Consultancy

Impact Assessment for the new EU Space Law

Year: 2023 - 2024

Client/funding: European Commission – DG DEFIS

Role in the project: Policy Research Expert

Description: In their 2023 Space Strategy for Security and Defence, the European Commission and the High Commissioner of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy announced the objective of preparing a proposal for an EU Space Law that would elevate the level of resilience, safety and sustainability of space activities across the European Union. With the aim of supporting an impact assessment for this upcoming EU Space Law, KU Leuven and Deloitte performed a study for the European Commission’s DG DEFIS.

Activities performed:

• Problem definition and analysis of state of the art
• Design of different scenarios for a EU Space Law
• Analysis of the relevance, feasibility and impact of different scenarios

Support to Space Traffic Management Standardisation

Year: 2022 - 2024

Client/funding: European Commission – DG DEFIS

Role in the project: Policy Research Expert

Description: The European Commission is exploring options for establishing common rules, standards and guidelines for a comprehensive space traffic management system allowing safe access to and use of space by national, European, and international space operators. The objectives of this project on STM Standardisation were to 1) analyse how space manufacturers and operators in the EU comply with non-binding rules and standards for space traffic management, 2) analyse the feasibility of establishing an EU-wide mechanism to support soft law compliance in space traffic management and 3) carry out outreach activities related to the EU-wide mechanism to support standardisation in space traffic management.

Activities performed:

• Definition of project scope, methodology, stakeholder engagement strategy, risk assessment and detailed work plan in the project proposal and inception report
• Investigation of label mechanisms and their effectiveness in different areas
• Design and assessment of the policy option of introducing an EU Space Label
• Consultations with key stakeholders in the domains of space and STM in Europe and worldwide

Pilot Project on Space Traffic Management - The rise of importance of Space Traffic Management

Year: 2020-2022

Client/funding: European Commission – DG DEFIS

Role in the project: Policy Research Expert

Description: The overarching goal of the project was the execution of a pilot study to support the development of a comprehensive approach on Space Traffic Management (STM) in Europe, covering all phases of the spacecraft, from design, launch and operations to end-of-life, with an overall aim of ensuring long-term, open, sustainable and safe use of space, while fostering European space ecosystems and ensuring Europe’s strategic autonomy. The study also contributed to raising public awareness among policy makers and interdisciplinary research on the legal and regulatory framework. The project proposed a definition of STM in a EU context, and analyse the impact of ongoing developments in space activities and identify related challenges. The effectiveness and relevance of existing legal and regulatory frameworks and practices were assessed. Practical recommendations and next steps at the national, European and international levels were formulated, taking into account the legal bases for action at the European level.

Activities performed:

• Definition of project scope, methodology, stakeholder engagement strategy, risk assessment and detailed work plan in the project proposal and inception report
• Analysis of existing legal and regulatory frameworks and practices in the STM domain
• Assessment of possible policy actions for implementing a EU-approach to STM
• Consultations with key stakeholders in the domains of space and STM in Europe and worldwide

The costs and benefits of geospatial web services of the national Spanish SDI-node

Year: 2020 - 2021

Client/funding: National Center for Geographic Information, Spain

Role in the project: Senior Researcher

Description: The National Geographical Information Centre (CNIG) of Spain wanted to tackle the challenge of assessing the benefits and costs of SDIs through a dedicated project on estimation the costs and benefits of the Central SDI-node of Spain, i.e. the National Geographic Institute (NGI). In this project, a new and innovative approach for cost-benefit evaluation and value estimation was developed and tested. The approach was based on three steps: 1) a cost estimation is carried out for the Spanish central SDI-node based on figures collected for the cost of implementation, management and maintenance of the metadata and geospatial web services; 2) an approximate evaluation of the benefits obtained is then computed taken as a reference the pricing schema defined by Google for the use of its web mapping API’s; and 3) a comparative analysis of a few selected European SDI’s that charge for geospatial web services by using the price of the services as point of reference.

Activities performed:

• Analysis of geospatial data licensing and pricing models in different EU countries
• Data collection through interviews and desk research
• Engagement of SDI-stakeholders in different EU countries
• Estimation of the benefits of the Spanish SDI-node and its services provided

Copernicus Service Component R&D needs collection and analysis for Horizon Europe and stakeholder consultation

Year: 2019

Client/funding: European Commission – DG GROW

Role in the project: Senior Expert

Description: The overall aim of this project was the provision of support to the European Commission in collecting and analysing the Copernicus Research and Development (R&D) needs for the next Horizon Europe in the context of the Service component evolution and downstream activities. This support addressed two areas: 1. Analysis of past Copernicus workshops and a number of Horizon 2020 initiatives; and 2. Organisation of two concluding consultation workshops with stakeholders. The analysis of relevant Copernicus workshops and H2020 initiatives resulted in a collection and classification of R&D needs for Copernicus within the services evolution and the downstream context. During two stakeholders workshops the identified needs were further discussed and validated with stakeholders in different sectors and domains.

Activities performed:

• Definition of project scope, methodology, stakeholder engagement strategy, risk assessment and detailed work plan in the project proposal and inception report
• Engagement of stakeholders in the R&D domain of the EU space sector
• Desk research on Copernicus Research & Development needs

Review of the federal geo-ICT infrastructure in view of alignment with SDI and INSPIRE requirements

Year: 2014 - 2016

Client/funding: Belgian Federal Government – National Geographic Institute (NGI)

Role in the project: Governance and Data Policy Expert

Description: The National Geographical Institute in Belgium is responsible for the collection, management and distribution of geographic information and operates as the key node in the Federal SDI which exists along - and in connection with - the Regional SDIs. NGI strives towards a Service Oriented geo-ICT Architecture. The aim of this assignment was to support NGI in the development and implementation of the federal SDI.

Activities performed:

• Investigation of needs and the licensing and pricing models in place at the producers of geospatial data
• Support to the development of a federal approach on spatial data and service sharing
• Assessment of good practices in licensing and pricing for geospatial data in Europe
• Input to the federal geo-ICT strategy

Active dissemination of environmental information in relation to the Birds and Habitats Directive

Year: 2014 - 2015

Client/funding: European Commission – DG ENV

Role in the project: Senior INSPIRE Expert

Description: This project aimed to help streamlining the efforts to provide environmental information and develop/maintain information systems that currently exist at the European and national levels with regard to Natura 2000, and to improve interoperability between the national system and those at the European level. The current status in the Member States was assessed against the provisions of Article 7 of the Access to Environmental Information Directive and the provisions of INSPIRE with regard to information relevant to the implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives.

Activities performed:

• Assessment of access and use restrictions to environmental data in relation to Natura 2000 in the EU
• Drafting of recommendations to improve the access and use of environmental data

INSPIRE Strategy Romania

Year: 2014 - 2015

Client/funding: Romanian Government – National Agency for Cadastre and Land Registration (ANCPI)

Role in the project: Senior INSPIRE Expert

Description: The objective of the project was to create the legal and technical framework necessary for implementing a Spatial Data Infrastructure in Romania aligned with the requirements imposed by European Directive INSPIRE. The project consisted of two stages: 1) the development of an INSPIRE implementation strategy and 2) the development of draft regulatory acts relating to tariff policies and exchange of data, rights of access of spatial data sets and services.

Activities performed:

• SWOT Analysis of the NSDI in Romania
• Collection and discussion of best practices in NSDI/INSPIRE Implementation in Europe
• Drafting of the sections on governance and data policies (data access, data sharing, licensing, etc.) in the INSPIRE Strategy
• Stakeholder consultations and co-design workshops

Support for the establishment of a European Union Location Framework (EULF)

Year: 2013 - 2016

Client/funding: European Commission – Joint Research Center

Role in the project:

Description: Senior Consultant:

Activities performed:

• Analysis of the status of integrating location data in digital government in Europe
• Collection of best practices in integration location data into digital government
• Preparing guidelines on the integration of location data in digital government processes and services
• Elaboration of the EULF Blueprint & Roadmap

SDI Benchmarking and Good Practices in INSPIRE Implementation

Year: 2013

Client/funding: Public Service of Wallonia, Geomatics Department, Belgium

Role in the project: SDI Assessment Expert

Description: The Government of the Walloon Region in Belgium aimed to assess the status of the SDI development in the southern part of Belgium as part of the preparation of a SDI Strategic Plan in the Region. This plan was based on an analysis of the user requirements and took into account experiences of other SDIs in Europe. The Benchmarking Study aimed to learn from the (Best) Practices in two regional (Flanders, Brussels) and five national (CH, DE, FR, NL, UK) SDIs.

Activities performed:

• Development of SDI Assessment framework and methodology
• Assessment of national and regional SDIs in Europe
• Collection and presentation of good practices in SDI/INSPIRE implementation
• Interviews with experts and practitioners in the geospatial domain