Kouris dam is the main water reservoir in Cyprus, located in Limassol, transferring water from the western part of Troodos mountains to the eastern part of the island, both for domestic and irrigation use. It is a 113 m high zoned earthfill dam with a central clay core. Since its construction, in 1988, it has overflown three times in 2004, 2012 and 2020. Therefore, the need for its continuous inspection is of great importance for safety reasons. For the detection of surface deformation in Kouris dam, the Persistent Scatterers Interferometry technique was applied on 167 Sentinel-1 images from 2015 to 2023. The InSAR time-series processing revealed small-scale displacements on the downstream slope of the dam with a maximum rate of -5mm/y. The LOS displacements were validated by geodetic measurements, provided by the Water Development Department of Cyprus. This can serve as a valuable tool for risk assessment and mitigation.

CyCLOPS is the only Tier-1 permanent GNSS station network in Cyprus and it is currently comprised of GNSS CORS, co-located with precise weather stations, tilt meters and calibration-grade InSAR corner reflectors. The main objective of this strategic research infrastructure unit was to precisely monitor geohazards in Cyprus and the broader EMMENA region and to render Cyprus a dedicated SAR calibration and validation site. To date, CyCLOPS has successfully estimated very precise positions and velocities of national CORS stations, highlighted the geodynamic regime of the area, and monitored very dynamic landslides occurring throughout the island. CyCLOPS+ is the expansion phase, which will form the Cyprus Ground Motion Service (CyGMS), a continuously updated national velocity model, aiming to deliver precise and reliable ground displacement metrics, and densify the European Ground Motion System, thereby improving the country's resilience to seismic and geological threats.

Over a decade, Pissouri village has suffering from an active and fast-moving landslide causing severe damages in many properties and the broader landscape. This study presents an investigation to estimate the absolute velocity of the landslide using integrated satellite-based techniques, utilizing the only strategic infrastructure unit for monitoring geohazards in Cyprus, named CyCLOPS. A dataset of 37 Sentinel-1 acquisitions in ascending mode, covering an interval time from July 2021 to November 2023 were processed in GAMMA software. The GNSS monitoring of Pissouri was performed using the cutting-edge equipment of CyCLOPS, showing significant local displacements. In cases of an active and fast-moving landslide, the integration of both Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data is essential to monitor, estimate and understand the absolute velocity of the landslide.

This paper explores how the Eratosthenes CoE that has been established in Cyprus through the EXCELSIOR H2020 Teaming project can be a hub for Earth Observation activities in Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean, Middle East and North Africa (EMMENA) region. Due to its geographical proximity, EXCELSIOR can become a hub for partners in Middle Eastern and Northern African countries. Cyprus' unique geostrategic position can support Earth Observation from satellite programmes in three continents and provide valuable services in the processes of satellite calibration and validation. Finally, the distinct needs and opportunities that motivate the establishment of an Earth Observation Centre of Excellence in Cyprus are presented in this paper.

The Cyprus Continuously Operating Natural Hazards Monitoring and Prevention System (CyCLOPS) is a national, strategic research infrastructure focusing on geohazard monitoring in Cyprus, and EMMENA region. CyCLOPS comprises six permanent sites, each equipped with a Tier-1 GNSS reference station and two calibration-grade corner reflectors (CRs), oriented to the ascending and descending tracks of ESA's Sentinel-1 satellite mission. As of June 2021, CyCLOPS has reached full operational capacity and plays a crucial role in monitoring the geodynamic regime and tracking landslides in Cyprus. Furthermore, it supports the radiometric calibration and geometric validation of C- and X- band SAR imagery. This paper presents initial validation results from analyzing Sentinel-1 products using CyCLOPS CRs, showing consistent performance with a high-quality CR network. Radiometric parameters remained constant, and geolocation measurements were precise in range and azimuth. These results, based on two years of operational data, enhance understanding of SAR product quality and CyCLOPS infrastructure's effectiveness.

Landslides are a significant geohazard with global implications, causing fatalities, infrastructure damage, and economic consequences. Cyprus, located over the Mediterranean fault zone in the Eastern Mediterranean region, experiences active landslides and slope instabilities due to its unique geodynamic regime and seismic activity. Monitoring ground displacements caused by landslides is crucial for early detection and response and can be performed using many techniques like ground-based or satellite-based geodetic, photogrammetric, and Earth Observation (EO)- based techniques. The study focuses on utilizing the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform and Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 satellite imagery to rapidly map landslides in the Paphos District of Cyprus. Multitemporal SAR change detection using Sentinel-1 images and spectral indices from Sentinel-2 data were employed. The results were validated using highresolution images from Google Earth and data from the Geological Survey Department. The study successfully identified landslide areas, confirmed by ground truthing, and provided insights into the timing of landslide occurrences.