European Space Agency: Nature-based Solutions

This ‘Nature-based Solutions’ opportunity provides funding to teams who would like to develop a service related to nature-based solutions applications. Funding will be provided by the European Space Agency (ESA) for 6-month studies called ‘Kick-Starts’, which can lead onto larger scale Demonstration Projects. Kick-Starts are funded at 75% by ESA for a maximum of €75K per contract. Proposed services must use satellite data or space-based technologies.

The challenge

Natured-based Solutions (NBS) leverage the power of healthy ecosystems to enhance protections for society, optimise infrastructure, and ensure a biodiverse future. Take for example, the environmental and social co-benefits that come with green infrastructure, including carbon storage, air and water quality improvements compared to cities without green infrastructure. As a result of the promise of NBS, it has been endorsed at the highest levels, including by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Global Centre on Adaptation, and has been highlighted as a key action under the UN Climate Action Summit 2019.

The exploitable applications for NBS are wide-ranging and span many verticals. There is currently interest and demand for solutions that improve the efficiency in planning, implementing, and monitoring of ecosystem services. This is reflected in the growing number of data-driven tools that are reducing the technical barriers in quantifying the benefits from natural systems, many of which are driven by satellite-derived data.

There is significant scope for NBS management and implementation to benefit from digital technologies such as AI and IoT devices leveraged by space assets such as satellite Earth observation (SatEO), satellite navigation (Satnav), and satellite communications (Satcom). This includes the use of satellite imagery to highlight areas for ecosystem restoration, monitor green spaces for changes in habitat condition, engage Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) services to geo-reference sites for NBS, as well as supporting the monitoring of systems that foster biodiversity through communication/IoT services.

Relevant topics identified:

• Ecosystem restoration
  • biodiversity monitoring services, informing on the type and variation in species and / or indices for ecosystem services
  • planning of restoration efforts
  • change detection services to monitor ecosystem restoration efforts over time and / or the value offered by ecosystem services by comparing intervened to non-intervened sites
• Urban resilience
  • Services to monitor and evaluate NBS in cities, including quality and change in habitats over time
  • Services in support of urban planning
• Nature-related risks, opportunities, and disclosures
  • Services supporting the identification, assessment, management and disclosure of nature-related dependencies, impacts, risks and opportunities
  • Services in support of biodiversity and nature financing

Value of space technology

Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS/satnav) can enable precise geolocation of IoT devices, allowing accurate mapping and monitoring of anthropogenic activities and their impact on biodiversity. These devices could also be embedded in urban infrastructure to geo-locate NBS. The information collected by IoT devices can be geo- and time-referenced.

Satellite Earth Observation (satEO) can be used to enable NBS through the transparent characterization of ecosystem markets. SatEO can also be used for high-resolution mapping of urban areas, identifying green spaces, water bodies, and potential areas for implementing NBS. Data analytics can process SatEO to assess the effectiveness of NBS, including the quality and change in habitat over time. High Spectral Resolution (HSR) imagery allows for more detailed assessments, characterising and estimating biophysical parameters for plants. Moreover, HSR imagery enables biodiversity monitoring services to inform on the type and variation in species and/or indices for ecosystem services.

Satellite Communications (satcom) Satellite communications technology, embedded in urban infrastructure, can leverage IoT sensors to monitor the performance of NBS in real-time. This includes data on soil moisture levels, plant health, air quality, temperature, and other relevant metrics. In particularly remote areas, satellite connectivity services can connect remote weather stations or sensors that monitor ecosystem services.

Who can apply?

ESA Space Solutions can provide funding to perform Kick-Start activities to any company (economic operator) residing in ESA Member States, which include the UK. Applicants from these countries do not need to obtain a letter of authorisation from their National Delegation.

If you would like help to find a collaboration partner, contact Innovate UK Business Connect’s Space team.