A Radar Satellite Early-Warning System for Tropical Deforestation
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leicester
Department Name: Geography
Abstract
The market assessment research will review potential users of information services on deforestation, patterns of activity, the ways in which they buy and the motivations for purchase of forest monitoring data and analysis. It will provide an overall picture of demand whilst highlighting markets to prioritise and target (based on size, accessibility, demand). In addition, competitors and substitute products will be analysed. The information will be synthesised to create a picture of markets to target and required features of the product and service.
The work will inform our understanding of which segments of the market to target (countries, NGOs) it will also inform on the basics details of product & service design and delivery. This will be of vital importance as we decide of the nature of the service, the extent to which the product needs to be refined and developed. At present it is envisaged that a stand-alone commercial entity will be created providing both data and consultancy services to global users of the data. The follow on funding will support the planning for the organisational model and structure for delivery, through the development of a hard evidence base to support decisions on investment and resources allocation. It will subsequently guide the development of a marketing plan.
The work will inform our understanding of which segments of the market to target (countries, NGOs) it will also inform on the basics details of product & service design and delivery. This will be of vital importance as we decide of the nature of the service, the extent to which the product needs to be refined and developed. At present it is envisaged that a stand-alone commercial entity will be created providing both data and consultancy services to global users of the data. The follow on funding will support the planning for the organisational model and structure for delivery, through the development of a hard evidence base to support decisions on investment and resources allocation. It will subsequently guide the development of a marketing plan.
Publications
Pacheco-Pascagaza A
(2022)
Near Real-Time Change Detection System Using Sentinel-2 and Machine Learning: A Test for Mexican and Colombian Forests
in Remote Sensing
| Description | A comprehensive market assessment was undertaken and options for an operational deforestation monitoring service were devised. |
| Exploitation Route | NERC follow-on fund grant |
| Sectors | Environment |
| Description | The market assessment study carried out here informed the development of a fully fledged NERC follow-on grant application that was successful. A market visit to Kenya led to high-level meetings with the Minister for Environment and the Kenya Forest Service, the UN and the World Bank. The Kenyan REDD+ team is involved as stakeholders in the development of a monitoring prototype in the follow-on grant. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2015 |
| Sector | Environment |
| Impact Types | Societal,Economic,Policy & public services |
| Description | Contributed to POST Note "Environmental Earth Observation" |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health |
| URL | https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/POST-PN-0566 |
| Description | Advancing Earth Observation Applications in Forests. International Partnership Space Programme |
| Amount | £139,300 (GBP) |
| Organisation | UK Space Agency |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2015 |
| End | 03/2016 |
| Description | Earth Observation Data Integration Pilot, Research Project 9 - Innovative application of remote sensing to Forestry management and monitoring |
| Amount | £15,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (DEFRA) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2016 |
| End | 08/2016 |
| Description | Follow-on Fund: REDD+ Monitoring Services with Satellite Earth Observation - Community Forest Monitoring Pilot |
| Amount | £94,438 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NE/N017021/1 |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2016 |
| End | 03/2017 |
| Description | Forest Mind |
| Amount | € 2,172,000 (EUR) |
| Organisation | European Space Agency |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | France |
| Start | 07/2020 |
| End | 07/2022 |
| Description | Identification and monitoring of deforestation in the pluvial Pacific Coast of Colombia. NEWTON Researcher Links Programme, Dr. Jesus Anaya Acevedo, Universidad de Medellin, Colombia |
| Amount | £8,254 (GBP) |
| Organisation | British Council |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2017 |
| End | 06/2017 |
| Description | Space Enabled Monitoring of Illegal Gold Mining in Colombia |
| Amount | £3,300,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | UK Space Agency |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2018 |
| End | 04/2019 |
| Description | Strengthening Food Security through Integrated Earth Observations & Ecological Assessments of Ecosystem Services in Kenya |
| Amount | £41,800 (GBP) |
| Organisation | British Council |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2017 |
| End | 03/2018 |
| Title | Near-real-time Sentinel-2 deforestation monitoring service using mobile app technology |
| Description | Python software code to process Sentinel-2 data automatically and disseminate information products in near-real-time to mobile app users managed by a central dashboard. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The system will be demonstrated to users in due course. |
| Title | Sentinel-2 processing software in Python |
| Description | The open-source software PYEO enables users to process large amounts of Sentinel-2 images either on a local computer or on a High-Performance Computing Facility. It includes automatic search, filter and download functionality, atmospheric correction with Sen2Cor from L1C to L2A product level and merging and mosaicking tools. A mapping function will be available soon. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Supported by UKSA Forests 2020, the software has been demonstrated to users in the forestry sector in several tropical countries, including Ghana, Kenya, Indonesia, Mexico, Brazil and Colombia. The software will enable users there to upgrade their own satellite data processing systems from Landsat to Sentinel-2, this improving the spatial resolution of forest monitoring from 30 m to 10 m, or a 9-fold improvement. |
| URL | https://github.com/clcr/pyeo |
| Description | Collaboration with Government of Kenya |
| Organisation | Kenya Forest Service |
| Country | Kenya |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Agreement with Cabinet Secretary for Environment to work together in October 2015. Presentation of research plans and ideas at a national REDD+ stakeholder meeting in April 2016. Training workshop on radar remote sensing held in Nairobi in 2016. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provision of advice on forest monitoring in Kenya and the development of the national REDD+ strategy. Technical advice on monitoring development. |
| Impact | Development of a prototype forest cover change monitoring service in near-real-time from Sentinel-2 at 10 m resolution, with reports being disseminated to mobile app users and a dashboard. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Kenya Forest Service |
| Organisation | Kenya Forest Service |
| Country | Kenya |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Held workshops at the Kenya Forest Service with the National REDD+ stakeholder group and discussed how Earth Observation can be better used for forest monitoring in Kenya. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Hosted the meeting and provided technical contributions and advice. |
| Impact | Collaboration and further meetings. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Title | Python software for near-real-time automated Sentinel 2 satellite data processing and information dissemination |
| Description | The software automatically checks for new satellite data acquisitions on the European Space Agency server. It then downloads the image and automatically checks it for any forest cover losses. Areas that have been deforested are flagged up in a report and immediately disseminated to the users via a mobile app, and reports include geographic coordinates, a map quicklook and the area of the deforestation. Users can report back to the dashboard using text, voice or photo messages. The dashboard uses big data analytics to keep an overview of all reports that have been received. Available from https://github.com/clcr/pyeo |
| Type Of Technology | Webtool/Application |
| Year Produced | 2017 |
| Open Source License? | Yes |
| Impact | No impacts as yet, but the software enables user organisations such as forestry commissions to monitor their national forest land in near-real-time and detect any illegal logging and other disturbances early enough to allow intervention. |
| URL | https://github.com/clcr/pyeo |
| Description | University of Leicester scientists to promote food security in Kenya |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Announcement of British Council funded workshop to be held in Kenya. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://www2.le.ac.uk.ezproxy4.lib.le.ac.uk/departments/geography/newsevents/food-security-workshop |
| Description | Visit by the new Director of the Kenya Forest Service to NCEO at Leicester |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | We discussed our continued collaboration in the ODA programme with the Kenya Forest Service, refreshed our understanding of the stakeholder needs and pathways to development impact and agreed to seek to formalise a memorandum of understanding between University of Leicester and Kenya Forest Service. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Visit to Kenyan Ministry for Environment |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Around 15-20 people from the Kenya Forest Service, DFID, UKTI and other organisations attended a formal meeting with the Minister of Environment of Kenya, Prof. Wakhungu, in October 2015. Its purpose was to gauge user interest in the concept developed in the Pathfinder project and to inform the development of the Follow-on Fund application. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.environment.go.ke/?p=1454 |