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BUILDING REMOTE SENSING CAPABILITIES IN
AFRICA, THE NIGERIAN PERSPECTIVEPresented by
Dr. Joseph O. AkinyedeDirector, Space
Applications,National Space Research
Development Agency (NASRDA)Abuja,
NigeriaAtMAP AFRICA 2007 ConferenceHeld at
Southern Sun Cape Sun Hotel Cape Town, South
Africa29th 30th October, 2007
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INTRODUCTION

• Remote Sensing history
• Russian Satellite, Sputnik launched in 1957
• TIROS launched by NASA in 1960
• US Landsat program commenced in the 1970s with
  the 80m-resolution Landsat MSS
• NIMBUS Series launched in 1978 etc
• US and Russia were the pioneering nations in
  Satellite Remote Sensing
• Europe and Asia also became major players in the
  Satellite Remote Sensing technology and
  applications
• With limited efforts by GRULAC
• Africa??? (may be South Africa?)

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• While the rest of the world was advancing in
  Remote Sensing, Africa was in the doldrums with
  various factors hindering the continents
  progress in areas of surveying, mapping and
  geo-information acquisition.

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• Challenges to the development of Remote Sensing
  and GIS technologies in Africa include
• Reluctance and conservative attitudes in
  accepting new techniques
• Lack of appropriate laboratory infrastructure and
  high cost of establishing one
• Poor maintenance culture where limited facilities
  were available
• Poor funding due to poverty and other factors
• Limited human resources development in the
  application of modern techniques for geo-spatial
  data acquisition and processing
• Lack of knowledge of the usefulness and
  applications of RS/GIS in various sectors of the
  economy such as petroleum, agriculture and food
  security, water resources development, education,
  defence and security, transportation, tourism,
  population estimation, healthcare delivery,
  environmental and disaster monitoring, etc.
• Limited level of public awareness of the
  usefulness of geo-information in promoting
  greater transparency, accountability and good
  goverance.
• Lack of political will

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• For example, in many countries of Africa the
  pre-1980s mapping and cartographic activities
  were executed using the conventional land
  surveying as a result, mapping outputs were
  basically in analogue form.
• Applications at this time included visual and
  stereoscopic aerial photo-interpretation,
  photogrammetry and cartography with little or no
  up-dating since the production of the analogue
  maps in the early 60s.
• However, the West African droughts in the late
  70s and early 80s heralded the use of satellite
  remote sensing and GIS in some parts of Africa
  (Agyepong, 1983 1989 Amamoo-Otchere, 1994
  Bekoe, 1994). However, such usage was accompanied
  with little or no knowledge transfer to Africans.
  A typical example is the land use/cover project
  carried out by Hunting Technical Services Ltd,
  U.K using SLAR images of Nigeria produced by
  Canada. The equipments used for this project were
  left to decay because of little or no knowledge
  of their use.
• The poor quality of data/geo-information
  acquisition which cannot serve as a basis for any
  meaningful plan of action in Africa made the
  international organization (ILO) remarked that
  policy-making in Africa is like trying to run
  through a forest in the night without a touch
  light

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SPACE AGENCIES AND TRAINING CENTRES IN AFRICA

• Real transformation were brought about with the
  advent of the Space Agencies and Regional
  Training Centres such as
• South African Space Portal, South Africa
• Egyptian Space Agency
• Centre National des Techniques Spatiales (CNTS),
  Algeria
• National Space Research and Development Agency
  (NASRDA), Nigeria

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Remote sensing application Centers in Africa

• Regional Centre for Training in Aerospace Surveys
  (RECTAS), Nigeria
• National Center for Remote Sensing (NCRS),
  Nigeria
• Centre National de Teledetection du Benin
  (CENATEL)
• Senegalese Centre de Suivi Ecologique (CSE)
• CSIRs Satellite Applications Centre in South
  Africa
• Centre for Remote Sensing and Geographic
  Information Systems (CERGIS), Ghana
• Regional Center for Resources Mapping and
  Development (RCRMD), Kenya
• And the recently established UN Centres for Space
  Science and Technology Education located in
  Nigeria (for English speaking countries) and
  Morocco (for French speaking countries)

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DEVELOPING REMOTE SENSING CAPABILITIES IN NIGERIA

• Establishment of the Regional Centre for Training
  in Aerospace Surveys (RECTAS), Ile-Ife in 1972,
  with remote sensing training introduced in 1987
• National Center for Remote Sensing, Jos
  established in 1996
• African Regional Centre for Space Science and
  Technology Education in English (ARCSSTE-E)
  established in 1998
• National Space Research Development Agency
  (NASRDA) established in 1999
• And the introduction of RS courses in some
  departments of some tertiary institutions.

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RECTAS

• RECTAS was established in 1972, under the
  auspices of the UN ECA with full diplomatic
  status in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In
  1987, modification of name to Regional Centre
  for Training in Aerospace Surveys (RECTAS) to
  accommodate introduction of Remote Sensing (RS)
• RECTAS is composed of 8 member States, namely
• Republic of Benin, (2) Burkina Faso, (3)
  Cameroon, (4) Ghana, (5) Mali, (6) Niger, (7)
  Nigeria, (8) Senegal.
• Funding from member states assessed contribution
  internally-generated income

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Objectives of RECTAS

• Provision of long term theoretical and practical
  training in
• Photogrammetry
• Remote sensing
• GIS
• Cartography
• Advisory consultancy services
• Exchange of information knowledge in the fields
  of aerospace surveys and the environment through
• Seminars
• Workshops and
• Short-term courses

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Trainees from various Countries 1973-2006

• ALGERIA 3
• BENIN 107
• BURKINA FASO 56
• BURUNDI 1
• CAMEROON 122
• CENTRAL AFRICA 1
• COTE D'IVOIRE 1
• ETHIOPIA 2
• GHANA 117
• KENYA 4
• LESOTHO 2
• LIBYA 2
• MALAWI 11
• MALI 33
• NAMIBIA 2
• NIGER 25
• NIGERIA 589
• R.D. CONGO 10
• RWANDA 2

Member States of RECTAS
1200
TOTAL
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RECTAS-OAU Joint M.Sc./Professional Masters
degree programmes

• In 2002, RECTAS signed M.O.U. with Obafemi
  Awolowo University (OAU), RECTAS host
  University, for joint MSc and Professional
  Masters degree programmes in GIS and RS
• The Master Programme has duration of 12 months
• M.Sc. for 18 months
• 3 batches of students so far benefited since 2002
• The 4th batch has 20 registered students for the
  2006/2007 academic session

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Some Short-term Courses Embarked upon by RECTAS

• 5-day Regional workshop on SDI for Heads of NMOs
  Private Sector reps from 15 West Central
  African countries (27 participants) in Nov 2005,
  funded by the Directorate of Technical
  Cooperation in Africa, Nigeria.
• 2 weeks joint ITC/RECTAS course on Spatial
  Information Extraction and Digital Image
  Processing for GI Production (20 participants) in
  RECTAS, Oct 2005.
• 4 weeks GIS training for staff members of NGSA,
  July 2006, August 2007.
• 2 Short-term on-site courses on SDI in Burkina
  Faso by RECTAS, ITC ECA in 2005 2006
• 3 operational level courses in mapping for Survey
  Department of Ondo State, Nigeria.
• Short-term course for Physical Planning Unit of
  Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria
  etc.

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Short-Term Trainees during practical exercise

• One of the batches from the Geological Survey of
  Nigeria Agency (GSNA) passing out from a
  customised short training course at RECTAS

Graduating Diploma Students at one of the
Ceremonies
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Some NigeriaSat-1 Applications at the RECTAS

• RECTAS has applied the resources made available
  by
• NigeriaSat-1 in the areas of
• Fire scar detection and monitoring
• Land use/cover mapping
• Image mapping
• Urban growth etc

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Fire Scar Detection with NigeriaSat-1 Bauchi Area
Unsupervised classification (1)

• Interpretation Using (3)
• Deep brown zones probably affected by severe
  fire incidences, probably recent
• Light brown zones probably scarred by fire and
  relatively older than the deep brown zone.
• White zones may probably be interpreted as
  vegetated and/or settlement areas free from fire
  scars or areas that have not recorded any
  significant fire incidence since a relatively
  long period of time

Supervised classification (2)
Semi-supervised classification (3)
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Land Use/Land Cover Mapping
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Urban Growth Analysis of Osogbo, Ile-Ife and Ilesa
Image Map Overlay Showing Urban Growth of Ilesa
in 1968 (black) and 2003 (blue) using Topo Map
and NigeriaSat-1 Data
Image Map Overlay Showing Urban Growth of Osogbo
in 1966 (using Topo Map of 1966 with Boundary in
black) and 2003 (using NigeriaSat-1 Data with
Boundary in blue)
Image Map Overlay Showing Urban Growth of Ile-Ife
in 1966 (black), 1986 (yellow) and 2003 (blue)
using Topo Map, SPOT-XS and NigeriaSat-1 Data Sets
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National Centre for Remote Sensing (NCRS)

• MANDATE
• To undertake pure, applied and action-oriented
  research in the development and application of
  Remote Sensing and related technologies including
  GIS for solutions to national problems.
• To acquire, process archive, analyse and
  disseminate satellite data to meet users
  requirements nationwide.
• To undertake promotional activities in the
  practical applications of Remote Sensing through
  dedicated conferences, seminars, workshops and
  newsletters.
• Conduct training courses for research
  planners/managers, decision-makers, educators and
  the general public.

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• NCRS MANDATE (Contd.)
• Acquire, store, publicize and provide regular
  information about the availability of remote
  sensing data in Nigeria and elsewhere.
• Provide Remote sensing data and related services
  on the vital components of the Nigerian
  environment.
• Undertake technological assessment for
  environmental monitoring and prdictive studies on
  natural resources.
• Undertake pure and applied research in the
  development and production of
• Satellite Remote Sensing payload systems
• Satellite data ground receiving system

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African Regional Centre for Space Science and
Technology Education in English (ARCSSTE-E)

• Mission
• Build capacities for applications of Space
  Science and Technology (SST) for sustainable
  national and regional development
• Develop skills in four prime areas of Space
  Science Technology
• Remote Sensing/Geographic Information System
• Satellite Meteorology and Global Climate
• Satellite Communications
• Basic Space and Atmospheric Sciences.

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• Roles and Objectives
• Develop skills and knowledge in four principal
  areas Remote Sensing and GIS Satellite
  Meteorology and Climate Change Satellite
  Communications and Basic Space and Atmospheric
  Sciences.
• Assist educators in developing environmental and
  atmospheric sciences curricula that can be used
  to inculcate and advance the knowledge of the
  elementary school students in SST.
• Project personnel in preparing the space derived
  in preparing space derived information for
  presentation to policy and decision makers in
  charge of national regional development
  programmes
• Enhance regional and international co-operation
  in SST programmes
• Dissemination to the general public, the value of
  space sciences and technology in improving the
  everyday quality of life.

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Programs of ARCSSTE-E

• Postgraduate Diploma in
• Remote Sensing/GIS
• Satellite Communications
• Basic Space and Atmospheric Science
• Satellite Meteorology/Global Climate

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National Space Research Development Agency
(NASRDA)

• NASRDA was established in 1999
• Nigerias Space Policy and Programme was Approved
  in 2001
• The National Space Council was inaugurated and
  chaired by Mr. President.
• A Technical Advisory Committee was formed
• As well as an International Cooperation Committee

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Nigerias Space Policy

• Implement strategies to promote Private Sector
  Participation in Space Technology, including
  translating spin-off benefits to viable
  commercial products.
• Provide support for Universities and other
  Tertiary Institutions in enhancing training and
  relevant Research and Development projects.
• Establishment and supervision of
  Development/Operational Centers for the purpose
  of executing the National Space Programs
• Establishment of Information Networks to
  facilitate communication and data transfer

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Achievements of NASRDA in Space Technology
Development

• Launch of Nigerias first Earth Observation
  micro-satellite (NigeriaSat-1) in September,
  2003, with Know-How-Technology-Transfer (KHTT) to
  15 Nigeria Engineers and Scientists.
• Commence the development of the National
  Geo-spatial Data Infrastructure (NGDI)
• Launch of first Pan-African Telecommunications
  satellite (NigComSat-1) in May, 2007, with KHTT
  to 55 Nigerian Engineers and Scientists
• Proposed launch of high-resolution Earth
  Observation satellite (NigeriaSat-2 and
  NigeriaSat-X) in 2009, with capacity building and
  knowledge acquisition by 25 Nigerian Engineers
  and Scientists
• Partnership with Infoterra Global on the
  development of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)
  technology for monitoring both Nigerian and West
  African Coastal Areas using images from the
  recently launched TerraSAR-X with a plan for
  knowledge acquisition through the development of
  a SAR-based NigeriaSat-3 in near future.
• Development of National Geospatial Data
  Infrastructure with capacity building components
• Applications of Satellite Technology using Remote
  Sensing and GIS techniques in sustainable
  development efforts. Many Nigerians have been
  sufficiently trained and acquired capacity in the
  use of data from optical satellites.
• Recently organize a Regional Training Workshop
  titled, Building Capacity for Disaster
  Management in West and North Africa using Data
  from Regionally-Owned Satellites

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Characteristics of NigeriaSats 1 2
Features Wet mass NigeriaSat-1 98 kg NigeriaSat-2 300 kg
resolution 32m 2.5m,5m, 32m
Revisit period 3-5 days 4 days
Number of images 2of 600x300 km per day 150 of 20x20 km per day
OBD Storage capacity Lifespan 1 GB 5 years 120 GB 7 years
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Know How Technology Training (KHTT)

• A total of 25 Engineers would be trained over a
  period of two and half years
• The NigeriaSat-2 KHTT training is broken down
  into two segments
• Academic training at the University of Surrey for
  the award of MSc degree in satellite Engineering
  for 10 Engineers.
• Hands on training on the building of
  minisatellites by SSTL for 25 Engineers
• One Field Engineer
• Academic training commenced on the 2nd of
• 2006.

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Applications of NigeriaSat-2 Data

• Urban Mapping (2.5m PAN)
• Oil Spills and detection (2.5m or 5m)
• ( extent of spill and location)
• Land use change Rural/urban(5m)
• Hydrology (irrigation, fadama projects)
• Crop monitoring
• Military and security (2.5m PAN)
• Mining Cadastral
• Urban Sprawl monitoring/management

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NASRDA, Building capabilities in Remote Sensing
in Nigeria

• NigeriaSat-1 was developed by Surrey Satellite
  Technology Ltd, Guilford
• The building of NigeriaSat-1 creates opportunity
  for international cooperation and capacity
  building with the training of 15 Nigerian
  engineers and scientists.

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• NASRDA is also aggressively developing Remote
  Sensing scientists in the areas of digital image
  processing and interpretation and applications.
• The Space Applications department of NASRDA
  collaborates with universities and research
  institutions, both locally and internationally to
  apply/utilize remote sensing and GIS in many
  projects geared towards sustainable
  socio-economic development in areas such as
  agriculture and food security, resource inventory
  and management, ecological and disaster
  management, infrastructure, utilities and
  urban/rural development, healthcare delivery and
  energy generation and distribution.

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• Feasibility studies of integrated surface
  - ground water management of Lake Chad Basin
  using satellite images, climatic data and
  hydrologic modeling
• The goal of this project is to determine the
  interaction between surface and ground water
  resources as part of a feasibility study for the
  management of LCB using satellite images and
  climate data integrated with hydrologic model.
  NigeriaSat-1 images will play a major role in the
  study. Proposal is under consideration.

Figure 4.3. (a) Lake Chad in October 1963 from
corona space photograph (b) Lake Chad in October
2005 from NigerianSat -1 images (Isiaku et
al.,2005).
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Development of Models for Cassava yields
prediction An exploratory Remote Sensing Option

• Collaboration between NASRDA, IITA University of
  Nigeria, Nsukka and Federal Ministry of
  Agriculture Rural Development
• Research employs relevant spatial and
  agro-meteorological data for field assessment and
  cassava yield potential modelling
• Creation of spatial database of Land and
  condition suitable for sustainable production of
  cassava in Nigeria for the purpose of strategic
  national planning
• Training of NASRDA staff on the use of Field
  Spectrometer in monitoring crop health and
  projecting crop yields.

Map of Nigeria showing demonstration farm sites
for Cassava cultivation. Some of the sites are
chosen for the research
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Land use/Land cover mapping for Urbanization
analysis and infrastructure planning and
development using Remote Sensing.
Unplanned/Uncontrolled Land uses and Urban
Development e.g. Lagos, 1962-2000
Image of Lagos showing congestion and unplanned
urbanization.
Image of Abuja showing planned urbanization
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Abuja Image Map and Abuja Facilities Mapping
being carried out by Space Applications
Department, NASRDA
Mapping of Settlements and Major Roads in Nigeria
using NigeriaSat-1
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Satellite-based Environmental Change Research in
the Niger Delta A collaboration between NASRDA
and University of Missouri, Kansas City
Mangrove loss (165 Ha.) in Buguma (Kalabari
Kingdom), Rivers State
Mangrove Cutting
Oil Gas Exploration
Main causes of mangrove loss in the Niger Delta
3.197 sq.km of erosion at the coastline between
the estuaries of Sombreiro and New Calabar Rivers
as identified from satellite data of between 1986
and 2003
Nypa Palm Invasion
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Air Quality Assessment in the Niger Delta using
Satellite Data

• NASRDA is currently developing capacity in the
  area of Air Quality Assessment using satellite
  data. A research titled, Assessment of air
  quality and contribution of gas flaring to
  atmospheric pollution in the Niger Delta using
  Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems
  (GIS) is currently being undertaken by NASRDA.
  This will culminate into the award of a PhD for a
  NASRDA staff from the University of West England
  in Bristol, UK.
• The research will integrate in-situ samplings and
  satellite data for numerical modeling and air
  quality assessment.

HSR satellite EO provides spatial measurements,
which can be used to link the two main
environmental monitoring tools namely, in situ
sampling (point measurements) and numerical
modelling (spatial estimations).
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Mapping and Monitoring of Gully Erosion in Parts
of South Eastern Nigeria a Case Study in Anambra
State This research is currently being executed
by NASRDA in collaboration with Nnamdi Azikiwe
University, Awka, Nigeria
Ekwulobia- Oko Gully
Photographs of Some Major Gully Sites
Ukpor Gully
Image Window of the Study Area showing Major
Gully Sites
Classified Image Showing the Spread of Gully
Erosion
Agulu- Nanka Gully
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• Forest monitoring
• Nigeria is experiencing a net loss of its natural
  forest cover, due to fires,
• droughts, farming, logging and indiscriminate
  felling. Not only does this
• have repercussions for soil erosion (above) but
  it also affects economic
• timber activities and contributes to the global
  unbalancing of the carbon
• cycle. Consequently there is a need to be able to
  measure and monitor the
• amount of biomass to detect areas of change to
  allow environmental
• management policies to be developed based on hard
  scientific fact derived
• from remote sensing. NASRDA, in collaboration
  with Obafemi Awolowo
• University, Ile-Ife has just completed a study on
  deforestation in Nigeria
• using GIS techniques.

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INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

• NASRDAs Efforts

NASRDA provided space-derived information to
contractors developing the railway networks for
Nigeria. The information include existing rail
routes, settlements, roads, water bodies and
contours lines along these rail routes. The
datasets were extracted from NigeriaSat-1 by
Remote Sensing staff of NASRDA
Map showing existing railway facilities from
Lagos to Kano
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Transportation and Planning

• Some Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) staff have
  been undergoing doctoral degrees in Remote
  Sensing and GIS in order to identify
  accident-prone locations in Abuja, creating
  strategic information needed to monitor traffic
  and reduce accidents in the FCT.

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7 - POINT AGENDA ITEMS OF NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT

• The overall agenda of the countrys space science
  and technology is geared towards sustainable
  national development and security including the
  development of new resources, understanding of
  our environment and the maintenance of national
  security. This is in consonance with the
  implementation of the seven-point agenda of the
  President YarAdua administration, which are
• Infrastructure and Human Capital Development
• Poverty reduction and job creation
• Niger Delta
• Economic reforms and other reforms
• Economic stability
• National security and
• War against corruption.

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Road Map To Nigerias space mission As Vehicle
for Building Capacity and Capability in Space
Technology

• Approval of a 25 year road map with specific
  objectives to
• produce a Nigerian Astronaut whose interest in
  space will include scientific research and
  knowledge development
• launch a satellite manufacture in Nigeria by
  Nigerian Engineers and Scientists
• launch a satellite manufacture in Nigeria from a
  launch site in Nigeria and on a launch vehicle
  made in Nigeria,
• Key factors to realize this vision
  include space science and technology education at
  secondary and tertiary levels, as well as
  sufficient awareness and outreach programmes at
  elementary level
• International collaborations, through
  the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer
  Space, as well as other international
  organizations such as CEOS, GEO, COSPAR,
  International Charter Space and Major Disaster,
  etc. are also vital to the realization of
  Nigerias efforts to build an enduring capacity
  and capability in Space technology, including RS
  and GIS.

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CONCLUSION

• Remote Sensing application/utilization in Africa
  is improving and increasing, particularly with
  the availability of more indigenous satellites.
• The need for the deployment of Remote Sensing and
  GIS techniques to proffer solutions to the
  various environmental, planning and disaster
  problems facing Africa cannot be over-emphasized.
• It is therefore necessary to adequately build
  capacity in various aspects of Satellite Remote
  Sensing, ranging from design and manufacture of
  space satellites to the application of Remote
  Sensing and GIS for sustainable development

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CONCLUSION

• Nigeria is currently playing a leading role in
  the development of Space Science and Technology
  as well as human and institutional capital
  development towards attaining the required
  indigenous capacity not only in RS and GIS but
  also in space science and technology as a whole.
• More efforts are required in the areas of
  awareness and sensitization of Governmental
  Ministries and Parastatals, Private Sector and
  the general public.
• Political will is of utmost importance in
  providing adequate funding for remote Sensing and
  GIS education and research

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I Thank You all
For your attention!
NASRDA, Abuja, Nigeria http//www.nasrda.net jakin
yede_at_nasrda.net
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Dr Akinyedes Profile

• Dr. Joseph Olusola Akinyede
  attended the prestigious University of Ibadan and
  Ahmadu Bello University both in Nigeria, and
  obtained a BSc. and MSc. Degrees in Geology and
  Geochemical exploration respectively. During the
  period of his working carrier, he attended the
  International Institute for Geo-information
  Science and Earth Observation (ITC), The
  Netherlands where he obtained a PGD and PhD in
  Applied Engineering Geology with emphasis on
  Highway Cost Modeling using Remote sensing and
  GIS.
• Dr Akinyede has had many years of working
  experience in a number of research
  Organizations/Institutions which include the
  Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute
  (NBRRI), Lagos, University of Lagos and National
  Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA),
  Abuja. He joined the National Space Research and
  Development Agency (NASRDA) in 2001. He is
  presently the Director of Space Applications. Dr
  Akinyede has made an enormous contribution to the
  implementation of Nigerias Space Policy and
  Programme. He is Author/co-author to over 30
  publications which include, Highway Cost
  Modeling and Route Selection Using A Geotechnical
  Information System, Space Technology for
  Sustainable Development in Africa, Global
  Efforts and Africas Regional Challenges In
  Space-Based Disaster Management and Reduction
  and Nigerias Quest in Space
• Dr. Akinyede has represented Nigeria in a
  number of international fora which include the UN
  Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space