Combined Use of EGNSS and Copernicus Data to Develop Innovative Downstream Services for the Users from Chile and Colombia

Project Information

COMUNIDAD

Grant agreement ID: 101131859

DOI

10.3030/101131859

Project closed

EC signature date 4 December 2023

Start date 1 March 2024

End date 28 February 2026

Funded under

• Digital, Industry and Space

Total cost

€ 1 499 893,75

EU contribution

€ 1 499 893,75

Coordinated by

LESPROJEKT SLUZBY SRO
Czechia

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - COMUNIDAD (Combined Use of EGNSS and Copernicus Data to Develop Innovative Downstream Services for the Users from Chile and Colombia)

Reporting period: 2024-03-01 to 2025-02-28

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The COMUNIDAD project, led by Lesprojekt, utilises Copernicus satellite data and the European Global Navigation Satellite System (EGNSS), along with Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data technologies and numerical modelling to transfer technologies and know-how to Latin America. The COMUNIDAD project focuses on improving agricultural and forestry management in Chile and Colombia through infrastructure development and a basic platform for creating applications that enhance precision, efficiency, and sustainability. The South American region benefits from this initiative by contributing to its socio-economic growth. Technological advancements are expected to lead significantly to practical applications due to the open-source approach in development.
Lesprojekt, the project coordinator, draws on its expertise in technology applications in agriculture and forestry to guide the consortium. The project provides actionable insights by employing advanced techniques to incorporate Copernicus services, EGNSS and other spatial datasets. These insights help stakeholders, including farmers, advisors, policymakers, and land managers, make informed decisions that support sustainable practices. Essential data on crop health, land use, and forestry conservation are provided, enhancing land management practices and boosting agricultural productivity.
In the COMUNIDAD project, experiences and knowledge are transferred through developing and using technological components, infrastructure, and training materials.
The COMUNIDAD project aims to transform agricultural and forestry management in South America through technological innovation and international collaboration based on experiences and know-how from European partners and international cooperation with partners from Latin America. The integration of cutting-edge technologies with strategic data analysis is set to improve different domains and promote environmental sustainability in the region.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The COMUNIDAD Project has 4 specific objectives (SO).
SO1: Design and development of a complex platform providing services and methods utilising Copernicus and GEOSS data and services for final users in Chile and Colombia in different domains.
SO2: Increase awareness of capability of Copernicus services and GEOSS data and tools by training events and workshops in Chile, Colombia and Spain
SO3: Define possibilities for wider promotion and utilisation of the platform in further countries in Chile and Colombia. Define workflow for extending the platform for different target regions and domains.
SO4: Enhancement of the combined use of EGNSS and Copernicus data to serve local user needs and provide opportunities for the business-oriented partnerships and or sustainable development

User and other requirements were collected, and these requirements were used to define the technical solutions of COMUNIDAD using Copernicus services and other data to support various sectors in Chile and Colombia. These solutions consist of the COMUNIDAD infrastructure and the COMUNIDAD platform, enabling the development of applications tailored to the needs of local users and deploying them on the COMUNIDAD platform.
In the initial stages of the project, infrastructure requirements were collected and processed. Consortium members from Colombia and Chile were involved in collecting these requirements and supported the efforts of the EU-based participants, as they are in close contact with the local users and stakeholders and have a good understanding of their needs. Based on the processing of these requirements, the definition of the COMUNIDAD Infrastructure was created and described.
Subsequently, two documents were produced detailing the pilots in Chile and Colombia defined in the DoA and setting out the requirements for the pilot applications that will be developed specifically to meet the needs of these pilots An important input for the definition of the pilot applications was the insights gained during a series of workshops with stakeholders in Chile and Colombia.
These requirements were reflected in the definition of the platform that will be built on top of the COMUNIDAD infrastructure.
The first version of the infrastructure has been successfully deployed along with some of the platform components needed for the first phase of pilot application development.

Interaction with end-users and other stakeholders is a key part of the COMUNIDAD project for both increasing awareness of COMUNIDAD solutions using Copernicus services and for incorporating stakeholder needs and views into the design and improvement of COMUNIDAD solutions.
A two-week series of meetings and workshops in Chile and Colombia organized in November and December 2025 helped to facilitate a two-way exchange of information and insights between the COMUNIDAD team and stakeholders.
Consortium members from Chile and Colombia currently have access to the COMUNIDAD infrastructure, part of the platform and the Copernicus datasets needed to develop pilot applications and meet the needs of local users.
Adaptation of the COMUNIDAD platform components to the needs of pilot application development is in progress, and the development of pilot applications has started the experience from the development and deployment of the pilot applications will be used to define a more general process for the roll-out of Comunidad services to other regions and CELAC countries.

During RP1, a dissemination and communication plan was developed to help guide ensuring the project's visibility, reach and target audience, which is one of the prerequisites for the successful exploitation of the COMUNIDAD results during and after the project.
The future use of the project results was described in the first version of the exploitation plan, which will be further refined during RP2.
The dissemination and communication campaign carried out on websites, social networks, communication channels specific to the different communities in which COMUNIDAD members are active is running

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

In the COMUNIDAD project, 4 main exploitable results are planned.
COMUNIDAD Platform
A centralized, user-friendly platform integrating Copernicus, GEOSS, and EGNSS data. It offers centralized data aggregation, tailored applications (e.g. forestry in Chile, rural development in Colombia), and interoperability features. Built for scalability, it supports expansion to other regions through a modular, cloud-based design.

Algorithms and Services
The project will create innovative, co-designed algorithms and services addressing local needs like soil degradation, water management, and forest conservation. It will deliver real-time monitoring, predictive analytics for disaster risks, and precision agriculture tools, with a focus on innovation through combining EGNSS and Copernicus data.

Policy Strategies
COMUNIDAD will develop frameworks for integrating space technologies into national and regional policies. It will provide policy recommendations based on pilot outcomes, promote sustainable land use and biodiversity protection, and advocate for CELAC-wide policy alignment to encourage technology adoption.

Knowledge Transfer Mechanisms
Mechanisms for sharing knowledge include best practice documentation, capacity-building programs (training local stakeholders), and establishing collaborative EU-CELAC networks to ensure continuous use and scaling of the technologies beyond the project lifecycle.