EO-BALP
The EO-BALP project https://eo4society.esa.int/projects/eo-balp/, initiated under the collaboration of Baltic Satellite Service Ltd. and its partners from Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, represents a significant technological and collaborative effort to leverage earth observation (EO) data for governmental services within the Baltic region. Signed on October 27, 2023, with the European Space Agency through agreement nr. 4000142702/23/I-NB, this project aims to create a common Baltic platform for the efficient use and processing of satellite data to support a variety of public services and environmental monitoring initiatives.
Project Overview
Duration: 18 months
Budget: EUR 897,740.00
Start Date: November 20, 2023.
Participants: The consortium consists of Baltic Satellite Service Ltd., the Rural Support Service and Institute of Electronics and Computer Sciences from Latvia, University of Klaipėda from Lithuania, and SC "Datel" from Estonia.
Interoperability with E-Government Platforms
Enhances integration with existing platforms through:
- Data Import: Enables importing geospatial data from various sources for specialized service provision.
- Integration Features: Supports XYZ/TMS, WMS web services, and JSON/GeoJSON data integration for web application development.
- Data Publishing: Ensures specialized applications' geographic data are available in standard formats (XYZ/TMS, WMS, GeoJSON) for use in web applications and GIS software (QGIS, ArcGIS, etc).
Project Materials
Objectives
This platform is intended to support the creation and deployment of six specialized applications, each designed to address different aspects of environmental and infrastructure monitoring:
Infrastructure and Settlement Monitoring: Focused on urban areas with populations exceeding 60,000, this application aims to utilize satellite data for the detection of ground movements and identification of potential hazards within infrastructure protection zones.
Water Quality Monitoring: This application is dedicated to assessing the quality of water, detecting pollution levels, and pinpointing the sources of pollution in the Baltic Sea, coastal areas, and inland water bodies.
Forest Change Monitoring: Designed to monitor forestry changes such as clear-cuts, windfalls, and damage from pests, diseases, fires, or water, it will also provide a satellite data mosaic service that covers the Baltic countries, offering up-to-date information on forest conditions.
Agricultural Land Monitoring: This tool will assist in identifying and assessing the impact of wildfires and flooding on agricultural lands, crucial for disaster response and agricultural planning.
Natural Resource Extraction Monitoring: Aimed at combating illegal extraction activities, this application will help in identifying unauthorized extraction sites for wood, sand, gravel, and other minerals.
Marine Monitoring: This application focuses on maritime activities, specifically identifying ships, their types, locations, and movements, to enhance maritime security and monitoring efforts.
Impact and Benefits
The EO-BALP project promises to significantly enhance environmental monitoring, resource management, and public service delivery across the Baltic region by providing accurate and timely access to satellite data. Its collaborative and technology-driven approach aims to support sustainable development, improve decision-making processes, and enhance regional safety and security through advanced earth observation capabilities.
