Enhanced Methods for EO and Open-Source Information Exploitation in Fragile Settings Assessment
The project "Enhanced Methods for EO and Open-Source Information Exploitation in Fragile Settings Assessment" is funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) and aims to improve the spatial precision and operational value of fragility assessments in conflict-affected regions. Coordinated by e-GEOS, with DLR as a key partner, the project brings together a multidisciplinary consortium including Cherrydata, MindEarth, Janes, Hensoldt, and Adelphi, to address the growing demand from international actors such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), European Investment Bank (EIB), World Bank, and Asian Development Bank (ADB) for more accurate and dynamic data to support decision-making in complex environments.
DLR contributes through its Smart Cities and Spatial Development team at the German Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD), providing advanced EO-based layers—such as the World Settlement Footprint (WSF®)—for population dynamics, urban growth, and infrastructure analysis. These are integrated with social media intelligence (SOSINT), open-source intelligence (OSINT), and machine learning-based indicators to assess fragility across six OECD-defined dimensions: economic, environmental, human, political, societal, and security.
Key innovations include the development of predictive models to anticipate crisis onset, the use of generative AI for intuitive data interaction via natural language, and the production of open, high-resolution layers supporting early warning, policy planning, and humanitarian intervention.
The project’s scalable, multidimensional framework is validated through case studies in fragile regions such as Somalia and the Mekong basin, contributing directly to initiatives like the OECD “States of Fragility” report series and ADB risk monitoring tools.
DLR’s role underlines its commitment to operationalizing EO science for global development and peacebuilding, leveraging flagship datasets and long-standing expertise in supporting resilience in the world’s most vulnerable regions.