Earth observations : EU research.
Date: 2013-11-28
Institutions: Directorate-General for Research and Innovation
Subjects: EU research policy, earth sciences, environmental monitoring, environmental research, research and development

EU research

Earth Observations

Research and 
Innovation

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Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2013

ISBN 978-92-79-32321-8 
doi:10.2777/31009

©  European Union, 2013
Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged.

Images:  Cover  :  ©  JohanSwanepoel  #45283854,  2013.  Source:  Fotolia.com.  Inner  cover:  ©Anthony  McAulay#34407997, 
2013 Source: Fotolia.com. Section 1: © Stein Manø, 2007. Section 2: ©Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson, 2011. Section 3: © Sergey 
Nivens, #55215909, 2013. Source: Fotolia.com.

1 

Measuring the Earth:  
Building a Global Earth Observation 
System of Systems

The Earth’s atmosphere, oceans and landscapes are changing rapidly, with human 
activities being a major driver. Monitoring and modelling these changes are critical 
because they allow governments, society and the private sector to make informed 
decisions about climate, energy, food security, natural hazards, health and other 
societal challenges.

the  Group  of  Eight 

Recognising the growing need for improved Earth 
observations,  and  building  on  work  carried  out 
during  the  2002  World  Summit  on  Sustainable 
Development, 
leading 
industrialised  countries  (G8)  meetings  and  three 
the 
Earth  Observation  Ministerial  Summits, 
intergovernmental  Group  on  Earth  Observations 
(GEO) was established in 2005. GEO is a voluntary 
partnership  of  governments  and  international 
organisations. It provides a framework where these 
partners can develop new projects and coordinate 
their  strategies  and  investments.  GEO’s  main 
role  is  to  develop  and  implement  a  Global  Earth 
Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). GEOSS 
aims  to  integrate  environmental  observation, 
monitoring  data  and  measurements  in  order  to 
improve  environmental  decision-making.  This  is 
carried out with a view to building a future where 
decisions  and  actions  affecting  mankind  are 
taken based on information retrieved from Earth 
observation systems.

GEOSS and research priorities 

The  EU’s  Seventh  Framework  Programme  is 
funding  research  and  innovation  which  supports 
the  development  and 
integration  of  GEOSS 
for  environment  and  sustainable  development 
purposes.

GEOSS  was  designed  to  “achieve  comprehensive 
coordinated  and  sustained  observations  of  the 
Earth  system,”  by  linking  together  planned  and 
current  observing  systems,  and  improving  the 
integration of, and access to, data and information 
from hundreds of thousands of individual systems 
and platforms. 

More specifically, GEOSS focuses on nine Societal 
Challenges which aim to empower societies by 
helping them to protect citizens from natural 
and  human  induced  hazards;  understand  the 
environmental sources of health hazards; manage 
energy resources; respond to climate change and 
its impacts; improve weather forecasts; safeguard 
water  resources;  manage  ecosystems;  promote 
sustainable agriculture, and conserve biodiversity. 

To  fulfil  these  objectives,  GEO  promotes  access 
to Earth Observation (EO) data by businesses, 
scientists and citizens. This is done by building 
on its Data Sharing Principles, which aim to develop 
consistent data sharing practices at international 
level and provide unrestricted access to more than 
one million free and open environmental resources 
through GEOSS.

2

Empowering societies

Through collaboration with scientists in organised research projects, citizens can 
provide  valuable  information  that  can  be  used  to  develop  and  deliver  policies, 
improve understanding and find solutions to some of the environmental challenges 
facing society today.

Scientists, public agencies and the private sector 
already collect many kinds of environmental data 
that can be used for the benefit of mankind. The 
Global Earth Observation System of Systems is 
observing our planet, and gathering information 
from  around  the  globe  using  space-based, 
airborne,  marine  and  terrestrial  monitoring 
systems.  Recent 
innovations 
now make it possible for citizens to participate 
actively  in  collecting  data  and  monitoring  their 

technological 

Engaging citizens  
for better cities
CITI-SENSE will develop and test an environmental 
monitoring and information system focused on 

atmospheric pollution in cities and agglomerations. The 

system will be used to test environmental exposure and 

health associated with air quality, noise and development 

of public spaces, and indoor air at schools. Citizens will 

be made aware of the issues and ,using state-of-the-

art technology, will be able to provide feedback on the 

different areas which could be used by policy-makers.

environment. This allows them to play a role in 
community  decision-making  and  planning  with 
governments and local authorities.

Citizens’ observatories

the 

FP7  is  funding  research  on  community-based 
environmental monitoring and information systems 
using  innovative  and  novel  earth  observation 
applications  – 
citizens’  observatories. 
These  ‘citizens’  observatories’  will  include  data 
collection,  interpretation  and  information  delivery 
systems.  This  will  require  the  development  of 
highly  innovative  monitoring  technologies,  like 
low-cost  micro-sensors  that  can  be  inserted 
in  smartphones.  Citizens  will  be  able  to  collect 
environmental data using a wide range of methods 
and  automatically  transmit  this  data  to  suitable 
data repositories. They will also be able to share 
their knowledge and experience with the Citizens’ 
Observatory framework which enables citizenship 
co-participation in community decision-making.

The EU funded project WeSenseIt is developing 
a  citizen-based  observatory  on  water,  which 
will  allow  citizens  and  communities  to  become 
active stakeholders in water information capture, 
evaluation and communication. It focuses on the 
multiple factors responsible for triggering floods 
and droughts.

Another  project,  OMNISCIENTIS,  addresses 
odour  pollution,  which  is  hard  to  measure 
objectively  and,  so,  cannot  be  regulated  like 
other  pollutants.  Through  an  environmental 
information management system with the active 
participation of citizens, authorities and industry, 
citizens  in  particular  can  make  an  important 
contribution  by  inputting  their  own  perceptions 
of odours via tablet, smartphone or the Internet. 
This information will give both public authorities 
and the industry-source of the odours a better 
basis for informed local action.

Protecting citizens from natural  
and human induced hazards

3

Disaster risk and vulnerability are increasing in many regions of the world. Natural 
hazards  are  a  major  cause  of  loss  of  life  and  property,  and  affect  key  natural 
resources.  There  is  an  urgent  need  to  proceed  with  long-term  monitoring  and 
studying  of  European  reference  sites  located  in  high-risk  seismic  and  volcanic 
areas as well as zones prone to landslides.

losses 

can  be 

Disaster-induced 
reduced 
through  the  timely,  accurate  and  reliable 
provision of Earth observation data. To support 
disaster management, it is essential to provide 
information  through  coordinated  systems  in 
order  to  contribute  to  monitoring,  predicting, 
risk  assessment,  early  warning,  mitigating 
and  responding  to  hazards.  The  Global  Earth 
Observation System of Systems aims to achieve 
just this.

Forecasting disaster:  
The Supersites initiative

The  EU,  through  its  cooperation  with  GEO,  the 
research community and SMEs, has a long-track 
record  of  investing  in  scientific  research  and 
in  application  development  using  EO  data  to 
support geohazard risk management. One area 
of research which the EU is supporting is the GEO 
international  research  initiative  on  Supersites, 
which monitors and studies key regions or areas 
prone to natural hazards. 

initiative  will  provide 

The  Supersites 
the 
foundations  for  Earth  observation  and  open 
access to data on areas which are geologically 
sensitive or vulnerable to natural disasters. 

The EU funded project MARsite focuses on the 
area around the Marmara Sea, one of the most 
densely populated parts of Europe, with a history 
of  high  seismic  activity.  The  project  assesses 
the  state-of-the-art  seismic  risk  evaluation 
and  management.  This  will  help  scientists  to 
develop  new  concepts  for  risk  mitigation  and 
management. 

Millions of people are exposed to potential volcanic 
hazards  in  a  large  region  in  the  Mediterranean 
Sea, where two of the largest European volcanic 
areas  are  located:  Mt.  Etna  and  Campi  Flegrei/
Vesuvius  in  Italy.  The  MED-SUV  project,  which 
is  also  part  of  the  Supersites  initiative,  will 
enhance scientific knowledge with regard to the 
assessment  of  volcanic  hazards  by  optimising 
and integrating existing and new observation and 
monitoring systems.

A breakthrough  
in volcanic monitoring
FUTUREVOLC aims to establish an integrated volcanological 
monitoring network, develop new methods to evaluate 

volcanic crises, increase scientific understanding of magmatic 

processes and improve delivery of relevant information to 

civil protection and other authorities. The project will try to 

find ways to mitigate the effects of major eruptions that pose 

cross-border hazards by tapping into the expertise of national 

authorities such as the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre and the 

Civil Protection Unit. 

4

Boosting access to EO data for European 
scientists, businesses and citizens

Using mitigation or adaptation strategies to respond to challenges in areas such 
as environment, health, poverty and other priorities that are high on the global 
agenda  requires  a  better  understanding  of  the  natural  and  human-induced 
factors leading to them.

By  improving  data  sharing  and  the  continuous 
availability  of  data,  researchers  and  policy-
makers can react with timely and well-informed 
decision-making  to  national,  regional  or  global 
issues of governmental and societal concern.

EuroGEOSS: a European 
approach to GEOSS
The EuroGEOSS project, a European approach to GEOSS, 

has built a multidisciplinary operating capability for a 

European Environmental Earth Observation System in 
the three strategic areas of biodiversity, forestry and 

drought. The project highlights the added value for the 

scientific community and society in making existing 

systems and applications work together. The project 

allows scientists from different disciplines to work 

together, sharing data, models and processes in order 

to develop a better understanding and predictions of 

environmental phenomena and social impacts.

GEOSS and data sharing

The participants in GEO collect most of the data 
that  are  relevant  for  improving  understanding 
and  responding  appropriately  to  challenges. 
Therefore,  it  is  necessary  to  make  the  data  as 
broadly  available  for  analysis  as  possible.  For 
GEOSS  to  develop  its  vision  and  potential,  it  is 
essential to promote the full and open exchange of 
data in accordance with the GEOSS Data Sharing 
Principles. In this context, full and open exchange 
means that data made available through GEOSS 
are  made  accessible  with  minimal  time  delay 
and with as few restrictions as possible. Making 
data easily accessible would help policy-makers 
improve legislation. It would allow businesses to 
increase their international activities and citizens 
to become more aware of their environment.

By  using  the  most  powerful  computer  network 
in  the  world  and  new  international  standards  to 
gather, store, distribute, analyse, and disseminate 
crucial  information  on  past,  present  and  future 
states of the Black Sea Catchment region, the EU 
funded project  EnviroGRIDS is building capacity 
to access, and use data as well as decision-making 
tools.  These  are  intended  to  increase  policy-
makers’ and the public’s awareness of the impacts 
of climate change as well as the sustainability and 
vulnerability of natural resources.

The  project  GEOWOW  is  developing  innovative 
methods for facilitating access and use of data, 
services,  and  models  coming  from  diverse  but 
closely interrelated areas such as Weather, Oceans 
and  Water.  This  allows  knowledge  concerning 
these  disciplines  to  be  shared  and  compared, 
providing  a  more  integrated  assessment  and 
understanding of these areas which could lead to 
advances in global sustainability research.

Boosting access to EO data for European 

scientists, businesses and citizens

ACOBAR – Acoustic Technology for observing the  interior 
of the Arctic Ocean
http://acobar.nersc.no
AEGOS  –  African-European  Georesources  Observation 
System
www.aegos-project.org
AGRICAB  –  A  framework  for  enhancing  EO  capacity 
for  Agriculture  and  Forest  Management  in  Africa  as  a 
contribution to GEOSS
www.agricab.info
BalkanGEONet – Balkan GEO Network – Towards Inclusion 
of Balkan Countries into Global Earth Observation Initiatives
http://balkangeo.net/
CEOP-AEGIS  –  Coordinated  Asia-European  long-term 
Observing  system  of  Qinghai  –  Tibet  Plateau  hydro-
meteorological  processes  and  the  Asian-monsoon  systEm 
with Ground satellite Image data and numerical Simulations
http://www.ceop-aegis.org/
Citclops  –  Citizens’  observatory  for  coast  and  ocean 
optical monitoring
www.citclops.eu
CITI-SENSE  –  Development  of  sensor-based  Citizens’ 
Observatory Community for improving quality of life in cities
www.citisense.eu
COBWEB – Citizen Observatory Web
http://www.citi-sense.eu
COCOS – Coordination Action Carbon Observation System
http://www.cocos-carbon.org/
DevCoCast – GEONETCast for and by Developing countries
http://www.devcocast.eu
EBONE  –  European  Biodiversity  Observation  Network;  a 
project to design and test a biodiversity observation system 
integrated in time and space
http://www.ebone.wur.nl
EGIDA  –  Coordinating  Earth  and  Environmental  cross-
disciplinary projects to promote GEOSS
http://www.egida-project.eu/.
EnerGEO  –  Energy  Observation  for  monitoring  and 
assessment of the environmental impact of energy use
http://www.energeo-project.eu/
EnviroGRIDS  –  Building  Capacity  for  a  Black  Sea 
Basin  Observation  and  Assessment  System  supporting 
Sustainable Development
www.envirogrids.net
EO2HEAVEN  –  Earth  Observation  and  ENVironmental 
modelling for the mitigation of HEAlth risks
www.eo2heaven.org
EO-MINERS  –  Earth  Observation  for  Monitoring  and 
Observing  Environmental  and  Societal  Impacts  of  Mineral 
Resources Exploration and Exploitation
www.eo-miners.eu
EOPOWER – Earth Observation for Economic Empowerment
www.eopower.eu/
ERA-CLIM  –  European  Re-Analysis  of  global  CLIMate 
observations
www.era-clim.eu/ 
e-SOTER – Regional pilot platform as EU contribution to a 
Global Soil Observing System
http://www.esoter.net

Project List

EU BON – Building the European Biodiversity Observation 
Network
www.eubon.eu
EUGENE  –  Improving  coordination,  visibility  and  impact 
of  European  GEOSS  contributions  by  establishing  a 
EUropeanGEoss Network
http://www.eugene-fp7.eu/
EuroGEOSS – European approach to GEOSS
http://www.eurogeoss.eu/
Eurosites – Integration and enhancement of key existing 
European deep-ocean observatories
http://www.eurosites.info
FUTUREVOLC  –  A  European  volcanological  supersite  in 
Iceland: a monitoring system and network for the future
www.futurevolc.hi.is
GEOCARBON  –  CoOperational  Global  Carbon  Observing 
System
http://www.geocarbon.net/
GEONetCab – GEO Network for Capacity Building
http://geonetcab.espace-dev.fr/
GeoVIQua  –  QUAlity  aware  VIsualisation  for  the  Global 
Earth Observation system of systems
http://www.geoviqua.org
GEOWOW  –  GEOSS  interoperability  for  Weather,  Ocean 
and Water
http://www.geowow.eu/
GFG² – GNSS for Global Environmental Earth Observation 
(GEEO) and GEOSS
www.gfg2.eu
GMOS – Global Mercury Observation System
www.gmos.eu.
HYPOX – In situ monitoring of oxygen depletion in hypoxic 
ecosystems  of  coastal  and  open  seas,  and  land-locked 
water bodies
http://www.hypox.net/
ImpactMin  –  Impact  Monitoring  of  Mineral  Resources 
Exploitation
http://www.impactmin.eu
MARsite – New Directions in Seismic Hazard assessment 
through  Focused  Earth  Observation 
in  the  Marmara 
Supersite
http://marsite.eu/
MEDINA – Marine Ecosystem Dynamics and Indicators for 
North Africa
www.medinaproject.eu
MEDSUV – MEDiterranean SUpersite Volcanoes
http://med-suv.eu/
OBSERVE  –  Strengthening  and  development  of  Earth 
Observation  activities  for  the  environment  in  the  Balkan 
area
www.observe-fp7.eu
OMNISCIENTIS  –  Odour  MoNitoring  and  Information 
System  based  on  CItizEN  and  Technology  Innovative 
Sensors
www.omniscientis.eu
SEOCA – GEO capacity building initiative in Central Asia
www.geo-seoca.net
WeSenseIt – Citizen Observatory of Water
www.wesenseit.eu

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The Earth’s atmosphere, oceans and landscapes are changing rapidly, with human activities being a major driver. 
Monitoring and modelling these changes are critical because they allow governments, society and the private sector to 
make informed decisions about climate, energy, food security, natural hazards, health and other societal challenges. 
The EU’s Seventh Framework Programme supports research and innovation based solutions at transnational and 
international level.

Research and Innovation policy

    doi:10.2777/31009