Space 4 Sustainability

At Surrey, we harness the power of satellites and Earth observation to tackle real-world challenges — from monitoring biodiversity and climate change to improving education and clean water access. Our research turns space data into solutions that transform lives and support the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Meeting sustainability goals using Earth observation

The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to eradicate poverty, protect the environment, and promote global well-being by 2030. A significant challenge in achieving these goals is the availability of high-quality, comprehensive data to track progress across the 231 indicators. Traditional data sources, such as national censuses and surveys, are often insufficient, particularly in developing countries where resources for data collection are limited. EO data offers a transformative solution by providing cost-effective, scalable, and timely insights into environmental and socio-economic indicators. Our research highlights that EO can support 108 SDG indicators, helping to bridge data gaps and enhance monitoring efforts, particularly in regions facing data scarcity. Bringing together knowledge within the Centre for Environment and Sustainability and Surrey Space Centre (which pioneered the low-cost small satellite industry), Space 4 Sustainability is aimed at optimising the use of EO to provide much-needed data for a range of applications.

Find out about the Centre for Environment and Sustainability's research with the National Physical Laboratory on ‘Seeing Sustainability from Space’.

Read about the analytical framework developed by the Centre to translate EO data into SDG indicators.

Dr Ana Andries presents the Space4Nature project at COP16 – United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, highlighting how Earth observation supports biodiversity.

Projects

Our recent and active projects demonstrate the critical role Earth observation can play in helping to achieve environment and sustainability goals by addressing the UN Sustainable Development Goal indicators.

Conservation and Rural Enterprise (CARE) initiative

The CARE initiative addresses rural poverty by linking eco-lodges, small enterprises, and community-led projects to sustainable income generation.

Potential of using night-time light to proxy social indicators for sustainable development

This project investigates how satellite-derived night-time light (NTL) data can serve as a proxy for monitoring poverty, inequality, and access to services at local scales.

Leveraging very high-resolution satellite data and machine learning for schistosomiasis risk mapping

Funded by the EPSRC, this PhD project investigates how very high-resolution satellite imagery and machine learning can improve disease risk mapping for schistosomiasis.

MAESMA Initiative: space-based monitoring of air pollution in the Middle East and Africa

As part of the MAESMA-GEO Observatory Project – an international effort to develop satellite-based monitoring of air pollution across the Middle East and Africa – researchers at the University of Surrey have contributed through two projects. One explored how satellite data can inform air quality policy and support community-led monitoring using surveys and interviews, while the other analysed the climate and health impacts of tropospheric pollutants using existing satellite data.

Assessing overcrowding in Nigerian schools

A study aimed at identifying overcrowding in rural primary schools in Nigeria, with the objective of improving quality of education.

Maize mapping and sustainable water use in Afghanistan

This collaboration with Surrey spin-out company Alcis is aimed at improving understanding of agricultural practices in rural Afghanistan.

Using Earth observation to assess urban, peri-urban and wetland sites

The project applies very high-resolution satellite imagery and advanced AI techniques to assess habitats in urban, peri-urban, and wetland sites across Surrey.

Earth observation for sustainable supply chains

This project leverages the potential of EO for real-time monitoring of environmental risks in global supply chains.

Space4Nature

Space4Nature is a flagship project using EO and citizen science to map and monitor habitats across Surrey, supporting biodiversity conservation and climate adaptation.

Examining adaptation and resilience frameworks: data quality’s role in supporting climate efforts

Highlighting the crucial role of data quality in climate change adaptation and resilience frameworks, identifying gaps in indicators and monitoring, particularly at local levels and in developing countries.

Can current Earth observation technologies provide useful information on soil organic carbon stocks?

This study explores the potential of Earth observation for monitoring, reporting, and verification of soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks – a key component of climate change mitigation.

An essential tool for sustainable planning of water resource and land use

A deep analysis of Lake Poopó in Bolivia, which has shrunk over two decades, will provide essential information for planning water resources and land uses.

The NEREUS Project: space-based maritime surveillance for fisheries monitoring

This project develops a nearly real-time, automated surveillance system using satellite remote sensing to detect illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Analysing biodiverse habitats and connectivity across Surrey AONB

Funded by DEFRA as part of its Test & Trial project “Making Space for Nature”, the research demonstrated how very high-resolution EO satellite data can support sustainable land management, habitat connectivity, and nature recovery in the Surrey Hills AONB (now known as Surrey Hills National Landscape).

Using very high-resolution satellite data to analyse carbon stock in Uganda’s Budongo Forest

In collaboration with Makerere University and funded by the John Templeton Foundation, this project uses EO geospatial data to produce high-accuracy land cover maps and carbon stock estimates for the Budongo Forest Reserve.

Collaborations

Space4Sustainability brings together researchers from the Centre for Environment and Sustainability, Surrey Space Centre, and international partners to harness Earth observation for tackling global sustainability challenges. Working with governments, industry, NGOs, and research organisations, the initiative translates satellite data into actionable insights for the UN Sustainable Development Goals.