To start the interview, could you introduce yourself to our readers? Where are you from? Where did
you grow up? Why did you choose to dedicate your professional life to Space?
I am an Earth observation scientist from Nairobi, Kenya and grew up in Nairobi. I studied Geomatic Engineering at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Kenya and obtained a PhD in remote sensing from the University of Bonn, Germany. I am currently the Capacity Development Lead, Digital Earth Africa (DE Africa). I have previously worked with the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data (GPSDD, UN Foundation), SERVIR Eastern Africa (NASA - USAID initiative), Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (Kenya), Esri Eastern Africa (Kenya) and Google Kenya. I chose Earth observation out of the curiosity to travel space as an astronaut and address the development challenges using satellite imagery such as urbanisation, agriculture, water etc.
Can you provide an overview of the current state of Earth observation technology and its significance for addressing social, environmental, and economic changes in Africa?
Earth observation has evolved over time. At the university, we only had access to free satellite data from Landsat at 30 metres, took time to download such data over night, process the imagery from level zero to 2, and classify to get statistics in land cover. In some instances, one could download data, and later realise stripes such as in Landsat 7 data. Access to commercial data such as that availed by Black Bridge (now Planet), and Quick bird, meant submitting proposals and later obtaining a limited amount of data, that meant seeking complimentary data such as aerial photogrammetry. Developments in free satellite data, especially Sentinel 1 (radar) and Sentinel 2 (optical), has unlocked the potential to study the patterns of the changes in environment at 10 metres, and support tracking of national development agendas of several countries, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and Africa Union Agenda 2063. I see that a time has come that earth observation will be the critical means for decision making for countries and regional bodies towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), leaving no one behind.
Could you share an example of a project or initiative in Africa where Earth observation data has played a critical role in decision-making and policy development?
How data and community can save Zanzibar’s mangroves: Digital Earth Africa is working closely with State University of Zanzibar (SUZA) researchers, who have empowered their students through the YouthMapper network to support mangroves restoration efforts with the community and documented by Amazon Web Services (AWS) https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/aws/ climate-next-how-data-and-community- can-save-zanzibars- mangroves#:~:text=Digital%20Earth%20Afr ica%E2%80%94and%20the,innovation%2 0and%20creating%20scalable%20solutions and YouTube video https://youtu.be/FVmcEaemfmA?si=IoZTawKjjC9zyF_S [1.3 million views].
Could you share an example of a project or initiative in Africa where Earth observation data has played a critical role in decision-making and policy development?
In Kenya's Lake Baringo, climate change is causing dangerous flooding that is threatens giraffe conservation efforts and damages the local economy. Together, the community and Northern Rangeland Trust (NRT) conservancy is integrating satellite data monitoring availed through DE Africa into their future planning. Satellite imagery availed through DE Africa helped to see changes that supported the community decision to move giraffes, looking ahead it can inform the local community's decisions about where to locate facilities or whether to move to higher ground. For endangered species like the giraffes, it can be used to track available vegetation and make grazing plans to support conservation efforts. In addition, DE Africa provided assessments of rangeland health over time using fractional cover and phenology, coupled with local knowledge for validation and advice on the location of the giraffes as well as updating the community conservancy grazing plans, which guides peaceful co- existence with wildlife. Website: https://www.digitalearthafrica.org/media- center/blog/eo-conservation-rehoming- giraffes-lake-baringo-kenya and video https://youtu.be/zCbcoVYpsOo
Considering this success, how do you envision expanding and replicating similar initiatives across Africa, and what key factors should be considered to ensure the effective integration of satellite data
into local decision-making and policy development in diverse regions?
In this recent decade, climate change has become a reality, and managing pastures at uncertain times calls for partnership in addressing resilience. Thus, empowering governments to access satellite data will empower collective action in managing pastures for wildlife and livestock, as well as peaceful co-existence with communities coupled with local knowledge (citizen generated data).
One of the main projects you have worked on is the Africa Regional Data Cube (ARDC). Can you tell us a little bit more about this project?
The Africa Regional Data Cube (ARDC) was a tool harnessing Earth observation data and satellite technology to help Ghana, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Senegal, and Tanzania address various issues relating to agriculture, food security, deforestation, urbanization, water access, and more. The ARDC was developed by the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites in partnership with the Group on Earth Observations, Amazon Web Services, Strathmore University in Kenya, Office of the Deputy President, Kenya, and the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data (GPSDD). The ARDC was: demand-led and responsive to what partner countries need; fairly intensive on capacity building to meet that need; focused on interoperability to leverage breakthroughs regardless of the platform where they may happen; and supports countries to develop a governance framework that embraces institutionalization leading to sustainable implementation. The ARDC was transitioned into Digital Earth Africa (DE Africa) in November 2020, an evolution to increase scale, sustainability, and functionality through a continental-wide operational service on Earth observation data.
Another very interesting project you have worked on is SEVIR, with the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD). Can you tell us more about this project? What was your role in it?
SERVIR's (NASA - USAID initiative) objective was to build the capacity of RCMRD in earth observation to respond to four thematic areas namely water and related disasters, agriculture and food security, climate, and land cover. I's role was Capacity Development Lead while at SERVIR, and was involved in needs assessment workshops, training of stakeholders, and supporting SERVIR events locally and internationally.
As the Capacity Development Lead for SERVIR, could you share a specific example or success story where the project's capacity-building efforts in earth observation had a tangible impact on addressing challenges in one of the thematic areas such as water and related disasters, agriculture and food security, climate, or land cover?
SERVIR Eastern Africa funding ended on 15 September 2023 and all information on the program is not available online for all to access. https://servirglobal.net/who-we- are/our-team Nonetheless, some of the success stories including supporting secondary schools access automatic weather stations (AWS) as part of the building resilience and supporting Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) https://rcmrd.org/en/inaugural-rcmrd- space-challenge-held-in-uganda
With your background as a lecturer at Dedan Kimathi University of Technology and others, I'd like to ask about your insights regarding the future trajectory of space education, both within Kenya and at a continental level.
My role at Dedan Kimathi University of Technology included development of a Bachelor in Geomatic Engineering and Bachelor in Geographic Information Systems, two degree programs that have helped future leaders in the field of space, and some of the graduates are working at various sectors including space agencies.
Earth observation can be a complex field. What are some of the key challenges or barriers you encounter when working on capacity-building initiatives, and how do you address them?
Earth observation has evolved over time, in terms of access to learning resources, curriculum and technology. Access to the internet has helped harness the power of earth observation including developments such as open data cube, Africa Regional Data Cube and now Digital Earth Africa. These developments are revolutionalising access to information that helps in decision making in the sustainable management of resources. Some of the challenges include language barriers, as some of the learning material has to be translated into other languages such as French, Portuguese and later local languages, leaving no one behind.
Any final thoughts you would like to share with our readers?
I see that a time has come where Earth observation will be the critical mean for decision-making for countries and regional bodies towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), leaving no one behind.
KENNETH MUBEA Earth Observation I Geo-spatial Technologies I SDGs