Space and Security

This Convener, building on the foundation laid by the SPACE-SECURITY initiative (since 2015), aims to serve as a vital link for fostering connection and integration across the GEO Focus Areas. It addresses the increasing need for comprehensive solutions to enhance the safety and security of citizens and societies by leveraging Earth observation (EO) data, continuing the mission to raise awareness of and promote the adoption of geospatial open data and advanced technologies among relevant stakeholders. Emphasizing food, water, and climate security as critical global challenges, the initiative focuses on fostering collaboration, articulating research and innovation actions, and supporting evidence-based decision-making to enhance the decision-making processes of stakeholders working in relevant scenarios. Aligned with the first goal of the GEO 2025–2030 Strategy Implementation Plan, the Convener will support the development of impactful applications to deliver Earth Intelligence while fostering collaboration and the co-design of solutions within the GEO framework.

Security is an intricate domain. Scenarios are very diverse in terms of actors, actions, and decision-making processes, which leads to a wide range of needs to be satisfied. Today, global issues have further broadened the scope of security scenarios. Food, water, and climate security are examples of these relatively new scenarios in which actors and practitioners are demanding more and more reliable information to enhance their decision-making processes.

EO data is a recognized key tool for monitoring local, regional, and global issues and for supporting the understanding of their consequences. Its unique characteristics (e.g., historical registry to identify trends and anomalies, continuous monitoring of large areas, estimation and prediction of physical variables, and access to observations in remote locations where in situ data is not available) open the door to innovative ideas and solutions in support of civil security.

GEO gathers hundreds of actors working to foster the use of EO data in different domains. Focused on addressing the diverse security scenarios emerging in recent years, this Convener will serve as a vital link for continuously identifying relevant ongoing and planned activities across the different Focus Areas, facilitating cross-domain cooperation for a more holistic and comprehensive approach to civil security. 

By leveraging Earth Observation (EO) data, collateral data, and associated technologies, the group will create a collaborative platform that brings together partners from diverse sectors engaged in security-related activities, facilitating cross-domain cooperation. 

SPACE-SECURITY will bring together different stakeholders, including governmental and non-governmental organizations, private sector entities, and academia, that either currently benefit from or seek to benefit from space-based EO data and related technologies to respond to food, water, and/or climate security issues.

The list of initial stakeholders involved in SPACE-SECURITY includes:

In addition, the following stakeholders are involved in initial discussions and are expected to also contribute to the cross-domain fertilization activities:

A major focus of the group will be identifying observational and capability gaps that can be addressed through space-based assets. It will work towards the integration of relevant innovative applications, services, and platforms to fill these gaps, helping stakeholders assess risks more effectively and make informed decisions.

Through these efforts, the Convener aims to strengthen the security footprint within the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), improving coordination across domains. It will also extend the role of EO in providing reliable, actionable data for global security frameworks, such as the United Nations 2030 Agenda, the Paris Agreement, and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. By enhancing collaboration and knowledge-sharing, this Convener will contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) relevant to security.