In the domain of civil security, the evolving geopolitical landscape and growing exposure to hybrid, environmental and humanitarian crises are generating increasingly complex scenarios. Traditional domains such as critical infrastructure monitoring, crisis response and maritime awareness are now intersecting with emerging dimensions — including climate, energy and health security — that demand integrated and adaptive solutions. Addressing these challenges requires multidisciplinary efforts to translate situational awareness into effective operational and policy responses.

Earth Observation (EO) data has become a cornerstone for evidence-based decision-making in this context. The exponential increase in EO missions, coupled with contributions from both institutional and commercial actors, has radically expanded data availability. However, this abundance also exposes critical gaps: the difficulty of integrating heterogeneous data streams, ensuring trust and interoperability, and turning large-scale data into actionable intelligence in time-sensitive security contexts.

This Research Topic aims to advance innovative EO-based approaches that specifically address these gaps and strengthen civil security preparedness and resilience. We invite contributions that explore how AI/ML, Big Data Analytics and Data Fusion can enhance the analytical and operational value of EO information for civil security decision-making. We particularly welcome work demonstrating novel methods and applications that improve our capacity to monitor, anticipate and respond to security-relevant events.

Contributions may include (but are not limited to):
• Integration of Big Data Analytics with heterogenous data in security response systems
• AI and Machine Learning for enhanced EO data analysis
• Advanced image processing (e.g. multimodal and multitemporal) for civil security applications
• Innovative techniques and approaches for EO-based security applications (e.g. Semantic Knowledge Graphs and Digital Twins for Security applications)

By collecting these studies, the Research Topic aims to stimulate cross-sector collaboration between EO scientists, security practitioners and policymakers. Its expected impact lies in informing policy frameworks, operational practices, and the future design of EO missions dedicated to security and resilience.

Are you interested in contributing a manuscript to this Research Topic?

Advancements in EO-Based Methodologies and Applications to Tackle Civil Security Scenarios