EOTiST aims to enhance the S&T capacity of the Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences (CBK PAN) and to achieve excellence in research of EO products’ assimilation in the ecosystem assessment and monitoring by starting close collaboration with 3 European centres of excellence: CERTH, CREAF, CNR. Specific goals are to be pursued: - Enhance S&T capacity of the coordinating institution. Training activities targeted to the exact needs of the CBK PAN constitute the key part of EOTiST, after a dedicated SWOT analysis. Existing non-exploited potential will be enhanced and further training of the personnel and affiliated scientists performed. - Upgrade research profile of the CBK PAN and the profile of its staff by mobilizing and training of personnel. Key training actions include workshops, staff visits, and on-line courses and target PhD students, early stage researchers, postdoctoral students, researchers and administrative staff. - Increase research excellence and stimulate innovation of the coordinating institution. EOTiST will build on CNR, CREAF and CERTH excellence and their networks to advance CBK PAN research and innovation performance through knowledge transfer and exchange of best practices. - Achieve sustainable progress and future development for the today’s seed group in CBK PAN. The partners will develop a strategic partnership based on reinforced dialogue and consultation. EOTiST will explore collaboration chances with local stakeholders and perform a market and product feasibility analysis to introduce new products/ technologies within Poland. - Promote the involvement of early stage researchers in the CBK PAN. Early stage researchers will be acquainted with specific knowledge and technical skills to organise scientific work and present research results. - Develop joint research initiatives and projects. Partners will mobilize existing networks and resources to formulate research initiatives and projects. - Enhance CBK PAN management skills

The proposal deals with the production of a dual-mode, low-frequency, radar installed on board of a leight-weight UAV. The radar will operate into two modes: as Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and as ground penetrating radar. Both instruments provide extremely interesting images that are extensively used in Earth and Planetary observations. However, these airborne systems are bulky and can be operated only from manned aircraft both planes and helicopters. On the other hand, the few drones that can sustain such a equipment are large and heavy. In both cases, the operations are expensive and with a complicate logistic. The quantum leap of FlyRadar consists in installing this radar system onboard a small and light electric octocopters, providing low cost utilisation and easy operations. This affordable system will enlarge the user communities generating the possibility for an extensive use of FlyRadar taking advantage of the potentiality of this long-lasting innovation. The use of SAR and penetrating radar is widespread in Earth observation spanning from geological survey to archeological prospecting, from agricultural assessment to artefact detection. However, FlyRadar could be used also in planetary exploration. The NASA mission Mars2020 will test a drone and it will pave the way for the utilisation of UAVs in the in-situ exploration of Mars and Titan. The project is split in two phase. The first half of the project will be devoted in identifying the requirement, in designing instruments and in building them. The second half will be dedicated to the evaluation of FlyRadar with three experiments lasting a month each. The tests will performed in dry desert areas to avoid the negative effect of ground water and humidity on the radar signal. The test executions will be matched by month-long joint sessions for the analysis of the data, assess the scientific value and investigate the technological aspects.

Marginal Lands (MLs) could offer suitable carbon sinks by afforestation/reforestation projects without being competitive to food production, conforming to EU/Global policies. The main objective of MAIL is to trigger utilization of MLs as Carbon Sinks by activities related to forestry and agriculture. The project aims to detect and classify mountainous and semimountainous Marginal Lands (m/sm MLs), in order to deliver a web-based regional platform with data, methodology and applications which will be valuable for policy makers, stakeholders or researchers. MAIL will assess MLs’ presence, distribution and suitability in smart and efficient way, considering that marginality differs within European bioclimatic zones. It will detect MLs through multiple layer analysis of existing EU/Global scale datasets (land cover, land use, soil or climatic information, etc.) and will further examine, validate and classify MLs, through field stratified sampling, into Carbon sequestration capacity categories. In pilot areas MAIL will augment the achieved accuracy by using enhanced spatial and radiometric resolution of full free and open access satellite datasets. Furthermore, it will propose actions that have to be taken in order to increase Carbon sequestration capacity and it will evaluate their feasibility by using a set of criteria for accurate cost estimation. Finally, it will deliver developed methodologies, algorithms and techniques on a web-application platform for on-demand production of thematic maps within Europe. MAIL consists by a multidisciplinary Consortium of 6 experienced partners, from 4 EU Member States, and gathers the expertise required for identifying, mapping and assessing MLs as a potential Carbon Sinks. The seconded staff will exchange individual skills, competencies, thoughts, innovations, or ideas and through collaboration will acquire new skills concerning MLs management and will become more flexible, productive and efficient.