Wednesday, 19 August 2020 05:07

FG resorts to satellite data to predict, mitigate flooding

Rate this item
(0 votes)

Federal Government has adopted the use of satellite earth observation data to enhance its flood monitoring and environmental management efforts in the country.

Director General of Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Mr Clement Nze, gave this indication in his speech during the opening session of a two-day workshop on Global Monitoring for Environment and Security and Africa (GMES and Africa), in Abuja.

Nze noted that Centre for Space Science and Technology Education (CSSTE) Consortium under GMES and Africa Support Programme organized the online regional training on Sentinel 1, 2 and 3 Data, in line with the “identified training needs of stakeholders and organizations around West Africa with a view to enhancing their capacity in delivering their respective institutional mandate.”

According to him, GMES and Africa Support Programme is a joint initiative of Africa Union (AU) and European Union (EU) aimed at providing accurate, timely and easily accessible information to improve the management of the environment.

He said the programme is also meant to understand and mitigate the effects of climate change and ensure civil security.

Nze said: “This training programme will focus on building capacity on the acquisition and use of Sentinel 1, 2, & 3 data: Processing and Application.

“Processing chain of Sentinel data to services including modelling, damage assessment and forecast services.

“It is pertinent to note that capacity building that was identified as one of the major pillars of  GMES and Africa support programme has led CSSTE consortium to identify strategic training needs of its collaborating stakeholders on  Multi-Scale Flood Monitoring and Assessment Services for West Africa (MIFMASS) project.

“Hence the need to train and empower stakeholders to sustain the benefits from the programme’s product and services.”

He added that the online workshop was primarily to equip the participants to understand and undergo detailed hands-on training on Copernicus data.

He said it is also to make them understand the use of Sentinel data for Flood Monitoring and Management and use of Sentinel Application Platform in Flood Management.

Director General of Nigerian Meteorological Agency NiMET, Mr Sani Mashi, in his goodwill message at the event, noted that the capacity building initiative was timely especially with the increasing incidence of flash and riverine flooding across  West African Sub-region in recent years.

Mashi said: “During the last decades, the trend in flood damages has been growing exponentially.

“Improved capacity to forecast, monitor and assess floods using Earth Observation Data is therefore an essential element in regional and national strategies to mitigate this annual event.

“Sustainable economic and social development requires that flood forecasting and warning systems for communities at risk, be continuously developed, which in turn demands an optimal combination of data, forecasting tools and well-trained specialists.

“A flood forecast system must also provide sufficient lead time for communities to respond.

“I am confident that training of this nature will provide the useful skills and knowledge to all the trainees for planning to establish such forecasting system.”

Leader of CSSTE Consortium, Mr Ganiyu Agbaje, told reporters that Nigerian satellites in orbit have the capacity to provide needed earth observation data to support efforts aimed at predicting and checkmating adverse effects of flooding and other natural disasters by relevant government agencies.

 

The Nation

November 22, 2024

All good leaders have this mindset, no matter their background

David G. Ewing In today’s tech-driven business world, the ability to navigate technological challenges isn’t…
November 22, 2024

Tinubu’s borrowing spree retuning Nigeria back into debt peonage - Atiku

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticized the President Bola Tinubu-led administration for the increasing…
November 18, 2024

The magic and the minefield of confidence: Self doubt, hubris and everything in between - The Economist

Confidence is contagious. Someone declaring a position with ringing certainty is more likely to inspire…
November 16, 2024

Influencer eats pig feed in extreme attempt to save money

Popular Douyin streamer Kong Yufeng recently sparked controversy in China by eating pig feed on…
November 22, 2024

FG excited as pro-Biafra agitator Simon Ekpa arrested in Finland on terrorism charges

Simon Ekpa, the controversial leader of the pro-Biafra faction Autopilot, was arrested by Finnish authorities…
November 22, 2024

Here’s the latest as Israel-Hamas war enters Day 413

ICC issues arrest warrants for Israel's Netanyahu, Gallant and Hamas leader The International Criminal Court…
November 21, 2024

Nigeria comes top in instant payment system inclusivity index in Africa

Nigeria’s instant payment system is projected to advance to the maturity inclusion spectrum ahead of…
October 27, 2024

Nigeria awarded 3-0 win over Libya after airport fiasco

Nigeria have been awarded a 3-0 victory over Libya, and three vital points, from their…

NEWSSCROLL TEAM: 'Sina Kawonise: Publisher/Editor-in-Chief; Prof Wale Are Olaitan: Editorial Consultant; Femi Kawonise: Head, Production & Administration; Afolabi Ajibola: IT Manager;
Contact Us: [email protected] Tel/WhatsApp: +234 811 395 4049

Copyright © 2015 - 2024 NewsScroll. All rights reserved.