AI and Earth Observation: Apply AI to satellite data for sustainability, biodiversity and climate adaptation

1. Assess biodiversity: Satellites reveal which habitats are species-rich and where they are under threat.
2. Measure carbon storage: Vegetation data makes it possible to see how much CO₂ forests, peatlands or seagrass meadows can capture and store.
3. Monitor reforestation areas: Planting projects can be tracked and verified remotely, without the need for constant on-site presence.
4. Detect invasive species: Sudden appearances of plants or pests can be identified early, before they threaten ecosystems.
5. Identify illegal logging: Hidden deforestation can be detected and pursued by authorities.
6. Prioritise land for conservation: Data helps pinpoint areas most suitable for acquisition, restoration or protection.
7. Detect vegetation stress: Drought stress or nutrient deficiencies become visible before damage becomes irreversible.
8. Quantify blue carbon: Mangroves and coastal ecosystems can be evaluated for their carbon storage potential.

Image: Biodiversity Hotspots in the Okavango Delta by Sylva (Germany)

1. Classify tree species: Multispectral analyses reveal which tree species dominate in which regions.
2. Assess wildfire risks: Temperature and vegetation data support planning and prevention measures.
3. Detect drought and water stress: Forests can be monitored at scale for vitality and climate-related damage.
4. Identify forest pests: Canopy damage and stress patterns enable early detection.
5. Monitor forest areas long-term: Forest management can be tracked remotely over decades.

Image: Tree species classification for Germany by Geo Engine GmbH (Germany)

1. Identify rooftop potential: Roofs can be analysed automatically for suitability for solar panels or green roofs.
2. Optimise wind and solar farms: Vegetation, soiling and shading affect energy yield and can be assessed remotely.
3. Visualise building energy efficiency: Thermal imagery at night reveals where energy is being lost.

Image: Roof Potential Map for Rotterdam by Space4Good (Netherlands)

1. Map urban trees: City trees can be counted, categorised and assessed for vitality.

2. Analyse urban heat islands: Thermal data shows where cities overheat and where interventions are needed.

3. Visualise light pollution: Festivals, research and conservation benefit from precise data on nocturnal light.

   Model urban climate: Temperature, vegetation and building density inform climate adaptation and urban planning.

4. Manage tourism impact: Satellite and Earth observation data help monitor and manage tourism effects on local ecosystems, making changes in vegetation, coastal zones, pathways or sensitive natural areas visible.

Image: Heat Islands Analysis of Milano by constellr (Germany)

1. Conduct post-conflict assessments: Infrastructure, damage and hazards can be documented from orbit.
2. Coordinate refugee camps: Supply, water and energy needs can be planned without being on-site.
3. Monitor sanitation infrastructure: Provision in camps or projects can be verified remotely.
4. Track land-use changes: Conflicts or crises leave patterns that can be observed from afar.

Image: Latrine Infrastructure Monitoring in Uganda by Space4Good B.V. (Netherlands)

FIERCE targets SMEs and startups that want to leverage space technologies to develop new green solutions or enhance existing ones. The programme funds collaboration with external service providers who can help design, scale or bring space-tech-based products, services or processes to market readiness.

At the heart of FIERCE are so-called “green solutions” — products, services or processes that use space-tech data such as Earth observation (EO), remote sensing or satellite navigation to reduce the ecological footprint of a company or its users. This impact can be achieved directly within the organisation (for example, through more efficient use of resources, energy or raw materials) or indirectly through new offerings that enable improved environmental or climate outcomes.

Highlights from our first Space Tech Meetup

Our first Space Tech Meetup gathered 30 attendees at Spielfeld Digital Hub. Simon Stegemann opened with Nobel laureate Yunus's message: stop accepting the status quo. Annabel Egert (Novaspace) showed that 67% of companies feel ready for the green transformation, yet only 14% utilise free EU satellite data. Jonathan Moore presented "Hakuryu", an art project transforming satellite data into music. Daria Stepanova (AIRMO) discussed her work as a rocket scientist developing LiDAR sensors for methane tracking. Florian Spathelf introduced additional funding opportunities through the Forschungszulage and ZIM programme, both covering internal personnel costs. The next meetup is scheduled for May 2026, timed for the upcoming FIERCE application round.

In addition to our Space Tech Meetup, the biannual CASSINI Hackathons organised by the European Commission offer another low-threshold entry point into the space-tech sector.

The hackathons focus on rotating themes that address the EU’s sustainability and digitalisation goals. For several years, N3XTCODER has been part of this ecosystem, actively shaping the formats in Germany.

The hackathons link Europe’s space infrastructure with real-world challenges from business, society and the environment. Organisations can submit their own challenges, which are tackled by interdisciplinary teams of developers, designers and data scientists and transformed into initial solution concepts.

Why N3XTCODER for AI and Earth Observation

We are an AI agency with a decade of impact-tech experience and over 160 AI projects since 2019. We combine the engineering depth that production AI needs – RAG, vector search, EU-hosted infrastructure, mandatory human review – with the EU funding access and Earth-observation network we have built through FIERCE and CASSINI. That combination is rare: most space-tech firms cannot ship AI, and most AI agencies have no foothold in Earth observation. Our mission stays the same: tech with purpose, tech for good.

• 160+ AI projects since 2019, including production AI for the German Insurers Association (GDV), Evangelische Bank, Kompetenzz and Mother Earth AI
• 25+ hackathons organised since 2016, including 5 years as part of the CASSINI Hackathons
• 10,000+ participants at more than 200 impact events
• Official service provider in the EU FIERCE programme