The University’s leadership in Earth observation expertise began in the mid-1990s, when our scientists identified a major deficiency in the monitoring of the world’s freshwater; vital decisions were being taken based on limited representative evidence, despite the constantly changing nature of water bodies.
Scientists in the Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences developed Earth observation technology, utilising satellites, airborne and in-situ sensors capable of providing comprehensive data on the world’s rivers, lakes, reservoirs and seas.
This data enabled our scientists to develop globally adaptive models and open-source algorithms which underpinned the first openly accessible, satellite-based inland water data processing system. Our scientists can now diagnose water quality issues worldwide, informing policy and decision-making in multiple countries.
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University scientists work with Ukrainian academics to demonstrate remote Earth observation monitoring of water quality in Ukraine.
The £2.9 million GloboLakes project (2012-2018), funded by the Natural Environment Research Council, was led by the Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and applied Earth observation technology to monitor the condition of the world’s 1,000 largest lakes for the first time. Researchers developed the globally adaptive models and open-source algorithms which underpin the first openly accessible, satellite-based inland water data processing system. This galvanised more than 20 organisations worldwide to share water quality data, transforming our understanding of how lakes are responding to environmental change.
The Division’s adaptive models and algorithms enabled the UN World Water Quality Alliance to undertake water quality monitoring of more than 50% of inland water bodies. This underpins global and national water security initiatives to help deliver Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).
Sentinel-3 Earth observation satellite, which provides images to University researchers, allowing data to be gathered from lakes (European Space Agency). Image credit: European Space Agency
Through collaboration, the Earth observation technology deployed through GloboLakes has also enabled the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to transform its management of water bodies. The move from basic statutory monitoring to advanced analytics and collaboration is enabling SEPA to proactively tackle climate change and plan for a more sustainable future as part of Scotland’s transition to net zero.
Further proactive engagement with industry saw both Anglian Water and Scottish Water apply the Division’s Earth observation expertise to increase sustainability, deliver cost savings and further improve the provision of safe drinking water.
Our scientists' distinct approach also supports a rapidly growing pan-European research infrastructure, providing enhanced monitoring of river-sea systems. DANUBIUS-RI (2016-present) applies the Division's algorithms to 12 European digital observatories, providing integrated studies of river catchments from source to sea.
GloboLakes applied Earth observation technology to monitor the condition of the world’s lakes for the first time.
85%
of the world’s surface freshwaters are lakes and reservoirs
50%
are now monitored by satellites, using algorithms designed by our scientists
30 years
of research expertise informs interventions that improves water quality worldwide
The quality of our experts' work was recognised in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework, placing it in the UK’s top 30 institutions across its research outputs and research environment, and 12th in the UK for research impact.
The University is the only UK higher education institution offering modules that include a focus on freshwater Earth observation, from fundamentals to application. Since 1995, 50 PhD theses have advanced research into water quality.
Watch: The University of Stirling welcomes academics from the Odesa State Environmental University to explore satellite Earth Observation capabilities for monitoring water quality.
The war in Ukraine has damaged critical water infrastructure, including water pumping stations, purification plants and wastewater treatment facilities – contaminating ground and surface waters. With water sampling challenging during times of conflict, our scientists are conducting remote monitoring using Earth observation capabilities developed as part of the DOORS project – providing critical safety information which could be used to aid recovery.
A recent study analysing the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in 2023 provided vital data on the impact of the explosion on water quality in the Black Sea. With this technology in place across the region, scientists can safely monitor water quality remotely in territories made unsafe because of war.
Our integral role in the £7.5 million Developing Optimal and Open Research Support for the Black Sea (DOORS) project is applying our environmental monitoring expertise on an international scale in southeast Europe. Once facing ecological collapse due to overfishing, pollution and eutrophication, the Black Sea’s fragile recovery is now threatened by new pollutants, including microplastics.
The DOORS System of Systems – a comprehensive data platform developed by our experts and partners across Europe – provides critical insights into water quality on a sea-wide scale for the first time. Combined with the project's harmonisation of data collection methods, this advanced modelling enables more effective interventions and supports Black Sea countries in adhering to the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
Watch: The DOORS project brings together expertise and technology from 35 institutions from the Black Sea region and other European countries to address the human and climate change impacts on damaged ecosystems.
Our distinct, whole-system approach of smart diagnostics and innovative solutions means our earth observation expertise is impacting policy and practice across a wide range of fields:
Launched to an international audience at COP26, the Forth Environmental Resilience Array (Forth-ERA) is the world’s first catchment scale environmental monitoring system. Forth-ERA provides live and real-time water quality data, collecting more than 100 million data points on the environment annually. Forth-ERA’s advanced modelling capability enables businesses, policymakers and conservationists to trial new, lower carbon ways of working by assessing their impacts on water quality. Internationally scalable, the technology can be deployed worldwide, as part of our ambition for the Forth Valley to become a global exemplar net zero regional economy.
University of Stirling scientists have pioneered a lifesaving satellite emergency mapping system. The Satellite Emergency Mapping Service (SEMS) was unveiled at the inaugural Space-Comm Expo in Glasgow, and will assist responders during extreme weather events. SEMS uses state-of-the-art satellite imaging technology to deliver real-time, high-resolution data and insights that will enhance decision-making capabilities and enable faster, more efficient response efforts when disasters strike. Led by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), the service will revolutionise the way Scotland responds to emergencies such as floods, wildfires, landslides, and oil spills.
The Division's scientists have applied their distinct approach to a rapidly growing pan-European research infrastructure, providing enhanced monitoring of river-sea systems. DANUBIUS-RI applies the Division's algorithms to 12 European digital observatories, providing integrated studies of river catchments from source to sea. The project aims to to equip communities with the information services and knowledge, to help them counter the effects of climate change. This expertise is being combined with terrestrial and coastal monitoring as part of an integrated approach to observing the land-sea interface through the EU-funded LandSeaLOT project.
See members of the Earth and
The biogeochemical response of the north-western Black Sea to the Kakhovka Dam breach
Jiang D, Khokhlov V, Tuchkovenko Y, Kushnir D, Ovcharuk V, Spyrakos E, Stanica A, Slabakova V & Tyler A (2025) The biogeochemical response of the north-western Black Sea to the Kakhovka Dam breach. Communications Earth & Environment, 6, Art. No.: 185. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02153-z
Jiang D, Scholze J, Liu X, Simis SG, Stelzer K, Müller D, Hunter P, Tyler A & Spyrakos E (2023) A data driven approach to flag land affected signals in satellite derived water quality from small lakes. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 117, Art. No.: 103188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jag.2023.103188
Advancing integrated research on European river-sea systems: the DANUBIUS-RI project
Bradley C, Bowes MJ, Brils J, Friedrich J, Gault J, Groom S, Hein T, Heininger P, Michalopoulos P, Panin N, Schultz M, Stanica A, Andrei I, Tyler A & Umgiesser G (2018) Advancing integrated research on European river-sea systems: the DANUBIUS-RI project. International Journal of Water Resources Development, 34 (6), pp. 888-899. https://doi.org/10.1080/07900627.2017.1399107
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