Periodic Reporting for period 2 - EOTiST (Earth Observation Training in Science and Technology at the Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences)
Reporting period: 2022-01-01 to 2024-03-31
The general aim of EOTIST project is to enhance the S&T capacity of the CBK PAN and to achieve excellence in research of EO products’ assimilation in the ecosystem assessment and monitoring. The goal will be reached by establishing close collaboration with three EU research Centres of Excellence. Specific goals are to be pursued:
• Enhance S&T capacity of the coordinating institution. Training activities targeted to the exact needs of the CBK PAN constitute the key part of EOTiST, after a dedicated SWOT analysis. Existing non-exploited potential will be enhanced and further training of the personnel and affiliated scientists performed.
• Upgrade research profile of the CBK PAN and the profile of its staff by mobilizing and training of personnel. Key training actions include workshops, staff visits, and on-line courses and target PhD students, early stage researchers, postdoctoral students, researchers and administrative staff.
• Increase research excellence and stimulate innovation of the coordinating institution. EOTiST will build on CNR, CREAF and CERTH excellence and their networks to advance CBK PAN research and innovation performance through knowledge transfer and exchange of best practices.
• Achieve sustainable progress and future development for the today’s seed group in CBK PAN. The partners will develop a strategic partnership based on reinforced dialogue and consultation. EOTiST will explore collaboration chances with local stakeholders and perform a market and product feasibility analysis to introduce new products/ technologies within Poland.
• Promote the involvement of early stage researchers in the CBK PAN. Early stage researchers will be acquainted with specific knowledge and technical skills to organise scientific work and present research results.
• Develop joint research initiatives and projects. Partners will mobilize existing networks and resources to formulate research initiatives and projects.
• Enhance CBK PAN management skills
The consortium synthesized EOTiST to satisfy development needs of the EU research human resources to a higher global competitive level through:
• its contribution to the Polish Research & Development activity as a Member State. EOTiST project aims to strengthen R&I performance of a Polish research institution to bridge the gap between Poland and the most innovative EU countries;
• the improvement of the scientific excellence and Science & Technology (S&T) capacity of the coordinating organization. The goal of the project is to improve the scientific excellence and enhance the S&T capacity of the coordinating organization and to raise its overall research profile and the capacity of its staff in the Earth Observation (EO) supported environmental research area using in house non-exploited potential through the twinning approach;
• knowledge transfer, technology exchange, cooperation bonds’ establishment, brainstorming about common contemporary scientific and societal challenges, and the development of new approaches;
• the promotion of a cost-effective alternative for ecosystem services assessment in large areas by exploiting the potential of freely available EO data and services (e.g. Copernicus) and advanced remote sensing and ICT technologies;
• helping to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), tackling climate change, boosting the Union's competitiveness and growth.
• Enhance S&T capacity of the coordinating institution. Training activities targeted to the exact needs of the CBK PAN constitute the key part of EOTiST, after a dedicated SWOT analysis. Existing non-exploited potential will be enhanced and further training of the personnel and affiliated scientists performed.
• Upgrade research profile of the CBK PAN and the profile of its staff by mobilizing and training of personnel. Key training actions include workshops, staff visits, and on-line courses and target PhD students, early stage researchers, postdoctoral students, researchers and administrative staff.
• Increase research excellence and stimulate innovation of the coordinating institution. EOTiST will build on CNR, CREAF and CERTH excellence and their networks to advance CBK PAN research and innovation performance through knowledge transfer and exchange of best practices.
• Achieve sustainable progress and future development for the today’s seed group in CBK PAN. The partners will develop a strategic partnership based on reinforced dialogue and consultation. EOTiST will explore collaboration chances with local stakeholders and perform a market and product feasibility analysis to introduce new products/ technologies within Poland.
• Promote the involvement of early stage researchers in the CBK PAN. Early stage researchers will be acquainted with specific knowledge and technical skills to organise scientific work and present research results.
• Develop joint research initiatives and projects. Partners will mobilize existing networks and resources to formulate research initiatives and projects.
• Enhance CBK PAN management skills
The consortium synthesized EOTiST to satisfy development needs of the EU research human resources to a higher global competitive level through:
• its contribution to the Polish Research & Development activity as a Member State. EOTiST project aims to strengthen R&I performance of a Polish research institution to bridge the gap between Poland and the most innovative EU countries;
• the improvement of the scientific excellence and Science & Technology (S&T) capacity of the coordinating organization. The goal of the project is to improve the scientific excellence and enhance the S&T capacity of the coordinating organization and to raise its overall research profile and the capacity of its staff in the Earth Observation (EO) supported environmental research area using in house non-exploited potential through the twinning approach;
• knowledge transfer, technology exchange, cooperation bonds’ establishment, brainstorming about common contemporary scientific and societal challenges, and the development of new approaches;
• the promotion of a cost-effective alternative for ecosystem services assessment in large areas by exploiting the potential of freely available EO data and services (e.g. Copernicus) and advanced remote sensing and ICT technologies;
• helping to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), tackling climate change, boosting the Union's competitiveness and growth.
The training activities were successfully carried out. All foreseen workshops, on-site trainings and exploratory visits have been taken place. CBK PAN’s staff has increased its capacity in:
• design and organization of scientific and research related work;
• writing research papers;
• oral presentation;
• development of project proposals;
• project management.
Also, the research profile of the CBK PAN was upgraded. New topics and research lines, related to ecosystem services (ES) monitoring using EO, have been launched. Eight mentoring plans were crafted to support a development of early stage researchers.
Close collaboration among the project’s partners allowed to build EOTiST ecosystem. It resulted in establishing new partnerships and strengthening existing cooperation of CBK PAN in the field of ES monitoring with national and international institutions. Moreover, the institute took a step towards a sustainable development of new research field by presenting joint research initiatives and projects proposals.
• design and organization of scientific and research related work;
• writing research papers;
• oral presentation;
• development of project proposals;
• project management.
Also, the research profile of the CBK PAN was upgraded. New topics and research lines, related to ecosystem services (ES) monitoring using EO, have been launched. Eight mentoring plans were crafted to support a development of early stage researchers.
Close collaboration among the project’s partners allowed to build EOTiST ecosystem. It resulted in establishing new partnerships and strengthening existing cooperation of CBK PAN in the field of ES monitoring with national and international institutions. Moreover, the institute took a step towards a sustainable development of new research field by presenting joint research initiatives and projects proposals.
CBK PAN in collaboration with the experienced partners: CERTH, CREAF, CNR are developing new EO based solutions, which are requested by stakeholders, are of large scientific interest or are considered marketable products. The following progresses have been made in:
• method for early warning environment degradation evaluation based on changes in Ecosystem Functional Types;
• method for change detection based on improved spatio-temporal coherence of Land Cover time series;
• non-standard modelling of soil organic carbon dynamics;
• data-driven climate impact models for wildfires;
• process-based models of soil-vegetation-atmosphere interactions;
• forest fire burn scars mapping;
• control of the diffusion of invasive species.
• method for early warning environment degradation evaluation based on changes in Ecosystem Functional Types;
• method for change detection based on improved spatio-temporal coherence of Land Cover time series;
• non-standard modelling of soil organic carbon dynamics;
• data-driven climate impact models for wildfires;
• process-based models of soil-vegetation-atmosphere interactions;
• forest fire burn scars mapping;
• control of the diffusion of invasive species.