A new Floating Weed Manager system has completed testing and is now ready for commercial upscaling. The system uses data from Earth Observation satellites to monitor and support the management of invasive aquatic plants in freshwater bodies across the globe. The Floating Weed Manager was developed under ESA’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) Programme by the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and the Environmental Research Group at Kings College, London.

Floating invasive aquatic weeds can rapidly clog up lakes, reservoirs and navigation canals, leading to major economic impacts for businesses, fisheries and leisure activities. Growth and spread of these weeds are a global problem, requiring frequent monitoring to inform boat access, target weed control programmes, and provide early warning of weed problems in new locations. However, providing a continual and complete picture is challenging. Existing survey methods, undertaken by boat and helicopter, can take up to a month to cover an entire body of water. Many countries lack the funds for regular monitoring, and in situ surveys expose staff to health and safety risks from weather and wildlife.

“We are pleased to have supported the Floating Weed Manager system, which is a great example of how satellite technology can deliver both environmental and economic benefits” said Francesco Feliciani, Head of the Company Led Projects Section at ESA. “We believe the service has the potential to transform the management of waterways across the world.”

The Floating Weed Manager combines radar and optical images from ESA Sentinel satellites to provide more comprehensive and more frequent vegetation maps than existing ground surveys. Once an image is acquired by the satellites it is delivered to the Floating Weed Manager within 48 hours, with a cloud-free whole-waterbody map available every 1 - 2 weeks. With timely and accurate data delivery it is easier to evaluate the scale of the problem and earlier intervention is possible. This means that a more targeted approach can be taken, consequently reducing the volume of herbicides needed to control the spread.

“For the first time ever, we can get a macro look at our project on a weekly basis with a plant focus” said Jessica Fair from The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), one of the partners in the project. Jon Lane, also from USACE, added “Current methods of quantifying floating weed cover include costly helicopter surveys. If sufficient information is gathered with this method, there could be significant savings while improving accuracy and precision of whole lake floating weed cover estimates.”

The system was co-designed with partners in the field to ensure it met user demand, with coverage tailored to the characteristics of local water bodies. The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), responsible for maintaining inland water transport and infrastructure routes in the USA, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission were involved from the outset in the design and testing of the system.

Successful pilot tests took place at Lake Okeechobee and in South Florida, USA, and at Lake Victoria, Kenya, in partnership with The Kenyan Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI). Feedback from the successful tests was extremely positive, and the system is now ready for commercial upscaling. With floating invasive weeds found across the globe, there is large market potential for widespread uptake.

The health, entertainment and commercial benefits of sporting events are well-documented but mitigating the environmental impact of major sporting competitions is a growing priority for the sector. Preventing deforestation, fighting climate change, protecting biodiversity, reducing pollution and carbon emissions, and growing the circular economy are all on the agenda, and a recent collaboration between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) aims to put the technology of space applications at the service of sustainability in snow sports. 

The announcement was made during the ESA Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) conference, ‘Towards a space-powered economy’, where the two organisations signed a Memorandum of Intent focused on the development and implementation of space applications to facilitate innovation to mitigate the challenges facing the sector.

“The connection between sports events and sustainability is becoming increasingly important, as the industry plays a key role in advancing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals” said Davide Coppola, Head of ESA’s Space Applications Initiatives Section. “This collaboration not only fosters innovation, but also has the potential to make a substantial impact on the broader events industry, supporting its efforts to achieve essential sustainability targets in a large scale.”

“Issues like the climate crisis and loss of biodiversity do not pertain to any specific area of society: they are the fundamental challenge of our lifetime, for all of us, and can only be addressed through collective effort. This is our reasoning when entering a partnership like this with ESA, which brings the highest level of human knowledge and technology to our common mission of making the world – and snow sports, for that matter – much more sustainable,” says FIS Sustainability Director Susanna Sieff.

The collaboration announcement comes ahead of ESA’s ‘Space for Sustainability in Sports and Mass Events’ funding opportunity that opens in February 2025. A webinar outlining the scope of the opportunity will be held the same month and over the course of the coming weeks, ESA and FIS will work to outline the first joint activities under the collaboration agreement. 

Additionally, the Memorandum of Intent anticipates the potential implementation of space applications to address other future common topics of interest such as athlete performance, safety and security around events, and recreational snow sports experiences.

The collaboration with the FIS is the latest in a series of sports and events-related initiatives undertaken as part of the BASS programme, which has already supported a number of successful projects looking at inclusivity in sports, safety and security at major events, traffic and crowd management at major tournaments and more. Collaborations with UEFA the Italian Taekwondo Federation, Swiss Timing and more continue to facilitate projects across many sports, from sailing and football to cycling, athletics and golf. The open call Space for Olympic Games continues to offer funding opportunities across the sector.

As part of the work around space and sport, ESA has produced a market report outlining the commercial opportunities and use cases for digital transformation and sustainability in sport.

Download the Market Report

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The European Space Agency (ESA) has signed a Memorandum of Intent (MoI) with Prototypes for Humanity (P4H), an Art Dubai Group programme. This partnership seeks to leverage space technology to tackle pressing global challenges and drive sustainable development on a global scale. It will also enable the demonstration and validation of innovative projects by piloting solutions within the UAE market, harnessing local partnerships and resources to maximise impact and scalability. The MoI was signed by Geraldine Naja, Director of ESA's Commercialisation, Industry and Competitiveness Directorate and Tadeu Baldani Caravieri, P4H Director, during the Towards a Space-Powered Economy conference, held at ESA’s ECSAT facility in Harwell, UK, on November 26, 2024.  

Prototypes for Humanity is an international platform dedicated to promoting and supporting innovation across diverse disciplines of science and humanities. It focuses on solutions that deliver tangible positive impacts for society and the planet. Through its collaboration with ESA, P4H will strengthen its ability to connect changemakers with ESA’s expertise, tools, and resources. In turn, ESA will work with P4H’s global network to apply space technologies to areas such as green energy and climate resilience, advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  

“This partnership highlights the power of multisectoral collaboration between space and non-space players,” said Nick Appleyard, Head of the Applications and Solutions Department at ESA. “The cooperation with P4H will allow the creation of innovative solutions that deliver real-world impact, fostering sustainability and progress across sectors.” 

Davide Coppola, Head of ESA’s Space Applications Initiatives Section, added “through this partnership, we aim to combine groundbreaking ideas with space technologies to tackle critical sustainability challenges. This collaboration will empower innovators and industries to create transformative solutions with tangible benefits.” 

“Prototypes for Humanity is proud to partner with ESA to amplify the impact of visionary projects,” said Tadeu Baldani Caravieri. “Together, we will connect innovators with the expertise and tools they need to address challenges at the intersection of technology, creativity, and sustainability.” 

This partnership marks a significant milestone for both organisations, as they unite to advance innovation and sustainability on a global scale. 

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The CEO Water Mandate—a partnership between the UN Global Compact and the Pacific Institute—and the European Space Agency (ESA) today announced significant progress in their joint initiative to leverage space technologies and innovative digital tools for advancing water security and resilience. 

The “Digitising Water Resilience in Basins” initiative addresses the urgent global challenge of insufficient data and shared understanding of freshwater resources, including water stress, quality, and accessibility. 

A Digital Platform for Water-Stressed Basins 

As part of its goal to achieve positive water impact in 100 priority basins by 2030, the CEO Water Mandate is leading the development of a cutting-edge digital monitoring platform for 100 of the world’s most water-stressed basins. The platform aims to provide actionable insights into water basin conditions, helping businesses track their contributions to water resilience goals.

Milestones in the CEO Water Mandate-ESA Partnership 

During COP28 in December 2023, the partnership announced the selection of its first cohort of projects, marking a transformative step in utilising space technologies, digital innovation, and IoT to enhance water basin monitoring. Over the past 18 months, these projects have yielded breakthrough results, providing: 

• Comprehensive data sets tracking changes in water levels over time and into the future. 
• Detailed water quality measurements and pollution source identification. 
• Climate impact modelling to predict future basin conditions. 

Expert Perspectives 

Davide Coppola, Head of Space Applications Initiatives at ESA, emphasised the transformative potential of this collaboration: 

“I am delighted to see the initial outcomes of this initiative, confirming how space technologies, combined with digital tools and IoT, can illuminate water stress drivers and intervention impacts—even in the most remote regions. Our collaboration with the CEO Water Mandate and WRC unlocks new opportunities for cross-sectoral cooperation and innovative business models, paving the way for far-reaching socio-economic benefits.” 

Jason Morrison, Head of the CEO Water Mandate and President of the Pacific Institute, highlighted the importance of space technology in water management: 

“This partnership with ESA is revolutionising access to water-related data. By integrating satellite observations with innovative technologies, we are opening new frontiers in understanding and protecting freshwater resources worldwide.

 

Key Achievements (2023–2024) 

The partnership has achieved several milestones: 

• Funding Support: ESA allocated €1.5 million to fund eight feasibility studies using satellite data and digital monitoring tools to create detailed diagnostics and impact assessments for selected basins. 
• Global Reach: Projects span 13 countries, including Colombia, India, Kenya, Morocco, and the US, setting the stage to expand to 100 priority basins. 
• Corporate Engagement: CEO Water Mandate member companies actively contributed to pilot projects, aligning efforts with NPWI monitoring goals. 
• Pilot Project Partners: Eight European companies—Agreed Earth, CLS, Development Seed, eLeaf-52impact, EOMAP, eRay, Krucial, and Marple—participated in pilot projects, showcasing scalable solutions. 

Future Development: Plans for expanded corporate support and additional projects are underway. 

A Transformative Future for Water Resilience 

The CEO Water Mandate-ESA partnership represents a groundbreaking step toward global water resilience. By combining space-based observations with digital tools, the initiative is advancing efforts to protect water sources and ensure water security for future generations. 

 

A new portable 3D imaging system is set to revolutionise patient care, with initial trials demonstrating significant improvements in diagnosis accuracy of fractures in extremity limbs outperforming conventional 2D X-rays. The system, developed by UK-based Adaptix under ESA’s Business Applications and Space Solutions Programme (BASS) with the support of the UK Space Agency, could also offer greatly reduced costs for care providers, as well as improved accessibility for patients and low levels of radiation.

With traditional 2D X-rays failing to detect up to 40% of scaphoid fractures in the wrist, anyone who has suffered the pain and inconvenience of a missed diagnosis will know all too well the physical, psychological and financial impacts of a delayed recovery. The limitations of traditional 2D X-ray images mean that smaller fractures are often missed or require the use of more complex and expensive scanners to confirm diagnosis, like CT, which delivers a high radiation dose, or MRI which are very slow. By contrast, the Adaptix system uses a process known as digital tomosynthesis, which offers a multi-layered 3D view of the problem area to improve the speed and accuracy of diagnosis.

Digital tomosynthesis offers a completely different way imaging from the traditional 2D X-ray tube by firing X-rays in a sequence from many different positions. Adaptix’s journey started with miniature electron emitters using technology that was simultaneously being developed for a number of Space missions. The latest Adaptix system fires X-rays from over 30 positions in a rapid sequence lasting a few seconds giving a quick, low-cost, 3D image which provides a significantly higher level of detail, even on complex fractures, than is possible with a 2D image.

Dr Steve Wells, Adaptix CTO, said ”2D X-ray is the most common type of imaging but gives a fundamentally limited view of our 3D bodies. The aim of Adaptix is to transform radiology by replacing 2D X-ray with a low-cost, low-dose mobile 3D system available at the point of care”

The benefits of the Adaptix system to the patient are manifold and extend far beyond the promise of more accurate diagnoses. Near real time image results available in a matter of seconds mean quick diagnosis and treatment, and the potential to scan through a cast not only saves time but also reduces discomfort for patients. Where fractures or disease are suspected in the foot or ankle, the Adaptix system is able to image the affected area with the patient standing in a weight-bearing position rather than prone, allowing medical experts to assess the damage more effectively.

Radiation levels are similar to those produced by existing 2D X-ray systems and far lower than those incurred from CT scanners. As the system is fully portable – the size and weight of a suitcase – unlike other imaging equipment it can easily be installed in existing radiology rooms and the improved quality could mean that the images could be confidently read by less specialised staff, for example during out of hours cases.

But it’s not only people with broken bones who stand to benefit from this new technology. As part of the project with ESA, Adaptix have also developed and sold many portable 3D X-ray machines for veterinary centres. For the human imaging system, five initial demonstrations were completed in Europe and the US as part of the project, encompassing children’s hospitals, an orthopaedic clinic and general medical facilities. In each trial the initial feedback has been very promising and the equipment has already been installed at many veterinary surgeries in the UK and US.

Quoc Hoang, MD, Musculoskeletal Radiologist, New Orleans VA Medical Center on reviewing an Adaptix wrist image wrote: “Great image. Might be the first time I’ve seen the carpal trapezoid bone in isolation. Degenerative changes are well seen.”

Arnaud Runge, Technical Officer for ESA on the project with Adaptix said, “This new technology has the power to transform patient care, and the ‘low cost, low dose’ portable model means that it appeals to a wide range of functions, from A&E units through to remote surgeries, dental practices, veterinary providers and many more. It has been an exciting project to work on and we look forward to seeing it rolled out across healthcare – the low radiation dose also means that we could even see the system used in space in the coming years.”

Chris White-Horne, Deputy CEO & Chief Delivery Officer at UK Space Agency said:

 “We all use space technology in our daily lives, from mobile devices and navigation to online banking and weather forecasting. But beyond these uses, it is increasingly crucial in the healthcare sector.This project from Adaptix, which employs technology developed for space missions, has the potential to dramatically reduce the cost of X-rays for healthcare providers and exposure to radiation, while improving patient access. The UK boasts a thriving space applications sector where many non-space companies leverage space technologies for a competitive advantage, while showcasing innovations that can benefit people’s lives.”

With US FDA regulatory clearance for a first version of the Orthopaedic device received in January 2023 and Adaptix setting up manufacturing facilities in Scotland, interest is building from the USA and a growing number of veterinary and dental practices. Going forward, research is underway to extend the capabilities of the technology to cover other areas of the body including bedside 3D lung imaging. The future looks very bright for this compact, powerful technology, as it is poised to transform mobile imaging across the medical world. It brings a host of new possibilities to 3D X-ray imaging that previously would not have been feasible, such as care at home, ambulances and even the bedsides of ICU patients. The recovery of many fracture patients are set to be improved by the ESA-backed Adaptix technology, providing a transformative diagnostic tool for medical professionals and bringing a multitude of benefits to patients around the world.