EGV-PILOT: GEODETIC FOUNDATIONS FOR FUTURE EARTH OBSERVATION - EXPRO PLUS

EGV Pilot is an ESA pilot study aimed at structuring, mapping and assessing the geodetic foundations required to support future Earth Observation missions and Earth system science. The activity focuses on the role of geodetic observations and products as foundational enablers for Earth system monitoring, mission preparation, and the generation of long term geodetic data records. It builds on internationally coordinated developments on Essential Geodetic Variables (EGVs), in particular within GGOS and IAG, and translates these advances into an ESA-relevant framework aligned with the Earth Observation Science Strategy (EOSS), FutureEO missions, and other ESA programmatic elements. The study will establish clear traceability between geodetic requirements, products, observing systems and future EO missions. It will assess the readiness and maturity of geodetic observations and products, identify missing or degraded capabilities, and analyse how future ESA space and ground segment infrastructures could strengthen the geodetic foundations. Explicit consideration will be given to synergies with ESA missions such as GENESIS and NGGM/MAGIC, as well as to preparedness for integration into Digital Twin Earth.