Researchers Host Special Session at the Conference of Remote Sensing for the Environment in Africa

Prof. JIA Li, head of AIR Water Circle Division, and Dr. ZHENG Chaolei were invited to co-host a special session and delivered reports at the 12th International Conference of the African Association of Remote Sensing of the Environment held in Alexandria, Egypt, from Oct. 25 to 29, 2018.

Under the theme of Earth Observations and Geospatial Science in Service of Sustainable Development Goals, the conference was attended by more than 20 scholars and experts from seven countries. JIA and ZHENG chaired the DBAR Water Special Session: EO Data and Science for Water Sustainability in Africa.

In his report entitled Understanding of Water Resource and Water Use in Water Scarce Regions Using Earth Observations: DBAR Water Studies in Arid Northern Africa, Prof. JIA elaborated on the Digital Belt and Road Program (DBAR) and its water resources working group, and the general objectives, research targets, progress of the working group, and its efforts in strengthening the water resource research capacity in Africa. 

Dr. ZHENG reported his water balance research in sahel region in Africa based on multi-source remote sensing data, which is part of research projects jointly supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China and UNEP.

In addition, Prof. Labbassi Kamal, an expert from the University of Chouaib Doukkali and head of DBAR Center of Excellence in El Jadida, Morocco (DBAR ICoE – El Jadida) of the African side, talked about the research progress of the center in water resource utilization and remote sensing system development in north African agriculture. Established on April 7, 2018, DBAR ICoE – El Jadida is the first such center in Africa with the support of Chouaib Doukkali University and the African Association of Remote Sensing of the Environment

The center strives to promote the application of big earth data in water resource management and the adaptability to climate change, including agriculture, ecology, and environment protection. Based in Morocco, the center will build a research center and network open to African in the field of earth observation S&T cooperation.