Welcome to EO4Ecology

Our Mission

EO4Ecology combines advanced Earth Observation technologies with conservation science to protect natural and agricultural habitats in Europe, Asia, and Africa. By monitoring habitats from space and with ground-based sensors, we identify threats early and enable timely interventions by rangers, policymakers, and local communities.

Who We Are

EO4Ecology is a multidisciplinary team of scientists, conservationists, engineers, and data experts. We collaborate with university research labs, governments, NGOs, and local communities to bridge cutting-edge science with on-the-ground action.

Projects

Autonomous Habitat Monitoring

A continuous, satellite-based monitoring platform for tracking wild elephant habitat condition and human-elephant conflict risk over time.

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Mapping Mangroves

Mapping mangrove forest extent globally using satellite imagery and machine learning, in support of mangrove conservation and climate change mitigation.

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Monitoring Tinyforests with IoT Sensors

Combining ground-based IoT sensors with satellite data to monitor the growth and health of Miyawaki-method tiny forests.

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Tinyforest CO2 Sequestration Calculator

A hosting service for a nature-based-solutions dashboard built by a Sapienza University spin-off startup. The tool calculates how many Miyawaki-method tiny forests, planted with Mediterranean species, are needed to sequester a given amount of CO2 emissions over time.

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Student Projects

Season Watch

Meena Babu · Rutgers University, NJ, USA

A satellite-based tree phenology monitoring tool that tracks season changes over time, built by Meena Babu, a third-year STEM student at Rutgers University double majoring in Electrical Engineering and Music. Outside of building satellite pipelines, Meena enjoys video games, board games, and gelato.

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AI Edge Cameras for Pollinator Tracking

Krishna Babu · High School Student, New Jersey, USA

Krishna's research project focuses on the development of computer vision and machine learning algorithms for extracting pollinator flight trajectories from video recordings using low cost AI edge cameras. Krishna is a drummer in his school band, plays basketball, video games and chess.

Expertise

Forest Health Monitoring

We use high-resolution satellite imagery and advanced analytics to continuously assess forest condition across large spatial scales. By detecting early signs of stress, disease, and degradation, we enable timely interventions that support ecosystem resilience and biodiversity conservation.

Forest Phenology and Climate Change

Track changes in forest phenology—such as earlier leaf-out (greening), shifts in flowering, and altered fruiting cycles—driven by rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns. These shifts can create mismatches between plants and pollinators, reducing reproduction success, while also increasing vulnerability to pests and diseases that thrive under warmer conditions.

Soil, Water & Drought Monitoring

We integrate satellite-derived indicators with ground data to monitor soil moisture, water availability, and drought dynamics. This allows us to provide early warnings and actionable insights for sustainable land and water resource management.

State-of-the-Art Downscaling of Historical Satellite Data

We develop advanced methods to enhance the spatial and temporal resolution of historical satellite datasets. This enables detailed retrospective analyses, improving our understanding of long-term environmental changes and trends.

Ground Truth Point Dataset Creation

Accurate field data is essential for validating and improving remote sensing models. We design and collect high-quality ground truth datasets that strengthen model reliability and ensure robust environmental monitoring outcomes.

Wild Elephant Habitat Monitoring in Asia

We combine Earth Observation data with ecological modelling to map and monitor elephant habitats. Our approach helps identify movement patterns and conflict zones, supporting conservation efforts and reducing human-elephant interactions.

Our Team

Dr. Karpagam Chelliah

Co-Founder

Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, Mathematical Modelling, Machine Learning and Scientific Software Engineering

Dr. Fabio Francesconi

Co-Founder

Earth Observation, Geospatial Analysis, Botany, Habitat Suitability and Climate Change Science.

Dr.Roberto Valenti

Co-Founder

Botany, Geology, Soil Science and and Ecosystem Dynamics.

For Students

Resources, tutorials, and setup guides for students working on EO4Ecology's science projects — from your first development environment to the remote sensing and data tools we use day to day.

More tutorials and project-specific guides will be added here over time. If you're a current student with a resource that helped you, let us know and we'll add it.