Dunia: A platform designed to support African access to and use of Copernicus data

Dunia is an all-in-one, easy to use platform for processing and disseminating Earth Observation data over Africa, that even works on mobile and low bandwidth. Freely discover, build, exchange

At the margin of the 1st G&A forum for phase 2, the DUNIA program manager (GeoVille) organized a meeting with the G&A program team and the heads of a number of G&A consortia, to find out their needs and present what DUNIA can offer. ESA and EUC DG INTPA also took part in the meeting.

An initiative of ESA, Dunia provides an innovative technology solution, that improves EO data accessibility and exploitation in Africa by leapfrogging infrastructure bottlenecks. Supporting the direct interpretation of Copernicus data, providing a low bandwidth consumption solution and an interface suitable for hand-held mobile devices.

The motto of the platform is Discover, Build, Exchange.  

To Discover, the platform offers carefully curated datasets, which are both user-friendly and brimming with potential, making them the perfect spark for your next project. With easy search, filtering, and download options, you have all the tools at your fingertips.

• Administrative boundaries
• Settlement maps
• Surface water
• Elevation data
• Sentinel-1&2, 3, 5P, Envisat, SMOS, Landsat-5, 7, 8, Copernicus DEM 30m, Administrative boundaries, Geo Boundaries 

In addition, the Dunia Wiki is the go-to source for everything you need to know about our platform. It's the knowledgebase where you'll find tutorials, quick starts, and reference materials covering the ins and outs of the EO Africa Dunia service.  

To Build, the platform offers 2 features

• The DUNIA Sandbox is a ready-to-use R&D, development, and service deployment platform that you can access directly from your browser. Whatever you're thinking of developing with our free earth observation data, you'll find the tools you need here, in your own dedicated virtual environment.
• The DUNIA Application Hub is an environment that brings together, at the ease of your web browser, the processing power of EO processing toolboxes like SNAP and Orfeo Toolbox with the free earth observation data, in your own dedicated private workspace.

To Exchange, one single feature stands out: The Soko Marketplace, which will go live in January 2024. This will be a "place" dedicated to the discovery of applications and data created by other users. If you've created something yourself, and want to advertise it - and even get paid when someone else uses it - check out this feature. GMES-supported consortia, now's the time to promote your dedicated applications. 

Last but not least,

• Newcomers can benefit of online training programs and comprehensive tutorials available on the platform, tailored just for them.  
• Early adopters of the Dunia community will receive 450 hours of processing time, 50 GB of private storage and unlimited downloads of Earth Observation (EO) Data. 

To register: https://dunia.esa.int/