EWALD · Earth Observation for Early Warning of Land Degradation at European Frontier

Land degradation (LD) is the world's greatest environmental challenge affecting the environment, agriculture, and human wellbeing. Intensified by natural disasters and desertification, the LD may present potential risks and socioeconomic tension at the European Union (EU) frontier. The project aims to develop an innovative framework to provide an Early Warning System (EWS) and responses to the LD threatening the EU from its external border, using multi-source and multi-scale Earth Observation (EO) data. The consortium consists of the University Lusofona, PT, which will work with big data management, smart computation, and risk analysis, - Center for Remote Sensing of Land Surfaces of the University of Bonn, GE, bringing their long-term research expertise on the LD, - Scientific Centre for Aerospace Research of the Earth, UA, supporting with in-depth knowledge on development and application of advanced EO-based technologies, - SME ECOMM, UA, implementing the emergent geo-informational solutions, - the University of Zilina, SL working in multi-state simulation system for the LD risk assessment and advanced cloud computing, - the University of Marrakech, MOROCCO, with longterm experience in the inland LD and desertification evaluation using the EO data, - The Resource Ingeneering Company (RESING) implementing the developed EWS Prototype, providing the necessary data and logistic support. The EWS Prototype will be delivered to the EU and tested in complementary conditions in Ukraine, facing anthropogenic impact risks, and in Morocco where desertification risks are intensifying. The intersectoral region-specific expertise and skill-transfer secondments will ensure the self-sustainability and further evolution of the delivered system and of the Consortium. Dissemination of the approach to the agricultural consumers will support the development of environmental and socioeconomic factors, reach out to the remote rural society and enhance cooperation with and within the EU.