International Project Launches to Improve Urban Space Management Utilizing Satellite Data
On Wednesday, June 5th, 2024, a new international project was launched with the goal of revolutionizing urban space management. The project, known as SPACE4Cities, aims to utilize European satellite data to create replicable solutions for better and more dynamic management of public areas. This initiative is funded by the European Commission’s Horizon Europe program, through the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA).
City planners have traditionally used various methods, such as manual photography or drones, to map urban spaces. However, satellite data has been underutilized despite its many benefits. It has the ability to cover large areas, is cost-efficient, and can function with high levels of automation.
Through a Pre-Commercial Procurement process, SPACE4Cities will buy Research & Development services from multiple suppliers in parallel. The project is specifically looking for highly innovative solutions that are not currently available on the market. To achieve this, SPACE4Cities has announced the launch of its Open Market Consultation, which began on June 4th, 2024.
The use of space data and services is estimated to contribute to over 55 billion euros in the EU alone by 2033. As a European project, SPACE4Cities stands out for its explicit connection between public spaces and space applications, using Copernicus and/or Galileo data. The project takes a holistic approach to addressing public space challenges, which goes beyond the traditional security perspective often associated with technology.
SPACE4Cities is one of the few European initiatives dedicated to filling the gap in public procurements for space downstream technologies. It also innovatively responds to major challenges faced by European cities, with the aim of improving the daily lives of citizens. Furthermore, the technological capabilities and skills developed through the Pre-Commercial Procurement will contribute to the EU’s strategic autonomy.
Solutions to Meet Cities’ Needs
In early 2024, five top-innovative European cities – Helsinki, Amsterdam, Ghent, Guimarães, and Athens (Attica Region) – defined use cases to enhance the management of their public spaces. These use cases were grouped into three challenges related to the cities’ current needs: climate adaptation and resilience, sustainable mobility, and urban planning.
During the five-month Open Market Consultation, SPACE4Cities is seeking insights from solution providers, including SMEs, large companies, NGOs, and research organizations. All stakeholders interested in the challenges are encouraged to contribute to the state-of-the-art analysis of space applications, as well as provide comments on the challenges’ content, requirements, budget, and timeline for the Pre-Commercial Procurement.
Participating in the Open Market Consultation allows providers to influence the upcoming call for tenders. They can explain what is currently being done on the market, how they can innovate, and comment on the feasibility of the Pre-Commercial Procurement process. Additionally, they can begin to think about their tender submission at the beginning of 2025, according to SPACE4Cities Project Coordinator Renske Martijnse-Hartikka from Forum Virium Helsinki.
Alan Mandrillon, Space Project Manager from Aerospace Valley, reminds all stakeholders that participating in the Open Market Consultation does not provide any preference for the forthcoming €2.87 million call for tenders, planned to be open in the first quarter of 2025. However, all insights received until November 2024 will help to refine the challenges and feed the specifications.
Mandrillon adds, “SPACE4Cities is proud to be the first Pre-commercial procurement stimulating both Earth Observation and Global Navigation Satellite System technologies, thus fostering their combination in meeting European cities’ needs as well as the space sector.”
For more information about the project, please contact:
Renske Martijnse-Hartikka
Senior Project Manager
Forum Virium Helsinki
+358 40 683 7979
renske.martijnse-hartikka@forumvirium.fi
Source: EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report, Issue 2, copyright © European Union Agency for the Space Programme, 2024.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.