Addis Ababa, April 17, 2024 (FBC) – The Ethiopian Space Science and Geospatial Institute (SSGI) announced that it has made high-resolution satellite data freely available to stakeholders in the country.
The data was collected through a collaborative project signed with China’s Ministry of Natural Resources in April, 2023.
The institute held a national workshop to popularize high-resolution data collected from the Chinese Land Satellite Remote Sensing Application Centre (LASAC) and the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) today.
Space Science and Geospatial Institute Deputy Director-General Bethelhem Nigussie said
on the occasion that the 5-year LASAC project has resulted in a detailed satellite imagery covering the entire country.
According to her, the institute is now ready to exchange the data with stakeholders for free based on provisional agreements to be reached soon.
The data can be used for various purposes, including natural resources, agriculture and livestock, it was learned.
In particular, the data will be helpful in managing natural disasters like floods and droughts, which are common in Ethiopia.
Challenges such as data accessibility, lack of skilled personnel, and infrastructure limitations were identified during a workshop held by SSGI to discuss using the data.
Meanwhile, SSGI has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ethiopian Statistical Service to facilitate data and information sharing.
Space Science and Geospatial Institute Director-General Abdisa Yilma and Ethiopian Statistical Service Director-General Beker Shale signed the agreement.