From Floods to Habitat Modelling – EO4CAM and LfU in Dialogue
In 2025, the EO4CAM project successfully continued its close cooperation with the Bavarian Environment Agency (LfU). In a series of expert meetings, the partners discussed topics such as flood protection, nature conservation, grassland and biotope mapping, habitat modelling, as well as soil information and soil protection. The meetings took place in Augsburg, at the DLR site in Oberpfaffenhofen, and online.
The discussions focused on practical questions: How can Earth observation data support authorities in the prevention, management, and recovery phases of flood events? Representatives from LfU, Water Management Office Donauwörth, Bavarian State Ministry for the Environment and Consumer Protection (StMUV), and the EO4CAM project jointly analyzed the 2024 flood events in Bavaria. How were remote sensing-based methods and data products used in 2024, where could they have been applied, and how must they be further developed to meet the needs of public authorities?
Experts from LfU and EO4CAM also intensified their exchange in the field of nature conservation. Together, they explored how Earth observation can help to more precisely detect woody structures in open landscapes and urban areas, with the aim of better promoting and preserving species-rich habitats. The expertise of LfU contributes to optimizing EO4CAM applications in line with administrative requirements.
Another focus was on grassland. LfU and EO4CAM jointly examined how mowing dates, mowing frequency, and grassland age can be determined using remote sensing data. The goal is to enable a more accurate assessment of the condition and development of grassland habitats. This information plays an essential role in species and habitat conservation.
Furthermore, LfU and EO4CAM deepened their dialogue on soil information. Experts examined how existing LfU data can be integrated into EO4CAM models. Modeling will be used to estimate soil water balance more accurately and to evaluate the impact of climate adaptation measures in scenarios.
These expert meetings highlight how EO4CAM and Bavarian authorities are working together to systematically integrate Earth observation data into administration and practice – providing a foundation for data-driven, future-oriented climate adaptation in Bavaria.