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Earth Observation

  • Glossary item | 19 Mar 2025
Bioeconomy Knowledge Centre

Earth Observation (EO) is the process of gathering information about the Earth’s surface, waters and atmosphere via ground-based, airborne and/or satellite remote sensing platforms. The acquired data are processed and analysed to extract different types of information that can be used to monitor and assess the status of – and changes in – both the natural and human-made environments. EO data serves a very wide range of applications and industries, including: environmental protection, energy, managing urban areas, regional and local planning, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, health, transport, climate change, sustainable development, civil protection, tourism – and more. Europe’s Earth Observation programme is called Copernicus. Using a combination of satellites, in-situ sensors and air- and sea-borne sensors, Copernicus looks at our planet and its environment and provides data and information that benefits all European citizens.

EUSPA, What is Earth Observation?, accessed on 13 February 2025

Source category: International Organization

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EUSPA

Abbreviation
EO
Originally Published

19 Mar 2025

Related organisation(s)EUSPA - European Union Agency for the Space Programme
Knowledge service | MetadataBioeconomy Knowledge Centre
Digital Europa Thesaurus (DET)earth observationremote sensingDataMonitoringenvironmental protectionsustainable development
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