Beyond EO Centre NOA

The BEYOND Centre participated in the Twelfth International Conference on Remote Sensing and Geoinformation of the Environment ( ), held in Paphos, Cyprus, from 27–29 April 2026, under the auspices of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU 2026.

Dr. Kontoes, Research Director at the National Observatory of Athens and Head of the BEYOND Centre, contributed to the conference through keynote presentations and participation in high-level discussions on the future of Earth Observation and Earth Intelligence.

During his plenary presentation, Dr. Kontoes introduced the Horizon Europe-funded “e-genesis” project, coordinated by the BEYOND Centre / National Observatory of Athens. The project aims to advance the transition from Earth Observation to operational Earth Intelligence by combining EO data, Artificial Intelligence, and digital technologies to support policy-making and decision-making processes.

He also highlighted the evolution of the EuroGEO community through the EuroGEOSec project and the importance of strengthening collaboration between scientists, policymakers, industry, and end users to ensure that Earth Observation services generate tangible societal impact.

At the 7th Annual Hybrid Excelsior Workshop, Dr. Kontoes presented operational activities of the BEYOND Centre, including applications related to wildfire management, drought monitoring, flood early warning systems, renewable energy forecasting, and public health.

During the conference, Professor Diofantos Hadjimitsis and Dr. Nicodemos Damianou, PhD presented a recognition award to Dr. Kontoes for the long-standing collaboration and contribution of NOA within the EXCELSIOR H2020 Teaming Project and the Eratosthenes Centre of Excellence.

🔗 More information about the conference: https://rscy2026.com/agenda-workshops/

🔗 Read more here: https://beyond-eocenter.eu/index.php/news-events/844-rscy-2026

Ινστιτούτο Αστρονομίας, Αστροφυσικής, Διαστημικών Εφαρμογών,Τηλεπισκόπησης
Εθνικόν Αστεροσκοπείον Αθηνών
Χάρης Κοντοές

The BEYOND Centre participated both online and in person in , the General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union, one of the largest international conferences in the geosciences.

The event brought together thousands of researchers from around the world in Vienna and online from 3–8 May 2026 to present and discuss developments across Earth, planetary, climate, environmental, and space sciences.

Our team contributed with oral presentations, posters, and online participation across thematic sessions related to Earth observation, drought monitoring, disaster reconstruction, and environmental applications of remote sensing.

🔹 Nikolaos S. Bartsotas contributed to EGU26 with two participations:

• Presentation of the abstract:
"Towards a Second-Generation Wildfire Detection and Forecasting Platform: Technical and Operational Advances in FireHUB."
🔗 https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU26/EGU26-6748.html

• Chairperson, together with Marj Tonini, of the session:
“Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Wildfires: Models, Theory, and Reality” including the presentation:
“Advanced Monitoring, Detection, and AI-Driven Forecasting Systems”
🔗 https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU26/session/56444

🔹 Angelos Georgakis participated with a poster presentation during the conference: "Assessing Aerosol Impact on Digital Twin Solar Irradiance Forecasts and on PV Power Prediction"
🔗 https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU26/EGU26-20184.html

🔹 Nikolaos Stasinos participated online with the presentation:
“A multi-temporal Very High-Resolution optical satellite remote sensing framework for post-disaster reconstruction monitoring”
🔗 https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU26/EGU26-18665.html

🔹 Alexandros Konis participated online with the presentation:
“Diachronic drought assessment of Greek water-supply reservoirs using open EO and reanalysis data”
🔗 https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU26/EGU26-7136.html

We are pleased to see the continued contribution of our colleagues to the international scientific community through research and collaboration in Earth Observation and Remote Sensing.

🤝 Special thanks to all colleagues and collaborators who contributed to these works and presentations:
Valentina Kanaki
Panagiotis Zachariadis
Rizos-Theodoros Chadoulis
Michail-Christos Tsoutsos
Athanasios Askitopoulos
Vasiliki Pagana
Emmanouil Salas
Katerina-Argyri Paroni
Katerina Pissaridi

European Geosciences Union - EGU
Χάρης Κοντοές
Ινστιτούτο Αστρονομίας, Αστροφυσικής, Διαστημικών Εφαρμογών,Τηλεπισκόπησης
Εθνικόν Αστεροσκοπείον Αθηνών

🚨EVENT ALERT!

SUNSHINE 4th Training Seminar – Final In-Person Opportunity for participation!

This seminar offers a valuable, hands-on opportunity to explore how Programme, , and other services can support operations in real-world scenarios.

From 23–26 June 2026 in Zagreb

💡 Why attend?
• Free of charge participation
• Practical, operational focus with real use cases
• Direct exposure to cutting-edge EU space-based services

👥 Who should apply?
• Civil protection authorities & emergency coordinators (all levels)
• First responders & technical teams (firefighters, USAR, etc.)
• EU Civil Protection Mechanism National Training Coordinators, policymakers & trainers

⚠️ Limited places available – Expression of Interest required!
Secure your spot and strengthen your operational capacity through EU Space services:
https://civil-protection-knowledge-network.europa.eu/events/sunshine-4th-training-seminar-applications-open



EU Science Hub - Joint Research Centre
EU Civil Protection & Humanitarian Aid
European Commission
Copernicus ECMWF
Copernicus EU

From satellites to society – A mission possible!

At the BEYOND Centre of IAASARS/NOA, our research teams transform Earth observation data into actionable insights for a more resilient future.

This , we’re proud to see our work once again featured in HORIZON: the EU Research & Innovation magazine's social media campaign, showcasing how EYWA System helps turn space data into real-world impact.

🗞️ Discover the Horizon Magazine campaign here: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1420751036736068&set=a.339376964873486

🔗 Read the full story here: https://projects.research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/en/horizon-magazine/eyes-sky-making-earth-observation-data-work-people?pk_source=X&pk_medium=social_organic_stakeholders&pk_campaign=international_day

🔹 Learn more about EYWA here: https://beyond-eocenter.eu/index.php/web-services/eywa



Χάρης Κοντοές
Ινστιτούτο Αστρονομίας, Αστροφυσικής, Διαστημικών Εφαρμογών,Τηλεπισκόπησης
Εθνικόν Αστεροσκοπείον Αθηνών
EU Environment
European Research Council
Copernicus EU
EU Climate Action

ℹ️ First co-seismic interferogram of the Nevada (14-04-2026, 01:29:15 UTC).
The GeObservatory service of the Operational Unit BEYOND Center of Earth Observation Research and Satellite Remote Sensing of the National Observatory of Athens, was activated to map ground deformation induced by the Nevada earthquake, M5.7 of April 14th, 2026, 01:29:15 UTC. Co-seismic interferogram was produced with the use of Sentinel-1 images of descending no 144, satellite pass. In the co-seismic interferogram, surface deformation induced by the seismic event is mapped. Each fringe corresponds to a ground deformation equal to 2.8 cm. All co-seismic and pre-seismic interferograms, associated with the event are freely available on the geObsevatory website (http://geobservatory.beyond-eocenter.eu/).

ℹ️ Δορυφορική συμβολομετρική απεικόνιση του πεδίου εδαφικής παραμόρφωσης από τον σεισμό στην Νεβάδα (14-04-2026, 01:29:15 UTC).
Η υπηρεσία geObservatory της Επιχειρησιακής Μονάδας BEYOND του Εθνικού Αστεροσκοπείου Αθηνών, ενεργοποιήθηκε και κατέγραψε την εδαφική παραμόρφωση, που προκλήθηκε από τον σεισμό στην Νεβάδα, Μ5.7, στις 14 Απριλίου 2026, στις 01:29:15 UTC. Δημιουργήθηκε συμβολογράφημα με χρήση εικόνων Sentinel-1 καθοδικής τροχιάς δορυφόρου. Στο συμβολογράφημα είναι εμφανής η μετατόπιση του εδάφους που προκλήθηκε από τον σεισμό. Κάθε κροσσός συμβολής αντιστοιχεί σε εδαφική παραμόρφωση ίση με 2.8 εκ. Όλα τα διαφορικά συμβολογράμματα που σχετίζονται με τον σεισμό, είναι διαθέσιμα στην ιστοσελίδα του geΟbsevatory (http://geobservatory.beyond-eocenter.eu/).

Ινστιτούτο Αστρονομίας, Αστροφυσικής, Διαστημικών Εφαρμογών,Τηλεπισκόπησης
Εθνικόν Αστεροσκοπείον Αθηνών
Χάρης Κοντοές

Flood Hazard Assessment in Attica: A High-Resolution Methodological Approach

Flood hazard assessment—together with vulnerability and risk analysis—is closely linked to flood resilience and has been extensively studied in densely populated areas, where the most catastrophic floods tend to occur.

Within the framework of the Programming Agreement of the Prefecture of Attica and in the context of the UNICORN Project, BEYOND Centre IAASARS/ NOA, in cooperation with the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) research group, developed the methodology presented in this study.

The methodology was implemented at high spatial resolution in five flood-affected river basins in Attica, with the Pikrodafni River basin presented in detail.

Data acquisition constituted a core component of the methodology and included:
• Targeted spatial datasets
• Earth-observation imagery
• Time-series data
• Historical flood records
• Relevant prior studies obtained from competent authorities

Field visits were conducted to characterize site conditions, verify datasets, identify high-risk critical points, and measure hydraulic structures and channel properties.

Flood modeling was performed using design-flood scenarios with typical return periods, integrating hydrologic and hydraulic flood processes.

High spatial resolution was maintained throughout, with emphasis on uncertainty analysis and detailed representation of infrastructure and urban areas.

📊 Results indicate:
• Overflow typically occurs in buried streams
• Along adjacent roads in the downstream reach
• At stream confluences
• At upstream inlets where natural streams enter drainage pipe networks

Up to 200 critical points were identified, with up to 35% classified as first-priority sites for intervention.

📄 Read the article: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/built-environment/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1768439/full

Ινστιτούτο Αστρονομίας, Αστροφυσικής, Διαστημικών Εφαρμογών,Τηλεπισκόπησης
Εθνικόν Αστεροσκοπείον Αθηνών
Χάρης Κοντοές
Alexia Tsouni

Cyprus Earth Observation Data Cube towards water resource management in the context of climate crisis The amount of Earth observation data is getting larger day by day. This rapid evolution of the field and the exponential growth of data generation mediums urges the need for modern ways of fast ana...

Η επιχειρησιακή ομάδα Beyond του Εθνικού Αστεροσκοπείου Αθηνών και ο Δρ. Νίκος Μπαρτσώτας παρουσίασε σε ειδική ημερίδα την Τρίτη 10 Μαρτίου στις εγκαταστάσεις της Περιφέρειας Αττικής (τμήμα Πολιτικής Προστασίας), νέες υπηρεσίες που σχετίζονται με την πρόγνωση και την παρακολούθηση δασικών πυρκαγιών σε σχεδόν πραγματικό χρόνο. Η διαμόρφωση των υπηρεσιών αυτών έλαβε χώρα στα πλαίσια του ερευνητικού προγράμματος "MedEWSa - Μεσογειακό και πανευρωπαϊκό σύστημα πρόβλεψης και έγκαιρης προειδοποίησης κατά των φυσικών κινδύνων”.

Παρουσιάστηκαν πρόσφατα εξελιγμένες υπηρεσίες πρόγνωσης ρίσκου εκδήλωσης και εξάπλωσης δασικών πυρκαγιών καθώς και παρακολούθησής τους σε πραγματικό χρόνο μέσω συνδυαστικής χρήσης αριθμητικών μοντέλων πρόγνωσης, μοντέλων AI και δορυφορικής τηλεπισκόπησης, καθώς επίσης και το πλάνο για νέες υπηρεσίες και υποδομές ενόψει της αντιπυρικής περιόδου του 2026.

Την ημερίδα παρακολούθησε πλήθος χρηστών συστημάτων υποστήριξης αποφάσεων (DSS) και συστημάτων έγκαιρης προειδοποίησης (EWS) για δασικές πυρκαγιές, συμπεριλαμβανομένων μελών της Πολιτικής Προστασίας, του Πυροσβεστικού Σώματος, δημόσιων και ιδιωτικών φορέων.

Ινστιτούτο Αστρονομίας, Αστροφυσικής, Διαστημικών Εφαρμογών,Τηλεπισκόπησης
Εθνικόν Αστεροσκοπείον Αθηνών
Χάρης Κοντοές

Alexia Tsouni, on behalf of NOA/BEYOND, presented the evolution of the ongoing flood event in the transboundary river basin of Evros, through the operational FloodHub diachronic mapping service based on a fully automated processing of Sentinel-1 satellite imagery.

Find out more 👇