The East African Institute for Fundamental Research (EAIFR)  wishes to inform those who may be interested of a one-day training on the use of remote sensing to manage natural hazards. 

Speaker: Dr. Virginie Pinel, Senior Researcher at IRD in volcanology and remote sensing

When: August 28, 2025. The training will start at 10am. 

Where: Conference room of the East African Institute for Fundamental Research, Einstein Building, Floor 5.

Registration (free): Send an email to admin-assist@eaifr.org using the subject line: Registration for remote sensing training. 

Sponsors: NCST, WALL project; JEAI IRD.

Abstract: 
The last two decades have seen a boom in remote sensing data, which provides precise information with good spatial resolution and good temporal frequency over the entire surface of the planet. Various programmes (Copernicus, USGS-EarthExplorer, Planet, etc.) allow the automatic and global acquisition of a large amount of satellite data, accessible to all in near real time. These data have enabled significant advances in our understanding of the dynamics of the Earth's lithosphere, providing rapid and unprecedented information on recent or ongoing events (earthquakes, landslides, etc.), making it possible to monitor, for instance, the evolution of glaciers influenced by climate change or identify precursors of volcanic and landslides. Their role in the prevention and management of natural hazards is growing and complements that of field data. However, these new data are still largely underused.

During this one-day training course, I will describe the principles of remote sensing, the possibilities and limitations of different data for different application areas and the methodological basis for processing satellite data. I will also provide some insights to better understand and interpret information from satellite imagery. Time will be devoted to an inventory of freely available satellite data in your area of interest. Everyone will be able to try their hand at downloading the data.