Blog

16th on the EO AFRICA R&D Facility Webinar Series is now available in our YouTube channel

2024-11-05 The 16th Webinar on the EO AFRICA R&D Facility Webinar Series is now available in our YouTube channel: Flood extent assessment in East Africa with Sentinel-2 data A few months ago, East Africa faced the consequences of weeks of heavy [Read more...]

African Research Fellowships: Call 2024/2025

2024-10-01 We are pleased to announce the 2024-2025 AUC-ESA call that will offer 1-year fellowships to 4 new African Researchers to work at the ESA-ESRIN premises in Frascati (Rome, Italy) in synergy with ESA projects and scientists. More information here: https://eo4society.esa.int/2024/09/23/african-research-fellowships-call-2024-2025/ [Read more...]

EO AFRICA R&D Facility Advisory Board

2024-08-22 The following four experts from prestigious African organizations have accepted our invitation to become members of the EO AFRICA R&D Facility Advisory Board. They will have a major role in safeguarding the quality and scope of our activities and ensure [Read more...]

EO AFRICA R&D Facility – The Second Phase

2024-06-25 Exciting opportunities for more collaboration! The EO AFRICA R&D Facility Consortium is delighted to announce that, after a positive evaluation of the first phase (2021-2024), the European Space Agency has granted the Facility an extension of 3 years, allowing us [Read more...]

EO for Africa Symposium 2024

2024-04-22 The EO AFRICA R&D Facility is glad to inform that the deadline to submit abstracts for the first ESA EO 4 for Africa Symposium has been extended to the 30 of April 2024. [Read more...]

15th on the EO AFRICA R&D Facility Webinar Series is now available in our YouTube channel

2024-01-17 The 15th Webinar on the EO AFRICA R&D Facility Webinar Series is now available in our YouTube channel: Accessing cloud services using openEO and additional data processing capabilities offered by ILWISPy The EO Africa program has been making use of [Read more...]

Publishing opportunity

2024-01-08 For publishing Africa-oriented EO research results, we are editing a special issue of the International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation: African EO Challenges and Solutions in Water Scarcity and Food Security – Mapping the Environment We encourage our [Read more...]

New research gap survey

2023-12-20 To support the development of the roadmap of the EO AFRICA R&D Facility for 2024-2026 We launched a questionnaire in 2021, which helped define the user needs of the African EO community. Our scientific field is developing very quickly, so [Read more...]

14th on the EO AFRICA R&D Facility Webinar Series is now available in our YouTube channel

2023-12-15 The 14th Webinar on the EO AFRICA R&D Facility Webinar Series is now available in our YouTube channel: Crop mapping in Zankalon, Egypt using different ML classifiers in Python Accurate information about agriculture and crops is essential for informed decision-making [Read more...]

13th on the EO AFRICA R&D Facility Webinar Series is now available in our YouTube channel

2023-12-06 The 13th Webinar on the EO AFRICA R&D Facility Webinar Series is now available in our YouTube channel: Parcel-based crop monitoring from space The ever-increasing spatial resolution offered by the newest generation of satellite sensors allows us to monitor agricultural [Read more...]

3rd on the EO AFRICA R&D Facility Second Phase Online Courses

The course is open for applicants from AFRICA only

EO for Marine and Coastal Resources Applications (EO4COAST)

January 27 - February 21, 2025 Online course with live-chat This online course aims to provide the participants with the competence to use Earth Observation (EO) data and products to leverage the management of marine and coastal aquatic resources and policymaking. https://www.eoafrica-rd.org/space-academy/on-line-courses-rdf2/eo-for-marine-and-coastal-resources-applications-eo4coast/

2nd on the EO AFRICA R&D Facility Second Phase Face to Face Courses

The course is open for applicants from AFRICA only!

Face to Face course on Cloud Computing and Algorithms for EO Analyses

January 20 - 24, 2025 Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire A 5-day course (6h per day), covering Cloud Computing and big geospatial data concepts, interactive computing with Python through Jupyter Notebooks, and access to EO data from DIAS platforms or via dedicated Python libraries and handling the data on the Cloud. https://www.eoafrica-rd.org/space-academy/face-to-face-courses-rdf2/face-to-face-course-on-cloud-computing-and-algorithms-for-eo-analyses/

17th on the EO AFRICA R&D Facility Webinar Series

Advances in EO Cloud Computing: OpenEO

Wednesday, 4 December 2024, 14:00 CET (UTC+1) Online webinar with live-chat This webinar explores the growing role of cloud computing in analyzing and processing Earth Observation (EO) data, with a primary focus on OpenEO. OpenEO is a relatively new and innovative initiative to connect to EO cloud back-ends in a simple and unified way. The project maintains the API and process specifications, and an open-source ecosystem with clients and server implementations. https://www.eoafrica-rd.org/space-academy/webinars/#webinar17

2nd on the EO AFRICA R&D Facility Second Phase Online Courses

The course is open for applicants from AFRICA only

Cloud Computing and algorithms for EO analyses

November 11 - December 2, 2024 Online course with live-chat This course introduces participants to Cloud Computing and its usage for Earth Observation (EO) data analyses. It starts with big geospatial data concepts and extends to Cloud Computing as one of the solutions for solving the problems of big EO data. https://www.eoafrica-rd.org/space-academy/on-line-courses-rdf2/cloud-computing-and-algorithms-for-eo-analyses/

1st on the EO AFRICA R&D Facility Second Phase Face to Face Courses

The course is open for applicants from AFRICA only!

Face to Face course on Cloud-based EO image analysis for monitoring surface water dynamics

October 21 - 25, 2024 Maseru, Lesotho Introduction to cloud-based image analysis techniques for monitoring surface water dynamics with use of EO data. It will cover general concepts of radar and optical remote sensing, how those instruments interact with water surface and which information they can provide. https://www.eoafrica-rd.org/space-academy/face-to-face-courses-rdf2/face-to-face-course-on-cloud-based-eo-image-analysis-for-monitoring-surface-water-dynamics/

16th on the EO AFRICA R&D Facility Webinar Series

Flood extent assessment in East Africa with Sentinel-2 data

Wednesday, 11 September 2024 15:00 CEST (GMT+2) Online webinar with live-chat In this webinar we’ll utilize commonly used methods to assess the extent of selected flooded area in East Africa. Presented techniques will include calculation of water radiometric indices from optical Sentinel-2 bands (e.g. MNDWI, NDWI2, SWM) to assess the water extent and change detection in selected area. https://www.eoafrica-rd.org/space-academy/webinars/#webinar16

1st on the EO AFRICA R&D Facility Second Phase Online Courses

The course is open for applicants from AFRICA only

Principles of and advances in Earth Observation

September 16 - October 11, 2024 Online course with live-chat This online course equips participants with fundamental knowledge in Earth Observation (EO) to enhance their understanding and utilization of EO data. The course primarily focuses on optical data, exploring their advantages and limitations. Additionally, active remote sensing concepts are introduced. https://www.eoafrica-rd.org/space-academy/on-line-courses-rdf2/principles-of-and-advances-in-earth-observation/

15th on the EO AFRICA R&D Facility Webinar Series

Accessing cloud services using openEO and additional data processing capabilities offered by ILWISPy

Tuesday, 9 January, 2024, 11:00 CET (GMT+1) Online webinar with live-chat This webinar starts with the use of the Innovation Lab in conjunction with openEO / ILWISPy to access and process also data obtained from other cloud based data repositories. https://www.eoafrica-rd.org/space-academy/webinars/#webinar15

10th on the EO AFRICA R&D Facility Online Courses

The course is open for applicants from AFRICA only

Surface Flood Modelling Supported by Cloud-Based RS GIS

January 29 - February 23, 2024 Online course with live-chat Optical imagery supports a more natural identification of water bodies and digital elevation models add to the identification of potential flood areas. This course will review all these concepts and add a foundational but complete layer on surface water modelling using a full 2D version of HECRAS free software. https://www.eoafrica-rd.org/space-academy/on-line-courses/surface-flood-modelling-supported-by-cloud-based-rs-gis/

Registration is open for Face to Face course on Parcel-based Crop Monitoring from Space

The course is open for applicants from AFRICA only!

Face to Face course on Parcel-based Crop Monitoring from Space

January 22 - 26, 2024 Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal Get ready to take part in this 5-day training with colleagues from all over the continent and learn how to tackle the challenges of Food Security by exploiting high resolution satellite observations to monitor crop production at individual field scale. The course consists of presentations and practical exercises in Python. https://www.eoafrica-rd.org/space-academy/face-to-face-courses/face-to-face-course-on-parcel-based-crop-monitoring-from-space/

🔊This @EOAfricaRD1 #webinar has been re-scheduled!

🗓️Dec 04, 14h00 CET

Registrations at: https://t.co/fsOa6Fg2qh #CloudComputing #EO #OpenEO @EO_OPEN_SCIENCE pic.twitter.com/CwVvVTcpbo
— EO AFRICA R&D Facility (@EOAfricaRD1) October 26, 2024

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 https://t.co/35PVdSq4Rh
— EO AFRICA R&D Facility (@EOAfricaRD1) October 26, 2024

More @EOAfricaRD1 training 👨🏾‍🎓👩🏾‍🎓:#onlinecourse to be held on Nov 11 - Dec 2, 2024

Interactive online sessions, recorded videos, exercises, & reading materials.

Applications deadline: 🗓️ Nov 1/24https://t.co/lji6E5XJVp #CloudComputing #EO #openEO #Python #JupyterLab pic.twitter.com/fmOrNpit5Z
— EO AFRICA R&D Facility (@EOAfricaRD1) October 16, 2024

📣 Excellent opportunity for #African researchers in #EO for #water & #foodsecurity :

African Research Fellowships: Call 2024/2025 https://t.co/gki6tY2Vre via @EO_OPEN_SCIENCE

🗓️ Deadline for applications: October 30, 2024
— EO AFRICA R&D Facility (@EOAfricaRD1) September 24, 2024

The #ESA #eo4africa symposium is on its way!! 🌍🛰️.

The @EOAfricaRD1 is there to strengthen the #EOAFRICA community and to share the progress on collaborative EO-based #research for #Africa

Live streaming at:https://t.co/Bmx5y8en8U @EO_OPEN_SCIENCE pic.twitter.com/6aq4Zz9Aq9
— EO AFRICA R&D Facility (@EOAfricaRD1) September 23, 2024

14th on the EO AFRICA R&D Facility Webinar Series

Crop mapping in Zankalon, Egypt using different ML classifiers in Python | December 6, 2023, 14:00 CET (GMT+1) | Online webinar with live-chat | In this webinar the introduction and overview of the machine learning algorithms and classifiers will be provided with a special focus on supervised ML methods such as: Random Forest, Support Vector Machines and unsupervised ML methods such as K-means.

13th on the EO AFRICA R&D Facility Webinar Series

Parcel-based crop monitoring from space | Wednesday, 29 November, 2023, 14:00 CET (GMT+1) | Online webinar with live-chat | This webinar will provide insights into the possibilities, limitations and remaining challenges related to high-resolution crop monitoring. Together we will explore which information can be derived from these satellite observations, including parcel extent, crop type, phenology, biomass production and crop stress.

Activities EO AFRICA R&D – October 2023

October 2023 was a very busy month for the EO AFRICA R&D Facility. We delivered two face-to-face courses in parallel in Kigali and Dar es Salaam as part of our Capacity Development program through the EO AFRICA Space Academy. Mahdi

12th on the EO AFRICA R&D Facility Webinar Series is now available in our YouTube channel

The 12th Webinar on the EO AFRICA R&D Facility Webinar Series is now available in our YouTube channel: Use of Remote Sensing to Insure against the Peril Drought The webinar provides insights concerning the developed EO-based insurance model that utilizes

Registration is open for Face to Face course on Agricultural Drought Monitoring from Space

Face to Face course on Agricultural Drought Monitoring from Space | Date: November 6 – 9, 2023 | Cape Town, South Africa | In this course, participants will get an introduction on how to use satellite imagery for the purpose of agricultural drought monitoring at various spatial scales, ranging from continental to field scale.

Registration is open for Face to Face course on Assessing vegetation dynamics from space with cloud-based EO analyses

Face to Face course on Assessing vegetation dynamics from space with cloud-based EO analyses | Date: November 19 – 23, 2023 | Cairo, Egypt | In this course, participants will get an introduction to cloud-based techniques for assessing vegetation dynamics with Earth Observation data.

12th on the EO AFRICA R&D Facility Webinar Series

Use of Remote Sensing to Insure against the Peril Drought | September 19, 2023, 14:00 CET | Online webinar with live-chat | The webinar will provide insights concerning the developed EO-based insurance model that utilizes NDVI-imagery to quantitatively assess occurring agronomic droughts. As a business model, since 2018, the Vegetation Index Crop Insurance (VICI) scheme is successfully in use by various Ethiopian organizations.

Registration is open for Face to Face course on Soil Moisture and Inland Water Monitoring with Satellite Radar

Face to Face course on Soil Moisture and Inland Water Monitoring with Satellite Radar | October 16 – 20, 2023 | Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | This course is covering the general concepts of radar remote sensing, how radar/microwaves interact with soil and vegetation, soil moisture retrieval with satellite radar, and the concept of zenith radar altimetry.

Open Science is an Integral Part of the EO AFRICA R&D Facility’s Philosophy

An interesting article in which Dr. Serkan Girgin from the EO AFRICA R&D Consortium, together with Dr. Marloes Penning de Vries, PI of one of our Research Projects, elaborate on the role of Open Science as an integral part of

9th on the EO AFRICA R&D Facility Online Courses

Crop Monitoring and Yield Estimation from Space | September 4 – 29, 2023 | Online course with live-chat | The ever-increasing spatial resolution offered by the newest generation of satellite sensors allow us to monitor agricultural production at the scale of an individual parcel and to quantitatively estimate or predict productivity.