CIK continues to support emergency services in the fight against the flood
This marks the inaugural operation of the Civil Security Hub in Poland, a project under the European Space Agency (ESA) aimed at enhancing crisis response capabilities. Originally, the satellite information delivery system was planned for testing in spring 2025, but due to the severity of the current floods, it was launched earlier in experimental mode. Despite early activation, it is already providing operationally useful data.
The system is a game-changer for crisis management, offering precise, rapid, and reliable information. It enables better decision-making during emergency situations, such as floods, where understanding the scale of the event and forecasting its development is essential.
Since the onset of the current flood, which has significantly impacted multiple regions in Poland, the satellite monitoring system has been working around the clock. By Friday morning (20/09/2024), the Civil Security Hub had already generated:
- 27 releases of Flood Rapid Impact analysis,
- 6 releases of maximum water extent analysis,
- 112 quick-view maps delivered to users, with a processing time of approximately 50 minutes after each satellite pass.
The material above is also based on satellite images from the Copernicus program (Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2) and Landsat 8/9.
These reports were made available to the State Fire Service, regional crisis management centers, hydrological and the military’s Operational Command. CBK PAN is also working on enhanced analysis, including damage assessment in collaboration with the Main Statistical Office and water pumping support with IMGW.
This successful trial of the satellite monitoring system highlights the growing role of new technologies in crisis management. Satellite data and UAV support will become integral to real-time decision-making in future emergency situations.
With the Civil Security Hub becoming fully operational, Poland will be better prepared to respond to natural disasters, ensuring a more efficient and coordinated response across various agencies, as it facilitates the entire process by defining needs, identifying critical observation areas, maintaining two-way communication with multiple users, and ensuring that space-based information is delivered efficiently to meet their needs.
