Every day literally thousands of satellites orbit the Earth, providing important communication links, helping us all navigate around, monitoring what is going on in space and, increasingly, monitoring and measuring what is happening down here on Earth.
The Yorkshire region has deep expertise both within our universities and in industry in applying these technologies to what has become known as geospatial intelligence. These organisations are now working together to spearhead a national initiative to better apply these capabilities to make the UK greener and more sustainable.
Space Hub Yorkshire, our UK Space Agency-funded regional space cluster, is one of those leading a national initiative to apply space technologies to address pressing environmental challenges.
This initiative, the UK Earth Observation Network for Sustainability (UK-EONS), aims to enable the application of Earth Observation technologies to a wide variety of industries and to ultimately strengthen the UK’s ability to provide solutions to these challenges.
Earth Observation (EO) refers to the collection of data about our planet obtained through satellites and other remote sensing technologies. You can think of them as highly advanced cameras in space, capturing detailed images and measurements of the Earth’s surface, atmosphere, and oceans.
These aren’t just ordinary photographs – they contain valuable information that helps us better understand various processes and changes occurring on Earth. For instance, satellite imagery can be used to track deforestation, monitor the health of crops, or assess the effects of natural disasters such as floods and wildfires.
Other types of EO data include sea surface temperatures, air quality readings, and soil moisture levels. Altogether, this wealth of data is crucial for understanding and managing our environment.
To realise the potential of SpaceTech on Earth, we must raise awareness about the technology and overcome the barriers preventing its utilisation. To achieve this, the Satellite Applications Catapult proposed the establishment of Connected Capability Networks (CCNs) to unite various communities across the UK.
UK-EONS was the first pilot CCN to launch, led by Space Hub Yorkshire and in collaboration with 14 regional space clusters plus public and private sector stakeholders.
It was initiated to expand the reach and impact of EO technology, specifically targeting sustainability challenges. Essentially, UK-EONS is a network driven by capability and focused on delivery, uniting communities that are passionate about sustainability and EO.
At the UK-EONS launch event, Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, was invited to give addresses. She highlighted that this network is a game-changing opportunity for West Yorkshire.
UK-EONS aims to unlock EO technology to tackle sustainability challenges and enhance the accessibility of EO data for those in need. It aspires to expand the UK’s EO market and position the UK as a global leader in monitoring our planet using satellite technology.
This involves not only advancing the technical capabilities of EO, but also showcasing the practical applications of this technology in addressing real-world challenges.
We are currently mapping the existing EO capabilities in the UK – encompassing industry, academia, and the public sector. This involves identifying strengths, recognising gaps, and highlighting opportunities for growth to maximise our EO resources.
Additionally, we are gathering data on stakeholders involved in sustainability-related areas, such as agriculture and natural disaster management, to identify potential users of EO data. To date, we have compiled a database of over 1,000 organisations, consortia, and university facilities and centres which will be an invaluable publicly available resource for anyone working with or looking to apply these technologies.
By connecting individuals from the space sector and other related fields through events and community-building initiatives, we aim to enhance collaboration and foster partnerships that drive innovation and effectively address sustainability challenges.
We are also actively assisting our stakeholders in identifying funding and investment opportunities, working closely with both public and private sector partners to understand their needs and secure the necessary financial support. To date, UK-EONS has supported three major UK grant applications and one international payload project collaboration.
A significant part of our work involves hosting events and activities to promote awareness of the various use cases for EO technology. We want everyone to be excited about how these technologies can be applied to real-world problems. These events focus on bringing together diverse stakeholders to facilitate conversations and collaboration.
For instance, we co-hosted the Research and Innovation Showcase during the TechNExt Festival in Newcastle, where over 70 attendees shared and discussed how EO was being used to solve challenges related to agriculture, urban planning, and maritime applications, as well as how AI is advancing the application of EO data.
We have also held an exhibition and presented at the National EO Conference, where over 250 attendees from both academia and industry gathered to discuss state-of-the-art EO developments and the potential impacts. We have more events in the pipeline for the near future and are always open to collaborating with new event partners.
Visit our website if you would like to know more about UK-EONS.
If you are interested in getting involved in UK-EONS activities, or exploring funding or opportunities for UK-EONS-related initiatives with support from Space Hub Yorkshire, please email [email protected].
To be kept informed about upcoming activities, events and opportunities, follow UK–EONS on LinkedIn and join the UK–EONS mailing list.