Europe is experiencing more frequent and more severe disasters. This is not only because environmental conditions are changing, but also because societies themselves are changing. Climate change is making extreme events like floods, heatwaves, and storms more intense. At the same time, patterns of urbanization and population growth in risk-prone areas are altering exposure levels. More people and assets are now concentrated in coastal zones, river basins, and densely built urban regions, which makes the potential consequences of hazardous events more severe. Earth Observation (EO)-based information can play a key role in improving disaster management. EO services and products enable systematic hazard monitoring, rapid damage assessment, and support for response and recovery operations. The availability of current EO datasets, along with those expected from future EO missions, will further enhance these capabilities.The availability of data alone does not automatically ensure effective application. Satellite-derived datasets require careful processing, interpretation, and translation into user-oriented information products. Transforming complex EO data into decision-support tools remains a critical step.This PhD research aims to explore how EO data, starting from Copernicus products, can be integrated into risk assessment and disaster management to support operational tools and help authorities reduce the impact of natural hazards. The research activity will be carried out within the national project “Space for the sustainable development of the planet” (SpaceItUp!). This is a program aiming at enhancing the space technology of Italy to be used for space exploration and exploitation for the benefit of planet Earth and the entire humankind. The researcher will contribute to the development of the project’s research lines within the macro-themes “Resilience to extremes” and “Experimental research for sustainable Development”, developing thematic products based on innovative EO technologies to support risk assessment and disaster management.

Knowledge of Copernicus, Environmental remote sensing, Geospatial analysis of Earth observation

The research team comprises Dr. R. Bonì, a senior researcher in Physical Geography, Geomorphology, and Applied Geology; Prof. A. Taramelli, a professor of Remote Sensing and Surface Coastal Processes; and Dr. S. Sapio, a postdoctoral fellow in Remote Sensing.