Copernicus Demonstrators - Mobility and Emergency: Final Workshop

How can Copernicus data be used to solve real-world problems such as air pollution, flooding and marine biofouling?
Three compelling answers were presented at an unforgettable workshop on May 6, 2025
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The logo of the European Union Agency for the Space Program

Review of the final workshop of the EUSPA-funded project Copernicus Demonstrators - Mobility and Emergency

Logo of OHB Digital Services
The logo of the European Union Agency for the Space Program

On May 6, the Luna conference room was buzzing with activity - numerous participants met for the final workshop of the "Copernicus Demonstrators - Mobility and Emergency" project funded by the European Union for the Space Agency (EUSPA). As prime contractor, OHB Digital Services organized and managed the workshop.

The workshop was not just about presentations: the respective teams behind the three POCs demonstrated live how their applications work, what data is behind them - and what difference they make in practice. Participants were able to observe the tools in action and experience how actionable insights can be derived from complex satellite data.

Workshop with live demonstrations and real use cases 

It was particularly pleasing that, in addition to the project partners, numerous potential users and stakeholders took part in the workshop both on site and online. Numerous interested questions, practical discussions and an open exchange enabled an effective transfer of knowledge and thus marked an important milestone in the course of the project.

The aim of the project was to integrate satellite data from the EU's Copernicus program into digital applications in order to address pressing social problems. Three proof of concepts (POCs) were used to demonstrate how information from Copernicus data can be integrated into practical solutions - with great success.

The project:

Three satellites that send signals to earth
Geoanalytics
Copernicus Demonstrators - Mobility, Emergency and Infrastructures
A project to analyze and evaluate the technical feasibility and technical demonstration of 5 different proof of concepts using Copernicus data and services.
Learn more

The three demonstrators at a glance:

PoC 1: Aircraft Emission Measurement and Monitoring

Developed by S[&]T

Particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide - air pollutants are not only an environmental burden, but also the second biggest health risk worldwide according to the WHO. The AIR portal provides an innovative solution: it enables airport operators and environmental authorities to intuitively analyze high-resolution air quality data (up to 100×100 m), identify trends and monitor regulatory limits.

The platform combines Copernicus data with other sources, offers built-in analysis tools and can be easily integrated into existing systems. The use cases range from the detection of pollution hotspots to the strategic planning of environmental measures - a major step towards data-based air quality control.

PoC 2: Emergency Preparedness and Early Warning of Floods

Developed by Waterjade

As climate change increases, so does the risk of extreme weather events - especially flooding and inundation. Waterjade's solution combines Copernicus data with hydrological models and machine learning to predict heavy rainfall and river flooding up to 72 hours in advance.

At the workshop, the city of Essen reported on its experiences as a pilot user: the platform supports municipal decision-makers in identifying areas at risk at an early stage and responding in a targeted manner.

PoC 3: Autonomous Navigation and Ship Route Optimization

Developed by OHB LuxSpace

Organic growth on ship hulls - known as biofouling - not only causes additional fuel consumption (estimated at USD 30 billion per year), but also considerable ecological damage. SAILFIN, developed by OHB LuxSpace, addresses this problem: with the help of Copernicus data, AIS tracking and additional ship data, risks can be identified at an early stage, cleaning intervals optimized and port entries efficiently prepared.

Particularly exciting: port authorities can use the system to automatically view biofouling data for each ship - which makes it easier to comply with environmental regulations. The project was supported by Fraunhofer IFAM, among others, which provided the scientific basis.

This workshop impressively illustrates the role played by OHB's Digital business unit in combining space technology with innovative software solutions. As prime contractor, OHB Digital Services was largely responsible for the management, coordination and success of the project throughout its entire duration.

Acknowledgement:

Copernicus Demonstrators - Mobility, Emergency and Infrastructures is carried out under a programme of and funded by the European Union Agency for the Space Programme

The logo of the European Union Agency for the Space Program

Project partner: