D10.1 Report on the dissemination activities and Conference organisation

This deliverable provides an extensive analysis of the dissemination activities and workshops organisation of the EXCELSIOR H2020 Teaming Project. The analysis starts with the report on our participation in conferences (11) and how the project was promoted through it. Then, we explain about the participation of our team members in talks (17), workshops (7) and seminars (12) as invited speakers. The deliverable continues with a thorough presentation of the lectures by invited speakers (8), the webinar (1) and the workshops (2) organized by our team. Additionally, we document about our participation in other events (i.e., European Researcher’s Night 2021 and SpaceUPCyprus 2021 Live). The last chapter provides the publications, journal papers, conference papers, and book sections for the reporting time period. The deliverable concludes by providing information on the outcome of the reported activities and how they have contributed to the progress of the EXCELSIOR H2020 Teaming Project. It is concluded that there is a strong need to establish links in the EMMENA region and connect with them. This has not been achieved yet, but a strategy was prepared to raise awareness about the EXCELSIOR Project in the EMMENA region and establish partnerships, starting with targeted stakeholders’ workshop in autumn 2021, where selected stakeholders from the region will be invited to be informed them about the project and provide them the space to discuss their needs and identify common scientific interests and ways of collaboration

Comparative analysis of Sentinel-1 and PlanetScope imagery for flood mapping of Evros River, Greece

The Evros region in Greece is prone to frequent floods, causing significant damage to infrastructure and communities. It is imperative to have an effective flood monitoring system in place to mitigate the risks associated with these natural disasters. Satellite remote sensing technology can provide vital information for monitoring and assessing the impact of such events. High-resolution satellite imagery and other remote sensing techniques can provide near real-time information on the floods' extent, severity, and dynamics, allowing for prompt and accurate responses of disaster management. This study integrated radar and optical imagery from Sentinel-1 and PlanetScope, respectively, to map the extent of a significant flood event along the Evros River from 12th of January to 01st of February 2021. Moreover, it exploits geomorphometric information through Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) to assess the flood risk zones. The region experienced the highest recorded rainfall in the last 50 years, making the event particularly noteworthy. More specifically, the Hellenic National Meteorological Service recorded an average monthly rainfall of 408 mm for January and 211 mm for the first ten days of February. The outcomes of this study highlight the benefits of interdisciplinary approaches and the synergy within optical and radar imagery, which can offer vital data to local authorities and stakeholders in decision making towards mitigation strategies and resilience in flood risk events.ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellenc

Impact assessment of the catastrophic earthquakes of 6 February 2023 in Turkey and Syria via the exploitation of satellite datasets

Turkey due to its location within the collision zone between the Eurasian, African and Arabian Plates, is a region prone to earthquakes. The country mostly lies on the Anatolian micro-plate, bounded by two major strike-slip fault zones, i.e., the North and the East Anatolian Fault. On 6 February 2023, the activation of a large segment of the East Anatolian Fault generated two earthquakes of 7.8 and 7.5 magnitude, in southern Turkey. The seismic risk is greater along the plate boundaries, however due to the frequency of earthquake occurrence throughout Turkey, detailed seismic risk maps are crucial and need to be continuously updated towards operational purposes, and as the optimal means towards decision making for disaster risk reduction. Extensive Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite image analysis was performed to determine ground displacements caused by the seismic sequence in the wider area around the two epicenters. Pre-seismic line of sight displacements, as well as co-seismic deformation, were estimated, providing critical information about the surface rupture and the overall ground deformation in the affected areas. Earthquakes can induce landslides and other ground displacements causing extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure. Therefore, optical (e.g., Sentinel-2, PlanetScope) and SAR (Sentinel-1) imagery were exploited as a useful tool for assessing the impact of earthquakes on the ground. The monitoring and mapping of these changes, in conjunction with SAR analysis, as well as information on building infrastructure and population density, highlight the overall damage assessment in the region, thus, allowing a better understanding of the impact of earthquakes while providing a more effective response and recovery efforts for decision makers and local authorities towards disaster risk reduction