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

Smart Water Management for Irrigation Purposes: The SWSOIP Pproject

It seems that the future scenarios for water resources management are characterized by increasing demand and by the short-term unsustainability of many reservoirs in the Mediterranean basin. To address these scenarios, improved management of water resources was needed for water economy, and water recycling policies. Furthermore, agriculture characterized as the largest water user worldwide and the monitoring of the agriculture via remote sensing techniques is an enormous subject where it used for special scientific applications such as irrigation, precision farming, yield prediction, estimation of evapotranspiration etc. The main objective of this paper is to present the current situation of water resources in the Mediterranean region and present the methodology and main objectives of the SWSOIP project which aims to develop a smart watering system for the irrigation process based on the estimation of evapotranspiration using both in-situ data (spectroradiometric, LAI, CH and meteorological) and Sentinel satellite data

D6.10 Mass media material

The specific deliverable summarizes the material related to the form of interviews and articles in newspapers and magazines of the project. Radio, journals and newspapers are also used as means to promote and advertise some of the dissemination events of the project. Mass media promotions at a national level as well in the European Research Media Centre are organized to promote and raise awareness. Guest appearances on TV and radio shows and national newspapers are used to ensure the access to the widest community

The Establishment of the EXcellence Research Centre for Earth Surveillance and Space-Based Monitoring of the Environment (EXCELSIOR) for the Eastern Mediterranean Region

The aim of this paper is to present our vision to upgrade the existing ERATOSTHENES Research Centre (ERC) established within the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) into a sustainable, viable and autonomous Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Earth Surveillance and Space-Based Monitoring of the Environment (EXCELSIOR), which will provide the highest quality of related services on the National, European and International levels. The implementation of the vision will be addressed through a robust Business Plan that will be developed with in Phase 1 of EXCELSIOR project and will establish the foundations for the development of a competitive and high competence profile to expand the Centre’s visibility beyond the national level and develop transnational regional cooperation. The Business Plan is key to ensure the sustainability of the CoE and will also provide the necessary guarantees for a self-sustained operation. The long term aim of the upgraded Centre is to create new opportunities for conducting basic and applied research and innovation (R&I) in the areas of the integrated use of remote sensing and space-based techniques for monitoring the environment

D5.2 Report from the local promotion strategy

The present deliverable consists of the report on the local promotion strategy of the ATHENA project, and makes part of WP5 (Promotion of the centre locally and internationally).The strategy, was based on the promotion of the ATHENA locally with the aim to create a substantial and collaborative network, in order to sustain the Centre’s future activities

D4.7 Material from 4th workshop - ATHENA: Remote Sensing and archaeology: future and expectations

The specific deliverable summarizes the material related to the fourth workshop of the ATHENA project entitled as “ATHENA: Remote Sensing and archaeology: future and expectations”. The deliverable includes the overall agenda, the list of participants as well as the presentations carried out during the event. The minutes and the main outcomes of the workshop are also included in this report

D6.9 ATHENA’s printed brochure

The specific deliverable displays the brochures of the ATHENA project which have been created, printed and distributed throughout the project, for dissemination purposes

D5.4 – International Network (RS and CH) web-site

The present deliverable makes part of the Work Package 5: Promotion of the centre locally and internationally, and more specifically it adress the International networking achieved through the website of the project

D4.9 Report from short term visits

The present deliverable reports the short-term visits of the CUT personnel to Germany and Italy hosted by DLR and CNR, for training on remote sensing technologies, data and sensors as well as active and passive remote sensing (including geophysics) for archaeology. In collaboration with the project partners, selected members of the ATHENA team from Cyprus visited different facilities and had the opportunity to train, discuss and implement novel remote sensing technologies. The main goal of these activities was to further build on the synergies of the ATHENA network. With the involvement of high performance partners (CNR and DLR), the network will encourage the development and exchange of knowledge, technology and innovation in the domain of the cultural heritage. A great effort has been made by all partners to maximize the role and capabilities as well as increase the strategic collaborations in the region of the ATHENA Centre, thereby providing access to their links and making use of the available networks