SOCIO-ECONOMIC BENEFITS FROM SPACE TECHNOLOGY - Sustainable Development for Africa
Simona di Ciaccio Dr . Marco M . Castronuovo Italian Space Agency (ASI) ; Roma ; Italy ; - ASI Sponsor
Jan - 2007

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type: Conference Proceedings

Abstract
Various studies show that one-third to one-half of Sub-Saharan Africa currently experiences food insecurity and unsustainable development. The last has been mostly associated with environmental degradation resulting from deforestation, soil erosion, and loss of biodiversity. On the other hand, findings of several World Bank Food Security studies identify the lack of access to safe water supply as one of the most imperative causes of food insecurity. Today there is little controversy regarding the contribution of science and technology to the solution of these problems. However, are space science and technology able to play a relevant role in ensuring food security and sustainable development? Italy and Kenya are co-operating since 1964 in the San Marco Project, with the development of a Space Centre in Malindi – Kenya, named after its founder “Broglio Space Centre” (BSC). The area covered by the acquisition circle has a radius of about 2,000 Km for a typical EO satellite altitude. This allows the acquisition of satellite images covering all the East and Central African countries, including the islands in the Western Indian Ocean region. Among the many different activities carried out at the BSC, the Italian Space Agency (ASI) is particularly supporting the expansion of those related to remote sensing and is developing applications in favour of sustainable development for Africa. As an example, the following priority fields are being considered: vegetation coverage, crop forecasting and sustainable exploitation of marine ecosystem. Particular interest is arousing around a new project, clear expression of space technology transfer. As water management is a key issue in Africa, a technology for tackling this specific problem has been studied. A feasibility study by ASI in cooperation with the University of Rome La Sapienza is on-going concerning the possibility of adapting to the Earth the technology of two Italian sounding radars, MARSIS and SHARAD, which are exploring the surface of Mars. The main goal of the project is to develop a sensor capable of detecting underground water in semi-arid region of Africa. At the same time, the activities at the BSC aim at transferring scientific and technological knowledge and information through a strong cooperation with many national and regional Research Institutions, including a broad capacity-building programme.

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