The European Space Agency’s (ESA) EO AFRICA Research and Development Facility has disclosed ten innovative research projects to be conducted by African-European tandems, marking the outcome of the third call for proposals launched in July 2024. These projects, which will commence in December 2024 and run for 15 months, aim to tackle pressing water, food security, and environmental challenges across Africa by leveraging cutting-edge Earth Observation (EO) technology.
Supporting Collaborative EO Research
Building on the success of previous funding rounds, the third call for proposals was executed in collaboration with ESA and the African Union Commission (AUC). It sought to foster joint research efforts that develop EO-based algorithms and workflows using advanced cloud-based data access and computing infrastructure. Awarded projects receive EUR 30,000 in funding, access to the facility’s Virtual Research Environments, technical support, EO AFRICA Space Academy participation, and integration into a global scientific network.
Selected Projects: Driving Innovation Across Africa
The newly selected research projects span diverse themes, from drought monitoring to carbon stock estimation, demonstrating the transformative potential of EO applications:
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Mapping Shifting Cultivation in Mozambique
Researchers: Natasha Ribeiro (Mozambique) & Patrick Hostert (Germany)
This project uses Copernicus satellite imagery and machine learning to analyse shifting cultivation dynamics in Mozambique’s conservation areas, balancing agricultural needs with biodiversity conservation.
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Drought Indicators for Ethiopia
Researchers: Abebe Mohammed Ali (Ethiopia) & María Dolores Raya Sereno (Spain)
This study integrates hyperspectral and thermal imaging to develop advanced drought indicators to support communities in Ethiopia’s Borena region and address critical water and vegetation health challenges.
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Water Quality Monitoring in Southern Africa
Researchers: Marié Elizabeth Smith (Zambia) & Dalin Jiang (UK)
This project leverages Sentinel-2 data to track water quality in small water bodies in South Africa, providing essential insights for sustainable water resource management.
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Drought Risk Mapping in North Africa
Researchers: Zeinab Salah Abdullah (Egypt) & Milica Stojanovic (Spain)
Employing EO data and machine learning, this initiative creates predictive drought hazard maps to address water scarcity and agricultural vulnerabilities in North Africa.
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Maize Yield Estimation in Ghana
Researchers: Kofi Asare (Ghana) & Kristof Van Tricht (Belgium)
Using field data and remote sensing, this project aims to improve maise yield forecasting in Ghana, bolstering food security and agricultural planning.
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Air Quality Monitoring in Zimbabwe
Researchers: Munyaradzi Davis Shekede (Zimbabwe) & Martin de Graaf (Netherlands)
This research enhances Zimbabwe’s air quality monitoring with satellite-derived aerosol data, supporting environmental policy and public health efforts.
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Surface Moisture Mapping in Morocco
Researchers: Nadia Ouaadi (Morocco) & Nicolas Baghdadi (France)
Combining thermal and microwave remote sensing, the project improves soil moisture estimation, aiding water management in Morocco’s agriculture sector.
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Water-Level Monitoring in Cameroon
Researchers: Loudi Yap (Cameroon) & Makan Karegar (Germany)
The project deploys low-cost GNSS-IR sensors to monitor water levels, addressing flooding and sea-level rise in Cameroon.
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Drought Forecasting for Nigerian Rice Fields
Researchers: Chiamaka Ehiemere (Nigeria) & Nick Gutkin (Belgium)
This initiative develops a multi-source drought monitoring system for Nigeria’s rice production, enhancing climate resilience for local farmers.
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Biomass and Carbon Stock Estimation in Tanzania
Researchers: Dr Ernest William Mauya (Tanzania) & Sadegh Jamali (Sweden)
This study focuses on Tanzania’s Usambara forests and integrates remote sensing and machine learning to improve biomass and carbon stock assessments.
Enabling Transformative Research
These projects highlight EO’s role in addressing Africa’s environmental and socio-economic challenges. By enabling cross-continental collaboration, the EO AFRICA R&D Facility empowers researchers to develop actionable solutions that align with global goals, such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the AU’s Agenda 2063.
Source: https://spaceinafrica.com/2024/12/16/eo-africa-rd-facility-launches-10-new-african-european-research-tandems/
