MIDS: monitoring of water infrastructures with satellite data

The enhancement of Earth Observation systems involves identifying application fields where satellite remote sensing can and should provide a decisive contribution to improving the economic and social well-being of the community. The effectiveness of actions based on the information derived from satellite data analysis becomes increasingly important, particularly when it is challenging to achieve similar results over a large area using traditional measurement methods in a short period. The control and monitoring of the efficiency and infrastructural stability of water distribution and drainage networks managed by the Reclamation Consortia are prime examples of this. The extensive territorial areas to be monitored, combined with the difficulty of efficiently acquiring the necessary information using traditional systems, highlight the importance of satellite data. In Italy, the Reclamation Consortia maintain and operate a vast array of facilities, channels, and other infrastructures dedicated to soil protection (approximately 200,000 kilometers of drainage and irrigation channels, about 800 pumping stations, 22,000 weirs, etc.) and irrigation, which in turn increase land value, production competitiveness, agricultural income, and employment. <br/> <br/> The MIDS (Monitoring Water Infrastructures with Satellite Data) project arises from the need to bridge existing gaps in current operational systems for monitoring Basin infrastructures through the synergistic use of different types of satellite data: Multispectral, Hyperspectral, and SAR. The MIDS project introduces genuine innovation in data processing techniques compared to those currently used while building on some already developed products. The goal is to achieve a credible engineering and prototyping plan to rapidly transfer this innovation into operational use. Specifically, MIDS aims to create three types of products from satellite data elaboration to innovatively address the real monitoring needs of the Reclamation Consortia, with a clear potential for future commercial use. The key areas of focus are: <li> Monitoring leaks in irrigation distribution networks and analyzing district-scale needs. </li> <li> Monitoring infrastructure of weirs and dams along main axes. </li> <li> Detecting pollutants related to major discharges (Regi Lagni). </li>