MAPEOS: a mobile application for accessing and disseminating space-based remote sensing products for environmental monitoring

The increasing availability of multispectral, thermal and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) observations from satellite and ground-based platforms has significantly enhanced the capability to monitor environmental processes and natural hazards. However, the effective exploitation of Earth Observation products strongly depends on their accessibility, usability and dissemination beyond specialized research environments. In this context, the MAPEOS project aims to develop a mobile application designed to facilitate access to and dissemination of remote sensing products for environmental monitoring, bridging the gap between advanced Earth Observation infrastructures and end users.

MAPEOS is conceived as a cross-platform mobile application that disseminates scientific data and value-added products generated by the Platform for Earth Observation from Space (PEOS), a national e-infrastructure developed within the Italian “Monitoring Earth’s Evolution and Tectonics” (MEET) project, funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR – Next Generation EU). PEOS is coordinated within the activities of the INGV Center for Space Observations of Earth (COS) and contributes to the European Plate Observing System (EPOS) research infrastructure. While PEOS provides the processing, integration and management of heterogeneous remote sensing datasets, MAPEOS focuses on user-oriented delivery of selected products, emphasizing intuitive visualization, rapid access and effective communication of environmental information.

The mobile application supports the visualization of key Earth Observation products relevant to environmental monitoring and natural hazard assessment. These include ground deformation derived from SAR interferometry, surface temperature and environmental parameters from multispectral and thermal imagery, volcanic cloud properties and SO₂ and ash emissions, as well as a range of space weather products derived from satellite observations and ground-based measurements. In particular, MAPEOS aims to disseminate information related to geomagnetic activity, ionospheric disturbances and space weather conditions that can affect technological systems and the near-Earth environment, providing an integrated view of solid Earth, atmospheric and space-related processes.

A central aspect of MAPEOS is its ability to exploit harmonized and fused products generated within PEOS, integrating spectral, spatial and temporal information from multiple sensors and platforms. The application accesses data through standardized application programming interfaces (APIs) compliant with OGC standards, OpenAPI specifications and the EPOS-DCAT-AP profile, ensuring interoperability, scalability and alignment with FAIR principles. This architecture allows the mobile application to remain lightweight while providing near–real-time access to updated remote sensing and space weather products.

MAPEOS is designed for a broad range of users, including researchers, students, civil protection operators and the general public. By lowering technical barriers and enabling mobile access to Earth Observation and space weather information, the application supports knowledge transfer, outreach activities and increased awareness of environmental processes and natural hazards.

This contribution presents the design concept and current development status of the MAPEOS mobile application, highlighting the role of mobile technologies in enhancing the accessibility and societal impact of space-based remote sensing products for environmental monitoring and decision-support applications within national and European frameworks.