Earth-Observation-Based Services for National Reporting of the Sustainable Development Goal Indicators—Three Showcases in Bulgaria

Abstract

Earth Observation (EO) is used to monitor and assess the status of, and changes in, the natural and manmade environment via remote sensing technologies, usually involving satellites carrying imaging devices. EO applications provide important inputs to governments in planning, implementing, and monitoring the progress of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Along with other countries, Bulgaria has committed to all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and reflected them in its strategic documents. EO is one of the priority technologies for the development of the Bulgarian space sector. This paper analyzes how EO data could significantly help Bulgarian authorities in achieving and monitoring the progress of the SDG targets based on three specific EO monitoring pilot projects’ results (showcases) focused more on the policy management approach than scientific achievement. The first project showed the opportunities of EO data for integration of a national (local) geospatial database with the existing international networks for monitoring natural disasters and accidents. The second demonstrated the time series usage of EO data for water quality monitoring. The third project integrated remote sensing data from EO and in situ measurements with ancillaries’ data to provide phenology status and crop production forecast in a common geospatial database with the aim to support the Bulgarian agriculture sector modernization.