On May 6, the Luna conference room was bustling with activity—numerous participants gathered for the final workshop of the “Copernicus Demonstrators – Mobility and Emergency” project, funded by the European Union Agency for Space (EUSPA). OHB Digital Services, as the prime contractor, organized and led the workshop.
The workshop featured more than just presentations: The teams behind the three POCs gave live demonstrations of how their applications work, what data they rely on—and what difference they make in practice. Participants were able to watch the tools in action and see firsthand how actionable insights can be derived from complex satellite data.
It was particularly encouraging that, in addition to the project partners, numerous potential users and stakeholders participated in the workshop both in person and online. Numerous thoughtful questions, practical discussions, and an open exchange facilitated an effective transfer of knowledge, marking an important milestone in the project’s progress.
The goal of the project was to integrate satellite data from the EU’s Copernicus program into digital applications to address pressing societal challenges. Three “proofs of concept” (POCs) demonstrated how information from Copernicus data can be integrated into practical solutions—with great success.
Particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide—air pollutants are not only a burden on the environment but, according to the WHO, also the second-largest health hazard worldwide. The AIR Portal offers 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. Use cases range from identifying pollution hotspots to strategic planning of environmental measures—a major step toward data-driven air quality management.
As climate change intensifies, the risk of extreme weather events is also increasing—particularly the risk of heavy rainfall and flooding. 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 shared its experiences as a pilot user: The platform helps local decision-makers identify at-risk areas early on and respond in a targeted manner.
Organic growth on ship hulls—known as biofouling—not only leads to increased fuel consumption (estimated at $30 billion annually) but also causes significant environmental damage. SAILFIN, developed by OHB LuxSpace, addresses this problem: Using Copernicus data, AIS tracking, and supplementary ship data, risks can be identified early, 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 simplifies compliance with environmental regulations. The project was supported by, among others, Fraunhofer IFAM, which provided the scientific foundation.
This workshop vividly illustrates the role played by OHB’s Digital division in combining space technology with innovative software solutions. As the prime contractor, OHB Digital Services was primarily responsible for managing, coordinating, and ensuring the success of the project throughout its duration.
Copernicus Demonstrators – Mobility, Emergency and Infrastructures is carried out under a program of and funded by the European Union Agency for the Space Program
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