Integrating EO into Sustainable Transport Monitoring Across Asia

Across Asia, transport networks are increasingly affected by flooding, which damages roads, disrupts connectivity, and increases maintenance costs. While existing transport data systems show how much infrastructure exists and how it is used, they don’t show where that infrastructure is most at risk. This makes it harder for governments to prioritise upgrades and plan for climate impacts in a targeted way.

To help address this gap, the ESA GDA Transport & Infrastructure activity, working with the Asian Development Bank and the Asian Transport Observatory (ATO), is developing a geospatial platform that brings flood risk information into transport monitoring. It combines satellite-based flood data with road network information across 23 Asian countries to show where transport infrastructure is exposed to flooding.

The platform makes it possible to compare risk between countries and identify specific road corridors that are most vulnerable. This adds a spatial layer to existing transport indicators, which have traditionally focused on overall statistics rather than location-specific risk.

By integrating this into the ATO’s existing system, users can view both transport performance and climate exposure in one place. This supports regional reporting under the Aichi 2030 Declaration and contributes to wider efforts under the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport.

Overall, the work helps shift transport planning toward a more practical, risk-aware approach by showing not just what infrastructure exists, but where it is most exposed to climate hazards.

You can read more about this Case Study here: Strengthening sustainable transport monitoring across Asia

Related Use Case

• Creating Inventories of Existing Transportation Infrastructure
• Transportation Infrastructure Quality