Summer School 2024: Innovating with Earth Observation for a Resilient Africa

In the face of climate change intensifying extreme events such as floods, African actors need more capacities building. On Monday, December 2, 2024, the Centre de Suivi Écologique (CSE), in collaboration with CURAT and RCMRD, launched a summer school in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. 

Courtesy of Mrs Thioro Niang

The theme: "Earth Observation Data, Water Resources, and Extreme Events in the Context of Climate Change in Africa." This event, attended by over 30 participants from more than 10 West African countries, is part of the capacity-building activities planned under the project.

This summer school is a proactive step to strengthen them. Combining technological learning with institutional collaboration, this initiative aims to empower participants to fully utilize Earth Observation data and offer sustainable solutions for water resource and wetland management. It also fosters the adoption of modern technologies and knowledge sharing, boosting local actors' autonomy and efficiency.

This initiative is part of the GDZHIAO project, financed under Phase 2 of the GMES & Africa program, which develops technological and scientific solutions for monitoring wetlands and flood risks in West Africa. It is implemented under the "Water and Natural Resources" theme of the GMES & Africa Program. 

The main goal of this workshop is to enhance the skills of focal points, technical experts from partner countries, students, and institutional partners in using tools and platforms dedicated to accessing and processing Earth Observation data critical for wetland monitoring and flood risk management in Africa.

Participants will explore key aspects such as:

• Geoportals and data collection tools for monitoring wetlands and floods.
• Cloud-based data processing platforms, like Sandbox DEA and Google Earth Engine (GEE).
• New technologies, including drones, to support water resource management.

By the end of the workshop, participants are expected to:

• Gain familiarity with the products and services developed by the CSE and RCMRD consortia for collecting and processing Earth Observation data.
• Build common proficiency in platforms such as Sandbox DEA and GEE, improving data handling capabilities.
• Be better equipped to use drones and other innovative technologies to develop tools and services for sustainable natural resource management.

More

• Access to the photos: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1zIYbu4Ud1djXl1l1sbp7d0_pnTeWXNKi
• The G&A Project led by RCMRD, https://gmes.rcmrd.org/
• The Centre Universitaire de Recherche et d'Application en Télédétection d'Abidjan (CURAT), https://curat-edu.org/
• The GDZHIAO Project, https://gmes-gdzhiao.com/
• In February 2023 in Nairobi, and under the auspices of the G&A Programme Management Unit, RCMRD and CSE signed a memorandum of understanding.