SERVIR West Africa Shines at Geo for Good: Spotlight on Artisanal Mining Monitoring
SERVIR West Africa contributes to Google Geo for Good (G4G 2023) Summit
Experts and innovators in the fields of data science, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, with a specific emphasis on applications in earth science, converged in San Francisco, California from 9-14 October 2023 for the Google Geo for Good (G4G 2023).
Dr Kidia Gelaye, Science and Data Lead for SERVIR West Africa managed by ICRISAT actively participated in the event, welcoming the opportunity to highlight ongoing activities and achievements in SERVIR West Africa's service areas.
During the Summit, Dr Gelave joined Mr Jacob Abramowitz from the NASA SERVIR Science Coordination Office on stage to represent SERVIR West Africa and shed light on the valuable services the program provides.
Notably, the West Africa hub explored potential exchange opportunities and collaboration on artisanal mining monitoring with SERVIR hubs in Amazonia and Southeast Asia, promoting a culture of cooperation among SERVIR Hubs
In addition to these discussions, Dr Galeye and Mr. Abramowitz delivered a presentation on "Mapping Small Scale Gold Mining using Google Platforms in West Africa".
The presentation showcased the innovative use of Google's tools and platforms to address critical issues in the West African region, emphasizing SERVIR West Africa's commitment to making a positive impact on the environment and local communities.
Photos: (L) Dr Kidia Gelaye and Mr Jacob Abramowitz during their presentation to the G4G 2023 summit. (R) Students engage the presenters.
One of the key highlights of the G4G 2023 Summit was the opportunity for participants to explore cutting-edge earth observation methods and applications from around the world.
"This event served as a hub for experts to exchange insights, discuss training data, workflows, and other essential aspects of harnessing data science and artificial intelligence. It also facilitated interactions with Google Earth Engine developers, putting attendees at the forefront of technological advancements and allowing them to harness the latest tools for the betterment of our planet," Dr Gelaye said.
SERVIR West Africa's active participation in the G4G Summit demonstrates its commitment to harnessing technology and innovation to address environmental and societal challenges in the region.
By collaborating with like-minded organizations and sharing their accomplishments on an international stage, SERVIR West Africa is paving the way for a more sustainable and data-driven approach to earth science applications.
About SERVIR West Africa:
SERVIR West Africa 2 (SERVIR WA 2) is a joint initiative of NASA and USAID, partnering with leading organizations in various regions worldwide to support decision-makers by providing products and services that enhance resilience. SERVIR WA 2 is led by ICRISAT as part of a consortium involving several West African institutions, international universities, and organizations.
The consortium is comprised of the African Regional Institute for Geospatial Information Science and Technology (AFRIGIST, Ile-Ife, Nigeria), the Agrometeorology, Hydrology, Meteorology Regional Center (AGRHYMET, Niamey, Niger), the Center for Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Services (CERSGIS, Accra, Ghana), the Centre de Suivi Écologique (CSE, Dakar, Senegal), the Institut Supérieur d’Études Spatiales et des Telecommunications (Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso), and the African Institute of Mathematical Sciences (AIMS, Mbour, Senegal and Accra, Ghana) as well as partnership with the Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) and the International Research Institute for Climate and Society, both at Columbia University, and with the University of Florida.
