E-SHAPE: Innovative applications for Earth observation

E-SHAPE: Innovative applications for Earth observation

Europe’s contribution to the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) will receive a big boost from the e-shape project (HORIZON 2014-2020). It is the largest coordinated effort to highlight operational services in the field of Earth observation research in Europe. The project aims to improve user uptake of Earth Observation data in the region. It will develop operational EO services and demonstrate the benefits of the EO pilots at national and international scale, across vertical markets (private and public), and amongst key user communities. Through the coordinated downstream exploitation of EO data and existing EO resources, they will run 27 cloud-based pilot applications under 7 thematic areas to address societal challenges, foster entrepreneurship, and support sustainable development.

Project’s Objective:

The E-SHAPE proposal is driven by the need to develop operational EO services with and for the users and to create a conducive environment whereby the strengths of Europe are exploited towards addressing societal challenges, fostering entrepreneurship, and supporting sustainable development. The proposal objectives are:

  • to develop operational EO services with and for users active in key societal sectors
  • to demonstrate the benefits of the EO pilots through the coordinated downstream exploitation of EO data and the utilization of existing EO resources
  • to promote the uptake of pilots at national and international scale, across vertical markets (private and public) and amongst key user communities
  • to enable the long-term sustainability of the numerous pilots, their penetration in public and private markets and support their upscaling
  • to increase uptake by raising awareness on the solutions developed through tailored and well-targeted communication, dissemination, and outreach activities.

The proposal aims at setting-up and promoting a sustainable organization dedicated to users’ uptake of European EO resources, building on Copernicus and GEOSS through the development of co-design pilots (i.e. application-oriented products, services or solutions) built on a user-centric approach and delivering economic, social and policy value to European citizens. It has also the ambition through the development of 27 pilots organized in 7 showcases to deliver information that will also contribute to the three GEO engagements (SDGs, Paris Agreement and Sendai Framework).

Among the 60 project partners are:

  1. Interbalkan Environmental Center I-Bec – Greece
  2. Institute of Communication and Computer Systems (National Technical University of Athens) – Greece
  3. Meteorological Institute of Finland – Finland
  4. National Research Council of Italy – Italy
  5. European Association of Remote Sensing companies – Belgium

This project has duration 50 months (1 May 2019 – 30 June 2023), total funding of 15.772.895€, which 14.998.976€  funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 820852.

Project’s website: https://e-shape.eu/