Following the successful organization of IGARSS 2024 in Athens, The Operational Unit “BEYOND Centre of Earth Observation Research and Satellite Remote Sensing” of the National Observatory of Athens (NOA), actively contributed to IGARSS 2025 with a high-level session organization and participation, oral presentations, and posters. The International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS) 2025, the flagship conference of the IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society (GRSS), took place on 3–8 August 2025 in the vibrant city of Brisbane, Australia. With the theme “One Earth”, this year’s edition highlighted the urgent need to address global environmental threats and to foster collaborative solutions through remote sensing and Earth observation technologies.
Sparking Dialogue: BEYOND in the Technology, Industry & Education (TIE) Session of the IGARSS 2025
On August 6th, Dr. Haris Kontoes moderated theTechnology, Industry and Education (TIE) session entitled “Advances and Applications in Earth Observation for SDGs: Accelerating Earth Intelligence in the Context of GEO.”
This session brought together GRSS and GEO experts from industry, academia, and user communities to brainstorm with the IGARSS attendees and Asia-Pacific stakeholders on how today's advancements in Geosciences, Earth Observation and AI provide sufficient level of support to GEO Work Program priorities specifically in the monitoring and implementation of SDGs. Emphasis was placed on key synergies between GRSS and GEO at regional and global level and the support provided to GEO Working Groups to address challenges in Capacity Building and development of solutions for accelerating applications in the global scale.
Especially Dr. Haris Kontoes, Research Director of BEYOND Centre introduced to the audience of IGARSS 2025 the GEO vision with a spotlight on the role of Regional GEOs and Alexia Tsouni, BEYOND Research Associate, shared GRSS contributions to education and capacity building, underlining the enabling role of GEO-CRADLE.
Professor Anthony Milne, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, former GRSS Principal on GEO, Asian-Pacific GRSS Liaison Officer, intervened in the dialogue by bringing his valuable insights to the discussion, drawing on his extensive experience in the field.
Panelists:
- Dr Haris Kontoes, BEYOND/National Observatory of Athens, GRSS GEO Principal, EuroGEO Action Group Coordinator, Greece
- Andiswa Mlisa, Programme Manager, Digital Earth Pacific, Pacific Community (SPC)
- Prof Megan Lewis, Australian Co-Chair, Coordination Board, Asia Oceania Group on Earth Observations (AOGEO)
- Prof Dr Irena Hajnsek, Swiss Federal Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zürich, Switzerland
- Prof Yifang Ban, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden & Lead, GEO AI4EO
- Assoc Prof Claudio Persello, University of Twente, Netherlands
- Alexia Tsouni, BEYOND/National Observatory of Athens, Greece
- Assoc Prof Carlos Lopez Martinez, BarcelonaTech (UPC), Spain
📌Watch the TIE Session on YouTube
BEYOND Research Highlights
On August 7th, Alexia Tsouni, BEYOND Research Associate presented orally an innovative study on “Advanced flood monitoring, combining remote sensing and hydraulic simulations: A Copernicus Emergency Management Service for retrospective flood temporal analysis in Saarland, Germany”.
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Also on August 7th, Alexia Tsouni showcased in the poster area a transferable multicriteria flood risk assessment methodology at high spatial resolution applied in Greece and Cyprus as case studies, proving the value of EO in supporting cross-border risk management.
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Jason Tsardanidis, BEYOND Research Associate shared with the IGARSS 2025 audience two impactful studies that advance sustainable agriculture practices:
"Monitoring Digestate Application on Agricultural Crops using Sentinel-2 Satellite Imagery"
Presented as an oral talk in IGARSS 2025, this study examines the effectiveness of Sentinel-2 imagery in tracking the application of exogenous organic matter on crops, with the aim of promoting efficient soil fertility management, minimizing environmental risks, and advancing regenerative agriculture practices.
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"Mapping of Weed Management Methods in Orchards using Sentinel-2 and PlanetScope Data"
A poster on the combined usage of Sentinel-2 and PlanetScope data was showcased at the Symposium to distinguish between different weed control practices in permanent tree cultivations, supporting policymakers and farmers in enhancing vegetation health, biodiversity, and sustainable compliance.
A Global Stage, A Shared Mission
IGARSS 2025 once again demonstrated that science knows no borders. For BEYOND, participating in Brisbane was not only an opportunity to present its cutting-edge research in in a wide spectrum of its activities, but also to engage in global conversations on how Earth Observation can support societies, build resilience, and safeguard our planet.
As the world moves towards the new GEO era of Earth Intelligence, BEYOND remains committed to driving innovation, strengthening partnerships, and delivering EO solutions that matter.
About the event: https://2025.ieeeigarss.org/
IGRASS 2025, TIE Session contributors
Dr Haris Kontoes, BEYOND/National Observatory of Athens, GRSS GEO Principal, EuroGEO Action Group Coordinator, Greece during the TIE Session
Professor Anthony Milne, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, former GRSS Principal on GEO, Asian-Pacific GRSS Liaison Officer, intervened in the TIE Session
Alexia Tsouni, BEYOND Research Associate presenting GEO-CRADLE, CEMS and FloodHUB during IGARSS 2025
Jason Tsardanidis, BEYOND Research Associate shared presenting the AgrHUB's research work during IGARSS 2025
BEYOND team in IGARSS 2025