The status of Earth Observation(EO)&Geo-Information Sciences in Africa-trends and challenges

作     者：Tsehaie Woldai Tsehaie Woldai

作者机构：School of GeosciencesUniversity of the WitwatersrandJohannesburgSouth Africa 

出 版 物：《Geo-Spatial Information Science》 (地球空间信息科学学报（英文）)

年 卷 期：2020年第23卷第1期

页      面：107-123页

核心收录：

学科分类：0303[法学-社会学] 0709[理学-地质学] 07[理学] 0708[理学-地球物理学] 0705[理学-地理学] 0813[工学-建筑学] 0833[工学-城乡规划学] 0812[工学-计算机科学与技术（可授工学、理学学位）] 

基　　金：AARSE Centre Universitaire Siget-A Sig et telédétéction Adjaratou Nigerian Space Agency RCMRD RECTAS UN-ECA Universität Salzburg Makerere University, MAK 

主　　题：Africa Earth Observation Geo-Information Sciences space agencies satellites academic institutions private-public sector 

摘      要：Over the last 20 years,Africa has witnessed a slow but steady advancement in space-based technologies as they are increasingly recognized as an essential tool for decision-making that can leapfrog African development.A critical review on the outcome of a survey questionnaire focused on African private sector industries and universities,services and education/training in EO and Geo-Information Sciences,combined with literature review,and personal contacts reveal optimism for success in four sectors.These include the public sector(Government ministries and departments);Academic institutions(universities/colleges/national or regional centers);and space agencies and private sector companies.These sectors are intertwined and fundamental for creating an enabling environment for solutions to a broad spectrum of pressing priorities:job creation,poverty alleviation,and sustainable resource management.The result shows that there is an uptake in the number of institutions and market segments created.To date,there are more than 90 academic institutions and over 53 national space agencies in 28 countries.Within the 53 national space agencies,11 African countries have already launched a total of 36 satellites into orbit,and additional five are expected by the first quarter of 2021;another five by 2025;thus,amounting to 46 satellites not foreseen ten years ago.In addition,there are now ten receiving and tracking stations in six African countries and 17 scientific National Associations or Societies with specialized expertise in Geo-Information technologies.The updated survey on the private sector in 2019 ascertained that around 4110 people are working in 130 of the 229 EO and Geo-Information Science companies identified in Africa.Ongoing investigations reiterate that companies dealing with space-based datasets and Geo-Information Sciences together with the private spin-off companies today absorb more than 15,000 people and the assumption is that this number is going to exceed 100,000 by the year 2025.