Satellite, drone and ground-based sensors collecting complementary measurements over a European river valley, with highlighted areas showing the different observation scales.

No single source tells the whole story: why satellite data often works best when combined with other observations

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Satellites offer something no other tool can: consistent, repeated views across entire regions. But every mission has real limits, from fixed orbits to cloud cover to the trade-off between detail and coverage. On the EarthConsole® blog, we look at why satellite data is so often paired with ground stations, drones, and an organisation’s own records, and what it actually takes to make different sources work together.

Read the full article on the EarthConsole® blog.

Illustration of the FLEX satellite observing forests and farmland above Earth.Credit: ESA/ATG medialab

FLEX and Sentinel-3C: watching plants breathe and tracking a changing planet

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Two satellites launched together today from French Guiana. One measures a signal invisible to the eye that reveals plant stress before it shows in a field. The other extends a decade-long watch on oceans, ice, land and atmosphere.

Our latest EarthConsole® blog post explains what FLEX and Sentinel-3C will measure and how their data can support decisions on the environment.

Read the full post on the EarthConsole® blog.

Earth surrounded by layered satellite imagery and geospatial data, with a luminous path emerging through the complexity.

So much Earth Observation data, so hard to choose

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Earth observation satellites are multiplying, and in Europe a growing share of their data is free to access. Yet researchers, the most experienced users in the field, tell us the real difficulty is finding their way among the many missions, platforms and formats. On the EarthConsole® blog, we look at this orientation challenge, and at how the sector is trying to help.

Read the full article on the EarthConsole® blog.

This article is part of EOReach, an initiative by Progressive Systems to bring Earth Observation data, tools and knowledge into any application domain. If you are interested in exploring how EO data can support your domain, you can contact us at info@earthconsole.eu. 

How Europe’s fire data got three times faster, without a single new satellite

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This summer, Europe’s wildfire data got up to three times faster. Nothing changed in space. Same satellites, same instruments, same measurements.

The change was entirely in how data reaches the ground, and it says something worth thinking about for any field that works with data.

Read the full story on the EarthConsole® blog.

This article is part of EOReach, an initiative by Progressive Systems to bring Earth Observation data, tools and knowledge into any application domain. If you are interested in exploring how EO data can support your domain, you can contact us at info@earthconsole.eu. 

 

 

A banner graphic showing six vertical panels representing research fields: data, computing and digital (circuit pattern), energy (solar panels), environment (hand holding a plant), health and food (medical sensor on skin), physical science and engineering (lab equipment), and social and cultural innovation (abstract human profile illustration).

Progressive Systems at the CNR workshop “Research Infrastructures for Innovation”

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On the 22nd of April 2026, Progressive Systems will take part in the workshop “Research Infrastructures for Innovation” organized by the National Research Council (CNR) in Rome, in collaboration with the network of Infrastructure Managers of the six ESFRI thematic areas: Digital, Environment, Energy, Health & Food, Physical Sciences and Engineering, Social and Cultural Innovation.

The event represents a key moment of dialogue between the academic and industry worlds, bringing together key stakeholders to explore how research can generate tangible impact through collaboration and innovation.

Progressive Systems will be represented by its CEO, Giancarlo Rivolta and its Innovation Manager, Edda Del Vecchio. Their participation reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to contributing to the development of practical, scalable solutions that bridge the gap between research and real-world applications.

Scientific excellence, market ready

Progressive Systems positions itself as the industrial layer that helps transform research into usable services.

Today, the challenge for Research Infrastructures is no longer limited to producing scientific results, but ensuring they are usable, scalable, and sustainable over time, especially as PNRR support phases out.

With over 20 years of experience in managing complex data systems, the company supports this transition by designing end-to-end data services that convert research into structured, repeatable, and cost-efficient solutions.

Progressive Systems brings a concrete domain-agnostic approach to this challenge by supporting:

  • Multi-source data fusion
    Integrating EO, in situ and socio-economic data into reproducible and scalable pipelines
  • Managed Digital Services
    Managing cloud-native PaaS solutions, handling infrastructure, AI, integration and security
  • Service Industrialization
    Transforming experimental pilots into structured service catalogues with repeatable, cost-efficient service models
  • Market Bridge
    Ensuring scientific outputs are effectively adopted and used.

Looking Ahead

As the dialogue between research and industry intensifies, Progressive Systems stands ready to define concrete operational paths to market, ensuring scientific excellence does not remain confined to the lab, but becomes a driver of sustainable innovation.

View of Earth from space with a Sentinel-3 satellite model orbiting above. Four small images are overlaid: an agricultural field, an active wildfire, a deforested area, and a flooded road, representing different land and climate monitoring scenarios.

Think Earth Observation from satellites is just for space agencies? These 5 myths are costing your business real innovation.

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Earth Observation (EO) could contribute $3.8 trillion to global GDP by 2030.

So why are some businesses still ignoring it?

Because it’s still misunderstood and often seen as complex, costly, or only relevant to governments and scientists.

At Progressive Systems, through our EOReach initiative, we help corporate decision makers and public administration officials bridge this EO awareness gap.

To start, let’s clear up 5 of the most common myths that might be stopping you from fully leveraging EO in your business.

🛰️ Myth 1: “Earth Observation is only for space agencies”

✅ The reality: EO has come down to Earth and it’s open for business.

Earth Observation has moved well beyond the domain of ESA or NASA. Thanks to reduced satellites launch costs, access to space is no longer reserved to big-budget institutions. This shift has unlocked a wave of innovation, expanding capabilities in communication, navigation, and also environmental monitoring through a widening array of public and commercial applications.

This means governments, businesses, and even individuals are getting more and more involved, building a dynamic ecosystem that’s solving problems at every level: local, regional, and global, making the benefits of space more accessible than ever [1].

Whether you’re tracking climate risks, assessing land use, or improving crop forecasting, EO isn’t just about orbiting satellites, it’s about delivering insights to the people who need them most, right here on the ground.

🧠 Myth 2: “It’s too technical for my team to use.”

✅ The reality: You don’t need a PhD to use Earth Observation tools.

Modern platforms for accessing and processing EO data are designed also with non-expert users in mind, not just scientists or engineers.

There’s no need to know how to process raw imagery or acquiring the technical skills to maintain your own tech infrastructure to process Earth Observation data. Today’s platforms and the experts managing them do the heavy lifting behind the scenes, from data collection to analysis. What you get are clean dashboards, smart alerts, and visual tools driven by user-friendly UI (User Interface) and UX (User Experience) design that make EO data easy to understand and act on.

In other words, your team doesn’t need to become experts in remote sensing, they just need to know what problem they need to solve.

💸 Myth 3: “It’s too expensive for my budget.”

✅ The reality: Some of the most powerful EO data is 100% free.

Take Copernicus, for example. It’s the European Union’s Earth observation program that runs a fleet of Sentinel satellites, keeping an eye on everything from land and oceans to the atmosphere and climate, even emergencies. Most of the data they collect is completely free and open to anyone, anywhere in the world [2].

That said, it’s important to be transparent: while accessing raw EO data can be free, turning that data into useful insights usually takes some extra work. Processing satellite data might mean investing in tools, cloud computing, or expert help, which can add to costs.

Plus, commercial providers offering high resolution imagery often charge fees that vary depending on what you need.

The good news is that there are also initiatives aimed at helping users explore different services for Earth Observation (EO) data exploitation without the need for upfront investment. For example, through our EarthConsole® platform, we could offer services free of charge thanks to vouchers provided by the European Space Agency’s Network of Resources initiative. If your organization is engaged in a pre-commercial, educational, or research project, these vouchers can cover the full cost of using an EarthConsole® service for a feasibility study—allowing you to test your idea risk-free.

🤖 Myth 4: “We already use ground sensors or drones, we don’t need EO.”

✅ The reality: EO isn’t here to replace your existing systems, it enhances them.

For example, drones are great at capturing super detailed images over small areas with accuracy and flexibility. But they have their limits, like flight time, range, and sensitivity to weather [3].

That’s where satellite data steps in. Satellites cover huge areas quickly, reliably, and repeatedly. Their revisit rate, meaning how often a satellite passes over the same location, can range from several times a day to every few days depending on the satellite and orbit. This makes it possible to detect patterns and changes over time at regional or even global scales.

That said, satellite data isn’t perfect. The resolution might not catch tiny details, and optical images can be blocked by clouds sometimes. Radar satellites help with this but need a bit more know-how to interpret. Also, satellites might miss fast or small events that happen between their passes.

That’s why other sources like drones, ground sensors, or IoT devices are still so important.

Together these tools form a powerful team for Earth Observation, combining the broad, regular coverage of satellites with the precision and immediacy of local systems.

📉 Myth 5: “There’s no clear ROI from using EO data.”

✅ The reality: EO is already driving measurable results.

According to a study by the World Economic Forum in collaboration with Deloitte, EO data could unlock a $3.8 trillion contribution to global GDP between 2023 and 2030 by driving innovation in sectors like agriculture, energy, finance, and environmental management [4].

With the right tools and support, EO can be directly linked to your KPIs.

It’s also good to know EO works best when combined with on-the-ground data to check and fine-tune insights. Planning for this mix will help you get the most out of your investment in EO.

—-

Want to explore how EO could support your business goals? 📧 E-mail us at info@progressivesystems.it

 

Credits and references

[1] OECD (2023), The Space Economy in Figures: Responding to Global Challenges, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/fa5494aa-en.

[2] https://www.copernicus.eu/en/access-data

[3] https://geoawesome.com/eo-hub/are-drone-and-satellites-competing-or-complementary-as-sources-of-geospatial-data/

[4] World Economic Forum (2024): https://www.weforum.org/stories/2024/05/earth-observation-will-unlock-huge-value-for-these-6-industries/

[5] Sentinel-3 model image credits to SkywalkerPL – own work, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=47012912

A promotional banner for the 'BeGEO Scientists Webinar' on April 9, 2025, from 15:30 to 17:00 CEST. The webinar focuses on 'InSAR and P-SBAS applications in Earth Sciences' and the 'EarthConsole® platform for assisted processing of large Earth Observation datasets.' The banner has a yellow background with blue text and logos of supporting organizations, including BeGEO Association, EarthConsole®, Progressive Systems, and IREA-CNR.

Join the 3rd BeGEO webinar on InSAR and P-SBAS applications in Earth Sciences

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Progressive Systems together with the BeGEO Association and the IREA-CNR (Italian Institute for Electromagnetic Sensing of the Environment – National Research Council) are pleased to invite you to the 3rd BeGEO webinar entitled “InSAR and P-SBAS applications in Earth Sciences. The EarthConsole® platform for the assisted processing of large Earth Observation datasets”.

The webinar will be held on April 9, 2025, from 15:30 to 17:00 (CEST).

REGISTER HERE

Abstract

Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) is a powerful technique that allows for the analysis of Earth’s surface motions caused by both natural and anthropogenic processes. However, the processing of large SAR datasets needs large in-house processing resources.

That’s where EarthConsole® steps in.

EarthConsole® is Progressive Systems’ cloud-based platform that helps institutions, researchers, and developers create, test, and host applications and processors, enabling simplified access to Earth Observation data and processing services. By co-locating computing resources with data archives, the platform ensures faster and more efficient data processing.

During the webinar an overview of the InSAR theory will be presented and the applications of the P-SBAS on-demand service for Sentinel-1 (2016–present) and ENVISAT (2002–2012) hosted on the EarthConsole® platform will be shown to produce time-series of incremental ground motions and maps of the average velocities. A particular focus will be given to the study of ground deformation caused by both natural and anthropogenic processes. A demonstration will guide participants through the request and practical use of the service, with a particular emphasis on the graphical user interface (GUI) and processing parameters.

At the end of the webinar the attendants will be acquainted with the InSAR principles, as also with the procedure to request the P-SBAS service and process their own data on EarthConsole®.

Schedule

  • 15:30:16:00 – Dr. Claudio De Luca, Researcher at IREA-CNR: Differential SAR Interferometry: Principles, techniques and applications.
  • 16:00-16:20 – Massimo Orlandi, Engineer on Earth Observation projects (Progressive Systems): P-PRO On-Demand P-SBAS service: Live Demonstration
  • 16:20-16:40 – Maddalena Iesué, Communication and Partnerships Manager (Progressive Systems): How to request free access to the P-PRO On-Demand P-SBAS service and Overview of EarthConsole®
  • 16:40-17:00 – Q&A section

Bonus for attendees

Upon request, each attendee will be provided with a one-week free trial, including up to 30 processing hours, to test the P-SBAS for Sentinel-1 on-demand service on EarthConsole®. Instructions for making the request will be shared during the webinar.

See you soon online!

This webinar is supported by the ESA Network of Resources Initiative
Picture representing the Arctic Ocean and Polar Ice Cap

Advancing Polar Research: the conclusion of the OCRE CryoSSARinSAM+ Project

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Progressive Systems is pleased to announce the conclusion of the CryoSSARinSAM+ project, an initiative funded by the European Commission’s OCRE (Open Clouds for Research Environments) program. Led by the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), the project set out to produce a single, open-access CryoSat-2 altimetry mission dataset created to become the reference standard for the radar altimetry research community to advance the knowledge of the polar oceans and ice cover, and the impact of climate change on them.

EarthConsole® by Progressive Systems, selected by DTU as service provider, supported the processing of these data and established a repository where researchers can now easily access and download the dataset.

Why Polar Regions Matter

The polar regions have always been a focal point for scientific research, and in today’s world, the need to monitor them has never been more urgent. With the accelerating effects of climate change, the melting of polar sea-ice is one of the most significant amplifiers of global warming with decreasing albedo. This makes tracking changes in the polar oceans essential for understanding long-term climate patterns, the opening of new arctic shipping routes, and the broader impact on the global ecosystem.

For years, different research groups independently processed CryoSat-2 radar altimetry data for the polar oceans, mainly covering the period 2010–2020. While these datasets were valuable for studying changes in these regions, the lack of coordination among the different research groups meant the data was fragmented. This project aimed to provide a more unified approach, also expanding the temporal and geographical coverage of these dataset.

The Expanded Cryosat-2 Dataset

The CryoSSARinSAM+ project aimed to grow and expand this vital dataset to create an Arctic and Antarctic dataset with full coverage from 2010-2024 for the Arctic region (50N-90N) and the Antarctic region (90S-50S).

The project added processing of CryoSat-2 to create such. By using SARvatore for CryoSat-2 and SARINvatore for CryoSat-2 processors, the project focused on:

  • the Subarctic region (180.00W, 50.00N, 180.00E, 65.00N) for the winter months from October 2010 to December 2020, as well as full-year data from 2021 up to January 2022, and
  • the Arctic (180.00W, 50.00N, 180.00E, 90.00N) and Antarctic (180.00W, 80.00S, 180.00E, 50.00S) regions from February 2022 up to September 2024.

A powerful dataset for many applications

The new CryoSat-2 dataset generated by the CryoSSARinSAM+ project holds immense potential for a wide range of applications. Some of the key areas of focus include:

  • Sea Level and Circulation: studying trends in sea level rise and ocean circulation in the polar regions.
  • Ice Thickness: estimating winter and summer sea ice thickness in the Arctic and Antarctic Ocean.

The dataset is designed to support a variety of research and monitoring efforts, and contribute to the global effort to understand and mitigate climate change.

Accessing the data: The Altimetry Virtual Lab repository

To download the CryoSat-2 dataset for free and explore its potential applications, users have to:

  1. Register or login to EarthConsole®
  2. Request a free membership to the Altimetry Virtual Lab
  3. Navigate to folders 18 (SAR data) and 19 (SARIN data) within this repository.

The Altimetry Virtual Lab, hosted on EarthConsole®, provides processing services for CryoSat-2, Sentinel-3 and Sentinel-6-Michael-Frielich SAR (Syntethic Aperture Radar) altimeters data, such as the SARvatore for CryoSat-2 and SARINvatore for CryoSat-2 processors used for this project and much more. These services support data processing from L1A (FBR) products to SAR/SARin L2 geophysical products.

Beyond processing services, this virtual space also offers tools to facilitate the exchange of scientific knowledge, data, and resources.

Looking Ahead

The conclusion of the CryoSSARinSAM+ project marks a significant milestone in the ongoing exploration of Earth’s polar regions. Progressive Systems looks forward to seeing how this expanded dataset will contribute to the growing body of knowledge about polar oceans, ice dynamics, and sea level change.

Through EarthConsole®, Progressive Systems remains committed to supporting innovative research and providing the tools and infrastructure needed to tackle the challenges of climate change.

A Special Opportunity for Researchers

Users working on a research, educational, or pre-commercial project, interested in using one of the processing services available through the Altimetry Virtual Lab, can apply for an ESA Network of Resources (NoR) sponsorship to cover the associated costs.

The NoR is an ESA initiative that provides sponsorship opportunities for users interested in utilizing services from innovative operational platforms and cloud services integrated into this framework, including EarthConsole®.

If ESA approves the sponsorship request, the NoR will provide a voucher of up to €5,000 for non-ESA projects (with no limits for ESA projects), which can be used to cover the cost of the Altimetry Virtual Lab services available through EarthConsole®.

To get started, users can simply request the desired service through this web app. After submitting the request, they will be guided through the process of applying for a sponsorship via the NoR.

Progressive Systems joins UK’s Geological Remote Sensing Group

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Progressive Systems Srl announces its new membership with the Geological Remote Sensing Group (GRSG), an international body affiliated with the Geological Society of London (GeolSoc) and the Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society (RSPSoc).  

The GRSG serves as a global forum connecting geologists, remote sensing professionals, and students, facilitating the exchange of research, best practices, and innovative applications in the field.  

This membership reflects Progressive Systems’ commitment to advancing Earth Observation (EO) and geological remote sensing. As a company focused on streamlining EO data utilization across diverse Earth Science disciplines, Progressive Systems is eager to demonstrate the benefits of its services to the geological community. 

In particular, the ones offered through its EarthConsole® platform, a cloud-based platform that offers services for developing, testing, and hosting algorithms developed by third parties, such as universities, research centres, institutions and companies. EarthConsole® provides free web tools interesting for the geological community such as P-SBAS, a high-performance parallel implementation of the SBAS (Small BAseline Subset) technique developed by IREA-CNR (Institute for Electromagnetic Sensing of the Environment – National Research Council).  

This tool allows for the estimation of the displacement time series and corresponding mean deformation velocity maps with centimetre to sub-centimetre precision. Such accuracy is crucial for analyzing natural events like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and landslides, as well as for monitoring human activities including groundwater extraction, oil and gas production, and mining. 

Through EarthConsole®, users can process SAR data from the ENVISAT mission (2002–2012) and the ongoing Sentinel-1 mission (2016–present), enabling over 20 years of Earth surface displacement analysis. The P-SBAS on-demand service is designed to be accessible not only to experts in interferometric SAR data processing but also to those with limited experience in the satellite interferometric analysis field, thanks to its user-friendly graphical user interface. 

Progressive Systems has a longstanding tradition of supporting the scientific community and looks forward to collaborating with the GRSG. Through this membership, Progressive Systems aims to provide enhanced support while gathering valuable feedback and requirements from the geological community to continually refine and expand its offering. 

Group of students and the logo of the CareerDay 2024

Progressive Systems at the University of Naples Federico II Career Day 2024

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We are pleased to announce that we will be participating in the upcoming Career Day 2024 hosted by the School of Engineering and Basic Sciences at the University of Naples Federico II.

The event, now in its sixth edition, is scheduled for March 27th and serves as a prime opportunity for professionals and companies like ours to engage with graduates and soon-to-be graduates in the fields of Architecture, Engineering, and Natural Sciences.

The initiative will provide a platform for meaningful interactions, allowing us to connect with talented individuals who are eager to kickstart their careers in the Earth Observation field and join our Team.