Earth observation involves the gathering of information about Earth’s physical, chemical and biological systems through remote sensing techniques. Satellites provide valuable information about what is happening on the Earth’s surface, allowing for the study of evolving processes and changes. Data coming from satellites in fact allow for the study of the area where a natural event-such as a flood or a fire has taken place, and to understand its impact and extension thanks to the large-scale overview. Furthermore, satellite data are enhancing the predictions of numerical models for natural phenomena.
Department activities – The Earth Observation Department works with a large amount of satellite data, particularly from the Copernicus European Programme and the Italian COSMO-Skymed mission. The data, processed by researchers, are used daily to create different types of thematic maps applied for operational and research purposes. The maps produced during the event or in post-event phase by researchers are made available to end-users, supporting the assessment of areas of interest, even in the case of remote places, allowing for efficient emergency planning. The department is also involved in research activities on the use of satellite data as an input for forecasting chains of different natural phenomena. Furthermore, the availability of multi-temporal observations supports the activity of land change detection, that means the analysis of alterations affecting the land surface, due to the course of natural cycles.
Main tools – The researchers develop—for research purposes and for service activities—tools for processing data provided from different satellite constellations that can be used at a national, as well as at an international scale. Some processors are available as on-demand applications through the WASDI platform. The products generated for operational purposes are made available on the myDEWETRA platform as thematic maps.
The department supports the Italian Civil Protection Department in the monitoring and management of natural events. Researchers also works with national and international bodies in research projects for developing models of forecasting and risk assessment.
