The National Observatory of Athens (NOA), founded in 1842, is Greece's oldest research institution and a key contributor to smart city and environmental innovation in the Greek capital. Through its Institute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development (IERSD) and its BEYOND Center of Earth Observation Research, the NOA conducts cutting-edge research on urban climate, air quality, natural hazards, and earth observation — all of which feed directly into Athens' smart city and resilience planning.
The NOA operates extensive environmental monitoring networks across the Athens metropolitan area, providing real-time data on air pollution, ultraviolet radiation, pollen levels, and meteorological conditions. This data infrastructure serves as a foundation for the city's environmental digital services and informs evidence-based urban planning decisions.
The BEYOND Center has become a leading European facility for using satellite and drone-based earth observation to monitor urban sprawl, heat islands, green space coverage, and natural disaster impacts in cities. NOA researchers contribute to numerous EU-funded research projects on urban resilience, climate adaptation, and smart environmental monitoring, and the institution's datasets are increasingly integrated into Athens' open data platforms.
The NOA also provides scientific advisory services to the Municipality of Athens and the Greek government on climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and environmental policy. By combining its long heritage of scientific observation with modern digital technologies and satellite capabilities, the National Observatory of Athens plays a unique and essential role in providing the scientific evidence base for smart and sustainable urban development in the Greek capital.