The 2026 Earth Observation Handbook: Adaptation & Resilience


Supported by ESA, the CEOS Earth Observation Handbook has a long history supporting advocacy for the role of satellite Earth observations for society. This year, CEOS will publish a special edition of the Handbook focused on the role of satellite EO data in support of adaptation and resilience, supporting the 2026 CEOS Chair's focus on these themes. The Handbook will feature a number of case studies from the community, highlighting real world uses of data supporting adaptation and resilience.

Case Studies in the 2026 EO Handbook

The case studies will be grouped under the following categories:

  • Disaster Response
  • Water
  • Agriculture
  • Health and Well-being
  • Ecosystems and Biodiversity
  • Infrastructure
  • Economic Security
  • Local Knowledge
  • Other

We are looking for the most powerful stories about programmes and projects that have demonstrated real benefits and solved real problems for identifiable user communities, at all scales. We wish to clearly highlight the role of satellite EO data, but recognise that may be as a small part of a multitude of tools that support the outcomes. CEOS Agencies are naturally invited to share their stories through the Handbook, but we also welcome examples from users, intermediaries, academics, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and government departments of all kinds - if you feel you have a story to tell that may inspire others.

To help guide potential contributors, please find below two exemplar case studies - one most relevant to the Health category and another to Food and Agriculture.

Example Case Studies

Agriculture

In Season Yield Forecasting for Decision Making in Malawi

During the 2024 cropping season, in partnership with FAO, the NASA Harvest GEOCIF yield forecast model was adapted to provide monthly information on season agricultural monitoring and crop production estimates in Malawi.

Health
Agriculture

Combat Against Climate Change on Cotton Communities (C5)

C5 is an agroclimatic advisory solution designed to help cotton communities adapt to climate change by combining satellite Earth observation (EO) with climate reanalysis and forecast data.

Case Study Proposals

To propose a case study for the 2026 EO Handbook, please provide some basic information regarding the nature of your case study in the form below. The CEOS Handbook team will get back to you to confirm whether the proposal is suitable for the Handbook and to provide further guidance on how to make a full submission in a provided template. Contributors are encouraged to get in touch early and no later than Friday 20th March, 2026 in order to be considered for inclusion. Complete case study drafts, for those that are selected to proceed, will be requested no later than Friday 24th April, 2026. You are also welcome to propose more than one case study - simply submit the form once for each story you are proposing.

We really look forward to hearing your stories and to sharing them with a broad readership through the 2026 EO Handbook. Please get in touch soon with your ideas. We are available to answer questions at any time via casestudies@eohandbook.com.

Timeline