case study
Azercosmos Advances National Resilience Through Earth Observation and GIS Technology
As climate change accelerates, Azerbaijan faces growing environmental challenges—from unpredictable weather and water shortages to increased risks of natural disasters and biodiversity loss—making the need for reliable climate intelligence more urgent than ever. In response, Azercosmos, the Space Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, has launched a groundbreaking national effort to monitor and mitigate climate change using Earth observation (EO) data and geographic information system (GIS) technology.
This initiative led to the creation of the Climate Report, a centralized interactive platform that harnesses satellite imagery, spatial analytics, and decision-making tools to support the country’s sustainable development agenda. This effort is not only a testament to Azerbaijan’s commitment to climate action—it also offers a replicable model for regional collaboration across Central Asia and the Caucasus.
“In an era defined by uncertainty, it is geospatial intelligence that gives us the clarity we need,” said Dunay Badirkhanov, acting chair of Azercosmos. “Our partnership with Esri has transformed raw satellite data into actionable climate knowledge, empowering policymakers, communities, and industries to make informed, timely decisions.”
The research focused on 30 existing mountain lakes spanning over two hectares each, located in the Kalbajar, Lachin, and Aghdara regions. The combined area of these mountain lakes exceeds 900 hectares. Among these lakes, the largest ones include Boyuk Alagol, Ishigli Garagol, and Kichik Alagol, accounting for 72 percent of the total area.
Before adopting GIS, Azercosmos faced fragmented and delayed climate data collection. Traditional methods couldn’t keep pace with the dynamic environmental changes occurring across the country. Using high-resolution imagery from SPOT6/Azersky satellites, Azercosmos developed a centralized GIS infrastructure that enables dynamic monitoring of climate-sensitive indicators, including:
At the core of this infrastructure is ArcGIS Enterprise—a complete GIS software that helps users manage, map, visualize, and analyze their data—which serves as the agency’s secure data hub for managing and analyzing large EO datasets. It provides Azercosmos teams with a comprehensive set of tools to meet a wide range of operational needs.
For example, Azercosmos teams use Esri tools to process satellite imagery and calculate vegetation indexes (NDVI), track water body shrinkage using spectral analysis, and generate land surface temperature models. These technologies allow staff to organize spatial data, create high quality 2D, 3D, and 4D visualizations, and perform advanced mapping analytics.
Meanwhile, staff use ArcGIS Dashboards to visualize these metrics in real time for various stakeholders, including government ministries, researchers, and international partners. Staff also use ArcGIS StoryMaps to turn complex climate data into engaging, interactive narratives by combining maps, multimedia, and embedded content.
One key milestone was the development of the Climate Risk Atlas of Azerbaijan, an interactive digital platform that maps vulnerable regions based on composite indicators such as deforestation rates, flood risk, and temperature anomalies over time.
This platform has strengthened collaboration between space analysts and ecological experts, while also reducing the time lag between data collection and response.
“We’ve gone from reactive assessments to proactive forecasting,” explained Badirkhanov. “Now, when a drought starts to emerge, we can see it forming in the data and advise authorities before it becomes a crisis.”
In recent years, dust clouds spreading to the Absheron Peninsula through the Caspian Sea, originating from Central Asia—particularly Turkmenistan—have remained a significant ecological concern. In 2024, these trends were particularly pronounced in April, May, June, September, and October. As a result, it was determined that dust clouds originating from the Karakum Desert moved throughout the day over the Caspian Sea and along its southern shores, eventually reaching the Absheron Peninsula and Makhachkala.
The integration of ArcGIS technologies into the climate change monitoring initiative has delivered measurable benefits across multiple sectors of Azerbaijan’s economy and governance, including:
Since its implementation, the Climate Report platform has significantly enhanced Azerbaijan’s climate resilience. Policymakers now have access to accurate, up-to-date climate data, enabling them to develop informed environmental policies and strategies. The platform’s user-friendly interface and interactive visualizations have increased public engagement and understanding of climate issues. Real-time monitoring capabilities allow for early identification of extreme weather events, improving the country’s ability to respond quickly and mitigate potential damage.
The platform has become a vital hub for collaboration, bringing together government agencies, researchers, and international organizations, to coordinate climate action more effectively.
Temperature anomalies for the years 2020–2024 were detected based on data obtained from the ERA5 satellite covering average monthly temperature trends from the 2000–2024 period. While an increase in average temperature anomalies was observed more in 2023, 2024 followed a decreasing trend in some parts of the Greater Caucasus, with -0.7°C difference. In the last 5-year period until 2024, the highest overall average temperature increase in the country was observed in 2023 (+1.1°C). In 2024, this indicator was +0.5°C for the country. The maximum temperature anomaly for the mentioned year was recorded in the Kalbajar region (+1.4°C).
Azercosmos views the Climate Report platform not only as a national asset but as a regional resource and tool for global collaboration. Plans are underway to integrate cross-border data on the Caspian Sea ecosystem, support transboundary water monitoring, and share tools with neighboring countries facing similar climate vulnerabilities.
Through its work with Esri, Azercosmos has positioned Azerbaijan as a leader in the region for climate data governance and sustainable geospatial development.
Looking ahead, Azercosmos plans to enhance the platform with AI-powered anomaly detection, machine learning for land cover classification, and citizen engagement portals that enable community-driven monitoring. By continuing to leverage Esri’s full suite of ArcGIS technologies, the agency aims to build an open, collaborative ecosystem for climate intelligence—one that benefits all sectors of society.
“Our goal is not simply to observe the changes—we aim to shape the future we want to live in,” said Badirkhanov. “GIS gives us the means to see the invisible, plan with precision, and unite around the common cause of resilience.”
Azerbaijan’s use of satellite data and GIS in climate change monitoring stands as a compelling example of how modern space programs can directly support environmental sustainability. It demonstrates that with the right tools and vision, even small nations can lead the way in tackling the biggest global challenges.
In an era defined by uncertainty, it is geospatial intelligence that gives us the clarity we need. Our partnership with Esri has transformed raw satellite data into actionable climate knowledge, empowering policymakers, communities, and industries to make informed, timely decisions.
Learn more about the products used in this story
Esri offers multiple product options for your organization, and users can use ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Pro, or ArcGIS Location Platform as their foundation. Once the foundational product is established, a wide variety of apps and extensions are available.
