The CopernicusLAC 2025 Hackathon, which concluded last August, not only promoted innovative technological projects, but also initiatives which focus on the continent’s most vulnerable communities. “Comunidades Satélite”, winner team of the competition’s first prize, is precisely one such project: a proposal which combines satellite data, geospatial analysis and community participation to strengthen disaster risk management and territorial development in Latin America. In addition to the cash prize, the team had the opportunity to travel to Quito, Ecuador, and attend a week-long intensive training course to deepen their knowledge of remote sensing and the use of Copernicus data.
The faces behind the project: Noelia Molina and Antonio Turanzas
Behind “Comunidades Satélite” there is a young team with solid and complementary experience. Its two co-founders, Noelia Molina and Antonio Turanzas, combine backgrounds spanning territorial planning, risk management, remote sensing and geospatial analysis.
The faces behind the “Comunidades Satélite” project: Antonio Turanzas (left) and Noelia Molina (right).
Antonio Turanzas, an architect specialising in territorial analysis and planning, has worked in more than 20 countries developing regional management models which integrate social, economic, environmental, and urban dimensions. His experience focuses on designing multi-scale strategies for land use planning and sustainable decision-making. Within “Comunidades Satélite”, Antonio is responsible for integrating satellite data and territorial analysis with the reality of communities, proposing risk mitigation and prevention strategies.
On the other hand, Noelia Molina is a specialist in disaster risk management and natural resource management, with postgraduate studies in risk management policy with a focus on seismology. Her career includes projects related to climate change, biodiversity, natural hazards and ecosystem conservation, combining her scientific training with advanced use of GIS, remote sensing, and geospatial analysis. In the project, Noelia leads scientific research, geospatial data processing, and Copernicus Sentinel satellites data integration to better understand territorial dynamics and vulnerability factors.
Infographic presented by the co-founders of “Comunidades Satélite,” illustrating the process of data utilisation within the project. Credit: Comunidades Satélite.
‘We don’t just want to map the risks; we want to communicate and understand how a phenomenon affects an entire system and act strategically before, during and after’ – Antonio Turanzas and Noelia Molina.
This is a vision which puts communities at the heart of its mission. According to the co-founders, their platform turns complex data into clear visualisations, empowering communities and local governments to anticipate threats and improve their management capabilities. They are motivated by a desire to build resilience locally so people can participate actively in risk management through accessible tools. Comunidades Satélite serves as a bridge between space technology and community life, helping translate scientific knowledge into practical decisions.
The key role of Copernicus data
The project leverages data from Copernicus Sentinel-1 (radar) and Sentinel-2 (optical) missions as well as the Copernicus Digital Elevation Model (DEM).
‘Copernicus Sentinel-1 data allows us to obtain information even when it is cloudy, and Sentinel-2 provides very detailed optical analysis. The Copernicus DEM helps us understand the morphology of the terrain and locate vulnerable areas,’ explain the project’s co-founders.
The course in Ecuador: an opportunity for growth
Thanks to the Hackathon prize, the team attended a course in Quito, the capital of Ecuador, on awareness and capacity building in remote sensing. They highlight that ‘it was very interesting to see how Copernicus data supports decision-making, from agriculture to risk management. The resolution and level of detail really make a difference.’ The course also reinforced their knowledge of spectral bands, analysis platforms and data communication methods.
Looking ahead: pilot projects, expansion and regional network
In the short term, “Comunidades Satélite” will employ Copernicus free and open data in a systematic manner to strengthen its pilot projects targeting highly vulnerable regions in Costa Rica. This approach encompasses standardising data processing workflows across various applications, generating time series and maps, conducting workshops with community stakeholders, and performing vulnerability assessments based on terrain morphology. These will be integrated with population, critical infrastructure, mobility, and land-use layers. Building on the outcomes of these pilot initiatives, relevant indicators, visualisations, and narratives will be refined, enabling local governments and communities to effectively incorporate the platform into their risk management practices.In the medium and long term, the aim is to transform these flows into an operational and scalable service, expanding the number of communities analysed in other territories in the LAC region. ‘Our project aims to go beyond being just a technical input and seeks to become the basis for a network of initiatives aimed at territorial resilience and disaster risk reduction in satellite and peri-urban communities,’ they say.
Infographic provided by the co-founders of “Comunidades Satélite”, showing how communities and their users are involved in the process. Credit: Comunidades Satélite.
A project combining science, community and vision for the future
“Comunidades Satélite” is demonstrating how Copernicus free and open data can be a powerful tool for strengthening local capacities and promoting safer and more sustainable cities. Following their experience in Quito, the team returns with new knowledge, valuable connections and an even clearer vision of what they want to achieve.
A project uniting science, community, and forward-looking vision
“Comunidades Satélite” is a shining example of how Copernicus’ free and open data is transforming the landscape for local capacity building and the advancement of safer, more sustainable communities. This progress has been made possible in large part thanks to the pivotal role played by the CopernicusLAC Panama Centre. The Centre was instrumental in providing not only crucial access to technical knowledge and resources, but also in creating the unique opportunity of the CopernicusLAC 2025 Hackathon – an event which has proven to be a resounding success for fostering innovation and collaboration across the region. The hackathon served as a launchpad for initiatives like “Comunidades Satélite”, enabling teams to immerse themselves in hands-on learning and connect with a vibrant network of experts and peers from Latin America and beyond.
Following their experience in Quito, which was made possible through the hackathon prize and the support of the CopernicusLAC Panama Centre, the team returns with an enriched understanding, valuable connections, and a sharpened vision of their future goals. The combination of Copernicus data, regional expertise, and the nurturing environment created by the Centre has empowered “Comunidades Satélite” to move forward with renewed purpose and the tools needed to make a tangible difference in urban resilience and disaster risk management in their community.