‘Eyes in the sky’: PH launches space infra mirroring EU’s satellite data

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), the European Union (EU), and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) launched the CopPhil (National Copernicus Capacity Support Action Programme) Centre on Thursday, October 17.

CopPhil is the infrastructure program that would enable easier access of satellite data from the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Copernicus earth observation program.

It establishes the first Copernicus mirror site in Asia in the Philippines. Polish company CloudFerro is providing the cloud storage for the data that will be mirrored from Europe to the Philippines.

Why is this satellite data important? PhilSA Director General Joel Marciano said the data can guide the Philippines’ space strategy and make solid the country’s space cooperation with Europe.

“From enhancing the access to space data, the capability to host and distribute this data, the capacity to analyze and derive insights from this data, and to creating greater impetus and resources to act on this data towards creating societal benefit, the CopPhil program promotes and fosters space data value chain in the country and our region,” said Marciano on Thursday.

The launch is likened to “first light,” a concept in astronomy which means the first time a telescope was used. For Marciano, first light symbolizes “new beginnings and opportunities.”

The program will have three components: monitoring land cover, marine environments, and ground motion.

This means Filipino scientists would now have eyes on changes on land use, forest cover, seismic activities, land subsidence, coral bleaching events, among others. These are invaluable information as the Philippines grapples with impacts of a warming world.

As has been tackled in a panel session during the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR), CopPhil — and better use of satellite data – can help the country shift from merely assessing potential hazards to anticipating the extent of damage that will result from an impending disaster.

“European satellites will provide the image of the Philippines in real time,” said EU Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro on Thursday.

“The Philippines will be able to use the data for monitoring ground movements, crops such as banana forests as well as maritime environment. This is quite remarkable with Philippines being one of the richest biodiversity countries in the world.”

Santoro added that the data from the Sentinel satellites can “make a difference in responding well to natural disasters and addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation.”

Copernicus is considered “Europe’s eyes on earth,” meant to monitor marine environments, land use, vegetation, forests, climate change fingerprints like surface air temperature.

How does this work and benefit PH?

While local experts have been using data from the European satellites in the past, having the infrastructure in the Philippines can make things easier for them.

“The size of this data is huge,” Denis Villorente, PhilSA’s deputy director general for space operations, infrastructure, and industry, said in Filipino on Thursday after the launch event.

“Right now, if you access it from Europe, it will take you a while. And sometimes it’s important to reduce that delay, especially for emergency situations.”

Villorente said having “eyes in the sky” gives them a comprehensive look of the extent of damage during disasters.

“During the southwest monsoon season, there is heavy rainfall. We need to identify where the flood is,” said Villorente.

“Sometimes, the extent of the flooding is quite wide. And so we need eyes. We call them eyes in the sky that have a bigger perspective where you can see the wide area and then you can generate the flood map.”

Villorente explained that they compare images from before and after a typhoon strikes, so they can “identify where the water is.”

Inside and outside the Philippines

Right now, the infrastructure will be collecting and archiving images covering the area of the Philippines. But there are plans to expand it for ASEAN neighbors use as well, said Villorente.

The storage capacity will have to be increased, and images of other ASEAN territories will be included in the storage.

Science Secretary Renato Solidum said the goal is to make use of satellite data for local governments and for the Philippines to be a “hub” of sorts in the region.

“Our dream is, and this was our agreement, that the Philippines be a hub of the distribution of the European satellite in other countries in Asia,” Solidum told Rappler in the sidelines of a session during the APMCDRR on Thursday.

“The ASTI (Advanced Science and Technology Institute) of the DOST has the facility to distribute.”

Representatives from PhilSA, DOST, EU, ESA, and other partners gathered in PhilSA’s headquarters Quezon City on Thursday morning for the launch.

A marker “commemorating the first light of the CopPhil Centre” has been put up inside the premises and was unveiled by Marciano and Santoro.

“May this milestone illuminate the path towards greater understanding and protection of our planet,” the marker read.

CopPhil is part of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy “to strengthen health, education, and research systems around the world.” It is said to be aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and the 2015 Paris Agreement.

The website can be accessed here. – Rappler.com

Quotes are translated for brevity.