1HlG51J

Figure 8-5. Poverty map for Guinea, 2002/3.Figure 8-6. Flood zone levels and the related risk in Sudan: (1)high risk, mainly from the river Nile; (2) high risk, mainlyfrom the Valleys; (3) rarely affected by the Valleys.Source: H. Coulombe (2008), 848 © World Bank.By integrating as many sources of data as possible, maps ofterrestrial ecosystems in Africa were recently produced at a90m resolution. These maps represent the finest spatialresolution data of its kind ever produced for the entirecontinent. Several layers of data on climate regions,landforms, geology, and land cover were combined toproduce these maps. Some of those layers were originallydeveloped using satellite imagery. 849 These maps areuseful for biodiversity conservation, for assessments of thevalue of ecosystem goods and services and to betterunderstand how and which ecosystems are being impactedby climate change and other disturbances.Box 8-7. Using satellite data in Sudan for flood predictionand detectionHundreds of villages line the banks of the river Nile, andbecause of their proximity to the river banks are adverselyaffected in years of above average floods. In recent years,the Sudan Survey Authority has been using geospatialtechnologies to monitor the flow of the River Nile usingsatellite imagery data (MODIS provided by NASA) on a dailybasis to ensure the flooding risk to their citizens isminimised. Sudan has developed hazard and risk maps as abasis to run multiple flood scenarios, depending on thespecific water levels of the River Nile. The scenarios areable to approximate the level of impact to citizens and theireconomic resource base such as agricultural land. It isdifficult for governments to impose restrictive accesspolicies to sources of livelihood such as water, even if thosesame sources create risks to the population residingnearby. Therefore, it is important for countries such asSudan to have continuous monitoring capabilities to beable to warn their citizens when natural hazards such asflooding may take place, and to ensure that there is aneffective and efficient emergency response.Source: Alhussein (2014). 8508.3.2. Integrating geographical informationGovernments now rely on comprehensive and accurate,location-based information to support strategic priorities,making decisions, and to measure and monitor outcomes.Overall, the use of geospatial information and technologyby African countries is increasing, with many innovations innumerous areas (see Box 8-7 to Box -8-9). This expansion ofgeospatial initiatives has been grounded on the spread ofmobile devices for data collection with geo-positioning (seesection 8.1) and an enhanced accuracy of GPS data inAfrica. The improved accuracy of the GPS data in Africa isdue to a rise in the number of GPS based stations, as part ofthe African Geodetic Reference Frame (AFREF) project. 851 .Recent survey results indicate that there are 116 GPS basestations and a total of 43 stations broadcasting data to beused for computing position data. All African countries havestarted utilizing Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS),in particular GPS, in various geospatial applications. 852 Withthe recent UN General Assembly’s adoption of a resolutionon the Global Geodetic Reference Frame for SustainableDevelopment, the region can benefit further by having aglobal framework to improve the positional accuracy ofdata in Africa. 853159