Research
Mainstreaming Use of GIS and Remote Sensing
2007 Machipanda Workshop Recent science projects between U.S. and African universities have set in place mechanisms for collecting and archiving large amounts of environmental surface observations and satellite remote sensing data. Objectives of these projects include science validation of NASA Earth Observing System satellites, TERRA and Landsat data products, including development of methods for operational analysis and classification of the daily to bi-weekly data streams from these satellites for applications such as land cover mapping and fire monitoring. An opportunity now exists to capitalize upon the utilization of the remote sensing infrastructure and data that have been validated and calibrated and that are now available over southern Africa, in general and over Mozambique in particular. A data archive of most of the Landsat data owned by the University of Virginia projects has been established at the national mapping center in Mozambique (CENCARTA) to store local copies of the satellite data for southern Africa, making it possible to access large amounts of data quickly. However, a need exists within Mozambique to develop the human resources and academic infrastructure to research and use these remote sensing data for sustainable natural resource management. There is also a need to develop applications of environmental remote sensing that inform policy and implementation for sustainable natural resource management including at the regional level.
Specific objectives of the proposed collaboration are: (1) to develop teaching and research capacity at UEM in Mozambique in the fields of remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) in the context of environmental monitoring, assessment and sustainable development; (2) to develop a joint research program in environmental assessment and monitoring with regular exchanges of students and faculty between Mozambique and the University of Virginia; (3) to exploit the environmental and remote sensing data sets collected by the Miombo Network and SAFARI 2000 in developing an environmental monitoring program for Mozambique; and, (4) to develop applications of environmental remote sensing and GIS which inform Mozambican national policies and that can directly enhance service delivery on land use management, food and water security, and disaster management.
The proposed project will address multi-disciplinary issues within an Environmental Sciences program. The remote sensing technology and GIS that will be used will be applicable to studies of pollution, fires, land use/land cover and impacts on food and water security, land degradation, flooding, biodiversity, management of transboundary resources and an important nascent area of disaster management for the region given recent flooding (and droughts) that have had significant impacts for development.
Activities will include: exchange visits of faculty, staff and students; development of a regional curriculum on remote sensing and GIS; development of course materials for modeling and application of remote sensing in environmental management in the form of a workbook and accompanying teaching resources on CD-ROM; courses taught in Mozambique and seminar series/modeling course at UVA; and, a handbook demonstrating the utility of remote sensing and GIS for management and policy.
This project will develop human capacity to analyze and apply remote sensing data in sustainable natural resources management, and will lead to operational use of these data in Mozambique. A course in remote sensing and GIS will be developed and integrated into the natural resource management (NRM) curricula of the University of Eduardo Mondlane. Teaching materials produced will be distributed widely in the region and potential exists to apply the courses in other regional universities.
