Date
23 February 2026
Category
Communications, Data, Earth Observation, News, Security, Space
No comments- Starion is leading the development of a Luxembourg extension to the SAFEPLACE crisis response platform, focusing on flooding and humanitarian use cases.
- With input from national stakeholders, the first phase of this extension will define the project requirements and validate the market for LUX-SAFEPLACE, which is funded through the European Space Agency’s Civil Security from Space Programme with the support of Luxembourg.
- Led jointly by Starion Luxembourg and Starion Belgium, the LUX-SAFEPLACE consortium includes Clarence, RSS Hydro, FACTiven and HITEC Luxembourg.
Starion has begun a 9-month project to define the priorities and requirements for a Luxembourg extension to the Starion-led SAFEPLACE crisis response prototype platform. Known as LUX-SAFEPLACE, it will focus on national priority use cases and incorporate complementary competences and assets from local partners Clarence, RSS Hydro, FACTiven and HITEC Luxembourg.
During the definition phase, Starion will engage with stakeholders and potential customers in Luxembourg to derive requirements for enhancing the existing SAFEPLACE flood crisis response capabilities, including in the context of humanitarian response operations. The definition phase will culminate in a demonstration to showcase the integration of the consortium partners’ respective technologies and assets, and obtain stakeholder feedback to inform further developments.
The SAFEPLACE project, which started in 2024, is developing a flexible digital platform to facilitate crisis management, including during pre- and post-crisis phases, fusing information aggregated from data sources including Earth observation and IoT sensors, and employing artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced communications technologies. Funded under ESA’s Civil Security from Space Programme, the SAFEPLACE platform is serving as an early proof of concept for Space Resilience Nodes, which will be developed under ESA’s new European Resilience from Space – Earth Observation (ERS-EO) programme approved at ESA’s Ministerial Council last year. Space Resilience Nodes are a user segment that enable rapid access to a suite of space-enabled solutions for mandated public protection and disaster response agencies.
In 2025, demonstrations of the SAFEPLACE platform were held in Belgium and Spain. The Belgian demonstration focused on flooding, chemical incidents and earthquake use cases, while the Spanish demonstration addressed the wildfire use case.
The LUX-SAFEPLACE flooding use case will enhance existing SAFEPLACE flood crisis capabilities and expand services across the preparation, crisis response and recovery phases. Among the possibilities are the provision of nowcasts and forecasts of water levels and the expected spread of flooding, which could inform decisions on access and evacuation routes, and support targeted warnings.
Alex Vorobiev, Starion Programme Manager for SAFEPLACE, said: “We have already seen a very positive response to the two SAFEPLACE demonstrations in Belgium and Spain, and we’re pleased that we can now plan an extension to the platform that focuses on the needs of those involved in crisis response in Luxembourg and enhances national crisis response capabilities. The data and technology now exist to enable us to deliver something truly valuable to first responder organisations, and we look forward to working with national stakeholders and our partners to define the required services for Luxembourg.”
Starion Luxembourg will lead the definition phase and be responsible for the platform elaboration. Other enabling technologies will be provided by RSS-Hydro (predictive flood modelling system), HITEC (enhanced crisis operations field terminal), Clarence (secure sovereign cloud and interface to high performance computing for rapid modelling) and FACTiven (data authentication, traceability and certification.
Among the potential national stakeholders are the Water Management Administration of Luxembourg (AGE), Grand-Ducal Fire and Rescue Corps of Luxembourg (CGDIS), and the Directorate for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Luxembourg is particularly vulnerable to river flooding. At the same time, flooding caused by sudden and extreme rainfall is becoming more frequent in urban areas like Luxembourg City, exacerbated by dense urban development and climate change.
Marc Serres, CEO of the Luxembourg Space Agency, said: “Better forecasting and real-time support is essential to manage the impact of flooding events and of other environmental, industrial or humanitarian crises. Space data can provide valuable insights in this respect, which is why we believe the SAFEPLACE platform holds great promise to centralise any data and provide valuable information to manage crises. Through this new contract, we are pleased that the unique expertise of key Luxembourg companies will now bring sustainable added value to the important ESA programme to enhance crisis management at European scale.”
