Collaboration between GMES&Africa and Digital Earth Africa: Hackathon for Crop Mapping in North Africa. September 20-23, 2023, Nouakchott, Mauritania.
The GMES&Africa North Africa OSS Consortium collaborated with the Digital Earth Africa program to organize a hackathon on crop mapping in Africa from September 20 to 23, 2023, in Nouakchott, Mauritania. This event brought together over a hundred students from different regions of Africa, who utilized satellite imagery, artificial intelligence, and on-site data to develop innovative methods and a cohesive approach to detailed crop mapping in Africa. They were able to leverage the computing platforms and resources of Digital Earth Africa to carry out their projects.
The hackathon unfolded in two distinct phases: a learning phase and a competition phase, during which three teams were formed: the Cartographers, the Imaging Experts, and the Remote Sensing Specialists. Participants had until September 23, 2023, to submit their work, which is currently undergoing evaluation by a panel based on criteria of relevance, creativity, and originality. The top three solutions will be showcased in upcoming events.
The outcomes of the hackathon will be used to enhance crop mapping capabilities in Africa, particularly to support agricultural development and natural resource management initiatives.
The event provided an ideal setting for learning and collaboration, with experienced mentors from the North Africa OSS Consortium and Digital Earth Africa on hand to guide participants and address their inquiries.
In addition to developing innovative approaches for crop mapping in Africa, the hackathon raised awareness about the significance of geospatial data and cloud computing for the continent's development, fostering innovation and collaboration among various stakeholders. The promising results underscore the potential of geospatial data and cutting-edge technologies in advancing crop mapping in Africa.