The EO-BALP project – Enhanced Multi-Source Information for Natural Capital Assessment and Monitoring – aimed to develop an innovative system supporting the assessment, monitoring, and management of natural capital using satellite data and other sources of spatial information. The project responds to the growing demand from public authorities for modern tools that support sustainable spatial planning, environmental protection, and ecosystem service assessment.
Natural capital encompasses natural resources and the benefits that society derives from them, such as water retention, air purification, biodiversity conservation, and recreational opportunities. The project was based on the integration of data from the Copernicus satellite missions, particularly Sentinel-2, with topographic, hydrological, meteorological, demographic, and other spatial datasets. This approach enabled comprehensive monitoring of environmental conditions and their changes over time.
The project developed models for assessing selected ecosystem services, including the potential for urban food production, urban cooling provided by green spaces, air purification from particulate matter, water retention and flood risk mitigation, and landscape attractiveness for recreation and tourism. The analyses were carried out using advanced geoinformation methods and spatial models tailored to the needs of end users.
Based on the developed models, a web-based platform was created to enable the automated processing, visualization, and analysis of spatial data. The system allows users to browse thematic maps, analyse environmental indicators, and compare results across different administrative and landscape units. The solution has become a decision-support tool for public authorities, local governments, research institutions, and companies interested in sustainable environmental management.
The project outcomes include a set of models for ecosystem service assessment, an integrated spatial database, a web platform presenting the results of analyses, and recommendations for implementing the developed solutions in the daily practice of institutions responsible for spatial planning and environmental protection. The project has contributed to increasing the use of Copernicus data and to the development of modern Earth observation services supporting the protection of natural capital.
Project website: https://eo-balp.ptklubuskie.com/pl/o-projekcie/
Map portal: https://eo-balp.ptklubuskie.com/lubuskie/?lang=pl
Project Coordinator: Park of Space Technologies Research and Innovation (PTK B+R+I), Zielona Góra, Poland
Partners:
- Institute of Geodesy and Cartography (IGiK), Poland
- Baltic Satellite Services, Latvia
Project Duration: 2025–2026
Funding: European Space Agency (ESA) under the EO Baltic Platform for Governmental Services (EO-BALP) programme.