RCMRD in collaboration with Locate IT organized a training on The Wind Erosion Modelling and Analysis tool with the purpose of providing knowledge and technical skills in land productivity analysis technologies and services to promote sustainable long-term management of land resources in the Eastern Africa region. The three days training which run from 21st-23rd February 2023 also aimed at increasing the awareness, uptake and building the capacity of stakeholders with the relevant earth observation-based tools and approaches necessary to support resource management by informing policy intervention processes at regional and national levels towards land degradation monitoring and mitigation.
The Wind Erosion Modelling and Analysis tool was developed through a collaborative effort by RCMRD and Locate IT. This training workshop was a result of the wind erosion modelling tool that was developed in 2020 and later upgraded in 2021 (as part of Phase I of GMES and Africa Program). It builds on Phase I of the education and capacity building activities, awareness raising, and communication activities organized previously by the RCMRD, Makerere University and other regional stakeholders in Partner Countries.
The three days training objectives were;
To empower regional participants/stakeholders in project partner countries on how to assess and estimate wind erosion using earth observation-based tools.
To empower the participants on the introductory geographical information systems and remote sensing concepts and data usability
Train and introduce the participants on the wind erosion modelling tools
To train the staff on how to utilize the wind erosion modelling geoportal and plugin, insert / download data and perform various analysis.
The aim of developing wind erosion methodology and tools was to enhance the assessment of extent and severity of land degradation in 10 countries (Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mauritius, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda) using earth observation technology. This was achieved by using earth observation datasets in running the developed index for land susceptibility model. It is envisaged that the model products developed will support by informing policy intervention processes at regional and national levels towards land degradation mitigation.
The virtual training covered the following areas;
Introduction to wind erosion theory
RWEQ QGIS Plugin overview and functionality
Computing Climate Erosivity (CE) Factor.
Computing Erodible Fraction (EF) Factor
Computing the Fractional Vegetation Cover (FC) Factor.
Computing the Surface Roughness (SR) Factor.
Computing the Index of Land Susceptibility to wind erosion (ILSWE)
Introduction to the web-based tool on land susceptibility to wind erosion, processing and downloading products on LaSWE
Discussing the opportunities arising and the way forward
About GMES and Africa
GMES & Africa Programme is a joint initiative co-financed by the European Commission and the African Union Commission. The objective of the GMES and Africa Programme is to address the growing needs of African Countries to access and use Earth Observation (EO) data for the implementation of sustainable development policies across the Continent. The Program specifically is designed to respond to African needs in water, natural resources, marine and coastal areas as well as address global needs to manage the environment, mitigate climate change, and ensure civil security. It is further designed to enable the implementation of the African Space Policy and Strategy formulated to harness the continent’s capabilities in utilizing space science and technology for economic growth and sustainable development
About RCMRD Consortium
RCMRD is the lead institution for one of the GMES and Africa consortia in the Eastern Africa region. The consortium addresses three service areas: Land Degradation Monitoring and Assessment, Wetland Monitoring and Assessment and Open Regional Reference Vector Database for Water and Agro-ecological zones under the framework of GMES and AFRICA of the African Union Commission with support from the European Commission. Under this arrangement, Makerere University in Partnership with RCMRD is responsible for the training and capacity building program.
