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Space News Africa We are committed to promote space-based technologies for the advancement of sustainable development in Africa.

Space News Africa gathers and disseminates news on the satellite remote sensing industry which has relevance to the African Continent. Please feel free to post your news on this page subjected to editors approval.

16/10/2022

AARSE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: 14 October 2022

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The 13th AARSE International Conference: Kigali, Rwanda from 24 - 28 October 2022

The AARSE 2022 Conference to be held in Kigali, Rwanda from 24 to 28 October promises to be a gathering of the brightest minds in the field from all over the world and has since its inception in 1996 been a major biennial event in the African Earth observation and geo-spatial information sciences.

The conference organized by the African Association of Remote Sensing of the Environment (AARSE) and the Institut d’Enseignement Supérieur de Ruhengeri (Ines-Ruhengeri) will have the theme "Space and geospatial technologies for the Africa we want".

This year’s 5-day event will see the more than 1000 attendees including 25 speakers and 15 workshops being presented. Some 7 seven top-notch keynote speakers, all experts in their individual fields will also be taking part. More information about them can be found at https://www.aarse2022.org/speakers.php.

More information can be obtained from Jossam Potel the coordinator of the Local Organizing Committee at [email protected] or [email protected] or by telephone at +250 788 626 576 or +250 727 125 236. Also visit the website at https://www.aarse2022.org for additional information.

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26/09/2022

Another eminent scientists joins AARSE 2022 keynote speakers’ list

Another eminent scientists has joined the fray of the keynote speaker’s list for the 13th AARSE International Conference, AARSE 2022, to be held in Kigali, Rwanda from 24 to 28 October this year.

He is no other than Maram Kaire, the current president of the Senegalese Association for the Promotion of Astronomy (ASPA) who has an asteroid named after him and received the Knight of the National Order of the Lion, Senegal’s highest distinction.

More information can also be obtained from Jossam Potel the coordinator of the Local Organizing Committee at [email protected] or [email protected] or by telephone at +250 788 626 576 or +250 727 125 236. Also visit the website at www.aarse2020.org for more information.

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26/08/2022

AARSE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: 26 August 2022

Call for Expression of Interest to host AARSE 2024 and 2026 conferences

The African Association of Remote Sensing of the Environment (AARSE) invites Expression of Interest from national institutions, organizations, and agencies to host the 14th Conference of the Association in 2024 as well as the 15th edition in 2026 in Africa. The conference is usually held in the month of October of every even-number year.

In line with the AARSE principle of rotational hosting first preference will be given to applicants from the Western Africa sub-region followed by Southern Africa sub-region for the 2024 Conference. It should be noted that AARSE does not provide funds for the hosting organization but the Association can solicit for international funding on behalf of the organization towards a successful hosting of such a conference. Guidance will also be provided to the Local Organizing Committee on soliciting sponsorships and commercial exhibitors within the host country.

Each applicant will be expected to attend and make a presentation to the AARSE Executive Council at the AARSE 2022 conference taking place from 24 to 28 October 2022 in Kigali, Rwanda. This solicitation of a conference host is an open process and may be discussed with any of the AARSE council members. Discussions therefore will be ongoing until suitable hosting arrangements have been finalized.

Please contact Tesfamichael Solomon (AARSE Secretary General) at [email protected]
for details to be included in such an Expression of Interest which must be submitted at the latest on 15 October 2022. More information about AARSE can also be found at https://africanremotesensing.org.

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21/08/2022

AARSE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: 19 August 2022

AARSE 2022: IEEE GRSS/AARSE TRAVEL FELLOWSHIP applications open until 6 September

The IEEE GRSS/AARSE TRAVEL FELLOWSHIP, funded by a legacy endowment from the IEEE/IGARSS 09 Congress supports the participation of African scientists and students to attend the conferences of AARSE and the IEEE/GRSS.

Applications are invited for financial support until 6 September this year to attend the 13th AARSE International Conference from 24 to 28 October 2022 in Kigali, Rwanda (https://www.aarse2022.org/).

The amount of a travel fellowship will be adjusted for each successful beneficiary, and may include travel costs (airfare, ground transport in Rwanda, ground transport if living more than 50 km from departure of an international airport), accommodation in Kigali and conference registration fees.

Beneficiaries of the fellowships shall be African scientists or students who have had a paper accepted for oral or poster presentation at the AARSE 13th International Conference, and who will present the paper in person.

Follow this link https://africanremotesensing.org/travel-fellowship-application/ to download the application form and apply before 6 September 2022.

For more information on the conference contact the course co-ordinator Jossam Potel at [email protected] or +250 788 626576 or visit the website at www.aarse2020.org.
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07/08/2022

La Conférence Internationale Hybride GAGER'22 de l'Université de Ngaoundéré aura lieu du 19 au 23 septembre 2022.

Les étudiants, chercheurs et toute personne intéressée sont invités à s'inscrire et à assister gratuitement à une session de formation dédiée aux technologies géospatiales et aux applications mobiles et qui se tiendra le 19 septembre 2022. Attention, le nombre de places est limité à 250.

Cliquer sur le lien : https://acager.org/conference-1/?fbclid=IwAR0zjVkksn2J pour plus d’informations et pour s'inscrire à la Conférence. Partagez svp avec vos réseaux.

Les actes du Colloque seront mis en ligne au plus t**d le 25 novembre 2022, sous la supervision des membres du Comité Scientifique.

Les communications révisées doivent être envoyées au plus t**d le 28 septembre 2022 à https://acager.org/conference-1/?fbclid=IwAR0zjVkksn2J

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05/08/2022

AARSE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: 5 August 2022

Entries open for GAGER'22 International Hybrid Conference 19 – 23 September 2022.

The GAGER'22 International Hybrid Conference of the University of Ngaoundéré will take place on September 19 to 23, 2022.

Students, researchers and anyone interested are invited to register for free and attend a training session dedicated to geospatial technologies and mobile applications, and which will be held on September 19, 2022. The number of places is limited to 250.

Click on the link: https://acager.org/conference-1/?fbclid=IwAR0zjVkksn2J to get more information and to register to the Conference. Please share with your networks.

The proceedings of the conference will be published online no later than November 25, 2022, under the supervision of the Scientific Committee of the Conference.

Revised communications must be sent no later than September 28, 2022 to https://acager.org/conference-1/?fbclid=IwAR0zjVkksn2J

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01/08/2022

AARSE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: 29 July 2022

Two more eminent scientists join AARSE 2022 keynote speakers’ list

Two more eminent scientists Prof. Affian Kouadio and Dr. Zoltan Szantoi have joined the keynote speakers’ list at the 13th AARSE International Conference, AARSE 2022, to be held in Kigali, Rwanda from 24 to 28 October this year.

The keynote speakers’ list has now swelled up to six to include (1) Prof. Affian Kouadio a full professor at University of Cocody Abidjan; (2) Dr. Zoltan Szantoi a Land Application Scientist at the EO Africa European Space Agency; (3) Dr. Tidiane Ouattara a Space Science Expert at the African Union Commission; (4) Dr. Petrus (Peter) J. van Oevelen the Director of the International GEWEX Project Office; (5) Dr. Emmanuel Nkurunziza the Director General of the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD); and (6) Dr. Benjamin Koetz Senior Application and Mission Scientist in the Earth Observation Directorate of the European Space Agency.
The conference organized by the African Association of Remote Sensing of the Environment (AARSE) and the Institut d’Enseignement Supérieur de Ruhengeri (Ines-Ruhengeri) will have the theme "Space and geospatial technologies for the Africa we want".

AARSE 2022 will gather the brightest minds in the field from all over the world and be a major event in the African and international community of Earth observation and geo-spatial information science.

More information can also be obtained from Jossam Potel the coordinator of the Local Organizing Committee at [email protected] or [email protected] or by telephone at +250 788 626 576 or +250 727 125 236. Also visit the website at www.aarse2020.org for more information.

Keynote speakers AARSE 2022

Professor Affian Kouadio
Professor Affian Kouadio is a specialist of remote sensing applied to oceans and a full professor at University of Cocody, Abidjan. He majored at University of Bordeaux in France with a PhD in Oceanography. Prof. Kouadio has served on numerous national bodies and committees and since 2020 has been Coordinator of GOOS Africa and since 2021 chaired IOCAFRICA. He is author or co-author of more than 100 scientific publications in various fields focusing among others on the development of integrated coastal zone management, coastal erosion, sea surface temperature, sea colour, bathymetry and environment studies based on remote sensing and GIS.

Dr. Zoltan Szantoi
Dr. Zoltan Szantoi is a Land Application Scientist at the European Space Agency and a research fellow at Stellenbosch University’s Department of Geography & Environmental Studies. He received his PhD degree in Geomatics from the University of Florida (USA).
Dr. Szantoi has experience in geospatial big data processing, advance image classification techniques, image texture analysis and landcover and landuse mapping and monitoring with particular attention on agriculture and food security. He investigates environmental issues important to society, by employing state-of-the-art machine learning approaches in geospatial applications.

Dr. Tidiane Ouattara
Dr. Tidiane Ouattara received a PhD and a master’s degree, both in Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS) from Sherbrooke University (Canada) respectively in 2001 and 1996. He also holds a master’s degree in physical geography from Université de Cocody-Abidjan (Côte-d’Ivoire). Dr. Ouattara is currently Space Science Expert at the African Union Commission leading the development and implementation of African Space Policy and Strategy as well as the African Outer Space Programme. He is also the Manager and Coordinator of the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES & Africa) Programme.

Dr. Petrus (Peter) J. van Oevelen
Dr. Petrus (Peter) J. van Oevelen is the Director of the International GEWEX Project Office in which capacity he supports and facilitates the science collaborative activities around the world as part of the World Climate Research Programme. He obtained his PhD from Wageningen University, The Netherlands. As scientist and director of one of the eminent global programs on water and energy exchanges (GEWEX) his main drive is to continue to maintain scientific excellence in on-going projects and establish new scientific activities in regions that are currently underrepresented.

Dr. Emmanuel Nkurunziza
Dr. Emmanuel Nkurunziza is the Director General of the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD). He joined the Rwanda Natural Resources Authority in 2011 and before that he was the Director General of the National Land Centre and Registrar of Land Titles where he initiated and facilitated roll out of a nationwide land registration program. He received his B.Sc. honours degree in Surveying at Makerere University, Uganda in 1996. In 1998 he graduated with a M.Sc. Urban Planning degree and a PhD degree in 2004 at the University of Birmingham

Dr. Benjamin Koetz
Dr. Benjamin Koetz works as Senior Application and Mission Scientist in the Earth Observation Directorate of the European Space Agency. His tasks focus on the development of EO applications in close collaboration with relevant user communities, scientists and service providers. In particular he is responsible for the TIGER initiative dealing with EO for water resources management in Africa and for the recently launched EO AFRICA initiative. He received his M.S. degree in Environmental Sciences from the University of Trier, Germany and Ph.D. with a specialization in Earth Observation from the University of Zürich, Switzerland.
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23/07/2022

AARSE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: 22 July 2022

AARSE 2022 International Conference extends paper deadlines

The organizers of the 13th AARSE International Conference (AARSE 2022), to be held in Kigali, Rwanda, from 24th to 28th of October, 2022 just announced a new set of deadlines for abstracts and full paper submissions. The new deadline for abstract submissions is 31 July 2022. Notifications of acceptance of the abstracts will now be 7 August 2022 and the deadline for full paper submissions to be 15 September 2022.

This conference under the theme Space and geospatial technologies for the Africa we want will be a major event in the African and international community of Earth observation and geo-spatial information sciences in 2022. It is organized by the African Association of Remote Sensing of the Environment (AARSE) and the Institut d’Enseignement Supérieur de Ruhengeri (Ines-Ruhengeri).

The conference program will feature keynote speeches delivered by leading policy makers, scholars, technical sessions with reports on the latest research outcomes, and discussion sessions on operational topics. These include capacity building, Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI), space policy, programs and projects, as well as commercial exhibitions showing the latest products and services in remote sensing and geospatial information technologies.

Top-level keynote speakers who have already confirmed their attendance are Dr. Tidiane Ouattara (African Union Commission), Dr. Benjamin Koetz (European Space Agency), Dr. Petrus (Peter) J. van Oevelen (GEWEX), and Dr. Emmanuel Nkurunziza (RCMRD).

Abstracts have to include enough information on the thematic focus, methodology, contribution to knowledge, policy making, and implementation to be considered for review.

The organizers welcome dedicated workshops organized as pre- or post-conference events or as half-day events concurrent with the conference scientific programme. Workshops should present state-of-the-art research and cover the development, deployment and operational use of Earth observing systems both space- and airborne.

For more information contact the course co-ordinator Jossam Potel at [email protected] or +250 788 626576 or visit the website at www.aarse2020.org.
END

15/07/2022

AARSE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: 8 July 2022
Focus on an African Personality in Space Science and Technology: Andre Nonguierma

We have chosen Mr. Andre Nonguierma, the Chief of the Geospatial information Management Section as our African Personality in Space Science and Technology this month. He is not new to the African Association of Remote Sensing of the Environment (AARSE) and the broader African Geoinformation communities. We have worked with him for many years, so we know he is well-suited for this recognition. Andre Nonguierma is humble, soft-spoken, highly knowledgeable, and a critical thinker. He can easily adjust to new challenges. Various Conference work programs test his technical and analytic skills in geospatial information technologies and leadership. Besides, he possesses excellent planning and organizing skills.

Mr. Nonguierma has extensive managerial experience, managing client projects and budgets from initial conceptual design through user needs assessments to final implementation, reporting, monitoring, and evaluation. The latter involves developing and maintaining contacts, hiring staff, managing project funds, developing materials, setting up action plans, and constituting the relevant bodies. Besides, He is a doer; What he promises, he does it successfully.

The primary aim of AARSE is to increase the awareness of African governments and their institutions, the private sector and the society at large, about the empowering and enhancing benefits of developing, applying and utilizing responsibly, the products and services of Earth Observation Systems and Geo-information Technology.

The African Association of Remote Sensing of the Environment (AARSE) was founded in 1992 and was incorporated in 2008 as an international Non-Government Organization (NGO) under Section 21 of the South African Companies Act 61 of 1973.

See https://africanremotesensing.org for more information and membership options.



AARSE Weekly Newsletter 00, 00, 2022

Focus on an African Personality in Space Science and Technology

The year 1978 is considered significant in the realization of remote sensing in Africa. It was a time when Africa's Heads of State recognized the technology as a tool to close the information gap and data hiatus required for rational planning, development, and control of the environment. The UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) was, as a result, mandated with the task and has been instrumental ever since in assisting member States with information and data to facilitate their development planning, and implementation of space technology-related programs and services, including capacity-building initiatives on EO and Geo-Information Sciences for the sustainable development of Africa.

While we value the Organization's continuous effort in streamlining policies and directives related to the technology in Africa, the dedication and services of the UN-ECA staff, who stood up to the challenge and implemented most of the activities, however, did not go unnoticed.

We have chosen Mr. Andre Nonguierma, the Chief of the Geospatial information Management Section as our African Personality in Space Science and Technology this month. He is not new to the African Association of Remote Sensing of the Environment (AARSE) and the broader African Geoinformation communities. We have worked with him for many years, so we know he is well-suited for this recognition. Andre Nonguierma is humble, soft-spoken, highly knowledgeable, and a critical thinker. He can easily adjust to new challenges. Various Conference work programs test his technical and analytic skills in geospatial information technologies and leadership. Besides, he possesses excellent planning and organizing skills.

Mr. Nonguierma has extensive managerial experience, managing client projects and budgets from initial conceptual design through user needs assessments to final implementation, reporting, monitoring, and evaluation. The latter involves developing and maintaining contacts, hiring staff, managing project funds, developing materials, setting up action plans, and constituting the relevant bodies. Besides, He is a doer; What he promises, he does it successfully.

Andre Nonguierma is currently managing and steering the UN-ECA work on advancing holistic geospatial information management policies and strategies. He assists the Member States and regional entities on spatial data infrastructure, championing sound research on geospatial technology to leverage space applications for the environment, natural resources, sustainable development, information, and analytics to support strategic decision-making and evidence-based policy analysis. He has initiated, launched, developed, and coordinated several projects, including the FEOGA Project in Europe, the MTAP Project in Africa, the AFREF program, and the UN-GGIM initiative. Furthermore, he continues to work with several international agencies such as GSDI, GEO, JRC, ESA, AUC, OOSA, and UNSD. He has served on several intergovernmental bodies, including CODIST, AARSE, AfricaGIS, UN Inter-Agency, and Expert Group meetings, and has given keynote speeches in various international fora.

Mr. Nonguierma holds an Engineering Degree from the University of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso and an M.Sc. in Remote Sensing and Planning from the Faculty of Sciences of Gembloux in Belgium. He has published several scientific papers and continues to conduct research activities on Spatial Data Infrastructures, Remote Sensing applications, and Space Science and Earth Observation solutions for Africa's Development agenda.

He brings more than 30 years of professional experience in space science, earth observation and geospatial technologies, and environmental resources management and started his career as Research Assistant at the Faculty of Agronomic Sciences in Belgium from 1991 to 1995. In this position, he was responsible for many projects and research studies, including the European Program on Control of Arable Lands by Remote Sensing (FEOGA).

From 1995 to 2006, he worked at the AGRHYMET Regional Centre in Niger as the Head of the GIS Laboratory, coordinating all activities related to Remote Sensing, GIS, and Earth Observation in environmental and agriculture applications. During this period, he led the design, implementation, and management of several projects and programs, including TIGER, GELOAND, PUMA, AMESD, and UNEP.Net. He contributed to developing information systems such as the Environmental Information and Monitoring System (SISEI) and the Desertification Early Warning Systems.

He was appointed in his current position on June 1, 2017.

02/07/2022

AARSE Weekly Newsletter 1 July 2022
Space and geospatial technologies for the Africa we want: 10 days left for abstract submissions
Scholars and professionals in the field of space and geospatial technologies should take note of the looming 10 July deadline for the submission of abstracts for the 13th AARSE International Conference (AARSE 2022), to be held in Kigali, Rwanda, from 24th to 28th of October this year.
Several prizes will be awarded for papers delivered at the conference. These include inter alia a prize for the best paper delivered and the European Space Agency-AARSE Award for either best paper of poster presentation. By becoming a member of AARSE participants also stand a chance of getting the AARSE-IEEE/GRSS Travel Fellowship Award to attend AARSE’s or the IEEE-GRSS Conference.
This conference known for its gathering of the brightest minds in the field of remote sensing and geospatial technologies pertaining to Africa once again promises the opportunity for attendees to learn new skills and get insights from experts and practitioners from all around.
The theme for this year’s conference is "Space and geospatial technologies for the Africa we want". It is organized by the African Association of Remote Sensing of the Environment (AARSE) and the Institut d’Enseignement Supérieur de Ruhengeri (Ines-Ruhengeri).
Top-level keynote speakers who have already confirmed their attendance are Dr. Tidiane Ouattara (African Union Commission), Dr. Benjamin Koetz (European Space Agency), Dr. Petrus (Peter) J. van Oevelen (GEWEX), and Dr. Emmanuel Nkurunziza (RCMRD).
Abstracts have to include enough information on the thematic focus, methodology, contribution to knowledge, policy making, and implementation to be considered for review. The deadline for abstract submissions is 10 July 2022. Notification of acceptance will be given by 25 July and full paper submission is to be done by 31 August 2022.
The organizers also welcome dedicated workshops organized as pre- or post-conference events or as half-day events concurrent with the conference scientific programme. Workshops should present state-of-the-art research and cover the development, deployment and operational use of Earth observing systems both space- and airborne.

For more information contact the course co-ordinator Jossam Potel at [email protected] or +250 788 626576 or visit the website at www.aarse2020.org.
END

25/06/2022

AARSE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: 24 June 2022

AARSE2022 abstract submissions deadline extended to 10 July 2022

The organizers of the 13th AARSE International Conference (AARSE 2022), to be held in Kigali, Rwanda, from 24th to 28th of October, 2022 has just announced on their website that their abstract submissions deadline has now been extended to 10 July 2022. Notifications of acceptance of the abstracts will be done on 25 July 2022 and full paper submissions are to be done by 31 August 2022.

This conference under the theme Space and geospatial technologies for the Africa we want will be a major event in the African and international community of Earth observation and geo-spatial information science in 2022. It is organized by the African Association of Remote Sensing of the Environment (AARSE) and the Institut d’Enseignement Supérieur de Ruhengeri (Ines-Ruhengeri).

The conference program will feature keynote speeches delivered by leading policy makers, scholars, technical sessions with reports on the latest research outcomes, discussion sessions on operational topics such as capacity building, Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI), space policy, programs and projects, as well as commercial exhibitions showing the latest products and services in remote sensing and geospatial information technologies.

Abstracts have to include enough information on the thematic focus, methodology, contribution to knowledge, policy making, and implementation to be considered for review. The deadline for abstract submissions is 10 July 2022.

For more information contact the course co-ordinator Jossam Potel at [email protected] or +250 788 626576 or visit the website at www.aarse2020.org.
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