GMES and Africa Training : Announcement of Courses developed by EO Africa R&D Facility
The GMES & Africa Programme is announcing new modules developed by the EO-AFRICA Research and Development Facility. These courses are self-paced (no facilitator). The courses have been uploaded in the GMES & Africa Digital Learning Platform.
Content
- Crop Monitoring and Yield Estimation from Space
- Mapping and Monitoring Ecological Systems; Assessing Land Suitability
- Cloud Computing for EO Analyses
- Studying Soil Moisture from Space
- Monitoring small water bodies and floods using Sentinel-1/-2 satellites
- Water and Energy budgets from EO
- Principles of and advances in EO (optical and SAR)
- Monitoring Vegetation and Drought Monitoring from Space
- Access to Courses
- About Africa R&D
- About the African Outer Space Flagship
- About GMES & Africa
Crop Monitoring and Yield
Estimation from Space
This course will provide/present
participants with the most relevant data sources and data analysis techniques
related to parcel-based crop monitoring and crop yield estimation. knowledge on
the primary plant function “photosynthesis” with the aim to better understand
the role of evaporation, plus various qualitative and quantitative means to
assess how lack of evaporation may impede a crop’s ability to convert CO2 and
H20 into carbohydrates. Practical assignments to use fPar and ETa to
quantitatively assess crop production.
Objectives
Upon completion of this online training
course, the participant will be able to:
- Provide an overview of
different relevant satellite sensors for parcel-based crop monitoring and
reflect upon advantages, limitations and applications for each of these sensors
- Be aware of different existing
data products and EO-based services that can assist in parcel-based crop
monitoring
- List key factors of the primary
plant function “photosynthesis”, and know the input data requirements for
estimating actual evaporation.
- Understand the additional
challenges related to the access and processing of high-resolution satellite
data.
- Understand the concept,
requirements, pros and cons of different data analysis techniques relevant for
parcel-based crop monitoring.
- Understand how process-based,
digital twins of crop growth can be interfaced with EO-observations.
- Delineate individual
agricultural parcels using optical, radar and thermal imagery.
- Train, validate and apply
machine learning models for pixel-based classification and prediction purposes
and detect phenological events and crop management practices.
The course is structured into Sets of videos, webinars and practical exercises, supplemented by reading material and references to articles, existing materials and websites.
Link
http://gmestraining.africa-union.org/course/view.php?id=268
Mapping and Monitoring Ecological
Systems; Assessing Land Suitability
This course focuses on creating benchmark
maps that clearly include important temporal characteristics, exploring the
potential of the temporal dimension of satellite EO data for monitoring
vegetation dynamics and land cover/land use changes over longer periods of
time. In addition, skills to link agro-ecological conditions to crop
requirements will be practiced using tools like GAEZ, EcoCrop and CropBase.
Participants will further practice the knowledge gained using Hyper-temporal
imagery to map and monitor agro-ecosystems.
Purpose and Objectives
Upon completion of this online training course, the participant will be able to:
- List sources of HT NDVI-imagery and describe the required pre-processing steps.
- List the different types of indicators related to change and dynamics one can derive from long time series of EO data and be aware of relevant applications for each of these.
- Characterize climate, soil and terrain conditions that are relevant to agricultural production, and match crop requirements to specified environmental conditions.
- Explain and defend: (i) why HT NDVI-data are functional to map at country level "What is Where and When"
- Explain different techniques to conduct anomaly/trend analysis.
- Understand the concepts of vegetation stability, resistance and resilience, and its influencing factors.
- Understand the concept of error propagation when conducting change detection.
- Understand the concept behind and design of early warning systems.
- Describe agro-climatic (bio-physical) constraints that impact productivity
- You can use HT-imagery to map, monitor and carry out change analysis
The course is structured
into Sets of videos, webinars and practical exercises, supplemented by reading
material and references to articles, existing materials and websites.
Self-assessment quizzes will complete selected sections
Link
http://gmestraining.africa-union.org/course/view.php?id=267
Cloud Computing for EO Analyses
The course introduces the EO AFRICA
Innovation Lab as an example of a cloud computing platform for working with EO
data. It also covers Jupyter Notebooks and JupyterLab as the proper solution
for developing analytical procedures accompanied with documentation on cloud
computing platforms. In the next step, the course focuses on two programming
languages, Python and R, to develop programs that handle and analyze EO data.
Objectives
Upon completion of this course, the
participant will be able to:
- Describe the main characteristics of Big Data
- List the main sources of Big Geospatial Data
- Define Cloud Computing
- Explain the advantages of using Cloud Computing for handling and processing of Big Geospatial Data and mainly EO data
- Describe properties and characteristics of Cloud Computing
- Know the main commands and syntax of Jupyter Notebooks
- Use Jupyter Notebooks effectively to develop and document EO processing scripts
- Develop simple geodata processing programs in Python or R
- Access and download EO data
A final exam could consist of (depending on
position of the materials in curriculum): Knowledge quiz. Screenshots of the
final outputs of hands-on assignments. Short written responses relating to the
interpretation of the outputs.
Link
http://gmestraining.africa-union.org/course/view.php?id=263
Studying Soil Moisture from Space
The purpose of this Training Module is to
provide participants with detailed information on the theoretical principles
behind data retrieval from Microwave sensors (on the example of the ASCAT
sensors on the satellite platforms METOP-A, -B, and -C) and behind strategies
to model Surface Soil Moisture from backscatter information. Furthermore, it introduces several online
platforms for downloading Surface Soil Moisture information. The course
consists of several chapters:
- ASCAT Soil Moisture
- Soil Moisture modelling
- Soil Moisture retrieval
Objectives
- Understand the theoretical background of signal backscattering
- Understand ways to model the interaction of microwave signals with a medium
- Understand the theory of modelling Surface Soil Moisture from backscatter information
- List various examples for Soil Moisture Products
- Describe the theoretical models for Surface Soil Moisture detection
- Querrying and accessing Soil Moisture Products from different existing services
Link
http://gmestraining.africa-union.org/course/view.php?id=265
Monitoring small water bodies and
floods using Sentinel-1/-2 satellites
In these training materials, participants
will learn how the European Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 satellites can be used to
monitor small water bodies and floods. The topics addressed in this training module
are i) the delineation of small water bodies from Sentinel-2 observations
collected over Zimbabwe, ii) the mapping of the extent of the flood in the
Caprivi floodplain using Sentinel-1 SAR data and iii) the estimation of the
size of small water bodies through synergetic use of Sentinel-1 and -2 imagery
in the Midlands province of Zimbabwe.
Objectives
Upon completion of this online training course, the participant becomes able to:
- Explain how open water affects optical and SAR observations,
- Distinguish open water from land in Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 imagery,
- Make synergetic use of Sentinel-1 and -2 imagery for the estimation of the extent of small water bodies.
The materials include lectures with
explanations of the theory and mapping procedures, hands-on exercises on small
water body/flood mapping and the synergetic use of Sentinel-1 and -2 imagery
during which participants apply the gained knowledge and skills.
Link
http://gmestraining.africa-union.org/course/view.php?id=266
Water and Energy budgets from EO
Ensuring safe water, secure food, sustainable
energy, and a clean environment are key challenges to our changing society that
require better water resources management. The latter in turn requires a
fundamental understanding of the water and energy cycles and their interactions
with the climate and ecosystems as well as the ability to quantify the impact
of human activity on water resources and the Earth’s climate system. Satellite
Earth observation, hydrometeorological modelling and data assimilation provide
a powerful combination for quantifying hydroclimatic variables to effectively
address water management issues. In this lecture, an introduction will be given
to the theory and techniques to observe the water and energy cycle variables,
including precipitation, evapotranspiration, soil moisture, storage changes as
well as river runoff. Some examples of applications will be demonstrated with a
focus on drought monitoring.
Objectives
- LO1 Summarize the basic principles and processes of water and energy cycles;
- LO2 Apply radar altimetry for the monitoring of lake levels and river heights and discharge
- LO3 Evaluate the role of evapotranspiration in the water and energy balance and climate, and calculate the components of radiation and surface energy balance;
- LO4 Apply remote sensing techniques for monitoring precipitation;
- LO5 Clarify the Terrestrial Water Storage concept and apply it for drought monitoring
Link
http://gmestraining.africa-union.org/course/view.php?id=264
Principles of and advances in EO
(optical and SAR)
The course will provide participants with
the fundamental knowledge to understand and use Earth Observation data. It will
introduce the principles of passive and active remote sensing, their
differences, advantages, and limitations for basic applications. It will give
an overview of selected current and future sensors and their characteristics,
as well as an introduction to the largest Earth Observation Programme in the
world – Copernicus and the wealth of data it offers, specifically focusing on
data available over the African continent (GMES & Africa). It will also offer
insight into selected open source Earth Observation processing software and
useful packages and plugins. The participants will have the opportunity to
apply the knowledge by completing two hands-on practical exercises. One focused
on optical data and the second one on SAR.
Objectives
- Understand the principles of passive remote sensing with a focus on optical data and their advantages and limitations
- Understand the principles of active remote sensing with focus on SAR data and their advantages and limitations
- Understand the role and purpose of the Copernicus Programme and the possibilities it offers with a focus on Africa
- Understand the GMES & Africa initiative and its objectives
- Compare active and passive EO sensors and their parameters, advantages, and limitations
- Comprehend data suitability for basic applications
- Practice optical data processing for a selected application
- Practice SAR data processing for a selected application
Link
http://gmestraining.africa-union.org/course/view.php?id=262
Monitoring Vegetation and Drought
Monitoring from Space
This online training module will provide
participants with the necessary theoretical and practical knowledge for getting
started with vegetation and drought monitoring based on satellite EO data. It
will introduce the general concept of EO-based vegetation/drought monitoring,
the different types of potentially useful EO data, relevant sensors and derived
data products as well as different analysis techniques that can be employed to
derive information from the satellite observations. Participants will have the
opportunity to apply knowledge gained on Drought Monitoring by completing two
hands-on (1-day) practical exercises; one focused on Rangelands and the second
one on Agricultural Productivity.
Objectives
Upon completion of this online training course, the participant will be able to:
- List both the advantages and limitations of EO data for the purpose of vegetation and drought monitoring
- List different methods available to retrieve information from remotely sensed data.
- Explain the potential role EO data can play in the context of:
- Drought monitoring
- Rangeland monitoring
- Assessing biomass production
- Crop insurance
- Access and use relevant EO data sources and derived data products for regional to local assessment of vegetation productivity, droughts and impact of droughts, rangeland dynamics and damage to crops.
Link
http://gmestraining.africa-union.org/course/view.php?id=261
Access to Courses
Go to the GMES
& Africa Digital Learning Platform and login, then access the course categories in the Homepage. New users will need to create an account
and login to the platform, after which they can access the application portal.
Contact person: Meshack Kinyua Ndiritu,
Space Applications Training Officer, Department of Human Resources, Science and
Technology. Email: NdirituM@africa-union.org
Direct Link to the Courses and Resources provided by EO-AFRICA RDF
The DLP is a hub for not only delivering online courses, but also a collaborative tool in which AUC, Consortia, Academia and Partners contribute and offer their courses. All the GMES & Africa consortia have uploaded their courses on the DLP and they continue to provide trainings. About 100 courses and material are now available in free and open-source principle.
Educators are also encouraged to follow this link to request for the download of Moodle packages that can be uploaded on their Moodle Learning management System. They need to first become a Member
About EO Africa R&D
About the African Outer Space
Flagship
The African Outer Space Programme is a Flagship of AU Agenda 2063, designed to create a well-coordinated and integrated continental Space Program that is responsive to the continent’s socio-economic development; and to further develop regulatory frameworks that support the African space agenda and ensure that Africa is a responsible and peaceful user of outer space. In January 2016, the Assembly adopted the African Space Policy and Strategy as the first in a series of instruments to formalize the African Outer Space Flagship. This was followed by articulation and adoption of the Statues of the African Space Agency by the Assembly in January 2018. The Statute establishes the African Space Agency as an Organ of the African Union. The Assembly also endorsed the Republic of Egypt as the host of the African Space Agency. In 2022, the Heads of State and Government considered the Structural and Financial implications for African Space Agency in response to the Assembly’s Decision and adopted the structure and financial model of the African Space Agency. The Assembly further requested the Commission to fill the structure in three phases. The African Space Strategy focuses on 4 domains and their applications: 1) Earth Observation, 2) Satellite Communication, 3) Navigation and Positioning, and 4) Astronomy and Space Sciences.
https://au.int/en/agenda2063/flagship-projectshttps://www.nepad.org/agenda-2063/flagship-project/african-outer-space-programme
About GMES & Africa
An Earth Observation (EO) system is
composed of a series of satellites, a science component and a data system
supporting long-term global observations of the land surface, the biosphere,
the atmosphere and oceans. It provides critical information on the status of
the environment and natural resources, the analysis of which helps understand
the changing landscape, climate and resource base. This information is very
useful for improved management of finite resources in Africa, which is the
second largest continent covering about 6% of total earth’s surface area and
home to one of the world’s largest forests, with spectacular biodiversity and
an abundance of natural resources.
Since December 2016, the Commission has been implementing the Earth Observation (EO) System for the monitoring and management of the environment in Africa through Global Monitoring for the Environment and Security (GMES) & Africa. GMES and Africa contributes to the EO domain of the African Outer Space Flagship. The programme focuses on improved management of Water, Marine and Natural Resources in Africa. It has completed its first phase and is implementing the second phase with eight consortia with an ecosystem of collaborative network of over 120 National and Regional institutions in Africa. The second Phase focuses on 6 outputs: 1) Improved policy and institutional framework, 2) Improved access to Earth Observation data and information products, 3) Information services are operational, 4) Enhancing Capacities of African public institutions, users and private sector, 5) Knowledge management, including cross fertilization, 6) Outreach, uptake and dissemination. The goal is to strengthen African institutions with human, technical and infrastructural capacities for accessing, processing EO data and deriving information for decision-making, specifically to improve management of Water, Marine and Natural Resources.
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