The aim of this paper is to present the results from the GNSS-based densification of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) in the region of Cyprus. The regional network used for this task consists of nine permanent GNSS Cypriot stations (eight stations of the existing CYPOS network plus the NICO station which belongs to the global IGS network) and 34 additional stations of the EUREF Permanent GNSS Network (EPN) which are mostly located in the continental part of Europe. The data used in this densification project include daily GNSS observations at the above stations within a period of 62 months (30/11/2011–28/01/2017). The present study was carried out using the resources of the CyCLOPS strategic research infrastructure unit. A robust procedure was designed for the daily data processing using the Bernese GNSS software v5.2 installed in the CyCLOPS operating center. The multi-year solution is computed by combining the constraint-free daily solutions using the normal equations stacking strategy. The reference frame of the multi-year solution is IGb08 and it was enforced through a no-net-translation condition on the positions and velocities of 24 EPN (Class A) stations. The quality of the computed solution is verified by comparing the estimated velocities with their official EPN_A_IGb08_C1934 values, and reveals minimal differences (<1 mm/year) in all EPN stations for both horizontal and up components.

The objective of this paper is to introduce CyCLOPS, a novel strategic research infrastructure unit, and present its current progress of implementation, and integration in the National geodetic, geophysical and geotechnical infrastructure of the government-controlled areas of the Republic of Cyprus. CyCLOPS is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the Republic of Cyprus through the Research and Innovation Foundation under the grant agreement RIF/INFRASTRUCTURES/1216/0050. CyCLOPS is developed via the collaboration of the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) and the German Aerospace Center (DLR), and supported by the Cyprus Geological Survey Department and the Department of Lands and Surveys. The main objective of CyCLOPS is to establish an integrated infrastructure for space-based monitoring of geohazards using the most prominent earth observation technologies (EO), such as GNSS and InSAR. Furthermore, the infrastructure will densify and form the backbone for the definition of the next generation national datum of the Republic of Cyprus. Eleven Tier-1/2 state-of-the-art GNSS CORS, precise weather stations, tiltmeters and specifically designed InSAR triangular trihedral corner reflectors will be deployed, in a collocated fashion, at selected locations throughout the government-controlled areas of Cyprus. The collocated configuration will be established and installed to be compliant with the most stringent CORS monumentation specifications, support all current GNSS constellations and SAR missions. Finally, one of CyCLOPS’ fundamental aims is to actively contribute to the on-going efforts and growing demand for more precise positioning services and high-quality modern reference frames, in conformity with the recommendations of the UN-GGIM (and its Subcommittee of Geodesy) to establish and enhance national geodetic infrastructures to support the sustainable management of geospatial information on the changing Earth.

Over the past few decades, the global population and the built environment’s vulnerability to natural hazards have risen dramatically. As a result, decisive actions, such as the SENDAI framework, have emerged to foster a global culture of successful disaster risk reduction policies, including actions to mitigate the social and economic impact of geohazards. The effective study of natural disasters requires meticulous and precise monitoring of their triggering factors, with ground- and space-based techniques. The integration of GNSS and SAR observations through the establishment of permanent infrastructures, i.e., Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) networks and arrays of Corner Reflectors (CRs), may form a seamless ground displacement monitoring system. The current research literature provides fragmented guidelines, regarding the co-location of SAR and GNSS permanent infrastructures. Furthermore, there exist no guidelines for the determination of the most suitable locations using a holistic approach, in terms of criteria and required data. The purpose of this paper is to present a semi-automatic multicriteria site suitability analysis and evaluation of candidate sites for the installation of a permanent CORS and two CRs; one for each pass, taking into account various parameters and criteria. The first results demonstrate that the collocation of SAR and GNSS permanent infrastructures, utilizing a holistic criteria-based approach, is successful and complies with all the literature’s requirements.

In the last five years, the urban development of the city of Limassol has rapidly increased in the sectors of industry, trade, real estate, and many others. This exponentially increased urban development arises several concerns about the aggravation of potential land subsidence in the Limassol coastal front. Forty six Copernicus Sentinel-1 acquisitions from 2017 to 2021 have been processed and analyzed using the Sentinel Application Platform (SNAP) and the Stanford Method for Persistent Scatterers (StaMPS). A case study for the identification and analysis of the persistent scatterers (PS) in pixels in a series of interferograms and the quantity of the land displacements in the line of sight of the Limassol coastal front is presented in this research, with subsidence rates up to about (−5 to 4 mm/year). For the validation of the detected deformation, accurate ground-based geodetic measurements along the coastal area were used. Concordantly, considering that there is a significant number of skyscrapers planned or currently under construction, this study attempts a preliminary assessment of the impact these structures will pose on the coastal front of the area of Limassol.

Recent reports stress the vulnerability of forest ecosystems in the European Union (EU), especially in the south. Cyprus is an island in the south of EU and the eastern of the Mediterranean Sea. While Cyprus’ vulnerability is stressed, Cyprus was included in the worst-performing countries regarding EU carbon emission’s targets of 2020. For mitigating climate change, Cyprus could benefit for tailored education and improved policy making. This study analyses the perceptions of the Cypriot residents about climate change and forest degradation aiming (1) to gain a better understanding of whether Cypriot residents understand its importance, (2) to understand if the general public is able to observe the changes noted in the literature, (3) to understand how perceptions are differentiated across different demographic categories, and (4) to derive correlations between demographic data and perceptions. This is a quantitative study; a questionnaire was used as a tool and the responses received were 416. It was highlighted that 65.62% of the participants stated that they noticed moderate to very much degradation of Cypriot coniferous forests. A potential degradation reason was written down by 150 people, of whom 31.33% referred to tree die-back, while many stated decreased soil moisture and difficulty in regeneration. All these reasons of degradation were either stated or suspected in the literature. Additionally, the demographic analysis showed that there may be an association between employability and beliefs/observations about climate change. The results of the research could be used for tailored education, further research, and promoting environmentally friendly policies. This will support Cyprus and other countries in reaching their Green Deal targets and, consequently, mitigate the severe effects of climate change.