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Innovative Air Mobility (IAM) is an air-based transport system that integrates new aircraft designs and technologies, including drones, Urban Air Mobility (UAM) concepts and eVTOLs, into today’s airspace operations. In doing so, it will revolutionise how we move people and goods while also making transport more efficient and effective. According to EASA, IAM is defined as “the safe, secure and sustainable air mobility of passengers and cargo enabled by new-generation technologies integrated into a multimodal transportation system”.

Through such funding initiatives as Horizon Europe and Fundamental Elements, EUSPA is supporting numerous research and development projects working within the IAM sector as well as aerial operations (e.g. surveillance, inspections, mapping, telecommunications networking, etc.). 

One of those initiatives is the DEGREE project. Funded under the Fundamental Elements mechanism, the project is developing a cutting-edge Galileo dual-frequency GNSS receiver. By leveraging the unique features of Galileo, the receiver will help Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) safely integrate into non-segregated airspace and into U-space, the EU’s UAS Traffic Management (UTM) system. 

The DEGREE receiver is unique in that it leverages the Galileo Open Service Navigation Message Authentication (OSNMA) service to detect certain types of spoofing attacks. 

“OSNMA stands as a formidable defence against the tampering and spoofing of navigation data, which is essential to the safe integration of UAS into the airspace,” explains DEGREE project manager Sergi Dueñas Pedrosa. 

While the OSNMA provides defence against some spoofing attacks, the project’s use of the Galileo High Accuracy Service (HAS) enhances the receiver’s ability to operate in situations where high positioning accuracy is required. 

According to Dueñas Pedrosa, the integration of Galileo’s OSNMA and HAS services into the GNSS receivers takes the operational capabilities of a UAS platform to a whole new level both within Europe and beyond. “These services not only provide navigation-level authentication and better accuracy, they also provide confidence and assurance that the navigation system integrated into a customer’s platform can handle the stringent requirements for such critical operations as emergency management or the transport of medical goods,” he says. 

Earlier this year, the project successfully conducted flight tests to validate the performance of its GNSS receiver.

Helping drones safely navigate low altitude airspace

Also working on the GNSS receiver front is the GEODESY project. The Fundamental Elements supported project has developed a multi-constellation, multi-frequency Galileo GNSS receiver that will help drones safely navigate the low altitude airspace that defines most urban areas. 

The receiver, which uses both the Galileo OSNMA and HAS, is designed to achieve robust navigation performance, as well as critical technical and operational requirements. 

The project also added integrity features into the navigation system. 

That system was recently tested on two drones, one fixed-wing and one rotary-wing, at the ATLAS experimental flight centre, during which the GNSS receiver was able to achieve such key operations as automatic take-offs and landings.     

Addressing IAM’s safety and security issues

Addressing the safety and security of IAM applications that rely on Position Navigation and Time (PNT) technologies powered by EGNSS is GAUSSIAN. The Horizon Europe funded project aims to demonstrate how combining the authenticated Galileo signals with integrated GNSS/INS platforms will result in greater robustness against spoofing attempts and the better continuity and availability of PNT data in constrained environments. 

“GAUSSIAN wants to mitigate some of the security risks and concerns that originate from the real needs of flight operators, and we want to do so by leveraging advances in existing PNT technologies,” explains GAUSSIAN project coordinator Daniele Stopponi.

The project also intends to use the Precise Point Positioning (PPP)-RTK corrections provided by the Galileo HAS to help improve PNT data accuracy. 

“Starting with existing concepts, prototypes and components developed by different companies, we are focused on creating new integrated and certified products for the rapidly evolving advanced air mobility market,” adds Stopponi.

Thanks to the work being done by GAUSSIAN, along with that of the DEGREE and GEODESY projects, IAM and aerial operations are on track to not only take off, but to do so in a way that will make air transport safer, quieter and more sustainable.  

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the EUSPA website (http://www.euspa.europa.eu).

Innovative Air Mobility (IAM) is an air-based transport system that integrates new aircraft designs and technologies, including drones, Urban Air Mobility (UAM) concepts and eVTOLs, into today’s airspace operations. In doing so, it will revolutionise how we move people and goods while also making transport more efficient and effective. According to EASA, IAM is defined as “the safe, secure and sustainable air mobility of passengers and cargo enabled by new-generation technologies integrated into a multimodal transportation system”.

Through such funding initiatives as Horizon Europe and Fundamental Elements, EUSPA is supporting numerous research and development projects working within the IAM sector as well as aerial operations (e.g. surveillance, inspections, mapping, telecommunications networking, etc.). 

One of those initiatives is the DEGREE project. Funded under the Fundamental Elements mechanism, the project is developing a cutting-edge Galileo dual-frequency GNSS receiver. By leveraging the unique features of Galileo, the receiver will help Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) safely integrate into non-segregated airspace and into U-space, the EU’s UAS Traffic Management (UTM) system. 

The DEGREE receiver is unique in that it leverages the Galileo Open Service Navigation Message Authentication (OSNMA) service to detect certain types of spoofing attacks. 

“OSNMA stands as a formidable defence against the tampering and spoofing of navigation data, which is essential to the safe integration of UAS into the airspace,” explains DEGREE project manager Sergi Dueñas Pedrosa. 

While the OSNMA provides defence against some spoofing attacks, the project’s use of the Galileo High Accuracy Service (HAS) enhances the receiver’s ability to operate in situations where high positioning accuracy is required. 

According to Dueñas Pedrosa, the integration of Galileo’s OSNMA and HAS services into the GNSS receivers takes the operational capabilities of a UAS platform to a whole new level both within Europe and beyond. “These services not only provide navigation-level authentication and better accuracy, they also provide confidence and assurance that the navigation system integrated into a customer’s platform can handle the stringent requirements for such critical operations as emergency management or the transport of medical goods,” he says. 

Earlier this year, the project successfully conducted flight tests to validate the performance of its GNSS receiver.

Helping drones safely navigate low altitude airspace

Also working on the GNSS receiver front is the GEODESY project. The Fundamental Elements supported project has developed a multi-constellation, multi-frequency Galileo GNSS receiver that will help drones safely navigate the low altitude airspace that defines most urban areas.

Learn how GEODESY supports drones achieving robuts navigation performances.

The receiver, which uses both the Galileo OSNMA and HAS, is designed to achieve robust navigation performance, as well as critical technical and operational requirements. 

The project also added integrity features into the navigation system. 

That system was recently tested on two drones, one fixed-wing and one rotary-wing, at the ATLAS experimental flight centre, during which the GNSS receiver was able to achieve such key operations as automatic take-offs and landings.     

Addressing IAM’s safety and security issues

Addressing the safety and security of IAM applications that rely on Position Navigation and Time (PNT) technologies powered by EGNSS is GAUSSIAN. The Horizon Europe funded project aims to demonstrate how combining the authenticated Galileo signals with integrated GNSS/INS platforms will result in greater robustness against spoofing attempts and the better continuity and availability of PNT data in constrained environments. 

“GAUSSIAN wants to mitigate some of the security risks and concerns that originate from the real needs of flight operators, and we want to do so by leveraging advances in existing PNT technologies,” explains GAUSSIAN project coordinator Daniele Stopponi.

The project also intends to use the Precise Point Positioning (PPP)-RTK corrections provided by the Galileo HAS to help improve PNT data accuracy. 

“Starting with existing concepts, prototypes and components developed by different companies, we are focused on creating new integrated and certified products for the rapidly evolving advanced air mobility market,” adds Stopponi.

Thanks to the work being done by GAUSSIAN, along with that of the DEGREE and GEODESY projects, IAM and aerial operations are on track to not only take off, but to do so in a way that will make air transport safer, quieter and more sustainable.  

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the EUSPA website (http://www.euspa.europa.eu).

Representatives from EU Member States, representing 92% of the European population, re-elected Philippe Bertrand as the Chair of the Security Accreditation Board. Bertrand, who brings a wealth of experience in security and space, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to continue serving in this crucial role. 

"I am deeply honoured to have been re-elected Chair of the EU Space Programme Security Accreditation Board and would like to thank all the EU Member States representatives for their trust," stated Bertrand.

The Security Accreditation Board (SAB), where C. Schanet remains SAB deputy Chair, plays a pivotal role as the security accreditation authority for the entire EU Space Programme and all its components: Copernicus, EGNOS, Galileo, GOVSATCOM, IRIS², and SSA. In this capacity, it ensures that the security risks are known and that security measures are defined to reduce such risks to an acceptable level, given the security needs of the Union and its Member States. Within the SAB, Member States make accreditation decisions independently from the European Commission, EUSPA and ESA to approve satellite launches, the operations of systems and the services.

"At the SAB, the Member States rigorously assess independently the reality of security measures in place in particular with cyber audits and cyber penetration tests. In times of increased cyber security threats, the SAB helps the Programme in identifying when additional security measures are needed to develop user trust in the EU Space programme services." confirmed P. Bertrand.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the EUSPA website (http://www.euspa.europa.eu).

Representatives from EU Member States, representing 92% of the European population, re-elected Philippe Bertrand as the Chair of the Security Accreditation Board. Bertrand, who brings a wealth of experience in security and space, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to continue serving in this crucial role. 

"I am deeply honoured to have been re-elected Chair of the EU Space Programme Security Accreditation Board and would like to thank all the EU Member States representatives for their trust," stated Bertrand.

The Security Accreditation Board (SAB), where C. Schanet remains SAB deputy Chair, plays a pivotal role as the security accreditation authority for the entire EU Space Programme and all its components: Copernicus, EGNOS, Galileo, GOVSATCOM, IRIS², and SSA. In this capacity, it ensures that the security risks are known and that security measures are defined to reduce such risks to an acceptable level, given the security needs of the Union and its Member States. Within the SAB, Member States make accreditation decisions independently from the European Commission, EUSPA and ESA to approve satellite launches, the operations of systems and the services.

"At the SAB, the Member States rigorously assess independently the reality of security measures in place in particular with cyber audits and cyber penetration tests. In times of increased cyber security threats, the SAB helps the Programme in identifying when additional security measures are needed to develop user trust in the EU Space programme services." confirmed P. Bertrand.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the EUSPA website (http://www.euspa.europa.eu).

The world is becoming increasingly urban. Driven by climate change, inequalities and conflict, urbanisation is a phenomenon seen around the globe. However, it is particularly prominent in Europe and North Africa, where 70% and 78% of the respective populations live in cities.

The problem is that the bulk of this urban development, especially in emerging countries, happens without any real planning. As a result, liveability in cities tends to trend downwards. 

But Earth Observation (EO) data could offer a solution. 

According to the EUSPA-supported and Horizon Europe funded UDENE project, the EO data coming from Copernicus satellites and local sources has the potential to enable evidence-based decision making for urban development.   

To support the UN Sustainable Development Goal 11 of making cities safe, resilient and sustainable, the UDENE project is developing a platform that will provide scenario-based projections using Copernicus data complemented by remote sensing and local in-situ data. 

“The wealth of EO data in fast and accessible data cube format provides a great search space for exploring natural experiments and exploiting the value-add of causal analysis,” says Ali Türker, Digital Transformation Leader at WEglobal and UDENE project coordinator.

An EO-based approach to urban development 

The UDENE project brings together partners from France, Italy, Serbia, Slovenia, Tunisia and Turkey. Together, this international team will conduct such activities as data acquisition and partnership building – all of which will be facilitated by open Financial Support for Third Parties calls. 

All the project’s outcomes will be integrated into a virtual laboratory platform, which will match users to existing EO products, processes and services. “We want to provide a place where urban visionaries, planners and developers from our partner countries can use Copernicus derived data to test the specific impact of their ideas via natural experiments that occurred in another place and/or at another time,” explains Türker. 

The virtual lab will be validated via three use cases. In Istanbul, Turkey, a use case will focus on the impact high-rise building districts have on earthquake preparedness and/or damage and loss assessment. In Tunis, Tunisia, the project looks to classify local climate zones and involve citizens in the data collection process as part of a use case evaluating how green spaces can help reduce urban heat islands.  

Read more: Using Copernicus data to climate-proof cities

The third use case, set to take place in Novi Sad, Serbia, will leverage local traffic metrics to analyse the effects the construction of a ring road would have on congestion and air quality. 

“We are confident that our evidence-based approach to urban development – an approach that is powered by a vast amount of EO data – will complement existing Earth Observation products and services,” concludes Türker. “In doing so, UDENE will also expand European excellence in the use of EO technology for urban development applications that have both a high economic and societal impact.” 

Earth Observation: A powerful tool for effective urban planning 

Earth Observation is a particularly powerful tool for urban planning. According to the latest edition of EUSPA’s EO and GNSS Market Report, EO provides valuable information for monitoring informal dwellings and informing the progress and state of urban greening. 

Moreover, EO-based services provide essential information on air quality in urban environments, measuring particles that might affect the heath of citizens and monitoring greenhouse gas emissions. EO data also facilitates the assessment of an urban area’s vulnerability to a range of natural hazards and aids in the creation of resilient urban spaces that can withstand, or even minimise, the impact of natural disasters.

EO data further serves as a valuable source for detecting signs of urban decline, mapping the extent of destruction, and providing essential geospatial information for effective urban planning and development. When combined with GNSS data, it offers a comprehensive understanding of the urban landscape, empowering urban planners and stakeholders to make informed decisions and drive sustainable recovery and development.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the EUSPA website (http://www.euspa.europa.eu).

The world is becoming increasingly urban. Driven by climate change, inequalities and conflict, urbanisation is a phenomenon seen around the globe. However, it is particularly prominent in Europe and North Africa, where 70% and 78% of the respective populations live in cities.

The problem is that the bulk of this urban development, especially in emerging countries, happens without any real planning. As a result, liveability in cities tends to trend downwards. 

But Earth Observation (EO) data could offer a solution. 

According to the EUSPA-supported and Horizon Europe funded UDENE project, the EO data coming from Copernicus satellites and local sources has the potential to enable evidence-based decision making for urban development.   

With the aim of supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goal 11 of making cities safe, resilient and sustainable, the UDENE project is developing a platform that will provide scenario-based projections using Copernicus data complemented by remote sensing and local in-situ data. 

“The wealth of EO data in fast and accessible data cube format provides a great search space for exploring natural experiments and exploiting the value-add of causal analysis,” says Ali Türker, Digital Transformation Leader at WEglobal and UDENE project coordinator.

An EO-based approach to urban development 

The UDENE project brings together partners from France, Italy, Serbia, Slovenia, Tunisia and Turkey. Together, this international team will conduct such activities as data acquisition and partnership building – all of which will be facilitated by open Financial Support for Third Parties calls. 

All the project’s outcomes will be integrated into a virtual laboratory platform, which will match users to existing EO products, processes and services. “We want to provide a place where urban visionaries, planners and developers from our partner countries can use Copernicus derived data to test the specific impact of their ideas via natural experiments that occurred in another place and/or at another time,” explains Türker. 

The virtual lab will be validated via three use cases. In Istanbul, Turkey, a use case will focus on the impact high-rise building districts have on earthquake preparedness and/or damage and loss assessment. In Tunis, Tunisia, the project looks to classify local climate zones and involve citizens in the data collection process as part of a use case evaluating how green spaces can help reduce urban heat islands.  

Read more: Using Copernicus data to climate-proof cities

The third use case, set to take place in Novi Sad, Serbia, will leverage local traffic metrics to analyse the effects the construction of a ring road would have on congestion and air quality. 

“We are confident that our evidence-based approach to urban development – an approach that is powered by a vast amount of EO data – will complement existing Earth Observation products and services,” concludes Türker. “In doing so, UDENE will also expand European excellence in the use of EO technology for urban development applications that have both a high economic and societal impact.” 

Earth Observation: A powerful tool for effective urban planning 

Earth Observation is a particularly powerful tool for urban planning. According to the latest edition of EUSPA’s EO and GNSS Market Report, EO provides valuable information for monitoring informal dwellings and informing the progress and state of urban greening. 

Moreover, EO-based services provide essential information on air quality in urban environments, measuring particles that might affect the heath of citizens and monitoring greenhouse gas emissions. EO data also facilitates the assessment of an urban area’s vulnerability to a range of natural hazards and aids in the creation of resilient urban spaces that can withstand, or even minimise, the impact of natural disasters.

EO data further serves as a valuable source for detecting signs of urban decline, mapping the extent of destruction, and providing essential geospatial information for effective urban planning and development. When combined with GNSS data, it offers a comprehensive understanding of the urban landscape, empowering urban planners and stakeholders to make informed decisions and drive sustainable recovery and development.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the EUSPA website (http://www.euspa.europa.eu).