (i) dedicated studies (e.g. “NEXTSPACE” project, 
“Copernicus for EC (C4EC)” study, Commission Staff Working Document 
on user needs), (ii) targeted consultations organised by the European 
Commission or the  Entrusted entities with the  relevant communities, 
(iii) 
regular 
and 
structured 
exchanges 
among 
representatives 
of  the  Copernicus governance structure and Member States through 
the Copernicus User Forum. 
From the 2022 EUSPA`s UCP onward, EO user needs and requirements 
of commercial users will be validated and discussed with industry experts 
and user groups, mirroring the process implemented for GNSS. 
Report on Surveying User 
Needs and Requirements
Outcome of the EUSPA
User Consultation Platform
2D
3D
3D

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INDUSTRY
Urban Development and Cultural Heritage GNSS Value Chain1
CUSTOMERS 
OF SURVEYING 
SERVICES
PROFESSIONAL 
USERS
SOFTWARE, 
APPLICATIONS 
AND ADDED VALUE 
SERVICES
SYSTEM 
INTEGRATORS 
COMPONENT 
AND RECEIVER 
MANUFACTURERS
AUGMENTATION 
SERVICE PROVIDERS
• HEMISPHERE (ATLAS)
• HEXAGON (LEICA 
GEOSYSTEMS, 
NOVATEL)*
• SAPCORDA*
• SPACEOPAL*
• SWIFT
• TERIA*
• TOPCON
• TRIMBLE
• BEIJING BDSTAR 
NAVIGATION
• BEIJING UNISTRONG 
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 
• CHCNAV
• HEXAGON* 
• NVS TECHNOLOGIES*
• HI-TARGET SURVEYING 
INSTRUMENT
• SATEL*
• SBG SYSTEMS
• SEPTENTRIO*
• STONEX*
• TOPCON
• TRIMBLE
• U-BLOX*
• AB VOLVO*
• CATERPILLAR
• CNH INDUSTRIAL*
• FARO TECHNOLOGIES
• HITACHI
• J.C.B. SERVICE*
• KOMATSU
• RIEGL*
• CHCNAV
• VAISALA OYJ*
• CARLSON
• HEMISPHERE
• HEXAGON*
• HYPACK
• JAVAD
• SEPTENTRIO*
• SOUTH
• TOPCON
• TRIMBLE
• CONSTRUCTORS
• EDUCATORS
• ENGINEERS
• ENVIRONMENTALISTS
• PRESERVATIONISTS
• SCIENTISTS
• SURVEYORS
• ARCHITECTS
• CONSTRUCTION 
COMPANIES
• INSURERS
• CITIZENS
• PUBLIC AUTHORITIES
• URBAN UTILITIES
• NATIONAL AND 
REGIONAL RTK 
NETWORK PROVIDERS
NOTES
1 The value chain considers the key global and European companies involved in GNSS downstream activities.
2 In the market share analysis, Europe is defined as EU27 plus Norway, Switzerland and the UK.
* European-based companies. The region is defined with respect to the headquarters of the company, though the actual area of activity might be wider.
LEGEND
	Commercial Offering
	Public Offering
	User segments
European2 EO industry in the global arena
GNSS receivers in Urban development and cultural heritage are used for mapping 
and other geomatics purposes, and the industry supporting the segment overlaps 
with that serving Infrastructure. European companies such as Hexagon hold 35% 
of the geomatics market, with a slightly lower intensity on Urban development 
applications than their largest international competitors, yielding an estimated 
European share of 25% of the Urban development and cultural heritage market.

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EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
INDUSTRY
Urban Development and Cultural Heritage EO Value Chain1
END USERS
INFORMATION  
PROVIDERS
EO PRODUCTS 
AND SERVICE  
PROVIDERS
PLATFORM  
PROVIDERS
DATA PROVIDERS
INFRASTRUCTURE 
PROVIDERS
• AWS
• CLOUDEO*
• COPERNICUS DIAS*
• GOOGLE CLOUD 
PLATFORM
• IBM CLOUD 
• INTEL GEOSPATIAL
• PENGUIN COMPUTING
• MICROSOFT AZURE
• 4EI
• AIRBUS*
• CONSTELLR*
• COPERNICUS DIAS*
• DEIMOS IMAGING*
• EARTH-I*
• E-GEOS*
• EUROPEAN SPACE 
IMAGING*
• ICEYE*
• MAXAR
• PLANET
• TWENTY FIRST 
CENTURY AEROSPACE 
TECHNOLOGY 
• ADAM*
• ASTROSAT*
• CESIUM
• CLEOS (E-GEOS)*
• COPERNICUS DIAS*
• DESCARTES LABS
• LATITUDO 40*
• MAXAR ARD
• PLANET EXPLORER
• ORBITAL INSIGHT
• SOBOLT*
• TERRASOLID*
• TWENTY FIRST 
CENTURY AEROSPACE 
TECHNOLOGY 
• UP42*
• 4EI
• AIRBUS*
• CARTO*
• EGEOS*
• EUROPEAN SPACE 
IMAGING*
• FLYCOM*
• GEOVILLE*
• GIM*
• GREEN URBAN DATA*
• KARTEN SPACE*
• KONGSBERG*
• PIXSTART*
• SATIM*
• SATSENSE*
• SENSAR*
• SINERGISE*
• TESSELO*
• VITO*
• WORLD FROM SPACE*
• AMBICITI*
• CITTAMAP*
• DAVEY
• ECOMETRICA* 
• GENEGIS GI*
• GEOFEM*
• HAWADAWA*
• IHI CORPORATION
• SPACEKNOW
• SUPERMAP
• TERRALOUPE*
• TETRA TECH
• URBAN PLANNERS
• ARCHITECTS
• CONSTRUCTION 
COMPANIES
• URBAN PUBLIC 
TRANSPORT PROVIDERS
• HEALTH AND 
ENVIRONMENTAL 
AUTHORITIES
• ENGINEERING 
COMPANIES
• CITIZENS
• UTILITY COMPANIES
• REAL ESTATE AGENCIES
• INSURANCE COMPANIES
• TAX AUTHORITIES
• COPERNICUS 
COLLABORATIVE 
GROUND SEGMENT*
• COPERNICUS 
SENTINELS*
• USGS/NASA LANDSAT
• RELEVANT IN-SITU 
NETWORKS
• URBAN TEP
• COPERNICUS SERVICES*
NOTES
1 The value chain considers the key global and European companies involved in EO downstream activities.
2 In the market share analysis, Europe is defined as EU27 plus Norway, Switzerland and the UK.
* European-based companies. The region is defined with respect to the headquarters of the company, though the actual area of activity might be wider.
LEGEND
	Commercial Offering
	Public Offering
	User segments
European2 EO industry in the global arena
In 2019, European EO companies had a worldwide market share of 33% (EU27) 
and 4% (European non-EU27). Together they accounted for around €86m in the 
Urban Development and Cultural Heritage segment. The top ten EO companies in 
this segment account for more than 80% of the total market share. Among these, 
three are headquartered in Europe.

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URBAN DEVELOPMENT & CULTURAL HERITAGE
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
Advanced GNSS capabilities support solutions sought in smarter cities
Diversified GNSS technologies empower proper cadastral management 
in cities
The  main players in the  cadastral GNSS market strive to provide complete portfolios 
of  products and services that may be used at every stage of  urban land management. 
The most elaborate and expensive products are used to establish city geodetic control points. 
This requires infrastructure GNSS receivers that may be used in either RTK networks or as 
standalone devices. These products are usually used by municipalities or large companies, 
which generally provide network RTK services in urban areas and are responsible for 
maintenance of  the  city’s geodetic control points. Another group comprises the  field data 
collection receivers, in which mobility, sensor fusion and cloud data management are proving 
popular. Depending on the  operability and accuracy needed, either geodetic RTK rovers or 
mapping/GIS are implemented; the  former for 2D or 3D property boundary measurements, 
and the latter for inventory of city assets. GNSS-enabled systems (mobile mapping platforms, 
drones) form a separate group, used in cities primarily for 3D data collection on street, building 
or skyline level.
The fusion of sensors to align the city tensors
The vast opportunities that sensor fusion provides for architects and urban planners can hardly 
be overstated. Indoor and outdoor positioning with lightweight devices, without any  accuracy 
compromises, is becoming the norm. At the same time, SLAM technology, with its laser/IMU/
camera integration, and portable laser scanners have opened a huge field for detailed realistic 
modelling inside buildings. When combined with GNSS receivers, these systems are providing 
seamless indoor-outdoor transition. Compared to their indoor cousins, the GNSS-equipped 
powerful mobile mapping systems are the ultimate way to create street-like experiences, which 
can then be transferred to digital twins and augmented reality concepts. 
Furthermore, 
high-accuracy 
GNSS 
positioning 
with 
mass 
market 
devices, until recently an exploratory 
technology, is now becoming a reality. 
In 2021 the company Pix4D released 
a  product that enables survey-grade 
3D modelling with RTK Accuracy on 
a Mobile Device. The viDoc RTK rover 
geotags the  images of  a  3D scan 
(photogrammetric or LiDAR) in real 
time, while connected to any GNSS 
NTRIP service, and reportedly achieves 
city 3D models with an  absolute 
geolocation accuracy of less than 5cm. 
GNSS-based mapping for smarter cities shows strong growth over the  past 
decade
The use of GNSS receivers in mapping applications for urban development has shown steady growth 
over the  past ten years, with the  leading position held by site selection and monitoring. Over this 
timeframe, shipments of GNSS receivers in this application area have grown six-fold. At the same time, 
augmentation services, including new techniques such as PPP-RTK, are becoming an important tool for 
cadastral surveying, mapping and GIS activities. 
© www.mdpi.com
Shipments of GNSS devices by application
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
2010
 
2011
 
2012
 
2013
 
2014
 
2015
 
2016
 
2017
 
2018
 
2019
 
2020
 
Units (thousands)
 
Surveying and mapping of urban areas
 
RTK Network Devices

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RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
EO solutions are driving several innovations at city level
Urban greening contributing to climate, air quality, and wellbeing
The  contribution of  green spaces to local climate, air quality, and the  general wellbeing 
of citizens has made it to the agenda of cities worldwide. Cities promote their green spaces 
as areas for recreation, boosting the  wellbeing of  their citizens. Brussels, for example, has 
mapped all its parks for that purpose. ESA’s EO4SD-Urban ‘Urban Green Areas’ and ‘Open and 
Green Spaces’ products demonstrated EO capabilities in mapping urban green spaces. Using 
the Copernicus Urban Atlas, the EC’s working paper assessing access to green areas in Europe’s 
cities produced indicators on the proximity of green areas to urban population. H2020-funded 
projects such as Green City Solutions aim at targeted greening of urban spaces to reduce air 
pollution. Competitions such as the Copernicus Masters address greener cities with specific 
challenges, fostering EO-based applications. Further, services such as Green Urban Data 
(supported by, for example, Copernicus Accelerator, EIT Climate Knowledge and Innovation 
Community, or Climate-KIC) provide EO-based information to cities or citizens for planning 
and utilization of green spaces. Because it is still a niche application, urban greening-related 
revenues are not quantified in this report.
Reducing the urban heat island effect
Due to human activities such as creating dense concentrations of surfaces that absorb and retain 
heat, zones significantly warmer than the surrounding urban areas can occur. These are known 
as urban heat islands (UHI). EO can support mapping temperatures and temperature variations 
across urban areas, to (for instance) alert citizens or health authorities of  related risks for 
vulnerable demographic groups. These capabilities have been demonstrated in several projects. 
Funded by the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, the TREASURE 
project developed a mobile Personalised Heat Wave Risk App for citizens. The project LIFE 
ASTI has implemented a forecasting system for the UHI effect for the development of urban 
adaptation strategies. The C3S Urban project provides information based on climate reanalysis 
and climate scenario data, downscaled for several cities, including urban temperature data. 
Thermal satellite images in combination with on-the-ground thermal sensors were used 
in the research project  ‘Remote Sensing of London’s Urban Heat Island, by day and night’. 
Finally, Copernicus’ future Land Surface Temperature Monitoring will deliver global high spatio-
temporal daytime and night-time land surface temperature measurements, also supporting 
services addressing heat island issues.
Revenues from the sale of both EO data and services in 2020 amounted to €329 m. Surveying and 
mapping dominates the market outright with 45% of the sales.
Beyond this, the  breakdown in terms of  application is relatively fragmented. Urban modelling, 3D 
modelling and digital twins document a 11% share. This should come as no surprise, given the efficacy 
of EO in helping the likes of urban planners, construction companies, transport authorities, real estate 
agencies and even citizens to map and plan daily activities and operations. InSAR in particular delivers 
huge value when it comes to public authorities and construction companies monitoring for potential 
subsidence associated with urban development and infrastructure. This capability is leveraged by many 
service providers in the EO-based solutions they offer and thus contributes to the reported revenues. 
Air quality monitoring and real estate applications also proved valuable to the sector, holding roughly 
10% market share each. Again, given the constant concern of air pollution in built environments, as 
well as the lucrative nature of the real estate sector, these shares reflect where the market materialises 
substantial value.  
Revenue from EO data & service sales by application in 2020
8%
45%
11%
10%
10%
2%
6%
8%
Urban planning
Surveying and mapping
of urban areas
Informal dwellings
Urban modeling, 3D modeling, 
digital twins
Real estate
Air quality mmonitoring 
in urban environments
Light pollution
Urban heat islands
€ 329 million

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URBAN DEVELOPMENT & CULTURAL HERITAGE
FUTURE MARKET EVOLUTION
Digital investments in data infrastructure are the core enabler of future 
success
GNSS-EO is an invaluable data source to build Spatial Data Infrastructure
The general vision of future Smart City developments entail the incorporation of traditional 
cadastre layers, obtained with EO, GNSS or other equipment, within complex Spatial 
Data Infrastructure (SDIs) with the ultimate goal of creating a digital twin. A good example 
is the  European initiative to build multinational SDIs, known as the  INSPIRE Directive. As 
cadastral data is increasingly being collected digitally, cities make better use of  geospatial 
services for their purposes. For instance, many methods for automated classification based on 
INSPIRE data and Sentinel-2 satellite imagery have been developed recently. When it comes 
to GNSS-based solutions, these have reached high technological maturity. This is thanks to 
enriched and stable satellite signals that facilitate surveying work within any type of urban 
environment. Nevertheless, many traditional mapping and cadastre surveying workflows are 
still obtaining the geometry and the semantics of a building separately, instead of in a seamless, 
digitally synchronised way. Thus, one of the many challenges for the GNSS industry will be to 
actually put its well-developed solutions into the hands of users. This is especially valid for 
many settlements in developing countries, where the goal to become ‘sustainable cities and 
communities’ (as targeted by the UN SDG 11) will require careful balance between device price 
and capability. 
Inventory of city assets is becoming unthinkable without GNSS
The urban GNSS market will continue to focus on fast, reliable and accurate data collection 
for the wide range of city assets. Indeed, every modern city is a complex labyrinth of assets, 
closely overlapped in both horizontal and vertical dimensions, so the best approach to guarantee 
appropriate modelling is through high-accuracy measurements.  
Up to a point this is secured by the integration of various sensors (e.g. IMUs, photo cameras) 
that allow surveyors to make many more measurements, much faster, without needing to be 
on-site. It is expected that all main market players will continue to upgrade their latest receivers, 
taking full advantage of the sensor integration approach. While the increased use of Ground 
Penetration Radars (GPR), combined with GNSS to map the  underground city cadastre, is 
bringing positioning below the  visible surface, powerful GNSS-enabled drones with RTK 
accuracy may now fly over it and collect data in mere minutes. With all this machinery working 
around, the problem of personnel safety is of utmost importance. That is why the industry is 
becoming more aware of the need to: 1) develop solutions that increase surveyors’ safety; and 
2) establish proper safety regulations, which is of special importance for flying drones within 
a city. In this regard, taking the cadastral GNSS surveyor off a heavy traffic street or the mapping 
drone away from the crowd below, without loss of operability and accuracy, will continue to be 
the challenge for the urban geomatics market.
Investment in smart cities in Asia-Pacific drives the future evolution of the sector
With multiple mega-investments in smart cities, Asia-Pacific is driving the growth of the installed base 
of GNSS receivers. On the other hand, EU27 and North America, both representing stable markets, 
present marginal projected growth until 2031. The Middle East (primarily) and Africa (secondarily) are 
also showing significant growth, powered by investments in ultra-modern cities and increased attention 
toward informed urban planning, respectively. 
 
Shipments of GNSS devices by region
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
Units (thousands)
 
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean

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FUTURE MARKET EVOLUTION
The future market evolution will see increased adoption of EO data in 
analytics powered by high performance computing and artificial intelligence
EO data safeguarding humankind cultural heritage
Ranging from the improved characterisation of their conservation status for preventive 
restoration actions and the detection of potential threats, to the development of new possibilities 
for archaeological discoveries, the potential of EO space-based data and information for 
monitoring, protecting, and documenting World Heritage sites is manifold. These different 
areas of intervention require the availability and integration of information from various sources 
in order to improve understanding and risk assessment capacities with regards to these 
sites. EO data and solutions can therefore provide useful insights related to (for instance) air 
pollution, coastal erosion, land-use and climate change. Change maps or millimetre InSAR-
based deformation monitoring are also examples of key elements EO can contribute to the 
preservation of these priceless assets. Such technological solutions constitute a valuable 
and cost-efficient resource for the domain’s stakeholders, at a time where cultural funding is 
declining. Government and philanthropic funds are increasingly moving towards healthcare 
and environmental causes and the COVID-19 pandemic has caused the long-lasting closure 
of many sites as well as the suspension of rehabilitation, conservation and archaeological 
exploration works. Whilst great progress has been achieved in recent years on the use of EO 
solutions, the cultural heritage market is still at a nascent stage and thus revenues are not 
quantified in this report. 
EO data powering real estate analytics
The real estate market has been embracing satellite imagery as a major catalyst for enhanced 
awareness of  the  characteristics of  the  urban environment. The  ability to accurately and 
securely obtain real-time data on land and construction changes allows real estate developers, 
retailers, brokers, contractors and asset managers to gain advanced insights before, during and 
after a real estate project. High-resolution EO data is being integrated into smart algorithms 
to more accurately calculate crucial performance parameters for buildings and landscapes, 
giving the  involved real estate actors the  ability to save time and money. Further, quality-
of-life indicators linked to (for instance) poverty, recreational spaces and safety and security 
can be measured by means of EO and location-based data, providing crucial information for 
the  valuation of  properties. The  competitive edge provided by satellite imagery has been 
increasingly recognised by major real estate analytics companies who team up with fast-growing 
EO start-ups. This is why many of the companies developing new satellite constellations are 
explicitly targeting the real estate industry and adopt platform-as-a-service or intelligence-as-
a-service business models to serve it. Aside from hi-res imagery, they use Copernicus Sentinel 
data to support land valuation and environmental impact assessments connected to real estate 
projects. 
The revenues from the sale of EO data and services in 2021 amounted to €369 m, growing year-on-
year to expected aggregate revenues of €769 m by 2031.
North America and Asia Pacific hold the largest market shares in terms of revenues from the sale of EO 
data and services in 2021, with €138 m and €100 m respectively.  Throughout the upcoming decade, 
both will remain the largest markets, achieving revenues in 2031 of €288 m and €212 m respectively. 
The huge and ever-expanding urban metropolises and mega cities in the USA and East Asia will help 
drive this strong and dominant growth in the industry.
The dominance of North America and East Asia markets over the coming years will mean all other 
regions will maintain smaller market shares. Nonetheless, the EU market is foreseen to double, growing 
from €52 m in 2021 to €109 m in 2031.  
Revenue from EO data & services sales by region
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions) 
 
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean

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URBAN DEVELOPMENT & CULTURAL HERITAGE
EUROPEAN SYSTEMS
Current usage of EGNSS
Increasing global urbanization rates mean taller city environments with more difficult satellite 
penetration and availability. However, with Galileo’s full operational capability, surveyors now 
have many more tools to approach confined spaces and collect data. As of 2020, around 80% 
of surveying GNSS receivers already supported Galileo, and around 98% were EGNOS-capable. 
In Europe, the majority of RTK providers have already upgraded or have started to upgrade to 
Galileo. The trend to adopt Galileo within geomatics equipment will inevitably continue to rise, 
as it helps surveyors with rapid identification of property boundaries and city assets. Galileo’s 
increased availability also facilitates the  navigation and positioning of  other GNSS-enabled 
devices, like drones that map the energy balance of a building or a mobile mapping system that 
creates immersive 3D street models. Crowdsourced mapping of city assets or traffic measurement 
also benefits from Galileo’s availability.
EGNSS services and features to be explored
With HAS, Galileo will be the first constellation able to provide a high-accuracy PPP service 
globally, directly through the Signal-in-Space (SiS). This will unlock a multitude of new business 
opportunities in urban planning. The HAS will provide much higher continuity of cadastral or 
mapping/GIS GNSS operations in urban territories. Another differentiator – authentication – is 
being identified as important by an increasing number of users, especially in building construction, 
where lack of  proper GNSS signals may result in projects falling behind schedule, incurring 
damages or lowering personnel safety. Finally, the multipath mitigation capabilities of Galileo 
make its signals very attractive for working within the tall city skyline.
Current usage of Copernicus
The Copernicus programme supports urban planning and monitoring through its satellite and in 
situ data as well as through its services such as the Copernicus Land Monitoring Service  (CLMS) 
(e.g. with its Urban Atlas). The CLMS is also critical for monitoring of cultural heritage, identifying 
and mapping risks such as coastal erosion or ground subsidence. In addition, the Copernicus 
Emergency Management Service (CEMS) provides a range of products related to natural and 
man-made disasters that can affect the urban environment (e.g. floods, landslides). Additional 
value is provided by the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) (e.g. with its air 
quality forecasts and particulate matter measurements) and the  Copernicus Climate Change 
Service (C3S) (e.g. with data on urban heat). Both these services support the preservation and 
maintenance of cultural heritage by enabling the assessment of sites’ vulnerability with regard 
to climate change effects (e.g. heat waves, sea level rise). Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 data can be 
applied to building height detection. Sentinel-2 is further applied to mapping green urban areas, 
urban sprawl, and classification of (urban) land use. Sentinel-1 also supports InSAR monitoring 
of urban infrastructure such as tunnels, bridges and roads, identifying potential displacement or 
ground movement. Finally, Sentinel-5P measurements support the monitoring of air quality in 
urban environments. 
The EU Space Programme presents a strong value proposition for urban 
development and cultural heritage applications
Greater
Availability
Greater
Continuity
Higher
Accuracy
Shorter Time
To First Fix
Open Service
Authentication
features
Multi-
frequency
High Accuracy
Service
Galileo
Galileo
EGNOS
Sentinels
Sentinel-1
Sentinel-2
Sentinel-3
Copernicus Services
Land  
(CLMS)
Climate Change
(C3S)
Atmosphere 
(CAMS)
Emergency 
(CEMS)
Terminology used on this page is explained in Annex 2 for both GNSS and EO performance parameters.

URBAN DEVELOPMENT & CULTURAL HERITAGE
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EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
EUROPEAN PROJECTS
A number of European funded projects apply and combine EO and GNSS to solutions 
in support of digitalisation, resilience, and sustainability of urban environments
Improving resilience of cultural heritage sites  
The SHELTER (Sustainable Historic Environments hoListic reconstruction through Technological 
Enhancement and community based Resilience) project, funded under H2020 and running until 
May 2023, aims to develop a data-driven and community-based knowledge framework that will 
bring together the scientific community and heritage managers. Proposing useful methodologies, 
tools and strategies, SHELTER intends to increase resilience, reduce vulnerability and promote 
better and safer reconstruction processes in historic areas.
Due to the information complexity and the diverse data sources, SHELTER’s framework will be 
implemented in a multiscale and multisource data-driven platform, able to provide the necessary 
information for planning and adaptive governance. All the developments of the project will then 
be validated in five open-labs (i.e. pilots) representative of the main climatic and environmental 
challenges in Europe, covering different heritage’s typologies and specific socioeconomic 
conditions.
More information on: https://shelter-project.com/
Urban Anthropogenic heat flux from Earth observation Satellites
The  H2020-funded Urban Fluxes project investigates cities’ warming by breaking down 
the urban energy budget and targeting the anthropogenic heat flux. It uses imagery from Earth 
Observation satellites combined with conventional meteorological measurements at street 
level. The satellite-based approach is expected to be easily transferable to any city. With this 
knowledge, measures to reduce urban heat can be monitored and tested.
More information on: http://urbanfluxes.eu/
Digital Urban European Twins
The H2020-funded project, enabled by Cloud-basedsolutions 
and High Performance Computing, integrates geo data and 
data sources such as mobile phones or vehicles to create 
digital twinsof cities to support policy impact exploration and 
experimentationacross entire cities and regions. Test beds are 
created in the citiesof Athens, Pilsen and the Flanders regions 
for the policy domains of mobility, health, and environment. 
More information on: https://www.digitalurbantwins.com/
Smart URBan Solutions for air quality, disasters and city growth 
(SMURBS) 
The SMURBS project ran between September 2017 and August 2020 with the aim of promoting 
the ‘smart‐city’ concept through the integration of EO. It focused on increasing urban resilience 
targeting challenges with respect to air quality, urban growth, natural/manmade disasters and 
relevant impacts, as well as more entangled issues such as the migrant crisis and the health 
implications of such environmental pressures. 
More information on: http://smurbs.eu/
Source: DUET

176
URBAN DEVELOPMENT & CULTURAL HERITAGE
REFERENCE CHARTS
Installed base of GNSS devices by region
Revenue of GNSS device sales and services by region 
Revenue of GNSS device sales and services by application
Installed base of GNSS devices by application
0
500
1 000
1 500
2 000
2 500
3 000
3 500
4 000
4 500
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
Units (thousands)
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean
0
2 000
4 000
6 000
8 000
10 000
12 000
14 000
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
€ (millions)
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean
0
2 000
4 000
6 000
8 000
10 000
12 000
14 000
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
Surveying and mapping of urban areas
RTK Network Devices
Commercial Augmentation Services †
†: Commercial Augmentation Services also include revenue 
from applications in Maritime and Inland Waterways and Infrastructure segments
€ (millions)
0
500
1 000
1 500
2 000
2 500
3 000
3 500
4 000
4 500
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
Units (thousands)
Surveying and mapping of urban areas
RTK Network Devices

URBAN DEVELOPMENT & CULTURAL HERITAGE
177
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
REFERENCE CHARTS
Revenue from EO data sales by application
Revenue from EO services sales by application
Revenue from EO services sales by region
Revenue from EO data sales by region
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions) 
 
Urban planning
Surveying and mapping of urban areas
Informal dwellings
Urban modeling, 3D modeling, digital twins
Real Estate
Air quality monitoring in urban environments
Light pollution
Urban Heat Islands
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions) 
 
Urban planning
Surveying and mapping of urban areas
Informal dwellings
Urban modeling, 3D modeling, digital twins
Real Estate
Air quality monitoring in urban environments
Light pollution
Urban Heat Islands
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions) 
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
€ (millions) 
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean

SPACE
178
SPACE
Although GNSS was originally designed to serve terrestrial users, it has also proven 
its worth as a valuable tool in space. Within the last decade the space industry has 
experienced a  profound transformation. Driven by technological advancements and 
a new entrepreneurial spirit, the space environment is now hosting an increasing number 
of platforms and has therefore become a new playground for GNSS technologies.
Whatever the  mission type (telecommunication, Earth observation, scientific 
development, navigation, etc.), providing reliable real-time GNSS data to Earth-orbiting 
satellites can bring many financial, technical and societal benefits such as reduced 
mission costs, improved navigation performances and the provision of trustworthy EO 
data.
What you can read in this chapter
• Key trends: A restructured space industry for a new space ecosystem.
• User Perspective: Spaceborne GNSS receivers must respond to a very diverse market.
• Industry: Space-borne GNSS Value Chain.
• Recent Developments: Megaconstellations and new associated business models drive 
the next decade of shipments.
• ΁Future Market Evolution: Flourishing space applications, calling for appropriate 
regulation.
• European Systems and Projects: Galileo solutions taking their place within the Space 
Service Volume.  
• Reference Charts: Yearly evolution of installed base of GNSS devices and revenues by 
application and region.
© Adobe Stock
Application descriptions can be found in Annex 3.
Acting/Supporting Mission 
Payloads
• Technology Demonstration (TechD)
• Scientific & Operational Missions (SOM)
Navigation and Control  (GNC) 
Subsystem
• Attitude Determination (AD)
• Precise Orbit Determination (POD)
• Space Timing and Synchronisation 
(S-T&S)
Deep Space Applications
• Lunar Transfer Orbit (LTO)
Legend
EO application
GNSS application
Synergetic application  
(combined use of EO and GNSS)

SPACE
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EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
KEY TRENDS
Key market trends
• Driven by the New Space momentum, Space users are becoming increasingly diverse, both in the public and private sectors
• Extensively sought-after, the Low Earth Orbit becomes a crowded space area, where megaconstellations projects are accumulating
• A victim of its own success, outer space is calling for enhanced Space Situational Awareness (SSA) activities, to ensure the continuity of space-based services
A restructured space industry for a new space ecosystem
Democratisation & diversification of the space ecosystem
More than just a trend, NewSpace is a philosophy linked to the emergence of a private space industry 
and the democratisation of space activities. Driven by unprecedented technological advancements such 
as artificial intelligence, digitalisation and miniaturisation, and a new entrepreneurial mindset, access 
to space has become significantly cheaper and faster. The rapid diversification of the space ecosystem, 
made possible through innovative geo-information business models and significant private capital 
investment, is therefore propelling space activities into the commercial realm. 
Space data is today the basis of innovative value-added products and services, and has become 
a  cornerstone of  our economic growth and societal well-being. This ongoing democratisation 
of the access to space is ultimately pushing society to consider the space environment as a commodity, 
at the same level as any other component of the global industrial infrastructure. No longer reserved to 
a minority of stakeholders, space is now a tool that can be used individually or more collaboratively to 
the benefit of scientists, businesses or public bodies, pushing towards the uptake of new space-based 
applications and the development of new space infrastructure.
Digitalisation & new megaconstellations systems
The launch of Low Earth Orbits (LEO) megaconstellation projects has become a symbol of this new 
era, showcasing incredibly diverse commercial possibilities such as EO in particular, but also in Satellite 
Communication for broadband connections and the Internet of Things (driven by the needs of global 
coverage and low latency). This phenomenon is inevitably leading to an unprecedented number 
of satellites orbiting the Earth and calls for new performance needs.
GNSS has a major role to play in this evolution, thanks to the financial and technical benefits it brings 
(e.g. reduced number of  instruments, reduced dependence on ground-based stations, improved 
navigation performances, etc.) and its applicability to both historical and emerging stakeholders. New 
business philosophies based on a rapid prototyping, production and deployment of small satellites are 
today driving down the costs-to-orbit, particularly on LEO. Coupled with a permanent quest for smaller, 
lighter and lower-cost solutions, this brings new challenges to the space sector and unprecedented 
opportunities for the spaceborne GNSS industry.
Space Situational Awareness: safeguarding the space environment
Entering the third millennium, about 800 satellites were actively orbiting the Earth. Twenty 
years later, this number has exceeded 3,500 satellites and is expected to quadruple over 
the  next decade. Outer space has become unbelievably crowded and the  risk of  collision 
between space objects statistically increase with every new launch.
Space Situational Awareness (SSA) is usually defined as a holistic approach encompassing 
activities in three main areas: Space Surveillance & Tracking (SST), Near-Earth Objects 
(NEO) and Space Weather (SWE).
Limiting pollution and avoiding potential collisional cascading (i.e. the Kessler effect) is today 
a concern shared by the entire space community, not only in Europe, but at a global scale. 
Considering space debris as a serious threat to the security, safety and 
sustainability of  space activities, an EU SST Support Framework has 
thus been established at the  European level in 2014, contributing to 
a global burdensharing in the SSA domain. Subsequently, the 2016 ‘Space Strategy for Europe’ 
pointed out the Union interest for SSA activities in order to reinforce its strategic autonomy 
‘in accessing and using space in a  secure and safe environment’ through the  development 
of  European SSA capabilities. Implemented by a  Consortium of  EU member states (France, 
Germany, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Spain) and in cooperation with the EU Satellite 
Centre (SatCen), the EU SST Cooperation today serves over 100 EU organizations with free 
services and operates a growing network of sensors (i.e. radars, telescopes and lasers).
In early 2021, the European Parliament welcomed the adoption of the new Space Regulation. 
Based on political agreements reached in December 2020, this confirms the creation of a new 
flagship SSA component within the EU Space Programme, fostering the development of key 
SST activities in Europe.
Average number of satellites launched per year
Launch cost per kilogram on LEO
[2009 – 2018]
230
(5/10 on LEO)
[2019 – 2028]
990
(7/10 on LEO)
[1981]
Space Shuttle
~ 68 000 €/kg
[2020]
Falcon Heavy
~ 850 €/kg
[2040]
NASA Goals
~ 40 €/kg
x4
÷ 80
÷ 20

180
SPACE
USER PERSPECTIVE
Spaceborne GNSS receivers must respond to a very diverse market
Operational drivers for the use of GNSS receivers aboard 
spacecrafts
Although all space users operate in a similar environment – i.e. outer space – many 
variables actually come into play when identifying case-to-case GNSS requirements.
Depending on their characteristics (e.g. mass, designed lifespan, mission type, 
mission costs, etc.) and the  orbit they are targeting (due to variable geometrical 
constraints and signal availability), spacecraft are indeed not expected to be equipped 
with the same kind of spaceborne GNSS receivers. At relatively low altitudes (3,000-
8,000 km), GNSS receivers generally benefit from a  good signal availability from 
any single constellation. On the contrary, high altitude (8,000-36,000 km) are much 
more challenging as they often have to cope with a significantly reduced GNSS signal 
availability and therefore need ultra-sensitive receivers (i.e. able to exploit GNSS 
signals first side lobes) which are at the cutting edge of current technology. Also, 
large satellites can embark relatively heavy receivers (a  few kilogrammes) while 
SmallSats must avoid this extra mass. Similarly, most CubeSat missions cannot 
afford expensive pieces of equipment while long-term missions are ready to do so to 
guarantee system robustness.
Three receiver categories covering variable applications
Whether it is for real-time on-board autonomous navigation (i.e. attitude determination [AD], precise 
orbit determination [POD] and space timing and synchronisation [S-T&S]), supporting specific scientific 
or operational satellite missions [SOM], performing technology demonstration [TechD], or enabling 
deep-space activities such as a translunar trajectories [LTO], user needs and associated priorities vary. 
Three categories of receivers are defined.
While ‘Low-End’ receivers encompass COTS NewSpace technologies and low-cost products offering 
appreciable trade-offs between performances and affordability, ‘High-End’ receivers correspond to 
much more robust – and expensive – hardware systems expected to run safely for at least a decade 
in outer space. Eventually, ‘Payload/Scientific’ receivers, used as part of the payload instrumentation, 
either in support of specific missions or for technology development, must respond specific needs (not 
necessarily navigation-related) while fitting within missions’ variable budgets.  
Key GNSS user requirements
The  key GNSS user requirements for the  different application 
groups within the Space segment are, at EU level, collected through 
extensive interactions with user groups, providers and experts in 
a continuous process culminating at the User Consultation Platforms 
(UCP). 
All relevant requirements are documented in detail and updated 
regularly within the Report on Space user needs and requirements.
Space debris removal, the emerging yet essential GNSS-based 
application
To tackle the space debris issue and avoid its escalation, mitigation measures and remediation 
services are today being considered and entrusted to the EU SST Consortium through the new 
Space Regulation. From the definition of post-mission disposal guidelines, to regular spacecraft 
evasive actions or the development of cutting-edge space debris removal technologies (e.g. 
robotic arms, harpoons, nets), some of these measures require the use of accurate positioning 
systems, representing a  real opportunity for the  spaceborne GNSS market. Active debris 
removal is indeed seen as particularly valuable for the imminent age of megaconstellations, 
while thousands of satellites will soon be formation-flying in low orbits to offer low-latency 
telecommunications or global high-repeat Earth observation coverage. 
The  Astroscale ELSA-M spacecraft which aims, for example, to remove multiple retired 
satellites from LEO in a single mission, will use the off-the-shelf ‘Constellation On Board 
Computer’ (cOBC) GPS and a Galileo-enabled RUAG GNSS receiver. Astroscale announced 
a  funding award from OneWeb, to mature their technology and capability towards 
a commercial service offering by 2024. 
In 20 years, such systems might be used to bring space debris into dedicated recycling 
stations, in order to reuse part of their materials and components – these will rely on Galileo-
based positioning systems.
REPORT ON
SPACE USER NEEDS 
AND REQUIREMENTS
Outcome of the EUSPA
User Consultation Platform
June 2021
www.euspa.europa.eu
Operational 
Orbit
Spacecraft 
Characteristics
Mission 
Costs
Applications(s)
Applications
POD
AD
S-T&S
SOM
TechD
LTO
Low-End
Early Stage
Early Stage
Used
Used
-
-
High-End
Used
Used
Used
Used
-
Used
Payload/
Scientific
-
-
-
Used
Used
-

SPACE
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EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
INDUSTRY
Space-borne GNSS Value Chain1
FINAL USER 
COMMUNITIES
PROVIDERS 
OF SERVICES 
GENERATED IN 
SPACE
SPACECRAFT 
OPERATORS
SPACECRAFT 
MANUFACTURERS & 
DEVELOPERS
COMPONENTS 
AND RECEIVER 
MANUFACTURERS
• ACCORD
• AIRBUS*
• BAE SYSTEMS
• DLR*
• GENERAL DYNAMICS
• HEXAGON*
• HONEYWELL
• HYPERION*
• MEISEI ELECTRIC
• MICROSHIP TECH.
• MOOG BROAD REACH
• NEC/TOSHIBA
• NEWSPACE SYSTEMS*
• NOVATEL
• PUMPKIN
• QASCOM*
• RUAG*
• SKYTRAQ
• SPACEMANIC*
• SPACE QUEST
• SURREY SATELLITE 
TECHNOLOGY LTD*
• SYRLINKS*
• THALES ALENIA SPACE*
• U-BLOX*
• OHB*
• THALES ALENIA SPACE*
• ADS*
• INVAP
• BOEING
• LOCKHEED MARTIN
• NORTHROP GRUMMAN
• MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES
• SPACE X
• CHINA GREAT 
WALL INDUSTRY 
CORPORATION
• SMALL SATS 
DEVELOPERS (E.G. 
PUMPKIN, HARRIS CORP., 
ISIS, ETC.)
• UNIVERSITIES
• ESA (ESOC)*
• NASA
• NATIONAL SPACE 
AGENCIES
• UNIVERSITIES
• RESEARCH CENTRES
• PRIVATE COMPANIES
• NON-PROFIT 
ORGANISATIONS  
(E.G. AMSAT)
• ARMED FORCES
• EU*
• UNIVERSITIES
• RESEARCH CENTERS
• PRIVATE COMPANIES
• EU (E.G. COPERNICUS)*
• GOVERNMENTAL 
INSTITUTIONS
• EARTH SCIENCES 
RESEARCHES
• TERRITORY PLANNERS
• ENVIRONMENTAL 
MONITORING
• PUBLIC SAFETY
• INFRASTRUCTURE 
OPERATORS
• LAW ENFORCEMENT
• EMERGENCY SERVICES
• GEOSPATIAL 
INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES
NOTES
1 The value chain considers the key global and European companies involved in GNSS downstream activities.
2 In the market share analysis, Europe is defined as EU27 plus Norway, Switzerland and the UK.
* European-based companies. The region is defined with respect to the headquarters of the company, though the actual area of activity might be wider.
LEGEND
	User segments
European2 industry in the global arena
Europe dominates the market for GNSS Components and Receivers, with a share 
of 73%, ahead of North America’s 21%, in 2019, thanks to a combination of both 
historical stakeholders and new actors answering NewSpace needs. Led by Airbus, 
Hexagon and U-Blox, European companies hold six of the top 10 positions among 
manufacturers in the market.
Note: Contrary to the value chain of other market segments, the value chain of the Space Users does not 
discern any difference between module/chipset manufacturers and receiver manufacturers. Indeed, it is 
assumed that the high environmental constraints to be taken into account (e.g. high dynamics, use of radiation 
hardened integrated circuits, etc.) force receivers’ manufacturers to develop their own chipsets.

182
SPACE
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
Megaconstellations and new business models drive the next decade 
of shipments
Megaconstellation pushes to the adoption of low-end, yet reliable receivers
Resulting from an ever-increasing adoption of  GNSS-based solutions among the  space users and 
the  continuous development of  new megaconstellation projects, the  number of  spaceborne GNSS 
receivers to be sold is expected to progressively increase in the coming years. The variable levels 
of  certainty on the  long-term success of  these megaconstellations however prevent from properly 
assessing their potential replacement cycles and the impact it could have on the market on the second 
part of the decade. 
High-end receivers are and will probably remain for the next decade the main option for most Space 
applications (except for technology development, due to their high cost).  Yet, it is expected that 
Low-end receivers – which are today mainly used to support specific scientific or operational satellite 
missions, or for space timing and synchronisation – may significantly expand to Attitude Determination 
and Precise Orbit Determination applications, covering a  growing part of  LEO needs. As of  today, 
two reasons suggest that these estimations with of future Low-End unit sales are conservative. First, 
only megaconstellations with granted FCC filings were captured within the  model and no satellite 
replacement was included. Second, the CubeSat market might be slightly underestimated, since reliable 
data on forecasted university/academia missions are not available. Nevertheless, budgeted values for 
these missions are very low and are not expected to significantly impact the order of magnitude of total 
market value.
Shipments of GNSS receivers per type of receivers*
* See table p.180 for the correspondence between type of receivers & applications. 
New scalable business models
The  NewSpace stands out for sure by its technological innovations. Yet, the  other transformation 
underlying this dynamic lies in the advent of new scalable business models leading to a reduction in 
costs, shorter lifecycles and a bolder approach to risk taking in the space sector.
Indeed, NewSpace opens the space sector to a economic model where satellites are manufactured in 
batch, launches occur every month, parts and units are mass-produced and processes are industrialised. 
Most importantly, in the age of (mega)-constellations, projects can be launched rapidly, adopting a more 
trust-based and risk-tolerant approach.
New actors are however not expected to replace historical ones, but to challenge and complement 
them. The  technological push that has always defined the  space industry is now strengthened by 
the user pull generated by new stakeholders’ arrival and the need they create. Most of the new small 
LEO satellites are coming out with a need for GNSS receivers. With a relatively short lifetime and 
therefore a higher replacement rate, these satellites stand as the key driver of the spaceborne receivers’ 
market. The technical adaptations required to evolve in this space environment are well-known and 
technically mastered in these low-altitude regions. The GNSS market for LEO satellites is therefore 
mature and several companies already propose off-the-shelf products (e.g. SSTL, GOMspace, Thales 
Alenia Space, etc.).
Software-defined receivers
Software-defined receivers constitute a very interesting approach for space users, offering features such 
as re-programmability (i.e. upgradeability) or self-healing capabilities. The most vivid examples could 
be the possibility to upload algorithms yet-to-be-invented at the receiver’s launch time, or the ability 
to recover from a single-event effect by remotely rewriting damaged functionalities, reducing the need 
of onboard redundancy.
Low-cost Model
Software Driven
Application Oriented
Standartization
Higher Tech. and Business Risks
High-cost, High-quality
Hardware Driven
Techno Push
Customization
Risk adverse
New Space
Tradiotional Space
VS
0
200
400
600
800
1 000
1 200
1 400
1 600
1 800
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 
2025 
2026 
2027 
2028 
2029 
2030 
2031 
Units (thousands)
Low-end receivers
High-end receivers
 
Scientiﬁc/Commercial Missions Payloads
Source: Euroconsult

SPACE
183
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
FUTURE MARKET EVOLUTION
Flourishing space applications, calling for appropriate regulation
In-orbit servicing – Towards sustainability 
In-orbit satellite (IoS) servicing refers 
to the  refuelling or the  repairing 
of  space satellites while in orbit. 
Although considered since the  early 
days of  spaceflights, the  recent 
easier access to LEOs and space 
debris-related issues has generated 
a renewed interest for the practice.
IoS has the potential to open-up new 
opportunities through satellite life 
extension, robotics and salvage, while 
also offering sustainability benefits 
through debris removal and material 
recycling over the longer term. While 
GNSS could be used as a mean of absolute (for the approach) and relative (for the connection) 
positioning, it is also suggested that IoS services may go beyond life extension and up to service 
enhancement, by providing additional capabilities to the client satellite (e.g. equip an already 
flying satellite with a new piece of hardware, such as a GNSS receiver).
Up to the dark side of the Moon
The characterization of an interoperable GNSS Space Service Volume (SSV) – which is an important enabler 
for new missions and a key driver for new technological developments – is today limited to Earth orbits up to 
an altitude of 36,000 km (i.e. GEO). Yet, navigation is also a key technological enabler for cislunar and lunar 
volume discovery, and all the moon exploration missions that define the emerging lunar economy share similar 
navigation needs. The international space community plans therefore to extend GNSS PNT applications 
up to the Moon. Different phases could be considered, starting with the use of the already existing Earth-
GNSS constellations via high-sensitivity space receivers, leveraging the use of GNSS signal side lobes. Yet, such 
approach only allows to reach cislunar areas (not occulted by the Moon). Plus, if the objective is to get enough 
accuracy and availability to enable autonomous landing and rover guidance, Earth GNSS signals alone are not 
sufficient.
Going a step further1, it is therefore possible to consider that Earth-GNSS constellations may be augmented 
with dedicated lunar orbiting satellites and lunar beacon ranging sources, marking a  gradual deployment 
leading to a  full autonomous lunar navigation system. Beyond the  primary navigation purpose of  such an 
ambitious system, any other GNSS-based applications could also be considered, such as the study of lunar soil 
deformation based on GNSS-R.
1 https://insidegnss.com/across-the-lunar-landscape-towards-a-dedicated-lunar-pnt-system/, Inside GNSS, December 2020.
A new era calling for automated Space traffic Management (STM) activities
The diversification and the expansion of space users is of great interest to the spaceborne GNSS 
receivers market. Yet, the  consequence it has on the  space environment raises the  question 
of the awareness system and traffic management policies it requires. NewSpace activities could 
indeed overwhelm current space flight safety processes, putting at risk space infrastructure 
and human spaceflight. Currently, no ‘highway code’ has been established in outer space by 
the international community. 
Today, space traffic is mainly ‘ruled’ by the Outer Space Treaty – establishing that no nation may 
claim sovereignty over outer space (article II) – and the IADC space debris guidelines, that aim to 
limit the generation of space debris. This is and will therefore remain an international concern. 
Cooperation – on a  global scale – offers an unprecedented opportunity to enhance the  safety 
of active satellites, in order to preserve space operations and all the benefits it brings to the global 
economy and society.
Business-as-usual will obviously not work. But although the  enforcement of  Space Traffic 
Management (STM) policies may soon become inevitable, its implementation is extremely complex 
for political (no sovereignty over outer space) and practical reasons.
Tracking potential collisions, notifying impacted parties and coordinating how they respond is still 
a largely manual process, which is not sustainable as the number of satellites grows. In the past, 
developing automated systems for a handful of satellites making a few avoidance measures a year 
was not worth the investment. Today, with the influx of new LEO satellites, handling avoidance 
measures manually no longer makes economic sense. 
Paving the way towards the building of an international approach to STM, the European Commission 
has recently launched a new ‘EU strategy for Space Traffic Management (STM)’ flagship project. As 
announced in the Action Plan on Synergies between Civil, Defence and Space Industries, the project 
aims to develop STM rules and best practices, limiting the risk that non-EU standards become 
the norm and supporting the EU in its efforts to achieve technological sovereignty. 
The  question of  the  role GNSS solutions could play in this long-lasting process is legitimate. 
Traffic management requires a good knowledge of each vehicle positioning and attitude, based on 
standardised and robust technological solutions. The development of spaceborne GNSS receivers 
and their deployment at a wider scale could therefore be one of the building blocks toward future 
space regulations. These moreover must be formulated and implemented in the very short term to 
ensure both space users can safely operate their systems and terrestrial users can benefit from their 
associated critical services (e.g. navigation, telecommunication, etc.). 
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184
SPACE
EUROPEAN SYSTEMS AND PROJECTS
EGNSS services and features to be explored
Galileo high-accuracy and authentication features are also of great interest for 
space users. Achieving position accuracy levels which can otherwise only be 
achieved with POD processing on the ground (thus adding undesirable delays), 
HAS is of high interest for many space applications and should be made as 
advanced as possible to achieve competitive advantage with Galileo.
Driven by a rising interest in authentication for resilient GNSS-based navigation 
in space – in particular against jamming and spoofing – Galileo OSNMA and 
CAS are attractive options to make navigation more robust and increase 
availability of a trusted navigation solution.
Added value brought by EGNSS
Galileo offers significant advantages to space 
users, whose applications vary in terms 
of priority needs and accuracy requirements.
Dual-frequency 
capacities 
guarantee 
better performances for lower orbits, while 
the increase of the overall number of GNSS 
satellites allows the significant improvement 
of availability for spacecrafts orbiting at MEO 
and beyond.
Galileo solutions taking their place within the Space Service Volume
Resilience
Dual-
frequency
High Accuracy
Service
Authentication
features
Greater
Availability
Higher
Accuracy
Authenticated
Positioning
Galileo
Galileo
The first GSA-funded receiver launched into orbit – ENSPACE
Launched late 2017 by the GSA and led by Qascom, the ENSPACE (Enhanced Navigation in Space) project has recently developed an 
innovative GNSS spaceborne receiver. Targeting the needs for robust positioning, navigation and timing of satellites with the flexibility 
of a software solution, the ENSPACE technology fosters the use of GNSS in space. Configurable for multiple applications (e.g. navigation 
in space, timing determination, precise orbit determination, attitude determination) and diverse mission contexts (from Earth orbits to 
space exploration), ENSPACE aims to become a reference low-cost product on the market.
Three years after the project kicked-off, ENSPACE Receiver was integrated in a NASA/Ohio University 3U CubeSat(BOBCAT-1) and 
deployed from the ISS on the 5th of November 2020, with three main objectives: test the receiver in a real LEO space environment; assess 
its ability to continuously compute PVT information; and exploit its reconfigurability. Two weeks after its deployment, the ENSPACE 
receiver successfully computed BOBCAT-1 in-orbit first positions, combining GPS and Galileo signals. While the ENSPACE project has 
now come to an end, space experimentation and operations continue, including GNSS positioning with ground Assistance Data and 
the validation of the receiver’s Attitude Determination, POD and Authentication algorithms.
In addition to the physical deployment of the receiver in space, the ENSPACE project has set up an innovative test platform, offering 
multiple experimentation possibilities for innovative space concepts and Galileo added-value. The platform was especially used to 
demonstrate the capability of the software-defined radio ENSPACE receiver, which was able to track the signal of the Spirent constellation 
simulator and to propose a real-time multi-constellation PVT solution in multiple space scenarios. In 2021, the ENSPACE receiver has 
a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 7 (i.e. a system prototype demonstration in operational environment). On the market it will take 
the commercial name of QN400.
More information on: https://www.gsa.europa.eu/enhanced-navigation-space
GEYSER project taking over
With the  GEYSER (GalilEo cYber SpacE Receiver) project, 
Qascom and its consortium are committed to follow in 
ENSPACE footsteps.
GEYSER complements developments over the past few years 
with new added-value functionalities, with the  objective to 
become a  close-to-market space receiver, and compatible 
with COTS. Targeting new applications (e.g. cybersecurity 
and robust PNT, dual-frequency POD for station keeping 
and collision avoidance, high dynamics navigation, etc.), 
the GEYSER project aims for new technological development 
targets, both on software and hardware levels.
Terminology used on this page is explained in Annex 2 for both GNSS and EO performance parameters.
Source: GEYSER project
SW = Software
HW = Hardware
APP = Application
Min.
Max.
GEYSER
ENSPACE
Techno. Development Level
SW
SW
HW
HW
APP
APP

SPACE
185
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
REFERENCE CHARTS
Installed base of GNSS devices by region
Revenue of GNSS device sales by region
Revenue of GNSS device sales by application
Installed base of GNSS devices by application
0
1 000
2 000
3 000
4 000
5 000
6 000
7 000
8 000
9 000
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
Units
 
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
€ (millions)
EU27
Non-EU27 Europe
North America
Asia-Paciﬁc
Middle East + Africa
South America + Caribbean
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031
 
€ (millions)
 
Low-end receivers
High-end receivers
 
Scientiﬁc/Commercial Missions Payloads
0
1 000
2 000
3 000
4 000
5 000
6 000
7 000
8 000
9 000
2021
 
2022
 
2023
 
2024
 
2025
 
2026
 
2027
 
2028
 
2029
 
2030
 
2031 
Units
 
Low-end receivers
High-end receivers
 
Scientiﬁc/Commercial Missions Payloads

EDITOR’S SPECIAL
186
HEALTH
HEALTH
As defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO), health is a state of complete physical, mental 
and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. In turn,  good health is an 
asset and a source of economic and social stability, benefiting all sectors and the whole of society. As 
a synthesis of this Market Report covering a wide spectrum of topics, the Editor’s Special returns back 
to this important resource and fundamental right of every human being. 
The global COVID-19 pandemic has in some respects showcased the fragility of global healthcare 
systems, but has also more importantly revealed how countries across the world have reached out to 
each other to provide support and assistance. In this respect, global systems such as EO and GNSS can 
transcend borders to assist healthcare systems worldwide.
The  Editor’s Special looks deeper into how space-based data from GNSS and EO is used across 
the healthcare segment and presents the latest GNSS- and EO-enabled tools, used by people and 
governments all across the world to and improve healthcare systems.
As shown in the adjacent figure, many applications covered in segments throughout this report play an 
important role for public health (circled in green). More specifically we highlight developments such as:
 Automation and digitalisation trends integrating spatial data for a more effective response to 
global health crises: the digitalisation trend (e.g. eHealth) is highlighted through GNSS-enabled 
applications and EO data responses to the pandemic.
 EO and GNSS provide essential contributions toward better responses to evolving global health 
care needs: this covers examples of the way the healthcare ecosystem can benefit from medical 
drone deliveries (especially in remote areas), GNSS-IoT trackers adapted for ageing population 
needs and the way EO data monitors can prevents future pandemics or outbreaks of (for example) 
Mosquito-Borne Diseases (MBDs).
 The role of location information for emergency situations: GNSS takes emergency response to 
the next level as illustrated by the role of accurate positioning in each step of the emergency response 
chain (including access to automated external defibrillators and  supporting  Next Generation (NG) 
112 architecture).
 Earth observation data and services as a key instrument for addressing the invisible threat of air 
pollution: this comprises focusing on air quality guidelines by WHO, the contribution of EO data 
for Worldwide Analysis and Forecasting of Atmospheric Composition for Health, and monitoring 
the implementation of air quality legislation.
 Finally we highlight the  contribution of  EU space programme to support challenges faced by 
healthcare systems globally.
Editor’s Special: Innovative solutions for Health

HEALTH
187
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
EDITOR’S SPECIAL
GNSS has been an invaluable asset to assist and support citizens 
and governments in tackling the ‘new normal’ following the COVID 
pandemic
Following the rapid global spread of COVID-19, governments, companies and citizens have had 
to quickly adapt to a new way of operating business activities and organising personal lives. In 
response, numerous measures have been taken to curb the rise in COVID-19 infections.
GNSS-enabled applications became even more pervasive in our lives: from goods and food 
home delivery, to smartphone apps providing a  real-time overview of  transport occupancy, 
adapting to the new normal involved more reliance on location services to respect temporary 
quarantine and social distancing measures. At the same time, dedicated tracking and tracing 
applications (e.g. health status verification/Covid safe apps) were developed to help monitor as 
well as anticipate outbreaks.
Whilst the  majority of  these measures were taken to temporarily respond to a  growing 
emergency, some of these measures could find their way into future response strategies. Indeed, 
technologies and applications surging during temporary lockdowns could remain part of our 
daily lives. The figure below provides some insights into how GNSS-enabled applications and 
EO data have contributed to the response, monitoring, mitigation and adaption to this global 
pandemic.
“Stay-at-Home” 
lifestyle
• Contactless food and goods 
delivery enabled by GNSS
Mapping & 
Tagging
• Mapping 
nearby 
points 
of interest such as pharmacies, 
hospitals, convenience stores, 
testing centres
Mobility
• MaaS applications to avoid 
crowded transport options
• Social distance monitoring
• Traffic management e.g. Gal-
ileo Green Lane app enabling 
efficient transit of goods
• Drone and robotics operations
Analytics
• EO 
and 
GNSS 
data 
for 
monitoring of  traffic flows, 
urban heat maps, greenhouse 
gases as well as air and water 
quality
Safety 
management
• Mapping of high-risk areas
• Monitoring disease spread e.g. 
COVID safe apps for health 
status verification
Telemedicine
• Online doctor consultations
• Remote patient monitoring
Track & trace
• Contact tracing
• Quarantine enforcement
• More efficient management 
of disease outbreak
Towards a stronger European Health Union
The current health crisis has exposed the need to strengthen 
Europe’s crisis preparedness and  management of  cross-
border health threats. The  initial lessons learned from 
the pandemic has made clear the necessity of a move toward 
a stronger European Health Union. One of the main goals 
will be to reinforce the  EU’s framework for detecting and 
responding to serious cross-border health threats.
New initiatives are on board, among which is the European health data space that aims to make better 
use of data for better healthcare, better research and better policy making to the benefit of patients. 
A Health Emergency Response Authority (HERA) will be established to provide more coordination at 
EU level with more efficient tools.
GNSS and EO capabilities will also contribute to maintaining and building even stronger health systems 
in Europe. From high precision position accuracy, which enables health care providers find the most 
efficient way to send patients to the medical institution in the shortest time, to EO data for personal 
monitoring of allergies, the added value of GNSS and EO in the health sector is becoming more and 
more evident. 
Digitalisation of the Health sector 
The  health sector is digitalising at high speed thanks to 
the development of eHealth platforms, telemedicine, telehealth 
and other mHealth applications. The usage of different, often 
GNSS-enabled technologies (e.g. for location of  patients, 
medical vehicles and medical devices) is increasing rapidly 
as hospitals and medical institutions are focusing more on 
efficiency and improved delivery of services to patients.
The  current pandemic, overall rising prevalence of  chronic 
diseases, advancing age of the population and rise in overall 
medical service costs are leading to this increasing adoption 
of technology in the healthcare industry. In fact, Health Services 
are setting up increasing numbers of partnerships with leading 
technology companies in order to analyse data and optimise 
the provision of their services. In addition, digitalisation opens 
access to personalised health applications.
Specifically EO data helps predictive mapping of diseases enabling decision makers (with the contribution 
of health professionals and the general public) to ensure adequate policies, cost-effective responses 
that could prevent or mitigate the occurrence of disease outbreaks.
Automation, digitalisation and spatial data are contributing to a more 
effective response to global health crises
© Adobe Stock
© Adobe Stock

EDITOR’S SPECIAL
188
HEALTH
EO and GNSS provide essential contributions toward better responses 
to evolving global health care needs
PROLONG: EGNSS supporting Active and Healthy Ageing products and 
services
The PROLONG project combines high accuracy 
Galileo-based location with gait analysis and 
Opportunistic Networking to detect abnormal and 
dangerous walking patterns of older adults. To 
achieve these results, the consortium is developing 
a GNSS-IoT tracker that is small enough to be 
integrated into the users belt, necklace or bracelet.
Since the success of the PROLONG project will be 
measured through its commercial viability, users are 
actively engaged with the project. Over the course 
of 2021, end users received a first prototype at home and were encouraged to try out the device 
and share their feedback and recommendations to the team. To ensure the privacy of end users, 
the prototype relies on the latest authentication and security mechanisms.
Drones for medical needs
The global medical drones market is estimated to reach almost €800 
million by 20271. Such drone deliveries are welcomed by governments 
as they are quicker, more efficient (especially in remote areas) and 
can help cut logistics costs. The pandemic has helped to move drone 
delivery trials forward across the globe. 
For instance, Ghana was one of the first countries to deliver COVID 19 
vaccines using drones. Ghana’s health ministry partnered with Zipline 
and logistics firm UPS to get the vaccines to remote, rural areas that would be difficult and costly to 
reach by road. From test samples and medical supplies to blood banks, medical drones will become an 
essential part of the healthcare ecosystem. 
In Europe, Italy has tested a five-kilometre Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLoS) flight for the delivery 
of biomedical products. In France, La Poste is working toward a drone that can deliver medical packages. 
Similar flights between hospitals have taken place in Belgium where a command centre for medical 
drones has opened up to oversee medical transportation at an altitude of 150 meters. In Poland, test 
flights between facilities have also taken place. GNSS is a key enabler for drones and Unmanned Aerial 
Vehicles (UAVs), ensuring safety of navigation and providing increased reliability for health applications.
1 Source: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/medical-drones-market
EO increasingly helps to fight contagious and infectious diseases
For several years, Earth Observation has helped to monitor parameters known to have negative 
impacts on human health, such as aerosols (associated to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases), 
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation (which can cause skin cancer) or algal blooms (which can contaminate 
seafood).
While it is recognised that public health is closely related to environmental conditions, it becomes 
essential in a context of globalisation of human activities and climate change to fully understand how 
the evolution of our environment may affect the emergence and spread of infectious diseases (e.g. 
malaria, cholera) and pandemics (e.g. COVID-19) at local, regional, continental and global scales.
Satellite Earth observation data, combined with state-of-the-art data analytics technologies, enable 
the  provision of  tailor-made climate-health indicators that contribute to monitoring, modelling and 
forecasting of  key environmental and climatic factors favouring infectious diseases and outbreaks. 
These indicators thereby support prevention, early warning and health-care planning. For instance, 
the EYWA initiative (see box below), is a specific example of the way Copernicus Core Service data, 
contributing missions, and EO derived proxies from Sentinels are integrated to address the  critical 
public health need for prevention and protection against Mosquito-Borne Diseases (MBDs).
EYWA – Early Warning System for Mosquito 
Borne Diseases
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), mosquitos are responsible for an estimated 
750,000 global deaths annually. Of all Vector-Borne Diseases (VBDs), the diseases spread 
by mosquitos such as Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya are considered to be the three fastest 
spreading diseases in the northern hemisphere.
To address this growing threat to the public health, a partnership of a dozen research centres, 
tropical disease institutes and universities established the EYWA prototype system. 
This system combines an interdisciplinary scientific field including Earth Observation, 
entomology, epidemiology, Big Data Analytics, and so on, with the  main objective to offer 
a  scalable, reliable, sustainable and cost-effective Early Warning System to forecast and 
monitor MBDs.
© Adobe Stock
© Adobe Stock

HEALTH
189
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
EDITOR’S SPECIAL
In emergency situations, space applications offer faster responses and 
contribute to saving lives
Each action of answering an emergency is aided by GNSS-enabled 
applications and geo-location
Since the introduction of GNSS-enabled emergency calls – such as eCall in recent car models, 
and as geo-location of  emergency calls – has brought significant benefits to Public Safety 
Answering Point (PSAP) operators by providing a  first indication and often a  confirmation 
of where the emergency is situated. 
Once the emergency call has been received, the following GNSS-enabled actions take place:
Tasking of  vehicles: The  deployment of  emergency vehicles needs to happen in the  most 
organised and efficient way. Using GNSS-enabled fleet management services, the dispatcher 
has the means to direct the nearest emergency vehicle to the scene of the emergency. 
Navigation to location: Traffic and hazardous road conditions can lead to substantial emergency 
response delays. Navigating to destinations using a  GNSS-enabled solution will not only 
optimize routes with a safe, fast-paced blue-light transfer, but also free up co-drivers to prepare 
themselves for the emergency.
Solving the  emergency: This step depends on the  nature of  the  emergency; for instance, 
geospatial information in the form of crowd-sourced map updates can facilitate deployment 
of aid, whereas health-related emergencies typically do not use GNSS to solve the emergency. 
Nevertheless in the case of road accidents, by speeding up emergency response times by up to 
half of their original time, eCall helps to prevent countless of road deaths.
Navigation 
to 
next 
location: 
Optimized vehicle routing protocols 
remain key throughout emergency 
response operations. This step 
too uses GNSS to navigate to 
the  hospital, next incident, patrol 
area or back to base.
Galileo to improve the accessibility to automated external defibrillators
‘Galileo for AEDs’ will improve accessibility to automated external defibrillators (AEDs). 
The aim of the project is to investigate the possibility of using the Galileo-enabled location 
transmitted to Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) during an emergency communication in 
order to locate available AEDs to decrease the deployment time if one is needed. The main 
expected outcome of this pilot project shall consist of an analysis of possibilities to develop and 
manage a mechanism, based on an EU digital registry of publicly available AEDs in EU Member 
States, that could be used in case of an emergency situation requiring the use of an AED.
In 2020, the  EU-funded project Help112 II aimed at 
deploying Advanced Mobile Location (AML) in 7 Member 
States and providing recommendations on improving 
the use of Galileo in emergency communications. One 
recommendation from the  Help112 II was to update 
the relevant standards so that A fields are included in 
the AML string, such as the altitude of the caller and 
the  emergency number triggered. This suggestion is 
adressed in the current AED project.
Next Generation 112
‘112’, the  common EU number for emergency communications, has been saving lives for 30 years, 
helping Europeans travel safely and reach emergency services in any EU country through the single 
EU number. In 2019, Europeans called ‘112’ close to 150 million times, which represents 56% of all 
emergency calls, while in the last 10 years, some 1.5 billion calls have been made to the number.
Emergency services will have to upgrade their technology to embrace internet-based communications 
in the upcoming years. In order to ensure the right technical conditions for accurate and quick location 
detection in emergency situations, the Commission Delegated regulation, which will apply from 22 
March 2022, will oblige smartphone manufacturers to ensure that data from GNSS (at minimum 
from EU’s Galileo) and Wi-Fi are made available in emergency communications. This will ensure that 
the  caller is accurately and quickly located. Furthermore, the  new Next Generation 112 (NG112) 
architecture will allow for far more data collection (text, video, location or additional data) for more 
efficient responses, thereby ensuring equal access for all citizens, including people with disabilities.
Navigation 
to next 
location
Tasking of 
vehicles
Solving the 
emergency
Navigation 
to location
Emergency 
call
© Adobe Stock

EDITOR’S SPECIAL
190
HEALTH
The invisible threat of air pollution can be tackled through Earth 
Observation data and services
Copernicus-based worldwide analysis and forecasting of air quality to 
improve public health (AQ-WATCH)
The  project makes use of  satellite observations, in-situ measurements and modelling to 
improve air quality forecasts and foster the use of Copernicus outside the European Union. It 
develops a supply chain for the delivery of seven thematic downstream services to be used by 
governmental institutions and private companies to help mitigate air pollution.
In particular, the project aims to develop: new global and regional air pollution atlases; software 
packages with the  capability to provide more accurate regional daily air quality forecasts; 
a source apportionment service to mitigate air pollution; and a new toolbox to enable decision-
makers to evaluate the efficiency of the proposed mitigation 
measures. 
Within AQ-WATCH, the design, production and evaluation 
of prototype products and services will be performed jointly 
with prime users originating from US, Chile and China, 
three regions of  the world chosen for their specific level 
of economic, social end environmental development.
More information available at: http://www.aq-watch.eu/
New WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) provide clear evidence 
of  the  damage air pollution inflicts on human health, at even lower 
concentrations than previously thought. 
The guidelines recommend new air quality levels to protect the health 
of populations, by reducing levels of key air pollutants, some of which also 
contribute to climate change.
Air quality: a major public health issue
With more than 55% of the world population currently living in urban areas, and projections indicating 
that this proportion should reach 68% by 2050, air quality is undoubtedly a hot topic for public health. 
Each of  us breathes 23,000 times every day, inhaling 14 kg of  air. This incontrovertible action 
necessarily leads people living in polluted areas to inhale substances proving to be harmful to health 
when accumulated over long periods. It is thus estimated that chronic exposure to aerosols and toxic 
gases reduces the human life expectancy by eight months on average.
Based on the combination of large-scale satellite-based observations of atmospheric constituents, in-
situ measurements and modelling, a wide range of air quality services have been developed offering 
a near-real time monitoring of air quality as well as short and medium-term forecasts. In addition to 
continuous information on air quality, these services can also trigger alerts in case of pollution peaks 
and assess the long-term effectiveness of health-related public policies. For instance, CAMS provides 
daily analyses and forecasts of worldwide long-range transport of atmospheric pollutants and assesses 
the background air quality for the European domain, reaching millions of users.
EO data supports implementation of air quality legislation and provides 
evidence for new global air quality guidelines by WHO 
Monitoring and modelling using Earth Observation data combined with in-situ sources are essential 
tools supporting policymakers to oversee the implementation of existing  air quality legislation.
The primary global guidance on air quality is scientifically provided by the World Health Organization 
(WHO) air quality guideline values for ambient air quality. In 2019, 99% of the world population was 
living in places where the WHO air quality guideline levels were not met.
Since the  last update of  guidelines in 2005 by WHO, there has been not only a  marked increase 
of evidence showing how air pollution affects different aspects of health, but significant advances have 
also occurred associated with measuring levels and trends in ground-level air pollution concentrations. 
In particular, the use of satellite remote sensing instruments in combination with advanced chemical 
transport models and ground-based measurements has substantially improved the  understanding 
of worldwide pollution levels and trends. This has made information on key air pollutant indicators 
increasingly available, including in some of the most highly polluted and data-poor regions.
Nevertheless, as highlighted by a  recent UN publication, there is no common legal framework for 
Ambient Air Quality Standards (AAQS) globally and that effective enforcement of  AAQS remains 
a significant legal challenge. In this sense the air quality legislation framework in Europe (e.g. National 
emission ceiling directive (2016/2284/EU)) represents a key regional legal instrument on air quality, 
which requires individual signatory countries to develop relatively robust legal systems of air quality 
control. 
As a  result, monitoring and modelling supported by CAMS data are essential tools for supporting 
the  implementation of  legislation as well as development of  downstream applications for citizens  
(e.g. LQ-WARN-app).
© Adobe Stock

HEALTH
191
EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
EDITOR’S SPECIAL
Added value brought by Galileo
From emergency caller location to the monitoring of elderly patients, Galileo has a substantial impact on our health and 
safety. New applications will only increase this importance in the future. The successful resolution of emergency situations 
is driven by one key information factor – the emergency caller’s location. GNSS positioning enables individual patients, 
staff or equipment to be monitored and response teams to be directed more efficiently. 
As illustrated by the recent pandemic, precise location is a key requirement when attempting to monitor and map the spread 
of a disease; GNSS is one of the main tools supporting this. Galileo also supports the development of telemedicine, medical 
transport (UAVs) and guidance for the visually and physically impaired. For many  citizens, GNSS-enabled applications 
such as fitness trackers and wellbeing smartphone applications are already a natural part of a healthier lifestyle. Finally, 
satellite communication-based telemedicine solutions could address connectivity needs, bridging the digital gap of medical 
services affected by staff shortages: a common phenomenon to many global (including European) regions. 
Added value brought by Copernicus
In addition to the large quantity of satellite data delivered on a free, full 
and open basis by the Sentinels and likely to be used for health-related 
applications (e.g., satellite data on the  atmospheric composition), 
Copernicus delivers a set of value-added services directly relevant to public health issues. Copernicus supports public 
health authorities in monitoring health-related environmental phenomena by supplying information pertinent to their 
activities such as air quality forecasts and UV forecasts. Copernicus can also help identify areas prone to the emergence 
and spread of epidemics, which depend on environmental factors such as water, sanitation, food and air quality.
The Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) (delivering global and regional air quality products and harmful 
UV forecasts) and the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) (providing information on the impacts of a changing 
climate on the health of European citizens)  both illustrate Copernicus’ contribution to public health. In turn, CAMS data and 
air quality forecasting enables the development of innovative services such as the PASYFO app which forecasts personal 
allergy symptoms due to pollen. Improved monitoring of airborne pollen is vital to ensure better prevention, diagnosis and 
treatment of allergy related health problems and can reduce associated costs.
The Copernicus Emergency Management Services (CEMS) plays a role in saving lives in emergency events and post-
disaster recovery activities. Copernicus offers new opportunities for exploiting health data with the scope of the creation 
of comparable standardised maps, monitoring methods and integrated health statistics. 
The EU space programme contributes to public health
Start-ups using space data for saving lives
EUSPA is supporting new solutions that uses EU space data. Due 
to their social value, innovations in the area of health are especially 
important. EUSPA has recently organised three competitions that 
have supported development of  prototypes with high potential 
to be introduced in the  market. MyGalileoApp took place in 2019, 
MyGalileoDrone (more details on page 49) and MyGalileoSolution 
(more details on page 69) had their final rounds and announcement 
of winners in early 2021. Furthermore, MyEUSpace Competition will 
see its finalists in spring 2022. Below is an overview of some selected 
teams and their health-related solutions from the three competitions:
• Allerayde SAB Oy worked on  an adrenaline auto-injector with built-
in emergency device;
• RigiTech dealt with last-mile drone delivery for medical services;
• Everdrone developed a drone system delivering Automated External 
Defibrillators; and
• ABZero developed a  system for autonomous delivery of  medical 
goods carried in smart capsules using drones. 
More information about the support EUSPA provides can be found in 
the start-up corner on the webpages.
Climate Change
(C3S)
Atmosphere 
(CAMS)
Emergency 
(CEMS)

192
ANNEXES
METHODOLOGY
Annex 1: Methodology
Disclaimer
The EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report issue 1 was carried out by the European Union Agency for the Space Programme in cooperation with the European Commission and with the support of VVA, 
Egis, Evenflow, FDC,  Université Gustave Eiffel and LE Europe.
The information provided in the Report is based on the Agency’s best estimates and forecasts at the time of publication. Although the Agency has taken utmost care in checking the reasonableness 
of assumptions and results, the Agency accepts no responsibility for the further use made of the content of the Report.
Any comments to improve the next issue are welcome and should be addressed to: market@euspa.europa.eu
Methodology
The Market Report applies the EUSPA’s Market Monitoring and Forecasting Tool (MMFT).
The model utilises advanced forecasting techniques applied to a wide range of input data, assumptions, 
and scenarios to forecast the size of the GNSS and EO markets. The GNSS market is quantified according 
to shipments, revenues and installed base of GNSS devices, and the EO market is defined by purchase 
of data and services. All revenues are measured from the demand point of view, i.e. in which part 
of the world the data, services, and devices are purchased.
The forecast methodology is applied to each application and depends on the availability of input data. 
For some applications, detailed data on the  number of  devices shipped or value of  the  market are 
available, others rely on the number of devices in the installed base, while others still use the number 
of potential users as a starting point or the revenues generated in the market. Key input assumptions are 
collected from market reports and studies to help inform the penetration of GNSS, the average lifetime 
of a devices, device prices, EO data and services sales, and more. Input assumptions and outputs are 
subject to internal and external validation with consortium and industry experts to ensure emerging 
trends are captured as soon as they are identified. 
Where possible historical values are anchored to actual data in order to ensure a high level of accuracy. 
Application-level model results are cross-checked against the most recent market research reports from 
independent sources before being validated through an iterative consultation process with European 
and international sector experts and stakeholders.
NOTE: Quantitative data and forecasts throughout the Market Report are given for all applications listed in the charts of each market 
segment, carefully cross-checked in order to avoid double-counting of devices. That is why it is possible that the front page of each market 
segment provides a longer list of applications. In many cases, a single GNSS device contributes to a variety of applications. 
Sources
The model makes use of publicly available information and additional data and reports purchased from 
private publishers. Primary sources include:
Euroconsult (EO For Agriculture, 2020); Euroconsult (EO Data & Services Market, 2020); ABI Research; 
Airbus; American Farm Bureau Federation; App Annie; appFigures; BCG; Berg Insight; BI Intelligence; 
Boeing; Bombardier; Broadcom; Cisco; Cubris; Deloitte; Digi-Capital; EU C-ITS Strategy; EGNOS Service 
Provider (ESSP); Embraer; Equasis; Eurocontrol; European GNSS Service Centre (GSC); Eurostat; 
European Commission; European Securities and Markets Authority; Farstad Shipping; Finnish VTT 
Research Centre; Food and Agriculture Organisation; FP7 and H2020 project websites; Federal Aviation 
Administration; Gartner; General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA); General Aviation News; 
GE Transportation Signaling; Goodyear; Google; GPS World; Grand View Research; GSM Association; 
Gunter’s Space Page; Harbor Research; Hitachi; IBM; IDC; Infomines; Infonetics; Informa Economics and 
Measure; Inside GNSS; International COSPAS-SARSAT Programme; International Council of  Marine 
Industry Associations (ICOMIA); International Road Assessment Programme (IRAP); International 
Telecommunications Union (ITU); International Maritime Organization (IMO); International Convention 
for the  Safety of  Life at Sea (SOLAS); International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO); Irish Health 
& Safety Authority; Juniper Research; Kapsch GPS World Receiver Survey; KPMG; London School 
of Economics; Lux Research; MarketsandMarkets; McKinsey; Ministère de l’Environnement, de l’Energie 
et de la Mer; Nanosats Database; NATS Jon King blog; Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs 
d’Automobiles (OICA); Pew Research Centre; Proxbook; Research and Markets; Rivers of the World 
Atlas; Rolls Royce; Royal Institute of Navigation; Sensors Magazine; SESAR Joint Undertaking; Siemens; 
Statista; Statistic Brain; Technavio; Thales Alenia Space; TTG Transportation Technology; Teal Group; 
The Verge; TrendForce; TNS/Google; UAVGlobal; UCS Satellite Database; UIC International Railway 
Statistics; United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD); United Nations public 
information; UseGalileo; US Bureau of Labor Statistics; US National Transportation Statistics; Vision 
Mobile; VTPI; World Bank; World Economic Forum; World Shipping Council; World Stock Exchange; 
Xinhua.

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EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
PERFORMANCE PARAMETERS
Annex 2: Definition of GNSS performance parameters
The definitions given below are to explain the key performance parameters as referenced throughout the report. Important notice: the definitions below are applicable to this report only, and are not 
meant to be used for any other purpose.
Key GNSS performance parameters
Availability is the percentage of time the position, navigation or timing solution that can be computed 
by the user. Values vary greatly according to the specific application and services used but typically 
range from 95 to 99.9%. Two types of availability are considered:
Ø System availability: is what GNSS Interface Control Documents (ICDs) refer to.
Ø Overall availability: takes into account the receiver performance and the user’s environment. Values 
vary greatly according to the specific use cases and services used.
Accuracy is the difference between true and computed solution (position or time). This is expressed 
as the value within which a specified proportion – usually 95% – of samples would fall if measured. 
This report refers to positioning accuracy using the following convention: centimetre-level: 0-10cm; 
decimetre level: 10-100cm; metre-level: 1-10 metres.
Calibration only relates GNSS Timing Receivers and is the process of measuring the different biases 
of  the  GNSS signal’s propagation through the  antenna cable and equipment hardware in order to 
characterise and consider them when computing the timing solution. 
Continuity is ability of  a  system to perform its function (deliver PNT services with the  required 
performance levels) without interruption once the  operation has started. It is usually expressed as 
the risk of discontinuity and depends entirely on the timeframe of the application. A typical value is 
around 1*10-4 over the course of the procedure where the system is in use.
Integrity is a term used to express the ability of the system to provide warnings to users when it should 
not be used. It is the probability of a user being exposed to an error larger than the alert limits without 
timely warning. The way integrity is ensured and assessed, and the means of delivering integrity-related 
information to users are highly application dependent. Throughout this report, the “integrity concept” 
is to be understood at large, i.e. not restricted to safety-critical or civil aviation definitions but also 
encompassing concepts of quality assurance/quality control as used in other applications and sectors.
Robustness relates to spoofing and jamming and how the system can cope with these issues. It is a more 
qualitative than quantitative parameter that depends on the type of attack or interference the receiver is 
capable of mitigating. Robustness can be improved by authentication information and services.
Authentication gives a level of assurance that the data provided by a positioning system has been 
derived from real signals. Radio frequency spoofing may affect the positioning system, resulting in false 
data as output of the system itself.
Time To First Fix (TTFF) is a measure of time between activation of a receiver and the availability 
of a solution, including any power on self-test, acquisition of satellite signals and navigation data and 
computation of the solution. It mainly depends on data that the receiver has access to before activation: 
cold start (the receiver has no knowledge of the current situation and must thus systematically search 
for and identify signals before processing them – a process that can take up to several minutes.); warm 
start (the receiver has estimates of the current situation – typically taking tens of seconds) or hot start 
(the receiver understands the current situation – typically taking a few seconds).
Other performance parameters
Power consumption is the amount of power a device uses to provide a position. The power consumption 
of  the  positioning technology will vary depending on the  available signals and data. For example, 
GNSS chips will use more power when scanning to identify signals (cold start) than when computing 
a position. Typical values are in the order of tens of mW (for smartphone chipsets).
Resiliency is the ability to prepare for and adapt to changing conditions and withstand and recover 
rapidly from disruptions; including the ability to recover from deliberate attacks, accidents, or naturally 
occurring threats or incidents. A resilient system will change its way of operations while continuing to 
function under stress, while a robust (but non-resilient) system will reach a failure state at the end, 
without being able to recover.
Connectivity refers to the need for a communication and/or connectivity link of an application to be 
able to receive and communicate data to third parties. Connectivity relies on the integration with both 
satellite and terrestrial networks, such as 5G, LEO satellites, or LPWANs.
Interoperability refers to the characteristic of a product or system, whose interfaces are completely 
understood, to work with other products or systems, in either implementation or access, without any 
restrictions (e.g., ability of GNSS devices to be combined with other technologies and the possibility to 
merge the GNSS output with the output coming from different sources).
Tracebility is the ability ability to relate a measurement to national or international standards using 
an unbroken chain of measurements, each of which has a stated uncertainty. For Finance applications, 
knowledge of the traceability of the time signal to UTC is essential to ensure regulatory compliance 
of the time-stamp.

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PERFORMANCE PARAMETERS
Annex 2: Definition of EO performance parameters
The definitions given below are to explain the key performance parameters as as referenced throughout the report. Important notice: the definitions below are applicable to this report only, and are 
not meant to be used for any other purpose.
Key EO performance parameters
Spatial resolution relates to the level of detail that can be retrieved from a scene. In the case of a satellite 
image, which consists of an array of pixels, it corresponds to the smallest feature that can be detected 
on the image. A common way of characterising the spatial resolution is to use the Ground Sample 
Distance (GSD) which corresponds to the distance measured on the ground between the centres of two 
adjacent pixels. Thus, a spatial resolution of 1 meter means that each pixel corresponds to a 1 by 1 
meter area on the ground.
Spectral resolution refers to the ability of a sensor to differentiate electromagnetic radiation of different 
wavelengths. In other words, it refers to the number and “size” of wavelength intervals that the sensor is 
able to measure. The  finer  the  spectral resolution, the narrower the wavelength range for a particular 
channel or band. In remote sensing, features (e.g.,, water, vegetation) can be characterised by comparing 
their “response” in different spectral bands. 
Radiometric resolution expresses the sensitivity of the sensor, that is to say its ability to differentiate 
between different magnitudes of  the  electromagnetic energy. The  finer the  radiometric resolution, 
the more sensitive it is to small differences in the energy emitted or reflected by an object. The radiometric 
resolution is generally expressed in bit, a resolution of 8 bit meaning that the “brightness” of the image 
is measured with a scale of 28=256 nuances.
Temporal resolution relates to the time elapsed between two consecutive observations of the same 
area on the ground. The higher the temporal resolution, the shorter the time between the acquisitions 
of two consecutive observations of the same area. In absolute terms, the temporal resolution of a remote 
sensing system corresponds to the time elapsed between two consecutive passes of the satellite over 
the exact same point on the ground (generally referred to as “revisit time” or “orbit cycle”). However, 
several parameters like the overlap between the swaths of adjacent passes, the agility of the satellites 
and in case of a constellation, the number of satellites mean that some areas of the Earth can be re-
imaged more frequently. For a  given system, the  temporal resolution can therefore be better than 
the revisit time of the satellite(s).
Geolocation accuracy refers to the ability of an EO remote sensing platform to assign an accurate 
geographic position on the ground to the features captured in a scene. An accurate geolocation makes 
easier the combination of several images (e.g.,, combination of a Synthetic Aperture Radar image with 
a cadastral map and a vegetation map).
Other performance parameters
Agility corresponds to the ability of a satellite to modify its attitude and to point rapidly in any direction 
in order to observe areas of interest outside its ground trace. High agility can improve the temporal 
resolution compared with the revisit time of the satellite.
Swath corresponds to width of the portion of the ground that the satellite “sees” at each pass. The larger 
the swath, the bigger the observed area at each pass.
Off-nadir angle corresponds to the angle at which images are acquired compared with the “nadir”, i.e. 
looking straight down at the target. In practice, objects located directly below the sensor only have their 
tops visible, thus making it impossible to represent the three-dimensional surface of the Earth. High 
resolution images are therefore generally not collected at nadir but at an angle. A large off-nadir angle 
enables a wider ground coverage at each pass and the identification of features not visible at nadir, but 
it reduces the spatial resolution. For optical imagery, typical off-nadir angles are in the range of 25-30 
degrees. 
Sun-elevation angle corresponds to the angle of the sun above the horizon at the time an image is 
collected. High elevation angles can lead to bright spots on the imagery while low elevation angles lead 
to darker images and longer shadows. The most appropriate angle depends on the type of application: 
a  high sun elevation is appropriate for spectral analysis since the  objects to be observed are well 
illuminated while a lower elevation angle is better suited to interpretation of surface morphology (e.g.,, 
the projected shadows can enable a better image interpretation).

ANNEXES
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EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
APPLICATION DESCRIPTIONS
Annex 3: List of applications
The applications for each market segment are listed below and accompanied with a definition, explaining the use of EO, GNSS or both. The list of segments follow the order of the report. 
LEGEND: EO application / GNSS application / Synergetic application (combined use of EO and GNSS)
AGRICULTURE
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING
Carbon capture & content assessment: The monitoring of agricultural vegetation and grassland cover 
through EO can help inform carbon sink capacity of different terrains.  EO can also be used to monitor 
the maintenance of agricultural practices which pertain to CO2 sequestration. 
Environmental impact monitoring: EO can be used to monitor greenhouse gas emissions associated 
with agricultural activities; evaluate the impact of fertilisation on the environment; explore the potential 
of  carbon sequestration in agricultural land cover; and assess the  level of  biodiversity present in 
agricultural lands.  
NATURAL RESOURCES MONITORING 
Biomass monitoring: The  use of  various optical measurements, including radar measurements 
in-situ sensors, enables EO and GNSS to monitor the biomass present in a region. This can help in 
understanding the capacity for CO2 absorption of a given ecosystem or potentials for biomass energy 
production. 
Crop yield forecasting: EO facilitates remote-monitoring and forecasting of harvest potentials, whilst 
GNSS allows in-situ positioning information of field sensors to feed forecast information.  
Soil condition monitoring: EO enables monitoring of  soil condition and moisture levels. GNSS 
positioning help to identify the exact position of the soil samples sent to laboratories. Soil condition 
monitoring is important for understanding the growth potential and health status of plants.
Vegetation monitoring: EO enables the  monitoring of  vegetation coverage and health (through 
the generation of various indices such as NDVI). This information can be used to understand land cover 
statistics and provide inputs for efficient farm management practices.
OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
Asset monitoring: GNSS provides insightful telematics data from tractors and other farm vehicles/
assets to help increase efficiency when conducting operations, monitor workforce activity and reduce 
costs.
Automatic steering: Automatic steering completely takes over steering of the farm equipment from 
the driver allowing the operator to engage in core agricultural tasks.
CAP monitoring: The  enforcement of  certain agricultural practices mandated by the  Common 
Agricultural Policy, such as the  maintenance of  permanent grassland or the  diversification of  crop 
species, can all be monitored and enforced using EO data or geotagged photos using GNSS. 
Farm machinery guidance: GNSS positioning is used to assist drivers of farm machinery in following 
the optimal path when conducting activities such as variable rate application, thus minimising risks 
of overlaps.
Farm management systems: Both EO and GNSS can inform part of an overall farm management 
system, considering various types of practical, operational and financial data to help in the holistic 
management of a farm.
Field definition: Both EO and GNSS allow for the precise measurement and definition of field boundaries.
Livestock wearables: Animals can be fitted with devices which use GNSS to track and monitor their 
activity and health status. 
Pastureland management: EO can monitor the growth and maintenance of grasslands. Mowing and 
grazing activities on grassland can be detected and verified using EO. 
Precision irrigation: Similar to variable rate application, precision irrigation combines GNSS positioning 
with EO information to distribute the appropriate amount of water for irrigating crops. 
Variable rate application: Variable rate application combines GNSS positioning with EO information 
to distribute varying amounts of agrichemicals and seeds across a given area. Discrepancies in 
performance and areas of lower crop yields can be identified and specifically targeted with extra input 
treatments (fertilisers, pesticides) or seeds by farmers. This can help improve overall performance and 
reduce agricultural input usage. 
WEATHER SERVICES FOR AGRICULTURE
Climate services for agriculture: Long term forecasting and monitoring of climate variables relevant to 
agriculture using remotely sensed data. Air quality and land temperature can be understood through 
the use of EO, which in turn can help in understanding how our climate could affect future harvests and 
yields.
Weather forecasting for agriculture: Short term weather forecasting. Air quality, land temperature and 
cloud cover can all be understood using EO, which in turn can help form weather forecasts relevant to 
precise locations. This allows farmers to plan operations such as irrigation or fertiliser scheduling.

196
ANNEXES
APPLICATION DESCRIPTIONS
Annex 3: List of applications
AVIATION AND DRONES
COMMUNICATIONS
ATM System Timing: the  ground systems used by air traffic control are increasingly connected. 
The systems rely on precise and high integrity timing for synchronization of logs, communication and 
traffic handover at system level - all of which are dependent on GNSS derived timing.
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING
Aircraft Emission Measurement and Monitoring: enables monitoring of  trace gas composition 
of the Earth’s atmosphere at different altitudes to understand more accurately the impact Aviation has 
on the environment at those different altitudes.
Particulate Matter Monitoring: enables air traffic services to monitor particulates in airspace, enabling 
them to provide avoidance instructions (e.g., to avoid Volcanic Ash clouds) and allowing improved 
planning of routes and flight efficiency.
NAVIGATION
Open Drone Navigation: Uncertified use of GNSS for very low level navigation supporting functions 
such as return to home, position holds, waypoint navigation, geo-awareness etc.
Performance Based Navigation (PBN): An umbrella term for navigation based on a specific standard. 
For simplicity, this is categorised as:
• Area Navigation: A fundamental requirement for IFR aircraft and certified category drones to be able 
to navigate along routes with a required accuracy. GNSS is a core capability that enables them to meet 
the requirements of PBN within the en-route and terminal phases of flight.
• Approach Navigation: The approach phase of flight is a critical phase where high performance is 
needed from GNSS. SBAS and GBAS are two solutions that are deployed, providing IFR aircraft and 
certified category drones with the capability to land in low visibility conditions down to 200ft. These 
performances are expected to be extended by incorporating Galileo and dual frequencies.
• Low Level Routing: An area navigation capability specified initially for helicopter operations but 
supporting light General Aviation and potentially drones in the future. The ceiling of the routes is low 
level (<4,000’) and enables helicopters to transition busy TMA or areas of high terrain safety.
VFR complement: Use of  uncertified GNSS receivers as a  navigation complement to VFR piloted 
operations. This includes moving map displays on portable devices.
OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
Aircraft Maintenance and Operation Optimisation: Identifies areas where aircraft have flown through 
large areas of particulate matter, and in turn require early or more maintenance actions helping airlines 
and manufacturers save costs. When combined with innovative digital and satellite-based solutions, 
it also supports new tools and traffic optimization mechanisms for multimodal access, passenger and 
freight flows into and out of the airport, as well as between airports, facilitating improved airport access 
and reducing traffic from / to the city or other key transport nodes.
Airport Capacity and Safety: EO is a valuable asset to support Advanced-Surface Movement Guidance 
and Control System (A-SMGCS) surveillance and safety support services as well as helping airport 
managers to maintain high quality and complete knowledge of their airport assets. 
Monitoring Terrain Obstacles near an Airport: EO assists airport operators to monitor and manage 
potential threats to aviation safety from changes to airport surroundings and helping to secure safe 
flight take-off and landing.
SURVEILLANCE
Electronic Conspicuity: provides self-reporting of position from an aircraft or drone to other aviation 
actors providing a means to learn about position and speed vectors. The information from this is derived 
from GNSS and covers many certified (used mostly for Air Traffic Management) and non-certified 
solutions (used for situational awareness of the operator).
GADDS:  The Global Aeronautical Distress and Safety System is a concept developed by ICAO which 
enhances the  effectiveness and alerting of  search and rescue services in the  event of  an aviation 
tragedy. It ensures that the aircraft is tracked and that the lasted known GNSS derived position is always 
recorded, maintaining an up-to-date record of aircraft progress. GADSS has three components: Aircraft 
Tracking; Autonomous Distress Tracking; and Post Flight Localization and Recovery. Aircraft Tracking 
is enabled through the on-board GNSS equipment (either the PBN or Electronic Conspicuity device), 
whilst the other components are provided by Emergency Locator Transmitters which are covered in 
the Emergency Management and Humanitarian Aid segment.
Infrastructure timing: Different solutions, such as radars, are used by air traffic services to track aircraft 
and provide services to facilitate conflict free traffic flows. All systems in use today rely on GNSS for 
timing, and often synchronization as well, for example in Wide Area Multilateration systems that use 
multiple sychronised receivers to calculate where an aircraft is.
WEATHER SERVICES 
Hazardous Weather Identification: EO is used to identify and monitor hazardous weather conditions 
such as storms, enabling aircraft and air traffic management to detect and avoid these weather 
phenomena earlier. This leads a  reduction in the  number of  safety incidents and increased flight 
efficiency.

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BIODIVERSITY, ECOSYSTEMS AND NATURAL CAPITAL
Animal tracking for biodiversity purposes: GNSS-beacons are used to geo locate animals for the 
purposes of monitoring migrations, habitats, and behaviours.
Coastal ecosystems monitoring: EO is able to provide information on multiple parameters needed to 
assess the conditions and the equilibrium in coastal ecosystems, such as coastal wetland loss, land-
use cover and change, wetland mapping, coastal geomorphology, water optical properties, waterbody 
nutrients (chlorophyll-a), littoral and subtidal habitat, erosion and sedimentation mapping, long time 
series of ocean colour products including uncertainties estimates or health issues such as algal bloom 
detection.
Snow and ice ecosystems monitoring: Snow and ice cover data (multispectral and thermal, and to 
a lesser extent microwave), mapping the structural glaciology of big and small glaciers, mapping of 
glacier change, conducting glacier inventories, mapping glacier thinning, measuring thinning ice shelves, 
glacier velocity, mapping glacier landforms and measuring the ice-sheet bed. Snow and ecosystem 
monitoring applications are also used in high-altitude environments.
Terrestrial ecosystems monitoring: Plant species respond differently to light emitted by the sun or by  
various artificial energy sources, with specific reflection characteristics in the electromagnetic spectrum. 
This makes EO data of adequate spectral and spatial resolution and a useful tool to distinguish different 
species. Advantages associated with using this method include the reproducibility, transferability, and 
the increased possibility for quantification. Other relevant data derived from EO related to air/water 
quality complete the information for the status/forecasting of the ecosystem. 
Water ecosystems monitoring: EO provides information on multiple parameters needed to assess the 
conditions and the equilibrium in water ecosystems, such as: bio-geochemical analyses and forecasts 
for global and regional seas, topography, bathymetry, ocean colour, sea-surface temperature, ocean 
currents, fish quantification, and others. 
CLIMATE SERVICES
CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION
Climate change mitigation and adaptation: Various types of EO data can be used to aid formation of 
short and long-term climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies.
CLIMATE MODELLING
EO-based modelling: Many types of EO data, despite being unavailable for a long period, is used as 
an input into climate modelling. This results in computer simulated dynamic projections of the Earth’s 
systems behavior used for various purposes. 
GNSS-based climate modelling: GNSS supports a range of geodetic applications that measure 
properties of the Earth (magnetic field, atmosphere) with direct impact on the Earth’s climate.
CLIMATE MONITORING AND FORECASTING
Climate forecasting: Many types of EO data can be used in climate forecasting services. Air quality, 
land temperature and cloud cover can all be understood using EO, which in turn can be built into the 
relevant models and  contribute to climate forecasting.
Climate monitoring:  Many types of EO data can be used in climate monitoring. Air quality, land 
temperature, cloud cover and several other parameters relevant for the climate can all be understood 
with EO data.

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CONSUMER SOLUTIONS, TOURISM & HEALTH
CORPORATE
Billing: Payment processing based on location or activity duration for public transport, gyms, theme 
parks, parking.
Geo-advertising: Consumer preferences are combined with positioning data to provide personalised 
offers to potential customers. EO represents an additional layer of geospatial information contributing 
to better audience targeting.
Mapping & GIS: Smartphones enable users to become map creators as a result of the democratisation 
of digital mapping. Mapping services comprise all consumer applications that draw on EO information 
for map features, which includes location or navigational services, including navigation, tracking and 
local search & discovery applications. 
SATCOM users: GNSS is typically used in Satellite Control Stations and Telecommunications Gateways, 
mostly for frequency control. When focusing on the user segment, we look into the end user markets 
that use handheld SATCOMs. 
Workforce management: Aims to manage employees working outside the company premises and to 
improve operational efficiency.
HEALTH & LIFESTYLE
Air quality monitoring: EO enables air quality applications which measure the presence of harmful 
substances and particulate matter in the air (e.g., sulphur dioxide and PM 2.5). Measurements of air 
quality are used to inform analytics, such as air quality indexes, and to provide recommendations to 
users (e.g., to stay indoors and keep windows closed if air quality is very poor). 
Games:  GNSS enables a wide range of location-based games on smartphones and tablets. Various 
uses are associated with EO including backdrop images for a game or gamification of EO crowdsourced 
in-situ information. 
Geo-tagging: adding geographical metadata to online content with the  purpose of  identifying 
the physical location of where the content was posted from.
mHealth: In combination with other technologies, GNSS enables a  vast array of  applications from 
patient monitoring to guidance systems for vulnerable groups (people with reduced mobility, visual 
impairment and seniors).
Safety and emergency: GNSS, in combination with network-based methods, provides accurate 
emergency caller location.
Social networks: Friend locators embedded in social networks use GNSS to facilitate keeping in touch 
and sharing travel information.
Sport, fitness and wellness  incl. specialist support tracking: GNSS enables monitoring of users’ 
performance a variety of fitness applications. It records data such as real-time distance, speed/pace, 
locatithroughon, elevation, travelled distance, step counters to monitor users’ performance. Speed and 
elevation charts are provided (includes running, biking, hiking, swimming, etc.). A growing use of EO 
information is embedded in outdoor apps to provide information on snow coverage and depth, forest 
elevations, etc.
UV monitoring: EO data is used in consumer UV monitoring applications to provide UV exposure 
measurements for particular geolocations and to inform analytics about safe levels of UV exposure. 
This allows them to make recommendations for user behaviour (e.g., recommendations to remain 
indoors when the UV index is very high).
NAVIGATION & TRACKING
Navigation for smartphone users: Route planning and turn-by-turn instructions enabled by GNSS for 
both pedestrian and road users through a smartphone. 
Personal & asset tracking: GNSS facilitates innovative tracking solutions, including the deployment 
of local geofences that trigger an alarm when users leave a specific perimeter.
Visually impaired support: solutions providing turn-by-turn instructions based on GNSS positioning 
that help visually-impaired people get around more easily.
ROBOTICS
Consumer robotics: GNSS signals are used along with other sensors integrated in consumer 
electronics for localisation and navigation purposes. e.g., Gardening robots, Delivery robots, Security 
and surveillance  robots, Personal assistant robots, Painting robots, Automated guided vehicle/logistics.
Enhanced human: Human enhancement refers to methods for altering the human body to enhance 
mental or physical performance. The most developed examples are untethered mixed reality devices: in 
the future, GNSS position could be combined with optical feedback and 3D mapping to give users full 
situational awareness and the most accurate navigation.
TOURISM
Points of  interest: Provides content relative to the  end user’s location. Such location may include 
location-based landmarks, restaurants, petrol stations, banks, ATMs, hospitals, etc.

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EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT & HUMANITARIAN AID
EARLY WARNING
Early warning: The  Early Warning sub-segment comprises all applications related to forecasting 
the likelihood of a disaster event using EO sensor data, including disaster prediction tools, risk indexes 
and early warning mass notification systems in combination with location (GNSS) intelligence. Early 
warning is available for both natural and man-made disasters.
GNSS-enabled ocean monitoring buoys: This application consists of multiple type of buoys, deployed 
at sea and in oceans, to provide early warning for natural events following seismic activities (e.g., 
volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, etc.).
MIGRATION AND SETTLEMENT
EO human displacement monitoring: Monitoring of displacement patterns, due to conflict or disaster 
for example, in order to plan humanitarian responses. EO data can be used to monitor migration routes, 
as well as for the identification or temporary dwelling structures.
Management of refugee camps: Comprises applications where EO data is used for planning of camp 
layouts, and for the  distribution of  resources e.g., wells and medicine, by displaying settlement 
concentrations and estimating population in different areas of a camp. 
Population counting: Population estimation based on (semi-)automated dwelling counting from very 
high-resolution optical satellite imagery, which can be used for vaccination campaigns for example, in 
underserved areas as well as for emergency response planning.
Telematics for Humanitarian Aid: real-time satellite geo-positioning and fleet-management solutions 
used by humanitarian organisations, NGOs and UN (United Nations) agencies, as well as national or EU 
agencies  for their safety and security. 
POST-EVENT ANALYSIS
Post-event analysis: Post event analysis includes all applications which rely on archival EO data to 
assess the impact of past disaster events, as well as those that compare the impact of past disaster 
events to identify patterns, and those which assess the effectiveness of disaster response and mitigation 
efforts. 
PREPAREDNESS
Preparedness: Preparedness refers to a research-based set of actions, based on EO data and services, 
that are taken as precautionary measures in the face of potential disasters, both natural and man-made. 
Typically natural disasters (e.g., floods, drought, landslide, tsunami) nor man-made disasters (e.g., fires, 
hazardous material spills) can be precisely foreseen or avoided but preparedness helps to minimise 
the eventual risks and initiate emergency actions. Satellite solutions are being applied by the United 
Nations’ aid agencies, non-government organisations (NGOs), host-nation governments, military, 
and the private sector to address mission-critical disaster preparedness and long-term development 
requirements. The main usage will be pre-positioning emergency equipment and solutions.
RAPID MAPPING
Rapid mapping: Use of  geospatial information in support of  emergency management activities 
immediately following disaster (e.g., map the damage level in particular locations to inform emergency 
response efforts including crowd sourced map updates  facilitate deployment of aid).
SEARCH AND RESCUE
Beacons for Aviation: Aircraft should be equipped with Emergency Locator Transmitters  (ELTs) or 
a PLB that help Search and Rescue operations in the event of an incident. In line with requirements 
in ICAO Annex 10 (and standards set in ICAO Annex 6) as well as the implementation of the Global 
Aeronautical Distress and Safety System (GADSS), many ELTs utilise GNSS to report their position 
when triggered.
Beacons for Maritime: Ship and person-registered beacons, i.e. Emergency Position Indicating Radio 
Beacons (EPIRBs) and Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) transmit, once activated, the  necessary 
information for rescue to authorities via COSPAS / SARSAT payloads carried by GNSS satellites. 
The  AIS-SART (Search and Rescue Transmitter) and AIS-MOB (Man Overboard) beacons not only 
transmit the  position of  the  person in distress, but also share this location through the  Automatic 
Identification System (AIS) with nearby vessels, by pinpointing an AIS distress signal onto the nearby 
vessel’s ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display Information System).
Beacons on Land: Climbers and hikers are advised to equip themselves with a PLB in case they find 
themselves in distress.
Situational awareness supporting search and rescue: EO services can assist Maritime and Joint 
Rescue Coordination Centre’s (RCC) in a wide range of activities at sea, including support to search and 
rescue operations and exercises. EO information, combined with maritime data and external sources, 
can provide you with a better understanding and improved monitoring of activities at sea (incl. detection 
of ships in distress, search and rescue response support, etc.).

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ENERGY AND RAW MATERIALS
ENERGY NETWORK FIDELITY
Energy Network conditions monitoring: The situational awareness and monitoring capabilities of EO 
contribute through application such as monitoring the structural integrity of assets including towers, 
poles, wind plants and solar plants; monitoring land subsidence around energy infrastructure such 
as pipeline and plants, assessment of  vegetation encroachments; and allowing for asset condition 
management damages, degradation, corrosion, etc.
Phasor Measurement Units (PMU): GNSS provides accurate timing and synchronisation for PMUs, 
which are deployed across remote locations of the power network (nodes), improving the reliability 
of power systems.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT MONITORING
Environmental impact assessment of  energy and mineral resources plants: EO can support 
the mitigation of energy/mining effects of the environment through continuous monitoring of relevant 
environmental characteristics and through the capacity of EO to detect changes. Relevant products 
and services include coastal ecosystems monitoring, water quality monitoring, air quality monitoring, 
erosion monitoring, pollution monitoring, vegetation monitoring, etc. In some cases, EO-based products 
could also include the production of environmental impact assessment “certificate”.
MARKET INTELLIGENCE
Supply chain insights: EO data support market analysts, traders, investors, energy operators and 
regulators, governments, international banking institutions and ultimately, citizens, to better understand 
the new energy dynamics shifting under the pressure of climate change. AI and advanced analytics are 
applied to EO for applications such as reservoir monitoring, heavy oil production mapping, underground 
gas storage, sophisticated methane-detection technologies, etc.
RAW MATERIALS
Illegal mining monitoring: Due to its capacity to detect landscape changes through the  analysis 
of satellite imagery, EO can support the detection and monitoring of the evolution of illegal mining 
activities (including in remote areas).
Mining Machinery Guidance: Augmented GNSS solutions enable the  accurate guidance of  heavy 
mining machinery. 
Mining Surveying:  EO and GNSS can provide mine site surveying. This is particularly important for 
dangerous, remote or topographically-challenging sites, as acquiring satellite data requires no on-site 
presence, supervision, or permitting. GNSS significantly accelerates all surveying activities (such as 
monthly measurements for evaluation of excavated mass, establishment of ground control points and 
stakeout of mining features) and decreases the time surveyors are in the field. Apart from surveying, 
high-accuracy GNSS in mining is utilised for tasks such as machine guidance, grading, dozing, drilling, 
collision avoidance and fleet management. In machine guidance, a  critical GNSS application is 
the determination of excavator bucket wheel position.
Site selection, planning and monitoring: EO and GNSS can provide a large variety of products and 
information supporting the  identification of  the  most suitable areas for the  exploitation of  mineral 
resources. Products and information include geological evaluation, topography mapping, etc. 
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Power plant design optimisation: EO can help optimising the design of renewable energy power plants 
(e.g., optimisation of the positioning of solar panels, onshore and offshore wind turbines, etc.). Relevant 
EO-based products include terrain elevation models, solar irradiance, wind speed, precipitation and 
climate conditions.
Renewable energy assessment potential and forecast: Prior to the selection of a power plant site, 
EO can contribute to the assessment of the potential of a given area based on the analysis of historical 
data for example, wind, solar irradiation, ocean currents, ocean temperature (e.g., for OTEC or SWAC) 
and snow cover. During the exploitation phase, EO can help calculating daily production estimates 
based on plant characteristics coupled with relevant forecasts. This includes for instance solar plant 
production estimates based on solar irradiation forecasts or hydropower production estimates based 
on snow cover smelting.
Risk assessment for energy assets: Energy assets are exposed to a variety of natural risks which can 
put at danger the people working on site or, damage equipment or negatively impact production. EO can 
contribute to the assessment of the level of risk in order to prevent/mitigate the effects of adverse events 
on the exploitation of energy (incl. the protection of workers maintaining offshore wind platforms for 
instance). Relevant EO-based products and services include the monitoring of dangerous sub-surface 
currents, iceberg detection and tracking, etc.
Site selection, planning and monitoring: Earth Observation can provide a large variety of products and 
information supporting the identification of the most suitable areas for the exploitation of renewable 
energy sources. These products and information include for instance data on relevant environmental 
parameters influencing the production of energy, data on the status of the power plants, geological 
evaluation, topography mapping, etc. GNSS can enable geomatics applications such as mine and 
construction surveying, mapping and GIS, photogrammetry, laser scanning and remote sensing, 
as well as route planning and augmented reality visualization. The GNSS devices that are used for 
those applications include high-accuracy GNSS receivers (geodetic-grade smart antennas, all-in-one 
integrated mapping/GIS devices or infrastructure/CORS) and embedded chipsets. On the other hand, 
a number of CORS networks operate receivers that are actually powered by renewable energy sources 
(e.g. solar panels or wind turbines), so the utilization of GNSS for renewable energy operations brings 
mutual benefits.

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ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING
ENVIRONMENTAL AUDITING
EO data is used in environmental auditing as an input to assess the repercussions of human activity 
across four different environments:
• Atmosphere: Multiple EO satellites and sensors are dedicated to monitoring atmospheric conditions, 
including air quality and the presence of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions, enabling the provision 
of short- and long-term forecasting.
• Coasts: For coastal environment, relevant EO data can be acquired relating to wetland loss, land-use 
cover and change, wetland mapping, coastal geomorphology , water optical properties, waterbody 
nutrients (chlorophyll-a), littoral and subtidal habitat.
• Land: Relevant parameters range from land-use cover and change, vegetation, biomass, and soil 
monitoring, to the monitoring of human impact, such as waste, constructions, and other infrastructure. 
• Water and Oceans: The relevant parameters for water and ocean environment, which can be acquired 
through EO include temperature, transparency/turbidity, water depth, tides, currents, and to an extent, 
flora and fauna. The data also supports the monitoring of infrastructure and other traces of human 
activities, including waste.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
The  use of  EO satellites and data provides users the  means to properly manage environmental 
resources across four environments:
• Atmosphere: Multiple EO satellites and sensors are dedicated to monitoring atmospheric conditions, 
including, for instance air quality and the presence of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions, allowing as 
well to provide short- and long-term forecasting.
• Coasts: Coastal monitoring from EO satellites includes coastal wetland loss, land-use cover and 
change, wetland mapping, coastal geomorphology , water optical properties, waterbody nutrients 
(chlorophyll-a), littoral and subtidal habitat, erosion and sedimentation mapping and long time series 
of  ocean colour products including uncertainties estimates or health issues such as algal bloom 
detection. In terms of compliance monitoring, EO data can be used for reporting (on water quality) 
under the Water Framework Directive.
• Land: The various applications of EO for resource management on land vary from land-use cover and 
change, vegetation, biomass, and soil monitoring, to the monitoring of human impact, such as waste, 
constructions, and other infrastructure. 
• Water and Oceans: EO monitors parameters which assess the effects of various human (and natural) 
activities on the water and ocean environments and to manage resources. The measurements on 
temperature, transparency/turbidity, water depth, tides, currents, as well as to an extent flora and 
fauna, and traces of human activities, including waste.
IMPACT STUDIES AND ENVIRONEMNTAL, SOCIAL,  AND  CORPORATE GOVERNANCE (ESG)
EO monitors parameters necessary for the elaboration of impact studies and for the implementation 
and monitoring of ESG policies across four different environments:
• Atmosphere: Multiple EO satellites and sensors are dedicated to monitoring atmospheric conditions, 
including air quality and the presence of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions, enabling the provision 
of short- and long-term forecasting.
• Coasts: For coastal environment, relevant EO data can be acquired, relating to wetland loss, land-use 
cover and change, wetland mapping, coastal geomorphology , water optical properties, waterbody 
nutrients (chlorophyll-a), littoral and subtidal habitat.
• Land: The various EO applications for these activities on land include land-use cover and change, 
vegetation, biomass, and soil monitoring, to the  monitoring of  human impact, such as waste, 
constructions, and other infrastructure. 
• Water and Oceans: For water and oceans relevant parameters include temperature, transparency/
turbidity, water depth, tides, currents, as well as to an extent flora and fauna, The data also supports 
the monitoring of infrastructure and other traces of human activities, including waste.

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FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE
AQUACULTURE
Aquaculture operations optimisation: Throughout the operational phase of the aquaculture plants, EO 
can provide water quality monitoring notably on harmful algae blooms (HABs), as well as assessment 
of  fish farming environmental impacts and data for modelling of  species invasion. Combined in 
models, such data can provide periodical estimation to aquafarmers about estimated growth and 
health of the stock. GNSS plays a role when the operation of offshore farms is carried out by fully 
automated vessels which rely on accurate positioning and navigation, or in the upcoming use of GNSS 
for the localisation of networks of buoys.
Aquaculture site selection: Considering relevant parameters, EO data and forecasting can help select 
the aquaculture location and type in both the nearshore and offshore environment.
FISHERIES
Catch Optimisation: EO data contributes to habitat mapping for fish species. Combined with weather 
data and data on other relevant parameters (e.g. bio-geochemical analyses and forecasts for global 
and regional seas, topography, bathymetry, ocean colour, sea-surface temperature and ocean currents), 
the  catch optimisation application provides relevant information which allows for the  selection 
of the optimal timing, location, and means for fishing activities.
Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) control: Satellite data has surveillance capabilities for 
the IUU fishing activities and could contribute to the identification of perpetrators. The data concerned 
is both EO (optical and radar) and GNSS (providing identification of  the  vessels, including through 
positioning systems such as AIS and VMS). With AIS and VMS being mandatory depending on 
the vessel size (i.e. 15m for AIS, 12m for VMS), the GNSS receiver of these applications is a different to 
the receiver used for general navigation.
Fishing aggregating devices: GNSS-enabled buoys that assist fishermen both in locating their fishing 
nets and equipment as well as the identification and location of fish stock.
Fish stock detection: EO data contributes to bio-geochemical analyses and forecasts for global and 
regional seas, topography, bathymetry, ocean colour, sea-surface temperature and ocean currents, 
which are key inputs for numerical modelling of fish stock and detection of fish shoals.
Fishing vessels navigation: Using GNSS-enabled navigation devices, fishing vessels can accurately 
and safely navigate their fishing waters as well as navigate towards their equipment such as fishing 
cages, buoys or fish lines.
FORESTRY
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING
Biomass monitoring: EO and GNSS enable the monitoring of the biomass present in a forest using 
various optical measurements, radar measurements and in-situ sensors. This can help in understanding 
the capacity for CO2 absorption of a given forest or potentials for biomass energy production. 
Deforestation/degradation monitoring: EO helps in remotely detecting forest degradation and/
or deforestation. Optical and radar data can be used to measure forest vegetation intensity (through 
the generation of various indices such as NDVI), forest canopy cover and land use changes associated 
with deforestation/degradation. 
NATURAL RESOURCE MONITORING 
Forest inventory monitoring: EO and GNSS enable the  monitoring of  the  timber inventories using 
various optical measurements, radar measurements and in-situ sensors. 
Forest vegetation health monitoring: The health of forest vegetation can be monitored and managed 
using EO. Optical and radar data can be used to measure forest vegetation intensity (through 
the generation of various indices such as NDVI) to infer the health of trees and forest vegetation. 
Illegal logging monitoring: EO can help in the identification of illegal logging. By using optical and radar 
data to monitor land use changes and measure forest vegetation cover, illegal destruction of forests can 
be detected and monitored. 
OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
Automatic steering: Automatic steering completely takes over steering of the forestry machinery from 
the driver allowing the operator to engage in core forestry tasks.
Forestry asset management: GNSS provides insightful telematics data from forestry assets to help 
increase traceability/efficiency, monitor workforces and reduce costs.
Forest exploitation certification: EO can help in the verification and certification of forestry management 
and production activities. 
Forestry machinery guidance: GNSS positioning can assist drivers of forest machinery in following 
the optimal path when conducting activities, thus minimising risks of overlaps.

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INFRASTRUCTURE
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING
Environmental impact assessment of  infrastructures: EO can support the  analysis of  the  impact 
of existing infrastructures (including during the construction phase) on the environment and ecosystem 
in their surroundings. Relevant EO-based products and services include pollution monitoring (air, water, 
soil), vegetation and biodiversity monitoring, etc.
INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING
Permitting: EO can support the  evaluations to be carried out before a  permit is delivered for 
the construction of a new infrastructure. Thus, EO can deliver products and services related to land 
cover/land use mapping, forest mapping, geological evaluation, exposure to natural disasters (e.g., 
floods), ground deformation, etc.
Site selection and planning: Earth Observation can contribute to the selection of sites (e.g. tailing dams) 
or routes (e.g. roads / rail) through the provision of products and services such as geological evaluation, 
topography mapping, historical data on land subsidence. Through geomatics applications like construction 
surveying, mapping and GIS, photogrammetry, laser scanning and remote sensing, GNSS can significantly 
speed up the accurate determination of site borders, while also providing adequate methods for development 
of detailed specialised maps, route planning or establishment of GIS database with accurate positions of all 
infrastructure site features. In addition, to high-accuracy GNSS devices (smart antennas or integrated mapping/
GIS devices), GNSS chipsets can feed high-accuracy positioning data into LiDAR and imaging devices (drone 
or land-based), and augmented reality technologies for a-priori in-situ infrastructure visualisation.
Vulnerability Analysis: EO can contribute to the vulnerability assessment for locations prone to natural 
hazards. Relevant EO-based products and services include historical data on floods, droughts, and fires 
as well as climate projections enabling the assessment of the evolution of risks.
INFRASTRUCTURE CONSTRUCTION AND MONITORING
Construction operations: Thanks to its capacity to detect surface changes, EO can support 
the monitoring in near-real-time of the progress achieved anywhere on the construction site. It can 
also help verifying the alignment between actual building and original plans. While also providing 
typical surveying techniques on the site, GNSS is an ultimate supplier of positioning and orientation 
data for heavy machinery (graders, dozers, excavators, compactors), which can be used for either semi-
automatic (GNSS serves as a guide to the operator) or fully automatic operations (GNSS data is directly 
fused into the machine hydraulic control). For the needs of BIM, GNSS can feed the model with high-
accuracy positioning data of all relevant construction assets.
Monitoring of impact of human activities on infrastructures: EO enables the monitoring of the impact 
on buildings and infrastructures of land subsidence caused by a variety of human activities (e.g., aquifer 
overexploitation in urban areas).
ODA support monitoring: EO can be used to validate that Official Development Assistance (ODA) 
support (i.e. investment in different development projects) is utilised as planned. This is often directly 
informing the further release of funds from a donor country to a receiving one.
Post-construction operations: Critical infrastructures such as dams, bridges, factories etc. can be 
damaged in case of Earth’s surface deformation. EO offers solutions for the monitoring of infrastructure 
stability and for the provision of situation awareness as it can accurately monitor land deformation and 
to detect minor changes (e.g., building subsidence). The stability of critical infrastructure is monitored 
also via high-precision GNSS methods, e.g., by post-processing of static relative GNSS observations 
at field control points (established directly into or in the vicinity of the object) with station data from 
local or global CORS networks. In addition, GNSS data may be utilised to feed various smart sensors, 
mounted into the infrastructure body for real-time stability monitoring.
Pipeline monitoring: EO can contribute to the monitoring of pipelines through the provision of ground 
deformation information across pipeline networks as well as through the provision of information related 
to vegetation encroachment or third party interference. For above-ground pipelines, GNSS provides 
methods for stability monitoring similar to post-construction operations, while for underground assets 
it may feed high-accuracy positioning data into ground-penetration radars (GPRs) to map and detect 
leakages and other faults.
TIMING & SYNCHRONISATION OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS
Data centre: A Data Centre is a dedicated space within a building, or a group of buildings used to house 
computer systems and associated components, such as telecommunications and storage systems. 
GNSS is used as a time source for network synchronization of computing resources.
Digital Cellular Network (DCN): Telecom operators require accurate and consistent time and frequency 
at distant points of their networks to meet increasingly demanding broadband requirements. GNSS is 
used to provide consistent frequency and time alignment between all base stations within the network.
Professional Mobile Radio (PMR): Telecom operators require accurate and consistent time and 
frequency at distant points of their networks to meet increasingly demanding broadband requirements. 
GNSS is used for synchronisation of time slots and handovers between base stations.
Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN): Telecom operators require accurate and consistent 
time and frequency at distant points of their networks to meet increasingly demanding broadband 
requirements. Originally a network of fixed-line analog telephone systems, the PSTN is now almost 
entirely digital in its core network and in this report it consists in fixed telephones networks. GNSS is 
usually a back-up to atomic clocks to provide time slot management.
Satellite Communication (SATCOM): Telecom operators require accurate and consistent time and 
frequency at distant points of their networks to meet increasingly demanding broadband requirements. 
GNSS is typically used in Satellite Control Stations and Telecommunications Gateways, mostly for 
frequency control.
Small cells: Telecom operators require accurate and consistent time and frequency at distant points 
of their networks to meet increasingly demanding broadband requirements. GNSS is used to provide 
frequency and phase alignment in small cells networks.

204
ANNEXES
APPLICATION DESCRIPTIONS
Annex 3: List of applications
INSURANCE AND FINANCE
FINANCE
Commodities trading: EO can contribute to the  calculation of  indicators which can be used by 
the organisation exploiting natural resources (e.g., oil & gas, mineral resources) to develop their logistics 
strategies and by investors interested in these natural resources to develop their financing strategies. 
Beyond natural resources, there is a growing interest in the food commodity market for which earth 
observation can provide vital information on crop conditions (e.g. the AMIS tool by the FAO).
Risk assessment: Any investment decision is subject to some uncertainty and before embarking on 
a  new business, investors need to better understand and assess the  risks associated to this new 
business and to quantify the potential for losses. Combined with other relevant data, EO data can help 
investors and asset managers to better understand current and future risks to their investments (e.g., 
flood risks, subsidence risk). Similarly, financial institutions increasingly need to consider climate risks in 
their assessments. EO constitutes a major source of data to feed their screening processes.
Timing and synchronisation for finance: Financial institutions are legally required to trace operations 
within a consistent and accurate time scale. GNSS is therefore used across network operations of both 
banks and stock exchanges.
Bank Network Operations: GNSS equipment is used for Time Stamping functions, to log events in 
a chronologic manner and therefore be able to recreate causal links. Usually a GPS antenna is deployed 
on a roof and it is connected to a PTP or NTP server.
Stock Exchange Network Operations: All stock exchanges are equipped with large data centres holding 
the exchanges’ matching engines in racks of interconnected servers using GNSS receivers as timing and 
synchronisation sensors.	
INSURANCE
Event footprint: EO serves as a  complementary source to support existing processes in assessing 
damage. Event footprint involves comparing the claims received from clients with the actual material 
damages that occurred in the field in order to determine the amount of compensation that should be 
paid. EO data provides a visualisation of the extent of the damage (production of delineation maps) and 
helps optimise intervention, reducing costs for insurers. Responsiveness and high resolution can be 
important factors in the choice of EO source.
Index production: Computation of numerical indexes (part of parametric insurance products) based 
on image analyses. Using regular monitoring of areas to compute a numerical index, the application 
is particularly useful for crops and livestock insurance. These products are an alternative to traditional 
insurance approaches, and allow new markets (farmers and pastors) to be addressed, especially in 
remote areas. 
Risk modelling: EO can be used for calibration of risk models and refinement of hypotheses as well 
as an input for digital models. Risk modelling involves the evaluation of potential losses that could 
arise due to natural disasters through a probabilistic assessment of events. By improving the accuracy 
of  the  predictions, (re)insurers are able to better forecast cash out-flows and reduce the  financial 
risks, eventually reducing premiums. EO data is used as a complementary source of information to 
meteorological and geological data, and generates a moderate added value.
MARITIME & INLAND WATERWAYS
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING
Marine pollution monitoring: SAR-based and optical satellite data can be used for detecting and 
monitoring of oil spills and marine litter. EO also provides forecasts of sea currents and sea-surface 
heights (altimetry), sea-surface salinity, sea-surface temperature, ocean colour and sea-ice data - 
useful for monitoring and forecasting the course of the pollution. Moreover, remote sensing data can 
also contribute to identifying the polluters.
INLAND WATERWAYS
Inland waterways navigation: EO data is used to detect periods of flood or low flow which may cause 
disruptions to waterway traffic, allowing the bodies responsible for the inland waterways to make 
informed decisions about traffic flows. GNSS is also used to ensure safe navigation in inland waterways 
(rivers, canals, lakes and estuaries).
MARINE ENGINEERING
Dredging: Satellite-derived turbidity data (stirred-up sediment from anthropogenic activities such as 
dredging) provide a reliable and cost-effective overview without the need for field deployment. GNSS in 
combination with PPP/RTK Positioning Techniques supplies high accuracy real-time positioning needed 
for dredging operations.
Marine surveying and mapping: Encompasses a  wide range of  GNSS-enabled activities (seabed 
exploration, tide and current estimation, offshore surveying, etc.), and their outcomes are important 
for maritime navigation. Satellite technology using radar and multi-spectral contributes to surveying 
and mapping with data on ocean heights and, as a result, helps to interpret gravity and bathymetry for 
the Earth’s oceans. Satellite-derived bathymetry in particular, is the most recently developed method 
of surveying shallow waters. In contrast to other survey methods, satellite-derived bathymetry requires 
no mobilisation of persons or equipment, provides rapid access to bathymetric data and saves costs. 
MERCHANT VESSELS
Collision avoidance: Alongside the receivers for navigation, merchant vessels above 300GT are required 
through the  IMO SOLAS regulation to be equipped with an Automatic Identification System (AIS). 
Similar to a radar, through the AIS, nearby vessels communicate their position and heading with each 
other as well as with shore-based infrastructures (e.g., near ports) to improve the traffic management 
and safety of navigation.
GNSS vessel engine management systems: GNSS supports remote monitoring of  ship’s condition 
(e.g., engine diagnostics). This provides the vessel operators with the necessary information to perform 
routine check on the engine and improves the overall maintenance of vital elements of the vessel.
Merchant navigation: GNSS is the  primary source of  positioning information in sea navigation. In 
the case of Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) vessels: all passenger ships, cargo ships larger than 500 gross 
tonnage or larger than 300 tons if engaged on international voyages are regulated and rely heavily on 
GNSS to support navigation activities. At least 3 devices are typically fitted on vessels for redundancy 
reasons.

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APPLICATION DESCRIPTIONS
Annex 3: List of applications
Navigation through sea ice: In combination with GNSS positioning information, ice maps generated 
using EO data enable navigation applications which automatically avoid waters with high iceberg 
concentrations, allowing ships to sail faster and more safely through open waters. Reflections 
of satellite navigation signals collected in space can be used to accurately map the extent of the sea ice 
in the Arctic and Antarctic.
Ship route optimisation: Real-time or near real-time monitoring of water depth, winds, waves and 
currents using EO data enables navigation applications to chart the best routes taking into consideration 
current ocean conditions, leading to time and fuel savings. GNSS positioning information constitutes an 
essential layer of information for the efficiency, safety and optimization of maritime transportation. 
PORTS
GNSS automated port operations: GNSS positioning supports automation of operations at ports and 
intermodal hubs.
Piloting assist at ports: EO data on port traffic and metocean conditions is used to complement in situ 
data to support Vessel Traffic Management,  enabling safer and more efficient piloting of vessels in 
busy port environments. Real-time navigation information (based on GNSS) provides pilots with greater 
control, safety and accuracy during port approach and manoeuvres. 
Port navigation devices: Transit progress, docking and loading-unloading operations are monitored 
through GNSS-based technologies. 
Portable Pilot Units (PPUs): PPUs are professional, portable devices used by maritime pilots to 
navigate vessels through narrow passages such as locks and ports. Used together with the vessel’s 
bridge and interfaced with high-accuracy GNSS, PPUs make docking of large marine vessels by pilots 
safer and more time and fuel efficient.
Port safety: EO data provides an overview of port traffic and berth estimations, allowing for risk models 
to be created. These assess the risk of damage at the port cause by adverse events such as extreme 
weather, congestion or oil spills. This enables port officials to take risk mitigation measures and to plan 
for safety when developing port infrastructures. The safety of port terminal operations is ensured by 
GNSS positioning information.
Port security: EO data contributes to enhanced situational awareness with the goal to prevent crime 
or any illicit good entering or exiting the country. High resolution SAR data for instance enables port 
authorities to access most recent information on changes in cargo and passenger ports, tracking vessels, 
estimating amount of stored goods.
Vessel docking: With the  necessary centimetre positioning/speed accuracy (covering the  complete 
port/ harbour zone), docking assist systems provide efficient and safe manoeuvring within the entire 
port area. This enhances vessel trajectory and facilitates the constant monitoring for moored/docked 
vessels. 
OCEAN SERVICES
Metocean (meteorology over oceans, and offshore weather and sea state monitoring): EO can provide 
data for quality meteorology over oceans (offshore weather and sea state monitoring) complemented 
with near-real-time data collection of variables such as wave height and frequency, wind speed and 
direction and ocean current velocity on global and regional scales. 
RECREATIONAL CRAFT
Recreational navigation: GNSS-based systems for maritime navigation are widespread not only across 
commercial, but also recreational vessels. They are used both for overseas and high traffic areas.
VESSEL TRACKING
Dark vessel monitoring: GNSS-enabled Long-Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) as well as AIS 
or VMS provide the means to monitor and track suspicious vessels. When those vessels turn off or 
disable their own AIS or VMS, EO data is able to provide enhanced situational awareness that can be 
used by dedicated maritime authorities to monitor and track ‘dark vessels’ through EO imagery and 
SAR data.

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APPLICATION DESCRIPTIONS
Annex 3: List of applications
RAIL
ATTRACTIVENESS ENHANCEMENT
Passenger information systems: GNSS is used to provide enhanced passenger services such as real-
time location and speed of trains along their route during a journey. Increasingly, GNSS location of trains 
is also supporting platform and online passenger information services. 
Public transport – tram and light rail: Currently, GNSS is mainly used in smart mobility applications 
to optimise the network capacity by managing tram locations or to provide real time information to 
passengers such as the estimated arrival time of a tram at a designated station. GNSS has started to 
be used for advanced applications, such as automatic speed limitation, ensuring that the tram speed is 
lower than a customer-defined speed limit in a specific area. It is also used for maintenance or onboard 
energy management, ensuring that the  tram’s on-board battery has sufficient energy level before 
passing a section without external power supply.  
MAINTENANCE IMPROVEMENT
Condition-based maintenance: Continuous monitoring of assets movement, performance and potential 
damage is used to detect when specific item maintenance is needed based on the defined conditions. 
GNSS is increasingly seen as a standard source of location and timing information in these systems.
Infrastructure monitoring: Very high resolution EO satellites data are used in order to detect 
encroaching vegetation, landslides or track deformation.
Predictive maintenance: Models relying on continuous location and asset performance monitoring are 
developed in order to fine-tune maintenance schedules. GNSS is increasingly seen as a standard source 
of location and timing information in these systems.
SAFETY RELATED
Enhanced Command & Control Systems (CCS): In main lines with high traffic density, GNSS can be 
an additional source of data to improve train command and control systems such as the European Train 
Control System (ETCS) and the Positive Train Control (PTC). In low density lines, GNSS can support 
the  provision of  a  signalling system. For both, it allows cost saving which can be vital to ensure 
the viability of the rail service.
Trackside personnel protection systems: Workers must be warned of an approaching train. GNSS 
location information is used as a  complement to existing procedures for enhanced tools deployed 
alongside the train tracks or added information provided to the stakeholders.
TRAIN DRIVING OPTIMISATION
Driver Advisory Systems (DAS): The  real-time location provided by GNSS is used to help drivers 
operate their trains. The  goal of  DAS is to enable train operation optimisation by providing driver 
assistance.
Rail fleet management: Train location provided by GNSS could be used to perform fleet analysis in 
order to optimise the use of locomotives and railway cars and to properly size rail fleets. 
ROAD & AUTOMOTIVE
FLEET MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
Bike sharing: Bike sharing and especially free-floating bike sharing systems rely on GNSS to locate 
the bike across the city by both end users and the bike-sharing service provider. 
Public transport – buses: Public transit agencies use GNSS receivers in buses to track their location 
in real-time to display their position on a map in the control centre and their expected arrival times on 
digital displays at bus stops.
Road Fleet management: Fleet management on-board units (OBUs) transmit GNSS positioning 
information through telematics to support transport operators in monitoring the  performance 
of logistics activities. This application is used within cars that form a so-called fleet such as taxi’s rental 
cars and cars used for sharing schemes. It is also adopted by commercial vehicle fleet owners. As 
subset, dangerous goods tracking  is done by transmitting GNSS-based positioning data on the vehicles 
carrying them, together with other information about the status of the cargo.
LIABILITY
Insurance telematics: Black boxes rely on GNSS data to increase the fairness of motor insurance for 
both insurers and subscribers. The basic idea behind such schemes is that in combination with other 
car sensor data, GNSS positioning information is used by insurance companies to monitor a driver’s 
behaviour and assess the risk (e.g., of having an accident) in order to calculate the insurance premium 
that should be charged to each individual.
Road User Charging (RUC): GNSS-OBUs support toll operators in charging levies for the use of roads 
and for congestion control. GNSS-based solutions are designed to charge motorists for the  actual 
distance travelled, without barriers or gantries, and provide interoperability between national cross-
border schemes.
Smart tachograph: Smart tachographs leverage GNSS positioning to support road enforcers by 
recording the position and time of the vehicle at different points during the working day.
SAFETY RELATED
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS): ADAS are developed to adapt vehicle systems for safety 
and eco driving. Safety features are designed to avoid collisions and accidents by offering technologies 
that alert the driver to potential problems, or to avoid collisions by implementing safeguards and taking 
over control of the vehicle. 
Connected and Automated Driving (CAD): CAD enabled by GNSS positioning information feeds 
technologies allowing road vehicles to exchange information between other vehicles and their 
surroundings. This contributes to the creation of integrated connected platforms supporting mobility 
services. In the upcoming years, these will become automated, removing the driver from the driving seat 
and having a set of technologies including GNSS to guide and operate the vehicle.

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APPLICATION DESCRIPTIONS
Annex 3: List of applications
Emergency assistance: The  pan-European eCall and other systems, such as the  ERA-GLONASS 
in Russia, send a  message including location to emergency response centres in case of  accident, 
accelerating assistance to drivers. 
SMART MOBILITY
Navigation (IVS & PND): Navigation is the  most widespread application, providing turn-by-turn 
indications to drivers through portable navigation devices (PNDs) and in-vehicle systems (IVS) built in 
cars.
Congestion control: Satellite road traffic monitoring services collect floating car location data 
from vehicles through PNDs, IVS and mobile devices. The traffic information is then processed and 
distributed to users and other interested parties. Remote sensing data can be used as an additional 
layer of information for monitoring traffic flows.
Driving comfort: Mobility platforms combining various data sources to provide real-time information 
(i.e. ground sensors, remote sensing data, historical data) , as well as predictions e.g., meteorological 
forecasts for end users on road conditions ahead. This information will enable users (through the vehicle 
navigation system) to plan and navigate most optimal routes. 
URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND CULTURAL HERITAGE
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING
Air quality monitoring in urban environments: Using satellite data and in-situ measurements, EO can 
support detecting, collecting, and interpreting information on a multitude of air pollutants, including 
their origins, movement, and expected health risks.
Light pollution: Night-time light observations can be performed using EO, e.g., to measure human 
activities, indicators of urbanisation and electrification, as well as health effects coming from light 
pollution.
Thermal auditing: EO provides thermal imagery allowing to measure buildings’ efficiency and to detect 
thermal defects in these, both during construction (for acceptance of works) as well as for thermal 
audits of existing buildings.
Urban greening: EO and GNSS can be used to monitor vegetation cover, the health of green space 
vegetation as well as precise definition, positioning and monitoring green space infrastructure.
Urban heat islands: EO can support mapping temperatures and temperature variations across urban 
areas, e.g., as a means to alert health authorities of related risks for specific demographic groups.
SMART CITIES OPERATIONS
Smart streetlights: Smart street lights incorporate precise GNSS positioning data, in addition to other 
technologies such as cameras and photocealls, to remotely control the output of individual streetlights, 
detect faults, monitor energy performance. They also facilitate real time alerts for city-wide problems 
including traffic flow, parking spaces, electrical outages, and possible accidents.
Smart waste management: GNSS can be used in smart waste management by precisely positioning 
waste containers, thereby helping in the monitoring and collection planning of waste. 
URBAN PLANNING AND MONITORING
Cultural heritage monitoring: cultural heritage, including monuments, spaces, and cultural 
infrastructure can be supported by means of EO, both to assess (e.g. structural) conditions as well as 
disruptions (e.g. illegal construction, violation of preservation orders).
Informal dwellings: EO enables detection of illegal structures outside of planning as well as violations 
of property lines.
Real estate: EO data are enabling increased situational awareness for real estate actors as part of the 
planning or monitoring phases. This includes supporting valuation of land or property, monitoring the 
evolution or real estate property projects or developing analyses and risk assessments for hazard-
prone locations.

208
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APPLICATION DESCRIPTIONS
Annex 3: List of applications
Surveying and mapping: EO can support mapping of urban land use and land cover and is able to 
classify built structures including building height and urban infrastructure such as roads. GNSS-based 
cadastral surveying and mapping help in precisely defining and measuring specific location points 
of interest for cartographic and urban planning purposes (all GNSS cadastral and mapping devices 
are being quantified under this application, regardless of where they are used e.g., non-urban areas, 
Energy and Raw Materials, Infrastructures). Both EO and GNSS power GIS applications for surveying 
and mapping of urban areas. 
Urban modelling, 3D modelling, Digital Twins: EO data can serve as input to digital surface models, 
enabling simulations, including shadow effects or street canyon effects. The creation of so-called digital 
twins of e.g., cities would enable the visualization, monitoring and forecasting of natural and human 
activity in support of sustainable development. GNSS can help in precisely defining and measuring 
specific location points of interest for urban and 3D modelling purposes.
Urban planning: EO can measure urban footprints including sprawl, density, and sealed surfaces. It can 
also measure change such as increase or decrease of urban deprivation. This information can in turn be 
used to help inform and plan future urban developments. 
SPACE
Though GNSS was originally designed to serve terrestrial users, it has also proven its worth as 
a valuable tool for in-space applications. From using real-time GNSS data for spacecraft navigation to 
deriving EO measurements from it, in-space applications are numerous. 
ACTING/SUPPORTING MISSION PAYLOADS
Scientific & Operational Missions (SOM): In the case of scientific missions, GNSS receivers can be used 
as a mission payload, providing input to study physical elements, through characteristics of the GNSS SIS 
measurements (e.g., radio occultation, altimetry analyses, TEC assessment). In the case of operational 
missions, GNSS receivers can be used to support the acquisition of information for commercial purposes 
(e.g., taking and selling Earth Images/Observation Data).
Technology Demonstration (TechD): Using GNSS aboard a spacecraft to demonstrate its scientific 
interest is the first step to assess its potential use with respect to other conventional technologies. An 
example of this type of use is the so called GNSS Reflectometry (GNSS-R), which consists of making 
measurements of the reflections of navigation signals from GNSS from the Earth.
DEEP SPACE APPLICATIONS
Lunar Transfer Orbit (LTO): Beyond the GEO orbits (e.g.,, translunar trajectories), the use of multi-
constellation capabilities aboard spacecraft may allow the  user to cope with limited visibility and 
availability, taking advantages of GNSS signals coming from the opposite side of the Earth.
NAVIGATION AND CONTROL SUBSYSTEM
Attitude Determination (AD): Space missions’ success often rely on the  pointing accuracy and 
the stability of its payloads. Being accurately aware of the vehicle’s orientation in space allows to apply 
– if needed – the necessary torques to obtain the desired attitude. Furthermore, several small satellites 
rely on passive attitude control, and the GNSS-based attitude information – in support to other sensors 
– is important for the mission (e.g., precise communication data link among satellites, precise pointing 
direction of a camera to acquire images of a determined area, etc.).
Precise Orbit Determination (POD): Accurate and autonomous determination of the absolute Position, 
Velocity and Time (PVT) of the vehicle, whose initial position is unknown, allows potential correction 
of its orbital trajectory. GNSS POD has grown in importance and established itself as one of the common 
techniques to determine the trajectories of satellites in LEO. Such GNSS-based information can also be 
used to perform “Rendezvous & Docking”, “Formation Flying” or “GEO Station keeping”. 
Space Timing and Synchronisation (S-T&S): The need for highly precise timing information obtained 
through GNSS is relevant in space both for data time stamping (providing a direct and accurate access 
to the UTC) and synchronisation (e.g., between receivers at different locations) – reducing dependency 
on very expensive on-board clocks. These two applications serve as core of data collection in most 
satellite missions, including EO or communication. Similar to positioning information, timing can be used 
both independently and in conjunction with other data to support more complex tasks.

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EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report | Issue 1, 2022
ACRONYMS
Annex 4: List of acronyms
2D
Two Dimensional
B2B
Business-to-Business
COTS
Commercial Off-The-Shelf
3D
Three Dimensional
BDPS
Beacon Distress Positioning Sharing Service
COVID19
Coronavirus disease
3GPP
3rd Generation Partnership Project
BIM
Building Information Modelling
CSCDA
Copernicus Space Component Data Access system
4D
Four Dimensional - Temporal Dimension
BVLOS
Beyond Visual Line of Sight
CSS
Copernicus Security Service
5D
Fifth Dimensional - Real-time extraction in virtual model
C3S
Copernicus Climate Change Service 
DAA
Detect and Avoid 
5G
Fifth-generation of mobile telecommunications technology
CAGR
Compound Annual Growth Rate
DCN
Digital Cellular Network
A4E
Airlines for Europe
CAMS
Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service 
DFMC
Dual Frequency Multi Constellation services
AAQS
Ambient Air Quality Standards
CANSO
Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation
DIAS
Data and Information Access Services
AD
Attitude Determination
CAP
Common Agricultural Policy 
DLT
Distributed Ledger Technology 
ADS
Autonomous Driving System
CAS
Commercial Authentication Service
DO
Drought Observatory
ADS-B
Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast
CASA
Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis
DSM
Digital Surface Model
AED
Automated External Defibrillator
CCO
continuous climb operations 
DSRC
Dedicated Short-Range Communications
Agtech
Agricultural technology
CDO
continuous descent operations 
DTSC
Digitial Twins of Smart Cities
AI
Artificial Intelligence
CEMS
Copernicus Emergency Management Service
E112
GNSS-supported emergency call
AIRE
Airlines International Representation in Europe
CEN
European Committee for Standardisation
EARSC
European Association of Remote Sensing Companies
AIS
Automatic Identification System
CENELEC
European Electrotechnical Committee for Standardisation
EASA
European Union Aviation Safety Agency 
AIS-MOB
AIS-Man Overboard
CI
Critical Infrastructure
EC
European Commission
AIS-SART
AIS-Search and Rescue Transmitter
CIMR
Copernicus Imaging Microwave Radiometer
EC
Electronic Conspicuity
AMIS
Agricultural Market Information System
CIS
common information services 
ECA
European Compliance Assurance
AQGs
Air Quality Guidelines
CLMS
Copernicus Land Monitoring Service 
ECMWF
European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts
AR
Augmented Reality
CMEMS
Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service 
EDAS
EGNOS Data Access Service 
ARAIM
Advanced Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring
CNS
Communication, navigation and surveillance
EDO
European Drought Observatory
ASC
Aquaculture Stewardship Council
cOBC
Constellation On-Board Computer
EEA
European Environment Agency
ATC
Air Traffic Control 
CODA
Copernicus Online Data Access
EFAS
European Flood Awareness System
ATIS
Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions
COSPAS-
-SARSAT
Cosmicheskaya Sistyema Poiska Avariynich Sudov/Search 
And Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking
EFCA
European Fisheries Control Agency

210
ANNEXES
ACRONYMS
Annex 4: List of acronyms
EFFIS
European Forest Fire Information System
EUSPA
European Agency for the Space Programme 
GNSS-RO
GNSS Radio Occultation
EGMS
European Ground Motion Service
FAO
Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations
GOFC-Fi-
re IT
Global Observation of Forest Cover - Fire Implementation 
Team
EGNOS
European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service
FCC
Federal Communications Commission
GOFC-
-GOLD
Global Observation of Forest Cover - Global Observation 
of Land Dynamics
EGNSS
European Global Navigation Satellite System
FFO
Full, Free and Open 
GOVSAT-
COM
governmental satellite communications 
EHA
European Helicopter Association
FINRA
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
GPR
Ground Penetration Radar
ELT
Emergency Locator Transmitter
FIs
Financial Institutions
GPS
Global Positioning System
ELT-DT
ELT Distress Tracking
FLARM
flight alarm'
GTOS
Global Terrestrial Observing System
EMSA
European Maritime Safety Agency
FMC
Fishing Monitoring Centre
GWIS
Global Wildfire Information System
ENVISAT
ENVIronmental SATellite
FP6
Sixth Framework Programme
H2020
Horizon 2020 (Research and Innovation Programme by the 
European Commission
EO
Earth Observation
FRONTEX
European Border and Coast Guard Agency
H2H
Hull-to-Hull
EO4EA
Earth Observation for Ecosystem Accounting
GADSS
Global Aeronautical Distress & Safety System
HAB
Harmful Algae Bloom
EO4SD
Earth Observation for Sustainable Development
GAGAN
Indian SBAS
HAS
High Accuracy Service 
EPIRB
Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon
GAST-D
GBAS Approach Service Type D 
HEMS
Helicopter Emergency Medical Services 
ERA
European Regions Airline Association
GAST-F
GBAS Approach Service Type F
HERA
Health Emergency Response Authority
ERTMS
European Railway Transport Management System
GBAS
Ground Based Augmentation System
HPC
High Performance Computing 
ESA
European Space Agency
GDO
Global Drought Observatory
HQ
Headquarters
ESG
Enviroonmantal, Social, and Governance
GEF
Global Environment Facility
HR
High Resolution
ESMA
European Securities and Markets Authority
GEO
Geosynchronous Equatorial Orbit (geostationary orbit)
IADC
Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee
ETC
Electronic Toll Collection
GEOSAR
Geostationary Orbit Search and Rescue
IATA
International Air Transport Association
ETC/CCA
European Topic Centre on Climate Change Impacts, 
Vulnerability and Adaptation
GHG
Greenhouse Gases
ICAO
International Civil Aviation Organization
ETCS
European Train Control System
GIS
Geographic Information System
ICT
Information and Communication Technology
EU
European Union
GloFAS
Global Flood Awareness System
IGS SSR
International GNSS Service standards
EU SatCen
European Union Satellite Centre
GLONASS
Global'naya Navigatsionnaya Sputnikovaya  / GNSS by the 
Russian Federation
IISD
International Institute for Sustainable Development
EUMETSAT European Organisation for the Exploitation of 
Meteorological Satellites
GMES
Global Monitoring for Environment and Security
IMO
International Maritime Organisation
EUROCAE
European Organisation for Civil Aviation Equipment 
GNSS
Global Navigation Satellite System
IMPEL
Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law

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ACRONYMS
Annex 4: List of acronyms
IMU
Internal Measurement Unit
MiFiD II
Markets in Financial Instruments Directive
PMR
Professional Mobile Radio
INI
Own-Initiative Procedure
ML
Machine Learning
PMU
Phasor Measurement Unit
InSAR
Interferometric Synthetic Aperature Radar
MODIS
Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer
PND
Personal Navigation Device
IOC
Initial Operational Capability 
MOPS
minimum operational performance specifications
PNT
Positioning, Navigation and Timing 
IoS
In-Orbit Satellite
MSAS
Japanese Satellite Based Augmentation System
POCs
Proof-of-Concepts
IoT
Internet of Things 
MSC
Maritime Safety Committee
POD
Precise Orbit Determination
IPCC
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
MTG-S
Meteosat Third Generation (Sounding)
PPP
Precise Point Positioning
ITU
International Telecommunications Union
MTO
Translunar Trajectory
PPPs
Public-Private Partnerships
IUU
Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing
NASA
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
PRC
People's Republic of China
IVS
In-Vehicle Systems 
NavIC
Navigation with Indian Constellation/Indian Regional 
Navigation Satellite System
PRS
Public Regulated Service
KIC
Knowledge and Innovation Community
NBS
Nature-based Solutions
PSD2
Directive of Payment Services
LDACS
L-band Digital Aeronautical Communications System 
NEO
Near-Earth Objects
PSTN
Public-Switched Telephone Network
LEO
Low Earth Orbit
NFMS
National Forest Monitoring System
PVs
Photovoltaics
LEOSAR
Low Earth Orbit Search and Rescue
NG112
New Generation of E112
PVT
Position Velocity Time
LiDAR
Light Detection and Ranging 
NGO
Non-Governmental Organisation
QNH
Question Nil Height (measurement; pressure at sea-level; 
aviation)
LPV
Localiser Performance with Vertical Guidance 
NOAA
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association
QZSS
Quasi-Zenith Satellite System/regional navigation satellite 
system commissioned by the Japanese Government
LTE
Long Term Evolution
NSP
Navigation System Panel 
R&D
Research and development
LUCAS
Land Use/Cover Area frame Survey
NTRIP
Networked Transport of RTCM via Internet Protocol
R&I
Research and Innovation 
MaaS
Mobility-as-a-Service
OCHA
United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian 
Affairs
RACE
Rapid Action on COVID-19 and EO
MASS
Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships
ODA
Oracle Database Appliance
RBA
Remote Beacon Activation
MBDs
Mosquito-Borne Diseases
OS
Open Service
RF
Radio Frequency
MEO
Medium Earth Orbit
OSNMA
Open Service Navigation Message Authentication
RFI
Radio Frequency Interference
MEOLUT
Medium Earth Orbit Local user Terminal
PBN
Performance-based navigation
RIN
Royal Institute of Navigation
MEOSAR
Medium Earth Orbit Satellites Search and Rescue System
PinS
Point in Space
RLM
Return Link Message
Metop-SG
Meteorological Operational Satellite - Second Generation
PLB
Personal Locator Beacon
RLS
Return Link Service

212
ANNEXES
ACRONYMS
Annex 4: List of acronyms
RNSS
Radio Navigation Satellite Services
SST
Space Surveillance and Tracking
UNIDO
United Nations Industrial Development Organisation
RNTF
Resilient Navigation and Timing Foundation
S-T&S
Space Timing and Synchronisation
USA
United States of America
RTCM
Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services
STM
Space Traffic Management
USGS
United States Geological Survey
RTK
Real-Time Kinematics
SUGUS
Solution for EGNSS U-Space Service
USSP
U-Space Service providers 
RUC
Road User Charging
SVS
Synthetic Vision Systems 
UTC
Coordinated Universal Time
SaaS
Synchronisation-as-a-Service
SWE
Space Weather
UTM
Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management
SAE levels
Society of Automotive Engineers setting levels for 
autonomous driving
T&S
Timing and Synchronisation
UV
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation
SAR
Search and Rescue Service 
TaaS
Time-as-a-Service
V2X
Vehicle to everything
SAR
Synthetic Aperture Radar
TAWS
Terrain Awareness Warning Systems 
VAAC
volcanic ash advisory centres
SATCOM
Satellite communications
TechD
Technology Demonstration
VAS
Value-added Service
SBAS
Satellite-Based Augmentation Systems 
TEWS
Tsunami Early Warning Systems
VBDs
Vector-Borne Diseases
SCADA
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
TGV
High-Speed Train
VDES
VHF Data Exchange System
SDCM
System for Differential Corrections and Monitoring 
(Russian SBAS)
TSI
Technical Specifications for Interoperability
VFR
Visual flight rules
SDG
Sustainable Development Goals 
TTFF
Time To First Fix 
VHF
Very High Frequency
SDI
Spatial Data Infrastructures
TWC
Two-Way Communication
VHR
Very High Resolution
SESAR
Single European Sky ATM Research
UAM
Urban Air Mobility
VIIRS
Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite
SIS
Sectoral Information System
UAS
Unmanned Aircraft Systems
VLL
Very Low Level 
SiS
Signal-in-Space
UAT
Universal Access Transceiver 
VMS
Vessel monitoring system
SLAM
Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping
UAV
Unmanned aerial vehicle
WAAS
Wide Area Augmentation System
SME
Small and Medium-sized Enterprise
UCP
User Consultation Platform 
WFD
Water Framework Directive
SNAS
Satellite Navigation Augmentation System (PRC)
UHI
Urban Heath Island
WG
Working Group
SoL
Safety of Life Service 
UITP
International Association of Public Transport
WHO
World Health Organisation
SOM
Scientific and Operational Missions
UK
United Kingdom
Wi-Fi
Wireless Fidelity
SRTM
Shuttle Radar Topography Mission
UN
United Nations
SSA
Space Situational Awareness
UNESCO
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural 
Organisation

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Annex 5: About the authors
The European Commission
The European Commission (EC) and more specifically the Directorate-
General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS) has overall 
responsibility for the implementation of the Union Space Programme 
and its components (Galileo, EGNOS, Copernicus, GOVSATCOM and 
SSA). 
This includes:
• Overseeing the implementation of all activities related to the programme;
• Defining its priorities and long-term evolution;
• Managing the funds allocated to the programme;
• Ensuring a  clear division of  responsibilities and tasks, in particular between the  EU Agency for 
the Space Programme and the European Space Agency;
• Ensuring proper reporting on the programme to the Member States of the EU, the European Parliament 
and the Council of the European Union.
The EU Space Programme is fully financed by the European Union.
DG DEFIS further contributes to shaping the EU space policy and fostering a strong, innovative and 
resilient EU space ecosystem. It supports the emergence of New Space in the EU, including SMEs and 
new entrants, fosters entrepreneurship and access to finance, and contributes to the growth of the EU 
space industry. 
DG DEFIS promotes EU space research fostering a cost-effective, competitive and innovative space 
industry and research community. It ensures that space technology, services and applications meet EU 
policy needs, and the R&I needs of the EU Space Programme. It also ensures that the EU can access and 
use space with a high level of autonomy.
The EU space policy addresses some of the most pressing challenges facing the EU today, such as 
fighting climate change, supporting EU’s priorities, whilst strongly contributing to the green and digital 
transitions and to the resilience of the Union.
The European Union Agency  
for the Space Programme
As a European Union Agency, EUSPA’s mission is to implement 
the  first integrated EU Space Programme and multiply 
the benefits generated by space data and services for citizens, 
businesses and governments.
As a European Union Agency, EUSPA’s mission is to implement the first integrated EU Space 
Programme and multiply the benefits generated by space data and services for citizens, businesses 
and governments.
As a body of the EU, the Agency contributes to EU´s priorities: Green Deal and digital transition, 
the safety and security of the Union and its citizens, while reinforcing its autonomy and resilience.
EUSPA:
• Delivers safe, state-of-the-art, European satellite-based services to a  growing group of  users in 
Europe and around the world.
• Promotes the use of space data and services from Galileo, EGNOS, Copernicus and GOVSATCOM. 
• Ensures the safety and security of the EU Space Programme assets both in space and on the ground.
• Supports innovation along the whole value chain of business development for companies, start-ups, 
innovators and academia. 
The authors would like to convey special thanks to the contributors to this report:
• VVA Group
• EGIS
• Evenflow
• FDC
• LE Europe
• Université Gustave Eiffel

© 2022 European Union Agency for the Space Programme 
Copyright note: This information can be republished without charge provided the EU Agency for the Space 
Programme (EUSPA) is acknowledged. If you do republish, we would be grateful if you link back to 
the EUSPA website (www.euspa.europa.eu). 
ISBN 978-92-9206-059-6
TS TS-AB-22-001-EN-N
EUSPA Mission Statement
The mission of the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is defined by the EU Space Programme Regulation. EUSPA’s mission is to be the user-oriented operational Agency of the EU 
Space Programme, contributing to sustainable growth, security and safety of the European Union.
Its goal is to:
• Provide long-term, state-of-the-art safe and secure Galileo and EGNOS positioning, navigation and timing services and cost-effective satellite communications services for GOVSATCOM, whilst ensuring 
service continuity and robustness; 
• Communicate, promote, and develop the market for data, information and services offered by Galileo, EGNOS, Copernicus and GOVSATCOM; 
• Provide space-based tools and services to enhance the safety of the Union and its Member States. In particular, to support PRS usage across the EU; 
• Implement and monitor the security of the EU Space Programme and to assist in and be the reference for the use of the secured services, enhancing the security of the Union and its Member States; 
• Contribute to fostering a competitive European industry for Galileo, EGNOS, and GOVSATCOM, reinforcing the autonomy, including technological autonomy, of the Union and its Member States; 
• Contribute to maximising the socio-economic benefits of the EU Space Programme by fostering the development of a competitive and innovative downstream industry for Galileo, EGNOS, and Copernicus, 
leveraging also Horizon Europe, other EU funding mechanisms and innovative procurement mechanisms; 
• Contribute to fostering the development of a wider European space ecosystem, with a particular focus on innovation, entrepreneurship and start-ups, and reinforcing know-how in Member States and 
Union regions.
The European Union Agency for the Space Programme: linking space to user needs.
@space4eu
EUSPA
@EU4Space
EU4Space
EUSPA
market@euspa.europa.eu
www.euspa.europa.eu