Environmental challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, water scarcity, and ocean degradation demand new ways of observing, monitoring, and understanding the Earth system. Research Infrastructures (RIs) in the ENVRI community—spanning atmospheric, marine, terrestrial, and solid earth sciences—provide the backbone of European environmental observation and long-term data stewardship. Yet, the growing complexity of environmental change requires innovative technologies and services to enhance monitoring, strengthen interoperability, and accelerate the translation of knowledge into actionable insights.
This session brings together researchers, technologists, and stakeholders to showcase advances illustrating (1) the role of emerging technologies and (2) service-oriented approaches in shaping the future of environmental monitoring.
Emerging technologies include advanced instrumentation, miniaturized and autonomous sensors for atmospheric, hydrological, soil, and marine processes, as well as unmanned aerial systems, drones, satellite constellations, and IoT networks that link in-situ with remote sensing. Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming how environmental data are processed, harmonized, and applied in predictive modelling.
The ocean, a key climate regulator, remains critically under-observed for carbon fluxes, particularly beyond shipping routes. Addressing this gap, the GEORGE project—a collaboration between EMSO ERIC, EURO-ARGO ERIC, ICOS ERIC, research institutions, universities, and industry—develops novel tools and methods to measure carbonate chemistry (e.g., pH, alkalinity, dissolved inorganic carbon, pCO₂) across diverse marine environments.
Services are equally vital. Trans-National Access (TNA) schemes offered by ENVRIs provide opportunities for researchers to use state-of-the-art facilities, advanced instrumentation, and high-quality data services beyond national systems. These services foster collaboration, accelerate innovation, and support co-created solutions to pressing challenges. The convergence of cloud-based infrastructures, FAIR data principles, interoperability frameworks, and user-centered service design ensures that resources are not only technically robust but also widely accessible and impactful for science, policy, and society.