The goal of this action was to explore and systematize the experience of 10 early users of the Copernicus Services and datasets in France, as well as in other European countries. These include public administrations operating at the national, regional and local levels and SMEs working in sectors other than space.

In the case of public administrations, focus was placed on examples of use of the Copernicus services and datasets to operationally manage public services. Examples from SMEs include SMEs integrating the Copernicus services or datasets in their commercial products or services.

The case study analysis collected the feedback of early users of the Copernicus Services and Datasets with the following objectives:

• Assess the main benefits of using the Copernicus services and datasets as compared to other data systems and software; benefits will include economic and time savings, improvements in the services delivered by the early users and social and environmental externalities
• Raise awareness about the availability, the potential uses and the benefits of the Copernicus services and datasets among public administrations and SMEs at the regional and local levels
• Identify good practices associated with the use of the Copernicus Services and datasets, such as: mechanisms to integrate the services into the operations of the user organizations, presence of qualified personnel in-house, provision of dedicated training to current staff, virtuous mechanisms to transfer data and expertise for multi-level management
• Provide feedback to the European Commission on the challenges encountered by public administrations and SMEs in using the Copernicus services and datasets; challenges will include difficulties to access and understand the data, data relevance to their operational purposes, lack of skills, and technical, economic and administrative challenges.

1. case studies have been explored:

• Monitoring water turbidity during the port extension works at Port-la-Nouvelle
• Supporting access to electricity in Sierra Leone
• Mitigating the effects of climate change at public transport stops in Prague
• Diminishing the carbon footprint of ships
• Monitoring and preventing floods in Wallonia
• Preventing and managing forest fires in Castilla-La Mancha
• Safeguarding cultural heritage in Rhodes
• Copernicus data and services to SHELTER cultural heritage
• Supporting insurance companies to deal with climate-related damage to agriculture
• Improving financial estimates and forecasts

Outputs and Results

• In-depth description of each Early Users experience in a case study report.
• A general report including recommendations to facilitate the access to and the exploitation of the Copernicus Services by non-space SMEs and public administrations at the national, regional and local levels
• The report is available on the FPCUP website.
• The case studies will be used within the CNES activities to raise awareness among user communities in Europe and abroad