Telespazio S.p.A. - Experts & Thought Leaders

Their journey into the world of sustainability continues in December through the images of the Telespazio and e-GEOS 2021 Love Planet Earth calendar, featuring shots from National Geographic. This month, they focus on the role of satellites in monitoring and fighting the effects of extreme weather in cities. Urbanisation and climate change are increasingly interconnected, with metropolises and cities often affected by heatwaves and storms – extreme weather phenomena that the typical urban landscapes amplify with significant effects on their populations. Developing sustainable infrastructures With this in mind, architects and engineers experiment with new interpretations of the relationship between people, cities and nature by developing sustainable infrastructures, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN 2030 Agenda. In this case, SDG 9 – Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation. SDG 9 – Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation This month’s photo is a super high resolution shot of Milan’s business district, featuring Piazza Gae Aulenti and the Vertical Forest. It is an area designed with sustainability in mind, rich in biodiversity, green spaces and bodies of water, which makes them, reflect on how the growing attention to the climate and environment are increasingly influencing urban projects. Support sustainable development Space technology makes an important contribution to the monitoring of this phenomenon through international programmes focused on the region. Leonardo plays a significant role in these initiative through satellite manufacturing alongside Thales Alenia Space, in data acquisition, services and applications with Telespazio and e-GEOS, and through developing sensors – the ‘eyes’ of the satellites – many of which are created in Leonardo’s laboratories. Cultivating the potential of space technologies to support sustainable development is one of the pillars of the company’s Be Tomorrow - Leonardo 2030 strategic plan, and part of their overall Sustainability Plan. They spoke to Monica Palandri, Project Manager at the e-GEOS Geo Information Centre to find out more. Assessing increasing desertification What can satellites do to monitor and counter extreme weather phenomena at the urban level What can satellites do to monitor and counter extreme weather phenomena at the urban level, while fostering the development of sustainable infrastructure? e-GEOS has carried out several studies and projects related to climate change – from the melting of glaciers, to the decrease in available water resources, to assessing increasing desertification. These phenomena, which often overlap, are happening rapidly and are therefore difficult to manage. Designing new urban spaces taking into account these factors is not easy, even in the face of a constantly growing urban population. Among the most interesting projects that e-GEOS has worked, is the identification of the hottest urban areas – the so-called ‘heat islands’ – in support of the city of Milan. Estimate temperature measurements During the summer, when there are 4-5-day heatwaves, satellite data has enabled e-GEOS to map the neighbourhoods and areas most exposed to these phenomena, which can be five degrees hotter than other areas in the region. This data is obtained directly from NASA and ESA satellites, such as Sentinel 3 This data is obtained directly from NASA and ESA satellites, such as Sentinel 3, which, when integrated with satellite data at a higher resolution (30 meters), allows us to estimate temperature measurements at the sub-neighbourhood level through downscaling algorithms. Once the heat island maps have been defined, geoinformation tools are superimposed on the vulnerability maps of urban centres that indicate, for example, the presence of children under 10 or people over 70. Natural-based solutions With this picture available, public administration can develop out natural-based solutions, encouraging the implementation of sustainable infrastructure such as green roofs, vertical gardens, and water structures such as ponds and lakes that help lower temperatures. These natural-based solutions have additional positive impacts too; being made from plant-based materials, they increase the permeability of the soil, improving the water capacity and mitigating runoff to counteract flooding. This capacity, however, has been reduced over the years due to land consumption, especially in urban areas. Highly useful information This gives urban planners the ability to define the planning of all green spaces What advantages do e-GEOS services offer? The satellite data provided by e-GEOS is superimposable with public administration maps. The maps, which are continuously updated, provide highly useful information for those involved in urban planning and designing public spaces, thanks to the information that is integrated with the data collected by the sensors in situ. This gives urban planners the ability to define the planning of all green spaces. This data is also important for the Civil Protection when extreme weather occurs, by allowing them to organise immediate responses during heatwaves, to establish how and where to intervene, as well as pre-alerting nearby hospitals. Expressed great satisfaction What are additional applications of the platform? Once the design and implementation of sustainable and resilient infrastructures within urban spaces have been completed, they can monitor and evaluate the benefit brought by these new urban typologies. For example, in the case of Milan’s business district, they can forecast the level of temperature decrease in that area compared to its previous conformation. These evaluations can also be extended to the measurement of the quality of the area These evaluations can also be extended to the measurement of the quality of the area or other parameters, to provide local governments and public planners with the data and tools needed to make decisions, while considering all the area's interacting factors. For example, e-GEOS has recently concluded the project Life METRO ADAPT – strategies and measures for adapting to climate change in the Metropolitan City of Milan. This project is now in the reporting phase with the European Community, which has expressed great satisfaction with the results achieved. Urban planning offices In addition to having adopted maps to monitor heatwaves, vulnerability, hazard and risk, e-GEOS undertook a study of the variation of the decrease of green indices due to the increased temperature in the agricultural areas of Milan’s Parco Sud. The city used this valuable information to develop the Metropolitan Territorial Plan that was adopted in July 2021. Other relevant studies have also been carried out in Rome with help from Italian environmental association Legambiente. In this case, data from Copernicus (Sentinel-3) was used to identify a synthetic map of heat islands. In one of the hottest neighbourhoods, they were able to identify intervention priorities. This analysis is useful to plan where to focus investments and/or incentives to get maximum benefits from redevelopment (urban planning offices, businesses, individuals, etc.).

Contracts for two additional COSMO-SKyMed Second Generation (CSG) satellites have been signed with the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and the Italian Ministry of Defence. Satellites 3 and 4 will complete the second generation of the Italian earth observation program, ensuring continuity and high performance of the planet's monitoring services. Continuous technological research Alessandro Profumo, Leonardo CEO commented: “COSMO-SkyMed is one of Italy’s great success stories, a driver of technological research, new applications, industrial competitiveness and employment, as well as fundamental infrastructure for the protection and security of Italy and Europe.” As Leonardo, we are proud of the contribution provided in all phases of the COSMO-SkyMed program" “Thanks to the capabilities demonstrated in the management of emergency situations linked to sudden events, the systems potential in terms of reliability, precision and flexibility are known internationally. In addition, its capabilities are now further enhanced by the second generation, with continuous technological research. As Leonardo, we are proud of the contribution provided in all phases of the COSMO-SkyMed program, a role that gives us credibility and prestige with our customers all over the world.” SAR satellite system COSMO-SkyMed is an Earth observation satellite system of ASI and the Ministry of Defence, a flagship of Italian technology and innovation, built by Leonardo and its joint ventures Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio. It is a dual-use constellation, with SAR ‘eyes’ (Synthetic Aperture Radar) capable of monitoring the phenomena of the Earth in any weather condition. COSMO-SkyMed has changed the way of observing the planet, ensuring fundamental information for the security and the understanding of phenomena that affect everyday life. With the innovative updates built into the second generation COSMO-SkyMed is the first SAR satellite system in the world capable of simultaneously acquiring two images of two areas hundreds of kilometres apart and thus serving two requests that would have been in conflict for any other satellite system. Medium-sized enterprises COSMO-SkyMed images are used to support populations affected by natural disasters such as earthquakes and fires, but also for the control of cultural and artistic heritage, of critical infrastructures, for monitoring the receding of glaciers, that of oil spills in the seas and for the optimisation of agricultural techniques. The constellation will be completed with the additional two satellites just announced which will join the first two The first Second Generation satellite was launched a year ago. The second satellite will be launched on a VEGA-C launcher. The constellation will be completed with the additional two satellites just announced which will join the first two. The COSMO-SkyMed system, of the Italian Space Agency and the Ministry of Defence, is the result and expression of the best skills of the Italian space industry, with Leonardo and its joint ventures Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio, assisted by a significant number of small and medium-sized enterprises. Providing star trackers In particular, Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), is responsible for the entire radar system and satellites, while Telespazio, a joint venture between Leonardo (67%) and Thales (33%), is responsible of the ground segment and hosts the command and control centre of the constellation at the Fucino Space Centre. Leonardo also contributes to the program by providing the star trackers (A-STR) for the orientation of the satellite, photovoltaic panels (PVA) and electronic units for the management of the electrical power. The first generation has four satellites launched between 2007 and 2010, while the first satellite of the new generation was launched in December 2019. The COSMO-SkyMed constellation is able to acquire up to 1800 images per day that Leonardo, through e-GEOS (Telespazio 80%, ASI 20%) receives, processes and markets all over the world.

The transportation of biomedical material with drones is the goal of the test, which has just been successfully completed, designed and undertaken by Leonardo, Telespazio (joint venture between Leonardo 67% and Thales 33%) and Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, in collaboration with ENAC (National Civil Aviation Authority). This is one of the first demonstrations in Italy of biological samples and biomedical products delivery, along routes not easily accessible by ordinary roads, with the aid of vertical take-off drones equipped with electric propulsion and therefore with a very low ecological and acoustic impact. Rehearsals took place between the 19 and 22 October. Cloud-based digital platform The drone transported biomedical material flying near Rome, between two sites of the Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital which are more than 32 km away from each other: from the S. Marinella collection centre to the Palidoro analysis centre and vice versa, using an automatic control mode beyond the operator’s visual line of sight (BVLOS). The test involved the use of Telespazio's cloud-based T-DROMES digital platform, which allows the provision of end-to-end services: from planning to conducting the mission of a drone, up to the processing of data acquired by the on-board sensors. Security and safety The project is part of Leonardo's path of innovation and experimentation in Advanced Air Delivery" “We are pleased with this milestone, which was achieved thanks to partners of excellence such as the Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Telespazio and through the collaboration of ENAC. The project is part of Leonardo's path of innovation and experimentation in Advanced Air Delivery, of which another fundamental element is the D-FLIGHT platform for the management of drone air traffic, realised with ENAV”, Laurent Sissmann, SVP Unmanned Systems of Leonardo commented. "Leonardo is committed to serving and protecting communities, contributing to their sustainable growth by leading in next generation technologies. Partnering with governments, private organisations and industries for the best security and safety capabilities is a cornerstone of Leonardo’s BeTomorrow2030 Strategic Plan and the investment in autonomous systems is in line with our growth strategies. In particular, with the skills we are developing in this field, we want to support the country to reach a leading role in the development of drone-based operations and services”. Innovative project “We are very happy to be able to collaborate with Leonardo on such an innovative project" Mariella Enoc, President of the Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital declared. “We strongly wanted to start the experimentation in this pandemic period, which requires all health professionals to strongly accelerate the diagnostic pathways. This test will allow us to study the development of a service that can produce significant improvements in clinical and logistical processes, which will bring benefit to the entire regional and national health system in the future”. Important support activity "Remotely piloted aircraft,” said the Director General of ENAC, Alessio Quaranta, “represent one of the driving forces of the current industrial revolution to which the scientific and industrial communities around the world are watching with interest. Being able to use them for health and social purposes makes these tools even more essential for the sustainable development of our society." Drone operators tested the U-Space geo-awareness and strategic deconfliction services by D-FLIGHT platform "The release of the authorisation that allowed the test is the result of an important support activity to the development of the operational concept project and to the technical evaluation carried out by ENAC and the institutional coordination with all the actors involved, for the execution of the operations in a particularly complex context such as that of the terminal area of Rome which includes approaches and departures from the airports of Fiumicino and Ciampino" Strategic deconfliction services "A special thanks from us to the Ministry of the Interior, the Prefecture of Rome, the Rome Police Headquarters, the Air Force, the Italian Army, the Port Authority and the Coast Guard, ENAV, the 118 Rescue Service, the Municipality of Santa Marinella, the Municipality of Fiumicino, as well as, of course, to Leonardo, Telespazio and the Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital”. As part of the experiment, the drone operators tested the U-Space geo-awareness and strategic deconfliction services provided by the D-FLIGHT platform, set up in 2018 by ENAV (the company that manages civil air traffic in Italy) together with Leonardo and Telespazio. Thanks to the services that will be progressively made available by D-FLIGHT, it will be possible for traditional aviation and thousands of drones to coexist in the Italian airspace as drones will be entrusted with the most diverse tasks in the future. Remotely piloted aircraft D-FLIGHT is confirmed as one of the first operational U-Spaces in Europe. Finishing in December 2020, the testing campaign includes several additional phases, in which various types of remotely piloted aircraft will be used. The long-term objective is to be able to extend the service in a densely populated urban environment, by connecting the headquarters of Palidoro to the other Bambino Gesù sites in Rome. Telespazio, a Leonardo and Thales 67/33 joint venture, is one of the world’s leading operators in satellite services Leonardo, a global high-technology company, is among the top ten world players in aerospace, defence and security and Italy’s main industrial company. Organised into five business divisions, Leonardo has a significant industrial presence in Italy, the United Kingdom, Poland and the USA, where it also operates through subsidiaries such as Leonardo DRS (defence electronics), and joint ventures and partnerships: ATR, MBDA, Telespazio, Thales Alenia Space and Avio. Satellite services Leonardo competes in the most important international markets by leveraging its areas of technological and product leadership (helicopters, aircraft, aerostructures, electronics, cyber security and space). Listed on the Milan Stock Exchange (LDO), in 2019 Leonardo recorded consolidated revenues of €13.8 billion and invested €1.5 billion in Research and Development. The Group has been part of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) since 2010 and became one of the industry leaders of Aerospace & Defence sector of DJSI in 2019. Telespazio, a Leonardo and Thales 67/33 joint venture, is one of the world’s leading operators in satellite services. Its activities range from the design and development of space systems to the management of launch services, from in-orbit satellite control to Earth observation, from integrated communications, satellite navigation and localisation services to scientific programmes. Telespazio plays a role in the reference markets harnessing technological experience acquired over the years. Civil aviation sector Since its establishment, the company has participated in major European space programmes such as Galileo, EGNOS, Copernicus and COSMO-SkyMed. In 2019, Telespazio generated sales of EUR 535 million while employing approximately 2,600 people worldwide. ENAC acts as the only authority for technical regulation, certification, supervision and control of the civil aviation sector in Italy in compliance with the powers deriving from the Navigation Code. The primary objectives of the institutional mandate are highlighted in its Mission: "In carrying out its institutional activity of regulation and control of the aviation sector, the Body promotes the development of civil aviation, guaranteeing to the country, in particular to users and businesses, flight safety, the protection of rights, the quality of services and fair competitiveness in respect of the environment ."