Africa Surveyors March-April digital issue 2023
Africa Surveyors is Africa’s premier source of Surveying, Mapping and Geospatial news and an envoy of surveying products/service for the Construction, Maritime, Onshore & Offshore energy and exploration, Engineering, Oil and Gas, Agricultural and Mining sectors on new solution based trends and technology for the African market.
Africa Surveyors is Africa’s premier source of Surveying, Mapping and Geospatial news and an envoy of surveying products/service for the Construction, Maritime, Onshore & Offshore energy and exploration, Engineering, Oil and Gas, Agricultural and Mining sectors on new solution based trends and technology for the African market.
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March-April issue 2023 Volume 5 issue no. 26
Africa Surveyors
Remote Sensing
Using Satellites and Remote Sensing in Forest Fires management
Offshore oil exploration
Civil Engineers in Water and Wastewater Plants
Leveraging digital technology in construction
In this issue......
Marine megafauna aerial
survey starts along Kenya’s
coastline....
www.africasurveyorsonline.com
African Oil & Gas remains
an excellent opportunity for
investments....
Crown Energy withdraws
from South African Offshore
Venture....
pg 29 pg 14 pg 16
March-April issue l 2023 1
Contents
CONTENTS
Current Issue
In this issue we look at
Using Satellites and Remote
Sensing in Forest Fires
management and many
more....enjoy the issue!
REGULARS
20 24
News Briefs 4
Events 8
Innovation 10
Opinion 14
Project review 36
Director
Augustine M. Rang'ondi
Managing Editor
Monica R. Kemunto
Senior Editor &
Marketing Lead
Dorcas Kang’ereha
Writers
Violet Ambale
Harriet Mkhaye
Irene Joseph
Innocent Momanyi
Sales Executives
East Africa
Jimmy Mudasia
Lydia Kamonya
Caiser Momanyi
Vincent Murono
Sheila Ing’ayitsa
South Africa
Paul Nyakeri
Sean Masangwanyi
Lisa Brown
Thembisa Ndlovu
COVER STORY
Remote Sensing: Using Satellites and Remote Sensing in
Forest Fires management
Features
Civil Engineering: Role of Civil Engineers in Water and
Wastewater Plants
Digital Twins: Leveraging digital technology in
construction
Energy: African Oil & Gas remains an excellent opportunity
for investments
Offshore Exploration: hydrographic survey factors to
observe for an offshore oil exploration project
GIS: Fostering Financial Inclusivity in Africa through GIS-
Based Solutions
22
12
14
Nigeria
Emelda Njomboro
Uche Maxwel
Designed and
Published by:
P.O. Box 52248-00100,
Nairobi, Kenya.
ADVERTISER'S INDEX
Nailex Africa Publishing Ltd.................................................IFC
Caroni.......................................................................................IBC
Nailex Africa Publishing Ltd.................................................OBC
dmg events.............................................................................pg 8
Geo Data Design...................................................................pg 13
Endeavor Media.....................................................................pg 27
Euclideon................................................................................pg 33
Imagenex.................................................................................pg 34
Saab..........................................................................................pg 35
MacArtney...............................................................................pg 38
36
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no responsibility will be borne by the publisher for the consequences of actions based on information so published. Further, opinions expressed on
interviews are not necessarily shared by Nailex Africa Publisher.
www.africasurveyorsonline.com
March-April issue l 2023 3
NEWS BRIEFS
RCMRD seeks to improve the Wetlands
Vulnerability Assessment Tool
The Regional Centre For Mapping Of
Resources For Development (RCMRD),
under the Global Monitoring for
Environmental and Security (GMES) and Africa
Programme, is partnering with Environmental
Surveys, Information, Planning and Policy
Systems (ESIPPS) to augment the wetlands
vulnerability tool to generate services that
foster relevant policy response frameworks in
wetlands. The environmental monitoring tool
assessing wetland vulnerability will be hinged
on Earth Observation (EO) data and increase
end-users knowledge about the essential
details regarding the wetlands ecosystem.
The tool is an upgrade to the previous
tool dedicated to responding to various
wetland systems. Furthermore, ESIPPS will
Innovative collaboration ignites the West African
sustainability scene
Margaret Kim, CEO of Gold Standard | image:
courtesy
Gold Standard and the Ministry of
Economy and Finance of the Republic
of Benin have commemorate their
collaboration, which was established
in November 2022 During COP27. The
cooperation between the parties is an effort
to contribute to national and international
socio-economic development through
activities that reduce emission and build
resilience to climate change, through the
use of the certification products and services
available under Gold Standard. The visit
entailed meetings between Margaret Kim,
Gold Standard’s CEO and Romuald Wadagni,
Minister of Economy and Finance for Benin,
alongside site visits to new projects and
capacity building workshops.
Romuald Wadagni, Minister of Economy and
Finance for Benin and Margaret Kim, CEO
of Gold Standard met in Benin to discuss
upgrade the tool data and functionality,
establish a wetland conservation framework,
build a dashboard and mapographics
showing available products and tools and
conduct virtual training for GMES and
Africa staff, partners and end-users. RCMRD
is also partnering with GeomikAfrica to
develop environmental monitoring tools
for Land Degradation Services using EO
data, Innovative Techniques and End-User
Knowledge in the East Africa Region.
The programme is under the thematic
application developed under the GMES and
Africa Phase 2, which commenced in January
2022 and is expected to end in December
2025.
their collaborative work on sustainable
development.
In July 2021, Benin became the first African
country to publish an SDG Bond Framework
Document which initially secured a EUR
500 million 12.5 year SDG bond in the
international market. The Bond focuses on
the priority sectors of agro-industry, water
and sanitation, health, affordable housing,
education and renewable energy. Benin has
made pioneering progress by establishing
several projects to date, and now looks to
partners such as Gold Standard to guarantee
the quality and impact of the projects, and
the monitoring of a new asset classes.
This collaboration will accelerate the
delivery of the sustainable objectives
highlighted in the government’s strategic
action plan (Programme d’Action du
Gouvernement “PAG” 2021-2026). In
addition, both parties discussed the
integration of the Gold Standard Impact
Registry with the newly established National
Carbon Registration Authority, securing
the integrity and quality of the carbon
projects. The parties will also explore using
Gold Standard’s sustainable finance tools
to ensure Benin’s SDG project pipeline
maximize sustainable development impacts.
Chariot completes
Engineering, Design for
Morocco’s Offshore Gas
Project
Chariot Completes Engineering, Design for
Morocco’s Offshore Gas Project |Image:
Courtesy
Africa-focused energy exploration
company Chariot has announced
that it has completed the “Front-End
Engineering Design” (FEED) for its flagship
Anchois offshore gas project in Morocco. This
process aims to assess the project’s expenses
and extensively plan before placing a bid
submission.
The project, which covers an area of more
than 2,300 kilometers squared in a water
depth that ranges from coastline to 850
meters, falls under the Lixus Offshore drilling
license. Chariot holds 75% of the project’s
interest and operatorship while Morocco’s
Hydrocarbons and Mines Office (ONHYM)
holds 25% of the interest.
The energy group began the FEED for the
Anchois development in June 2022, after
the company raised $25.5 million (MAD 257
million) to advance this phase of the project.
In parallel with the FEED, other technical
work has been in progress, including
conducting onshore and offshore
environmental baseline surveys as part of
the Environmental, Social Impact Assessment
(ESIA), and developing the project’s drilling
planning.
Chariot’s Chief Executive Officer Adonis
Pouroulis celebrated the “excellent progress”
the company has made across “all aspects”
of the Anchois development project, noting
that “detailed discussions” on partnering, gas
sales agreements, and project finance are
ongoing.
He highlighted the project’s “excellent
reservoir and gas properties,” as well as
its favorable location in regard to existing
infrastructure and the opportunity to benefit
from existing technology.
4 March-April issue l 2023 www.africasurveyorsonline.com
NEWS BRIEFS
Africa to set up funding bank
for oil, gas projects
Countries such as Uganda are struggling to
fund development of the oil and gas resource
as the West shifts to green energy financing.
Photo / File
The African Petroleum Producers’
Organisation (APPO) is finalising plans
to set up the Africa Energy Bank. The
bank expected this year, will finance oil and
gas activities on the continent without the
need of external financing that comes with
strings.
Dr Omar Farouk Ibrahim, the APPO general
secretary, said, African countries subscribing
to the Petroleum Producers’ Organisation
will partner with the African Export-Import
Bank to establish an energy bank slated
before close of year.
“This going to focus essentially on funding
oil and gas projects on the African continent,
because the funds have dried,” Dr Ibrahim
said, noting that the World Bank, and other
international financing institutions that used
to fund oil and gas projects are closing the
financing channels in addition to having
“stringent conditions, which doesn’t make a
lot of sense” compared to 20 or 30 years ago.
The organisation plans to attract investment
from countries such as Saudi Arabia, UAE,
Qatar and Kuwait, which have a lot of stake,
and history in the development of oil and
gas.
The bank was mooted last year during the
eighth African Petroleum Congress and
Exhibition in Luanda, Angola. Speaking
at the event last year, Angola’s President
Joâo Manuel Lourenço said the idea would
resolve challenges faced national oil
companies.
The move comes at a time when many
international banks are facing pressure from
climate activists to stop funding oil projects
over high carbon emissions, and the shift to
cleaner energy.
www.africasurveyorsonline.com
TotalEnergies granted authorization to explore offshore South
Africa
South Africa’s Department of
Mineral Resources and Energy has
granted French major TotalEnergies
environmental authorization to conduct
exploration activities in the offshore Block
5/6/7, located in an area approximately
10,000km² between Cape Town and Cape
Agulhas.
The decision follows the conclusion of all
prescribed procedural requirements by
TotalEnergies, including public consultation
and environmental checks, with the major
expected to drill up to five exploration wells
between Q4 this year and mid-2024.
Representing a high-potential block – the
area overlaps the Orange Basin where three
Nigeria’s NNPC, Norway’s Golar sign MoU on floating gas plant
Nigeria’s state oil firm has signed a
memorandum of understanding (MoU)
with Golar LNG of Norway to build
a floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant
in the country. Africa’s biggest oil producer,
Nigeria, holds some of the world’s biggest
gas reserves and is seeking investment to
boost its domestic supplies and exports.
The Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation Limited (NNPC) said on Twitter
that the MoU was signed by NNPC chief
executive Mele Kyari and Golar CEO Karl
Fredrik Staubo in the federal capital, Abuja.
The company did not provide further
details and did not respond to requests for
TotalEnergies. | Image courtesy
sizeable oil and gas discoveries were made
in 2022/23 by TotalEnergies, Shell and Qatar
Energy in the Namibian side – Block 5/6/7’s
exploration rights lie with TotalEnergies
alongside global major Shell and the
Petroleum Oil and Gas Corporation of South
Africa.
Mele Kyari, chief executive of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and Norway's Golar CEO Karl Fredrik
Staubo sign a memorandum of understanding in Abuja, Nigeria, April 26, 2023 [Courtesy: NNPC via Twitter]
comment. Golar has in the past indicated
plans to set up a power project in Nigeria
that could use one of its vessels to import
LNG.
Nigeria also recently signed an MoU with
Algeria and the Niger Republic and the
ongoing construction of the Trans-Saharan
Gas Pipeline, a 614km (381.5 miles) long
natural gas pipeline beginning in northern
Nigeria.
There is no official word on when the
pipeline, first mooted in the 1970s, will be
completed but it is slated to run through
northern Nigeria into Niger and Algeria,
connecting to Europe eventually.
March-April issue l 2023 5
INTERNATIONAL
AVEVA partners with
Azule Energy to enable
World-Class operations
through digital
transformation
Angola’s largest independent oil and
gas operator, to drive digital excellence
throughout the firm’s operations. | image:
AVEVA
AVEVA, a global leader in industrial
software, driving innovation and
sustainability, has partnered with
Azule Energy, Angola’s largest independent oil
and gas operator, to drive digital excellence
throughout the firm’s operations.
The partnership agreement will enable Azule
Energy – a 50/50 Joint Venture backed by bp
and Eni – to reduce costs, improve safety and
unlock new production opportunities using
AVEVA’s cloud, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)
and digital twin technologies.
Moreover, the partnership will help cut
the time spent searching for key asset
information, improve maintenance planning,
reduce offshore trips and visits, enhance
team collaboration, and facilitate remote
operations.
HERE Technologies and Iteris partner to create
New Smart Mobility Solutions
HERE Technologies, the world’s
leading location data and technology
platform, and Iteris (Nasdaq: ITI), the
world’s trusted technology ecosystem for
smart mobility infrastructure management,
has announced a multi-year agreement to
integrate a broader suite of location-based
services and user capabilities from HERE
Technologies into Iteris’ ClearMobility®
Platform, including HERE Traffic Products,
HERE Maps and HERE platform services.
The integration of the additional HERE
Technologies’ components will enhance
the dynamic contextual services of the
ClearMobility Platform and enrich the
insights of Iteris’ mobility intelligence
application, ClearGuide®. As a result,
map content and data provided by HERE
and visualized through ClearGuide will
provide actionable insights to various
users, including transportation engineers,
transportation planners, infrastructure
operators, and roadway construction teams.
“We are excited to reinforce and broaden
our collaboration with HERE Technologies,”
Iteris and HERE will provide contextual
awareness to solve dynamic, real-world
traffic needs for public agencies via Iteris’
ClearMobility® Platform, using precise,
enterprise-grade maps and real-world
digital representation models |image: HERE
Technologies
said Will Cousins, Senior Vice President and
Chief Product Officer at Iteris. “As part of the
new five-year agreement, we are expanding
our emerging safety and mobility applications
to help public agencies address the critical
priorities of the National Roadway Safety
Strategy and support federal, state and local
officials who are ensuring roadways are both
safer and less congested.”
Currently, more than 50 government
agencies, municipalities and commercial
entities use ClearGuide to improve safety
and mobility by turning large amounts of
complex transportation data into insights for
smart, data-driven operations and planning
decisions.
Skydel Becomes First GNSS Simulator to Break
High-Capacity Barrier
Azule Energy boasts a strong pipeline of new
projects that are scheduled to support the
energy needs of Angola’s growing economy
and strengthen its role as a global liquified
natural gas (LNG) exporter.
Digital Twin Spans Entire Asset Lifecyle
AVEVA will deploy its digital twin software
to connect data from every layer of the
technology stack for one contextualized,
multi-visual experience. In the first phase,
AVEVA will focus on existing operations,
implementing AVEVA Asset Information
Management, AVEVA Information Standards
Manager, and Assai Cloud for Operations – for
two existing floating production storage and
offloading units (FPSOs) in Block 18 (Greater
Plutonio Development) and Block 31 (PSVM).
Orolia, a Safran Electronics & Defense
company, has announced that Skydel,
its flagship GNSS simulation engine
software, can generate more than 500
signals from a single platform. By leveraging
its software-defined architecture, Skydel’s
potential can be massively scaled upwards
when employing a robust set of hardware
components. GNSS users, experts, and
manufacturers, as well as those looking for an
LEO-capable simulation system, can greatly
benefit from this unmatched number of
signals.
“GNSS chipset, cellular handset, and GNSS
receiver manufacturers have been looking
for a robust solution that can generate a
very high capacity of signals — with all the
constellations and multiple frequencies –
from a single workstation. Skydel gives them
that capability,” explained Pierre-Marie Le
Veel, Orolia’s Simulation Product Director.
“With the right hardware, Skydel is the first
high-capacity GNSS simulator on the market
that can also accurately generate advanced
multi-path, jamming, spoofing, or the high
number of signals and frequencies needed for
a true LEO constellation simulation.”
Skydel contains a rich feature set that
includes multi-constellation/multi-frequency
signal generation, remote control from userdefined
scripts, and integrated interference
generation. However, one of Skydel’s
greatest assets is its open, software-defined
architecture.
6 March-April issue l 2023 www.africasurveyorsonline.com
INTERNATIONAL
Bluesky partners with SkyFi widens global access to aerial imagery
Bluesky International has announced a
new partnership with SkyFi, based in
Texas, that aims to democratise access
to earth observation assets by providing
access of multi-perspective imagery to
customers all around the world. The recently
signed partnership will see UK-based Bluesky
supply its accurate and high-resolution aerial
imagery.
SkyFi is best known for its coordination
and transparent pricing of satellite imagery
created by dozens of satellites, and this
recent partnership with Bluesky will make
accurate, high-resolution aerial imagery, taken
by aircraft-mounted cameras, available to
businesses, forestry, water and land managers
across the UK.
Rachel Tidmarsh, Managing Director at
Bluesky, said, “We are excited that our
partnership will expand the market for
our products and complement SkyFi’s
Bluesky partners with SkyFi widens global access to aerial imagery | image:
courtesy
comprehensive image options. Our imagery
is available off-the-shelf, as we share SkyFi’s
determination to take the mystery out of
finding and buying earth observation images.”
“Access to accurate and up-to-date geospatial
imagery is becoming increasingly important
for numerous different roles across various
industries and sectors and we have seen
demand for our off-the-shelf products
increase year on year.
Eos Positioning Systems announces support for Galileo HAS with
its Arrow Gold+ GNSS Receiver
Eos Positioning Systems, Inc., (Eos), the
Canadian designer and manufacturer of
GNSS hardware and related solutions
for the GIS market, has announced its Arrow
Gold+ GNSS receiver supports the free, new
Galileo High-Accuracy (HAS) Initial Service
correction service. With Galileo HAS Initial
Service, Arrow Gold+ users can achieve better
than 20 centimeter real-time accuracy with
95% confidence anywhere in the world.
“This is a game-changer for mobile crews
in every industry worldwide,” Eos Chief
Technology Officer Jean-Yves Lauture said.
“Our customers today can use the Arrow
Gold+ receiver with the new Galileo HAS
Initial Service to achieve consistent, free
subfoot accuracy anywhere on the planet. This
launches a new era of what is possible.”
Galileo HAS is a widely anticipated
differential correction service from the
European Space Agency and European Union
Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA).
Its Initial Service constitutes Phase 1 of
its go-live, which occurred on January 24,
Eos Positioning Systems Announces Support for Galileo HAS with its Arrow Gold+ GNSS
Receiver |image: Eos Positioning Systems
2023. On that date, Galileo HAS became the
first global differential correction service to
provide subfoot accuracy to compatible GNSS
receivers anywhere in the world, completely
free of charge. Read the full announcement
here.
“We had been planning for this for quite
some time, knowing that our customers
would be able to benefit so greatly from this
revolutionary correction source broadcast
from the Galileo satellites themselves,”
Lauture said.
The Arrow Gold+ is currently the only highaccuracy
GNSS receiver designed specifically
for the GIS market to support the Galileo HAS.
www.africasurveyorsonline.com
March-April issue l 2023 7
27 - 29 JUNE 2023
GALLAGHER CONVENTION CENTRE,
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AfRICA
CONNECT WITH SOUTHERN AFRICA’S
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
Get ready to experience the ultimate construction event of the year. Big 5 Construct Southern Africa is
celebrating its 10 th edition and you’re invited!
Big 5 Construct Southern Africa is a significant contributor to the economic growth, recovery and transformation
within Southern Africa’s construction industry with a special focus on facilitating buyer/seller face-to-face
connections and showcasing the most innovative solutions for the region.
Join thousands of your construction industry peers for three days of valuable
business and gain FREE access to:
GROW your network
with over 8,500
construction industry
professionals
DISCOVER the most
innovative products
and technologies
available
ENGAGE with public
and private sector
stakeholders over the
most critical issues
LEARN about the latest
trends, best practice and
upcoming construction
projects
REGISTER FOR FREE NOW
Simply scan the QR code with your phone’s camera app
Co-located with:
SOUTHERN AFRICA
SOUTHERN AFRICA
www.thebig5constructsouthernafrica.com
EVENTS
Subsea Technology Eastern
Mediterranean conference and Expo 2023
In partnership with the Cyprus Hydrocarbons Company
(CHC), Offshore magazine introduces Subsea Technology
Eastern Mediterranean, a new conference and tabletop
exhibition dedicated to facilitating the transfer of
technology, best practices, and regional cross-border
collaboration for sustainable offshore energy development
in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Curated by top subject matter experts, the conference
program will focus on subsea tieback technology and new
concepts for sustainable development and operations,
attracting senior technology and business management from
the global offshore international operators, engineering
firms, contractors, technology suppliers, service companies,
and regulators.
Big 5 Construct Southern Africa
Get ready to experience the ultimate construction event of the
year. Big 5 Construct Southern Africa is celebrating its 10th
edition and you’re invited! Taking place 27 – 29 June 2023 at
the Gallagher Convention Centre, this exhibition and conference is an
absolute must-attend event for anyone in the construction industry
in Southern Africa.
Join thousands of your construction industry peers for three days of
valuable business and gain FREE access to:
• World-class products and cutting-edge technologies from over
200 local and international suppliers, all in one convenient
location
• Stay ahead of the curve and gain valuable insights with over 30
free, CPD accredited seminars and workshops led by industry
experts
• Maximize your time and make valuable connections by conducting
a year’s worth of business in just three days with endless
networking opportunities
• Join the conversation with public and private sector stakeholders
and tackle the most pressing issues in the construction industry at
the Stakeholders Engagement Forum
• Get a sneak peek into the future of construction in Southern Africa
with exclusive project showcases
• And so much more!
So, what are you waiting for? Register now and get ready to expand your
network, discover the latest technologies, connect with industry leaders,
and learn from industry experts. Join us at Big 5 Construct Southern
Africa and take your construction business to the next level!
www.africasurveyorsonline.com
March-April issue l 2023 9
INNOVATION
Announcing MatrixSpace Radar – Compact, highperformance
radar to digitize the outdoors
Radar and AI sensing innovator
MatrixSpace announces MatrixSpace
Radar. It is the first offering of a highly
differentiated series of AI sensing products
addressing the need for affordable, longdistance
sensing, tracking, monitoring and
inspection solutions for use on the ground or
in the air. It is the smallest, lightest and most
portable high-performance radar available,
opening opportunities for previously
unaffordable or completely new applications.
Digitizing the outdoors is the ability to
measure the size, location, and movement of
objects in time, shifting reliance from human
sensing to a far more detailed recognition of
objects and their movements.
Current radar offerings are either basic
solutions with limited range, or expensive
military-grade offerings which are heavy,
consume high amounts of power, require
specialist skills to operate, and are difficult
to set up. MatrixSpace Radar addresses
Robot dog | Image: MatrixSpace
this unserved middle area for large-scale
use cases. These include semi-autonomous
mobile platforms such as robots, drones, and
eVTOLs; general aviation such as helicopters;
and systems such as portable or fixed security
systems, target tracking systems, and sports
performance analysis.
MatrixSpace’s mission is to offer real-time AI
edge-based sensing with the ability to detect
and track multiple types of objects in any
situation. Combining industry leading sensing,
AI edge processing and RF communication in
real-time is a major technology breakthrough
that will reinvent business models across
multiple vertical market applications. The
MatrixSpace Radar is the foundational
product of this open architecture sensing
platform.
Yamaha Marine Innovation Center Opening. | Image: courtesy
Yamaha opens
new Marine
Innovation
Center
Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit has
announced the grand opening of a
new Marine Innovation Center in
Kennesaw, Ga. on April 12. Governor Brian
Kemp, First Lady Marty Kemp and Mayor
Derek Easterling of Kennesaw attended
the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new
75,280 square foot facility which now houses
the Yamaha Marine Connected Division as
well as Yamaha U.S. Marine Development,
Yamaha Marine Product Management and
Yamaha Marine Technical Marketing.
“We believe Georgia is an exceptional
location for business growth and
development. The Marine Innovation
Center represents the fourth major Yamaha
facility in the state, joining Yamaha’s Marine
headquarters in Kennesaw, the Yamaha
Motorsports and Intelligent Machinery Group
headquarters in Marietta, and the Yamaha
Motor Corporation manufacturing facility
in Newnan,” said Ben Speciale, President,
Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit. “Yamaha
employs approximately 2,300 team members
in Georgia. We plan to add more as we partner
with local education institutions to hire
engineers for our new facility in Kennesaw,
where we’re developing exciting, innovative
products that will deliver more exceptional
experiences for Yamaha customers across the
globe.”
Products currently under development within
the Yamaha Marine Innovation Center include
DockPoint and Siren Marine products, as
well as new Yamaha WaterCraft vehicles and
accessories.
Yamaha career opportunities within Marine
Connected Division include business planning,
user experience, IoT/Cloud Infrastructure,
product planning, data analysis, sales and
marketing positions. Positions within the
Yamaha U.S. Marine Development, Product
Management and Marine Technical Marketing
Division include control engineers, perception
engineers, product development engineers,
project managers, hydrodynamics engineers
and various software engineers.
10 March-April issue l 2023 www.africasurveyorsonline.com
INNOVATION
Attop Launches New GPS 4K Drone Series for Advanced
Aerial Photography
Attop, a famous brand in the drone
industry, has launched its latest
product, the GPS 4K drone, which is
designed for professional aerial photography.
With a sophisticated GPS system, this drone is
perfect for advanced users, while entry-level
models are also available for those who are
new to flying drones. The brand has been
committed to offering high-quality drones to
the business-to-consumer (B2C) market since
2013 and has expanded its product line to
cater to more experienced users. The Attop
GPS drone comes in two models, W70 and
W80, both with unique selling points.
The W70 model boasts a 4K ultra-clear
camera, 5G FPV range, GPS positioning auto
return to home, and trajectory fingering
paint as customers want. This model is
equipped with a brushless motor that runs
more powerfully and with less noise and
long service life for stable and fast drone
flight. The W70 drone's flight path can follow
the trajectory customers want or fly around
it, increasing the fun of outdoor shooting
Atmos has announced that it
will integrate Sony’s new α7R
mark III and IV cameras into its
VTOL fixed-wing drones. The drone
manufacturer told Commercial UAV
News that adding the cameras to the
company’s high-end Marlyn Cobalt
UAV will improve surveying and
mapping applications by increasing
coverage and accuracy.
and capturing more exciting shots. With
the Follow Me function enabled, the W70
drone can follow the GPS on customers'
smartphones, allowing them to capture more
memorable moments.
The W80 model, on the other hand, features
a 2-axis gimbal with a 4K UHD EIS camera,
GPS return to home, 5G FPV transmission, and
multifunctional drones recording highlight
moments. The 2-axis motorized gimbal
provides superior camera stability and higher
wind resistance. Its 4K UHD image quality is
more transparent and has a 90° adjustable
lens to capture more wonderful images. The
W80 model has added features like pointof-interest,
waypoint flight, and Follow Me,
perfect for sports enthusiasts and outdoor
enthusiasts. Its brushless motor ensures a
more powerful operation, lower noise, and
longer service life for stable and fast drone
flight.
Attop emphasizes that its product line is
Atmos Integrates Sony α7R Series Cameras Into
its VTOL Drones
IV respectively). When
combined with Zeiss’
35mm (α7R III) and 21mm
(α7R IV) lenses,
these cameras
Image: Courtesy
complete, and consumers interested in GPS
drones but have a limited budget can buy
other cost-effective models as entry-level
machines. The brand aims to support its
customers throughout their drone journey
and help them discover a better world. The
drones with cameras for adults can be used in
parks, parking lots, campgrounds, or beaches
to record exciting moments anywhere. The
ATTOP portable drones offer up to 60 minutes
of flight time (30 minutes for each battery),
fulfilling all customers' needs, whether
they want to film a landscape or a life
documentary.
“By offering these two options,
we can cover a large range of
applications and use cases,” stated
Vasilis Tziampiris, Marketing Lead
at Atmos, a Dutch company focused
on the design and production of
drones for aerial surveying and data
collection.
Both the α7R mark III and IV cameras
have an ISO of 32,000 (expandable
to 102,400) and camera sensors with
high mega pixel count (42,4MP for
the α7R ΙΙΙ, and 61MP for the α7R
www.africasurveyorsonline.com
will enable
drone surveyors
to achieve GSD
(Ground Sample Distance) levels
below one centimeter.
According to Atmos, this technology
will provide Marlyn Cobalt users with
increased
coverage and
accuracy, allowing
them to map an area
of 210 hectares (nearly 520 acres) with
accuracy down to a centimeter in a
single flight.
March-April issue l 2023 11
COVER STORY
Using Satellites and Remote Sensing
in Forest Fires management
By Dorcas Kang'ereha
Forest fires have a significant impact on the global
environment and are increasingly occurring with more
frequency than ever before. They cause massive losses of life
and property, as well as threatening the natural ecological systems.
The use of remote sensing technology to monitor and detect fires
is an effective means of reducing their impact on the environment.
“In the case of large-area fires, satellite data allow you to plan
firefighting and evacuation actions. In analyses related to fires,
imaging by various sensors can be used, but high time resolution is
crucial, allowing imaging to be performed during the fire or at least
a few days after it. More and more recent Earth Observing system
satellites have the advantage to allow daily image acquisition,”
says Jaurez Dorfling, Managing Director at Geo Data Design. GEO
Data Design are providers of geospatial solutions using very High
Resolution Satellite Imagery and Location-Intelligence.
“Furthermore, remote sensing technology is becoming more
prevalent in Forest Fires Management. The increasing availability
of satellite imagery together with the development of the
geographic information technology allows monitoring of fire risk
and estimate post-fire damage spatially,” observed Jaurez.
“During long periods of drought and heat, forest ecosystems are
particularly at risk of fire as the dried, fallen trees and shrubs, turn
into fuel that are easily ignited. An accurate knowledge of the fuel
condition is critical in monitoring and preventing fires,” he adds.
Margherita Bruscolini, Globhe's Head of Drones, is affirmative
that, remote sensing and drones play a critical role in forest fire
management by providing valuable information about the fire’s
behavior, extent, and severity. These technologies help in planning
and executing fire management strategies by detecting and
monitoring forest fires. GLOBHE - Offers accurate and actionable
drone data from anywhere in the world, accessed through one
single platform.
Using Satellites in Forest Fire Monitoring
Many fire managers are already familiar with the capabilities of
satellites to monitor the environment, and their value for forest
fire monitoring is increasing. This technology can provide useful
information on the location, extent and direction of fires as well as the
evolution of their activity.
“Remote sensing can provide information about the location, size,
and intensity of fires, as well as the types of vegetation and terrain
affected. Satellite-based remote sensing allows for the detection and
monitoring of fires over large areas. At the same time, drones and
ground-based sensors can provide high-resolution images, maps, and
real-time footage about the fire’s behavior,” enhances Margherita.
Several satellite-sensor platforms are available, each offering its own
set of specific characteristics for detecting and imaging fires. The
wavelength bands used, the spatial resolution of the sensor and its
coverage area are all critical factors for identifying the right satellite
for fire detection.
One important feature of optical remote sensing imagery is the
presence of smoke plumes, which are a visual indicator of active
fires. Optical sensors onboard satellites can detect these plumes and
provide information on the locations of fires in high resolution images.
“Drones are increasingly being used in forest fire management
Forest in Swaziland WV2. Image: Geo Data Design
12 March-April issue l 2023 www.africasurveyorsonline.com
REMOTE SENSING
team, these tools can be combined with data derived from other
remote sensing applications such as aerial photos or GPS.
Bali_Forestry Challenge Image: Globhe
to provide real-time data and imagery to firefighters and other
responders. Drones equipped with infrared cameras can detect heat
and smoke, providing information on the fire’s location and spread.
High-resolution cameras on drones can also provide detailed images
of the fire’s behavior, which can be used to plan firefighting strategies
and assess the fire’s impact on the ecosystem,” highlights Margherita.
These satellites can also identify hot spots, which are areas of
intense heat radiating from fires. These hot spots can be detected by
infrared (IR) sensors onboard satellites, thereby providing additional
information on the general location, shape and direction of fires, and
their duration.
“In addition to providing valuable data for firefighting and
management, remote sensing and drones can also help prevent forest
fires by providing early warning of potential ignition sources, such as
hotspots or lightning strikes. This information can be used to quickly
respond to potential fires, reducing the risk of large-scale forest fires,”
affirms Margherita.
Some of these sensors can also detect fires that are smoldering, but
this can be difficult because smoldering fires have a lower emissivity
than active fires, which reduce the intensity of the thermal signal
received by the sensor.
Managing and Monitoring Forest Fires with Remote Sensing
The ability to rapidly detect fires is vital for assessing the effectiveness
of firefighting operations and the progress of wildfire suppression
efforts. This requires that fire teams have access to up-to-date
information about fire ecology, land mapping and other remote
sensing technologies, and staff with knowledge of these topics.
Fire teams can also benefit from having a dedicated space within their
organization to develop and implement their own remote sensing
tools. This can include office space, adequate hardware and software
and trained staff with access to up-to-date literature.
There are many different tools that can be used to monitor and assess
fires with remote sensing, including radar, laser scanning, LiDAR and
thermal imagery. Depending on the needs of the fire management
“Several pre-fire conditions can be monitored using remote sensing.
The first one is related to the fuel type, which can be mapped, like
classical vegetation mapping, from high spatial resolution optical or
radar images. In such analyses, the spectral range of red and infrared
channels of the Visible and Infra-Red portion of the electromagnetic
spectrum is of particular importance. For evaluation of fire-affected
areas and burn severity the visible and shortwave infrared (SWIR)
regions of the optical sensor are used. Satellite images allow quick
estimation of damage and property loss as well as observation the
revival of vegetation far ahead,” expounds Jaurez.
“Within the other remote sensing techniques, space-based SAR
(radar - working with compressed waves of length 0.1–1 m) has been
traditionally used for fuel type mapping, and Light Detection and
Ranging (LiDAR) has started to be used for fire prevention and control
in larger scale mapping,” adds Jaurez.
“To gain the most information from satellite imagery the Remote
Sensing professionals calculate the various indices or indicators
from the spectral response value of pixels in two different bands.
The most important indices for the analysing forest fire’s hazard are
NDVI- Normalised Difference Vegetation Index, NDWI – Normalised
difference Water Index, NDDI – Normalized Difference Drought Index
and the NBRI – Normalised Burned Ratio. NDVI is the infrared and
red bands ratio which shows changes in the state of vegetation. This
measure has values varying from -1 to 1. The usual healthy, green
vegetation ranges from 0.2 to 0.8. NBRI – Normalised Burned Ratio
Index that are used for estimating the severity of the fire,” he describes.
On the other hand, Margherita is optimistic that, utilizing the remote
sensing techniques and platforms to expand the preventative work
and manage forest fires is extremely valuable for any organization
looking to limit the damage of wildfires.
Conclusion
The ability to rapidly detect and map a fire is crucial for ensuring the
safety of firefighters and the public. As outlined by the experts, remote
sensing techniques allow fire teams to make informed decisions
about where to start and how to respond. This helps to ensure that all
firefighting resources are fully utilized.
Moreover, early detection of a fire is essential. Current firefighting
techniques depend on manual observation, aerial survey or fixed
optical cameras. However, with the availability of advanced remote
sensing techniques and equipment and high-resolution satellite
imagery, forest fire management can now take a more integrated
approach to fighting and monitoring wildfires.
GEO Data Design are providers of geospatial solutions using very
High Resolution Satellite Imagery and Location-Intelligence.
NDVI High End Image: Geo Data Design
Tel:+27 21 425 9833
Email: info@datadesign.co.za
Web: www.geodatadesign.co.za
www.africasurveyorsonline.com
March-April issue l 2023 13
OPINION
African Oil & Gas Remains an
Excellent Opportunity for Investments
The African Energy Chamber is countering yet another
argument in the onslaught of calls for Africa to give up
oil and gas production. This time, it’s the idea that oil and
gas projects in Africa are worse for the climate than those in
other regions of the world. The argument was a major point in
a June 2022 article by consulting firm McKinsey. In “The future
of African oil and gas: Positioning for the energy transition,”
McKinsey states that “African oil and gas assets are on average
15 to 20 percent more costly to develop and operate and 70 to
80 percent more carbon-intensive than global oil and gas assets.”
The “leave fossil fuels in the ground” crowd is taking these
claims and running with them. Berlin-based nonprofit Climate
Analytics, for example, used McKinsey’s assessment to support
an argument for halting investments in African natural gas
exploration.
“If African countries invest in fossil fuel infrastructure, it risks
locking in high emissions, burdening their economies with
stranded assets, and potentially losing out on major economic
opportunities to invest in renewable energy and green hydrogen
– for both domestic use and exports,” Climate Analytics wrote,
citing these same percentages from the McKinsey study. “New
African LNG faces significant competitive pressures if not
disadvantages from incumbent producers, or producers with
intrinsically lower cost structures.”
I have news for anyone making a case against the exploration
and production of oil and gas in Africa: McKinsey’s negative
assessment is flat-out wrong.
Yes, certainly African oil and gas are expensive to produce.
I understand that in African countries, the technology and
knowledge are not necessarily where they need to be yet. That
is going to impact the cost of operating here. All the same, our
energy industry continues to offer opportunities for significant
return on investment.
As African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina
recently told African Business, Africa still has a great deal to offer
in terms of energy investments.
“You’ve got 600 million people that still need energy,” Adesina
said. “That’s a lot of investment that you can make. The
infrastructure deficit is still about up to $108 billion a year. That’s
a huge opportunity for investors. You’re looking at the issue of
water and sanitation. You’re looking at digital infrastructure.
Almost anything in Africa is an investment opportunity.”
Author: NJ Ayuk
A leading authority in the African energy sector and a
strong advocate for African entrepreneurship and the
indigenous energy sector, NJ Ayuk is recognized as one
of the foremost figures in African business today. A wellknown
dealmaker in the petroleum and power sectors
and founder of a leading energy focused law firm, NJ is
dedicating his career to helping African entrepreneurs.
Investing in Africa’s vast natural gas supplies makes
particularly good sense, Adesina added.
“Why is there a crisis in Europe when the Russians turned
off the gas? We believe that natural gas is important. It’s
not, for me, an ideological issue. It’s a pragmatic issue. We
have projects here that have to do with gas projects that
will provide gas for African countries to be able to do energy,
liquefied petroleum gas for cooking. They’ll also be able
to have compressed gas for the transport system and then,
of course, to have gas pipelines that will go all the way
from Lagos to Morocco, to Europe. And Africa becomes an
alternative and a viable source of gas diversification, market
diversification for Europe.”
Well said. Investing in African energy is smart today, and it
will continue to be a savvy investment well into the future.
As for the claims about African oil and gas production being
significantly more carbon-intensive than in other regions of
the world, they are unproven.
The fact is, investing in African oil and gas makes sense for
the environment and for companies’ bottom lines.
The World Needs Africa’s Oil and Gas
Listening to McKinsey, you’d think Africa’s oil and gas
14 March-April issue l 2023 www.africasurveyorsonline.com
OPINION
industry is a sinking ship.
“As global capital pools for hydrocarbon projects begin to reduce,
our analysis suggests the cost of oil and gas production in Africa is
expected to rise, making African oil and gas projects potentially even
less competitive in global markets,” McKinsey states.
“Under McKinsey’s achieved commitments energy transition scenario,
the replacement of approximately 60 percent of Africa’s current oil
production could become uncompetitive by 2040. As oil majors shift
toward lower-emission basins, Africa’s oil-producing countries could
find themselves deprioritized for further development and facing an
increased risk of stranded assets with significant oil and gas reserves
remaining untapped.”
Those forecasts could easily become self-fulfilling prophesies, leading
oil companies to assume that investing in Africa is a dead end. What’s
more, that kind of prediction couldn’t be further from the truth.
As Rystad Energy’s chief analyst, Per Magnus Nysveen, put it during
the African Energy Chamber’s Invest in African Energy Reception in
London last January, Africa’s massive petroleum resources represent
tremendous opportunity. He noted that sub-Saharan Africa alone
holds 140 billion barrels of oil equivalent, of which only one-third
is developed, and two-thirds of Africa’s undeveloped resources are
natural gas.
Rystad has projected that Africa’s greenfield upstream spending will
not falter during the coming decade; it will boom, reaching $37 billion
by 2025 and $50 billion by 2030. One reason for that is that Africa’s
resources are desperately needed, both in our continent and around
the globe. And that reality isn’t going to change any time soon. That’s
why Rystad and the African Energy Chamber have been calling for
a robust energy mix of ongoing oil and gas exploration and drilling
combined with investments in renewable energy sources.
“We need as much as 65 million barrels by 2030 from wells that have
not been drilled yet,” Nysveen said.
Indeed. I would add that, while some major international oil
companies (IOCs) have been divesting their African resources in
pursuit of less carbon-intensive resources, increasing numbers of
independent oil companies are grabbing up the majors’ assets. Why
would they do that? Because they recognize the opportunity Africa
represents and understand that it is possible to produce oil and gas
here sustainably. IOC’s will play a major role at African Energy Week in
Cape Town this October.
Look at independent oil and gas company Afentra, which has been
amping up its exploration activities in Africa by taking over assets from
global oil majors. One of its priorities is to produce gas responsibly,
maintaining best practices to protect the environment.
By doing that, Afentra CEO Paul McDade said, the company also creates
a pathway to obtaining capital.
“I talked to a lot of capital providers,” McDade told Energy Voice. “The
conclusion was that capital was available and that public markets
were the best way to go. To access that capital, though, you have to
really understand investors’ ESG concerns.
www.africasurveyorsonline.com
“Any new company needs to look at the whole concept of ESG. We’re
going to work with governments to legitimize mature production and
keep producing,” McDade continued.
Low-Carbon Energy Production Right Here in Africa
What I find most frustrating about McKinsey’s article is the
blanket statement that, on average, production in our continent is
significantly more carbon-intensive than in other parts of the world.
Carbon intensity generally is measured in three areas: greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions related to day-to-day company operations, such
as commuting to work sites; GHG emissions that result from energy
that is purchased, such as electricity; and emissions created during
upstream, midstream, and downstream activities such as drilling,
transporting, and storing oil and gas.
And the factors that impact carbon intensity vary, from gas flaring
practices to power generation at oil and gas company facilities.
Not only are sweeping statements about African carbon-intensity
unhelpful, they’re also inaccurate.
Many African states are working to mediate carbon emissions through
efforts ranging from participating in carbon-offset projects and
anti-flaring initiatives to developing less carbon-intensive means of
transporting oil and gas, like pipelines.
We also should look at the increase of liquefied natural gas (LNG)
projects in Africa. LNG production is considered significantly less
carbon-intensive than that of other fossil fuels, a fact that should be
taken into consideration.
Look at Mozambique, the site of several major LNG projects. Not
only will the LNG production there have a minimal carbon footprint,
but the companies responsible for those projects are going above
and beyond to operate sustainably. ExxonMobil, for example, has
announced plans to implement carbon capture technology at its
Rovuma LNG project, and the company has said it would also work
closely with TotalEnergies, responsible for the Mozambique LNG
Project, to make both of their projects more affordable and cleaner.
Then there is the MSGBC region, which encompasses Mauritania,
Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, The Gambia, and Guinea-Conakry. Its
natural gas industry is a picture of both economic opportunity and
low-carbon production. Oil companies there are actively pursuing
decarbonization solutions, including carbon capture and storage, as
well as technologies that enhance production and reduce emissions.
And these are only two examples.
The reality is, despite McKinsey’s claims, Africa’s oil and gas industry
is not at death’s door. It is not inexpensive to operate here, but ROI
is sizeable here as well. And investing in African oil and gas is not a
blow to the environment. The carbon-intensity of oil and gas projects
in our continent, as in regions around the world, is complex and
varied.
Giving up on African oil and gas investments would be a grave
mistake and a lost opportunity.
March-April issue l 2023 15
OFFSHORE
Crown Energy withdraws from
South African Offshore Venture
following disappointing well
results
Crown Energy to withdraw
from the joint venture
operating the Block
2B offshore South Africa after
disappointing results of the Gazania-1
exploration well drilled in 2022.
The Gazania-1 well was spudded
in October 2022, using the Island
Innovator semi-submersible drilling.
The Gazania-1 well was drilled
in about 150 meters of water, 25
kilometers offshore the Northern Cape
in the Orange Basin, and targeted a
gross prospective resource of over
300 million barrels of light oil across
multiple zones.
Eco Atlantic, the operator of the
offshore block, said in November
the well had reached a target depth
of 2,360 meters but did not show
evidence of commercial hydrocarbons.
The JV partnership in respect of Block
2B comprises Eco Atlantic (50% WI
and Operator), Africa Energy Corp
(27.5% WI), Panoro 2B Limited, a
subsidiary of Panoro Energy ASA
(12.5% WI), and Crown Energy AB
(10% WI).
Crown Energy said Thursday it had
sent a withdrawal letter to the joint
venture, meaning that the other
owners will take over Crown’s 10% in the
project.
"This will not have any economic
consequences for Crown Energy as Crown
has already impaired the value of this asset,"
Crown said.
Closely Watched Gazania Wildcat Offshore S. Africa Disappoints. | Image: courtesy
Yoav Ben-Eli, CEO of Crown Energy: "We have
decided to change Crown's strategy from oil
and gas into sustainable businesses such as
MedTech. To divest the South African holding
is logical from both economic and strategic
purposes.”
The Orange Basin straddles the offshore
waters of Namibia and South Africa, where
major discoveries on both the Graff-1 well,
drilled by Shell, and the Venus-1 well,
drilled by TotalEnergies, have recently been
announced.
16 March-April issue l 2023 www.africasurveyorsonline.com
OFFSHORE
Van Oord Makes History with
Record-Breaking Subsea Rock
Installation Offshore Senegal
Van Oord, a Dutch offshore installation services firm has
confirmed that its flexible fallpipe vessel Stornes has set a
new world record.
The vessel carried out subsea rock installation works what Van Oord
says is a record water depth of 1.364 meters, with Van Oord comparing
the distance to "almost five times the length of the Eiffel tower!"
The Subsea Rock installation works were executed in relation to the
development of the Woodside-operated Sangomar field in Senegal.
Subsea 7 contracted Van Oord to install 262.000 tonnes of rock in
water depths ranging from 800 to the record depth of 1.364 meters
for the stabilization and protection of subsea infrastructure.
The Sangomar field is located approximately 100 kilometers south of
Dakar. Due to the remote project location, the rock is supplied to the
vessel by a ship-to-ship transfer method.
"With this record, Van Oord strengthens their position as market
leader for SRI, both in accuracy, efficiency and depth," said Rob Bakker,
Operations Manager at Van Oord
According to the company, its dynamic positioning flexible fallpipe
vessels are equipped with a unique flexible fall pipe system and
Remote Operating Vehicles (ROV).
Van Oord Makes History with Record-Breaking Subsea Rock
Installation Offshore Senegal. | Image: courtesy
"Van Oord has developed a system in-house to install rock precisely
and efficiently at greater water depth. This is an unique system giving
Van Oord the ability to reach this record breaking water depth. Van
Oord is the only subsea Rock Installation Contractor ever to reach this
water depth and is determined to remain the record holder for deep
water SRI," the company said.
Last month, Australian oil and gas giant Woodside said that its
Sangomar development had been 82% complete and on target for first
oil later in 2023. Once online, this will be Senegal's first offshore oil
project in production.
www.africasurveyorsonline.com
March-April issue l 2023 17
OFFSHORE
Sintana Energy confirms 3D
seismic survey data gathered
in Namibia's Orange basin
Image: courtesy
Sintana Energy Inc. confirmed that over 50% of the 6,872
square kilometers of 3D seismic survey data has been
gathered from Petroleum Exploration License 87 (“PEL 87”)
and the surrounding area in the Orange Basin in Namibia. Initial
processed results are expected to be available and interpreted by the
end of August 2023.
PEL 87 includes the very large Saturn turbidite complex that has been
mapped. This complex shares many geologic characteristics and is ontrend
with the Venus oil discovery made by TotalEnergies in February
2022. The core features of Saturn, covering approximately 2,400
square kilometers, lie entirely within the PEL 87 area.
“Survey activities on PEL 87 are well advanced and we remain
confident that the results will confirm that we are on trend with the
recent massive discoveries in the basin and will further demonstrate
that Saturn Turbidite Complex is a significant offshore deepwater oil
opportunity,” said Robert Bose, President and Director of Sintana.
Woodside Energy (GOM), Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Woodside
Energy Group Ltd., entered into an agreement in March of 2023
whereby it has the option to acquire a 56% Participating Interest
in PEL 87 in consideration for, among other things, paying the full
cost of a 3D seismic survey covering an area of at least 5,000 square
kilometers within the PEL 87.
Infographic of the seismic survey in Namibia's orange basin. Credit:
Sintana Energy
Woodside has a period of at least 180 days after delivery of the survey
to exercise its option. If the option is exercised, Woodside has agreed
to enter into a farmout agreement whereby it will carry existing joint
venture partners for the full cost of drilling the first exploration well.
Custos Investments retains a 15% interest in PEL 87 and benefits from
this carry and other elements related to the farmout and joint venture
agreements. Sintana owns an indirect 49% interest in Custos.
18 March-April issue l 2023 www.africasurveyorsonline.com
OFFSHORE
The Government of Republic of Guiné Bissau
and Eni to start collaboration in the areas of
exploration, natural climate
solutions, agriculture,
sustainability, and health
Image: courtesy
The Government of Republic of Guiné Bissau and Eni signed
a Memorandum of Intent (MoI) to explore potential areas
of collaboration in the areas of exploration, nature- and
technology-based climate solutions, agriculture, sustainability, and
health.
This Memorandum aims to evaluate solutions to promote sustainable
growth in the environmental field and to support the development
of local communities. In particular, initiatives in forest protection and
sustainable land management, as well as in agriculture and agrifeedstock
from agricultural residues, will be evaluated.
Other areas of collaboration include the evaluation of exploration
potential of the country's offshore area.
With regards to health, the Government of Guiné Bissau and Eni have
already identified a joint initiative to strengthen the emergency and
intensive care services; a first batch of essential medical equipment
was delivered to the Ministry of Health. Furthermore Eni Foundation
– Eni’s arm dedicated to health initiatives - is conducting a feasibility
study to support the actions of the Ministry of Health on improving
maternal and child health in Guinea Bissau.
The MoI is alligned with the Guiné Bissau’s Government priority to
invest in health, education, infrastructure and agriculture as well as
with Eni’s commitment to just transition in African countries.
www.africasurveyorsonline.com
March-April issue l 2023 19
FEATURE
Offshore oil exploration
hydrographic survey factors to observe for
an offshore oil exploration project
By Dorcas Kang'ereha
The global Offshore Drilling market size is projected to grow
from USD 31.26 billion in 2018 to USD 56.97 billion in 2026,
at CAGR of 7.9% during forecast period, says Fortune Business
Insights. According to the FBI analysts, the factors such as
surging demand for electricity worldwide is expected to drive the growth
of this market. Heavy investment in offshore E&P activities by national
governments to bolster sales.
Despite the increase in popularity, the market for hydrographic surveys
is still quite small and has significant competition from other types of
surveying. However, conferring to the market projections, the industry is
expected to grow over the next few years. This growth is primarily driven
by an increase in maritime trade, underwater inspection, offshore wind
energy projects, offshore oil exploration and dredging projects across the
globe.
The increase in dredging operations and oil and gas drilling activities is
boosting the hydrographic survey market. These activities are increasing in
many countries, and a growing number of these activities are being carried
out by commercial companies.
The major factors that are boosting the hydrographic survey market
include the rising use of unmanned vehicles for surveying and the
emergence of new technologies such as machine learning to support
complete autonomous operations. These technologies can reduce the
cost of operations, while providing high-quality data that is essential for a
successful project.
The primary reason why hydrographic surveys are used is to determine
the depth of a water body. Hydrographic survey is a type of technology
that provides a detailed description and measurement of a water body
which are needed for a variety of projects, including dredging analysis,
wreck location, waterway planning etc. The process involves the use
of multibeam echo sounders and other sonar equipment to survey
underwater areas for depth, seafloor shape, and possible obstructions.
It is a critical component of any marine activities and helps maintain a
20 March-April issue l 2023 www.africasurveyorsonline.com
OFFSHORE OIL EXPLORATION
safe and efficient execution of a marine project. It is necessary for
involved parties of every construction project to know how deep their
building area is. Besides, water depth is a key point of knowledge for
navigation, inspection, dredging, drilling and other maritime activities.
Hydrographic surveys can also be conducted by a variety of
organizations, from local governments to private companies. These
entities may carry out surveys for geological reasons, to determine
the proper location for oil and gas structures or to install underwater
communication devices.
As published by FIG publication No.56, hydrographic survey operations
should be determined primarily by a risk assessment, rather than by
the blanket adoption of a set of rigid criteria. These Guidelines for
the Planning, Execution and Management of Hydrographic Surveys in
Ports and Harbours can be adopted and adapted for any hydrographic
project including an offshore oil exploration project.
“Before a project kicks off, the project team will first assess the
project, the scope of works and determine what the end deliverables
are and what the client is wishing to acquire and achieve,” says Gaynor
Deacon, Chartered Surveyor and Director at Amaza Survey Services
(Pty) Ltd. “Based on the Clients Scope of Works. The Project Survey
Team will determine what suite of equipment would be required to
acquire the necessary data and who the potential survey team should
comprise. They would then complete a desktop study to assess if
there is any existing hydrographic information. This will be assessed
for quality, reliability and uncertainties,” she adds.
Gaynor further particularizes on key points a survey project team will
have to determine before a project is awarded or takes shape:-
• how difficult it will be to survey the area (where it is in relation
to closest port / can it be surveyed 24hrs day or daylight hours
only / any known problems in the area – either environmental
(cyclone seasons?), anthropological (e.g. drift nets or local fishing
activities) or political/security (local conflicts or piracy risk)
• Type of seabed.
• Expected water depths, safe navigable water depths in relation
to the vessel draught and/or towed array.
• Expected vessel traffic for safety and security purposes.
• Expected sea conditions and seasonal weather conditions (which
would affect type of vessel and time of year to conduct surveys).
• Accuracy of measured / predicted tides.
• Positioning accuracy and source of corrections – e.g. RTK,
satellite-based corrections, NTRIP.
“Based on the findings of the above, the team can then identify type
of survey vessel, survey equipment and methodology and survey
operational approach, and be ready to take the next step once the
project is awarded,” clinches Gaynor.
Hydrographic surveys are a necessary task for the dredging and
drilling industry, because it is impossible to know where a dredge
or drilling project will go without a clear picture of the area. Once
a team has surveyed the area, it can then begin dredging or drilling
accordingly. Another important part of the hydrographic survey
process is obtaining accurate GPS positioning. In order to do this, a
portable backpack DGPS receiver must be carried by the hydrographer.
This allows them to determine the position and extents of objects
such as pilings, piers, and other features that are essential for the
creation of a survey report.
Many governments and agencies conduct hydrographic surveys
for a variety of purposes, including the construction of dredging
systems, pipelines, transport navigation, exploration drilling and
telecommunication lines. These are typically supervised by national
organizations, but local authorities often conduct independent
surveys to ensure that new developments are accurately depicted on
the final project report.
Image: courtesy
www.africasurveyorsonline.com
March-April issue l l 2023 21
CIVIL ENGINEERING
Civil Engineering
Role of Civil Engineers in
Water and Wastewater Plants
By Dorcas Kang'ereha
We may be familiar with the responsibility of a Civil
engineer as to designing and building infrastructure
such as roads, buildings and energy systems. These
duties are a vital part of society, and their work impacts lives in
countless ways. It is also the mandate of a civil engineer is to plan
and design infrastructure that makes life easier for people all around
the planet. They use engineering principles to create structures and
buildings that are safe, efficient, sustainable and affordable.
With the rapidly evolving technology, civil engineers can develop
sustainable designs that minimize the environmental impact of their
projects. For example, they can help to optimize better material
use, develop rainwater management plans, restore degraded or
contaminated sites, and develop environmentally friendly materials
for construction. They also work to improve the quality of our
surroundings and reduce pollution, helping to protect ecosystems and
conserve resources. Their expertise and knowledge are invaluable to
many projects, including water and wastewater treatment plants.
22 March-April issue l 2023 www.africasurveyorsonline.com
WATER AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS
are also required to ensure that all of the necessary steps are taken
to construct a project on time and within budget. This can include
monitoring the progress of the team onsite and keeping an open
dialogue with architects, consultants and subcontractors, by the use
of construction project management software to keep track of all
the tasks and activities that are being carried out. These tools allow
them to ensure that everyone is following the correct procedures and
on-time.
These tools can also be used to make reports and to communicate
with staff on the site if there are any issues that need to be resolved.
The ability to write up these reports, manage construction crews and
monitor the progress of a project is critical for the successful execution
of any civil engineering project.
The future of this career is expected to continue to grow and expand,
as more cities and countries need to build new infrastructure. As such,
there is an increasing need for trained and qualified civil engineers
who can provide the knowledge, skills and expertise to carry out these
tasks.
Role of Civil Engineers in Water and Wastewater Plants
Civil Engineers can design, build, and help maintain and successfully
operate structures and large facilities such as dams, pipelines, tanks,
reservoirs, pumping stations and treatment plants for water and
wastewater.
Speaking to Geofrey Mwangi, Senior Engineer, at Arup, Nairobi office
on the critical role of Civil Engineers in Water and Wastewater Plants,
he had this to say, “Civil engineers are responsible for designing,
building, and maintaining water and wastewater treatment plants to
ensure that they meet the required standards for safety, water quality,
treatment capacity, and environmental impact including safe disposal
of wastewater generated. This work is essential as water is a complex,
and ever-changing resource that is linked to almost everything in
the world, and is critical for socio-economic development, healthy
ecosystems and for the survival of humans and nature. Civil engineers
must have a deep understanding of water treatment processes,
environmental regulations, and engineering principles to successfully
perform this work.”
Environmental sustainability contribution
In order to make a positive difference in the environment, civil
engineers are required to contribute to sustainability efforts
throughout a project's life cycle. This can include a range of
activities from the initial site assessment to the final construction
phase. The main way that civil engineers contribute to sustainability
is by ensuring that their projects are built to green standards, such
as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). This
includes ensuring that the buildings and structures they design are
designed with efficiency, safety, and longevity in mind.
Moreover, they must ensure that the infrastructure they build
adheres to local codes and regulations. They must also make sure
that all parties involved in a project are aware of their duties and
obligations to the public and local governments. Civil engineers
www.africasurveyorsonline.com
Geofrey further elaborates that, “Water and wastewater treatment
plants are part of water infrastructure systems composed of various
other components which include dams, reservoirs, pumping stations,
pipelines, storage tanks and towers, wastewater collection systems,
stormwater management systems, and rainwater harvesting systems.
These components work together to ensure a reliable supply of clean
water while protecting public health and the environment.”
“The plants play a crucial role in the treatment of water and
wastewater, while dams and reservoirs provide a reliable supply of
water. Pumping stations and pipelines transport water to treatment
plants and distribution networks, while storage tanks and towers
ensure a sufficient supply during periods of high demand. Wastewater
collection network (sanitary sewers) transport wastewater for
treatment, while stormwater management systems prevent flooding
and pollution. Finally, rainwater harvesting systems conserve water
resources by capturing and storing rainwater to meet specified
demands such as non-potable use,” he concludes.
March-April issue l 2023 23
DIGITAL TWIN
“
Africa is yet to up with this new concept due
to major factors such as lack of awareness
of digitalisation, poor power supply, lack of
adequate digital training facilities, high cost of
digital infrastructure and lack of research in
digitalisation.
By Babatunji Adegoke
The use of digital technology to enhance construction processes
and operations has become popular all over the world. Only
few countries including South Africa are at the forefront of its
adoption in Africa while countries like China and Saudi Arabia, Canada,
Brazil and Turkey are leading in adopting digital technologies in
construction in other parts of the world. Despite the popularisation of
digitalised technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual Reality,
drones, 3D printing, robotics, smart buildings, smart cities, digital
twins, and the metaverse, Africa is yet to up with this new concept
due to major factors such as lack of awareness of digitalisation, poor
power supply, lack of adequate digital training facilities, high cost of
digital infrastructure and lack of research in digitalisation. To improve
the effectiveness of construction operations and project performance
through the adoption of digital technologies, poor power supply has
24 March-April issue l 2023 www.africasurveyorsonline.com
DIGITAL TWIN
Leveraging digital
technology in
construction
to be addressed by the government, professionals need to be trained
on digital tools, regulations should be put in place for the digital
technology industry, professional bodies need to create awareness
of the benefits of digitalisation and built environment stakeholders
should organise conferences and seminars to encourage their
members to adopt digitalisation.
Technology has been used for the advancement of the activities of
humans from times past. The advancement in technology has also
been applied in different industries for the maximum benefit of
these industries. In the construction industry (CI), the application of
technology to advance construction operations has been brought to
the limelight as a result of the epidemics and pandemics that the
world has experienced recently, ranging from Ebola to COVID-19
and most recently, Monkeypox. However, despite that the CI is one
of the oldest; it is still considered one of the most conservative in
the world where the adoption of technology is still at low ebb. The
approach, techniques and tools applied for its operations are often
traditional. New methods and technologies are often not embraced
as rapidly as in other industries. Technological advancement and the
adoption of digital tools applied for the enhancement of construction
operations and processes are often neglected. Digitalisation of the
CI is, therefore, slow and not as popular as it should be especially in
Africa, despite its adoption in other countries of the world especially
Singapore, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, China,
and Canada. The popularisation of digitalisation in manufacturing,
information technology, financial services entertainment, and the
media has also not been reflected in the CI. Africa is, therefore, not
benefitting from the opportunities the digital world brings to the CI
despite being the second biggest continent in the world with an area
covering about a 30.3million Km2 and a population of about 1.216
billion (Wikipedia, no date).
Most African countries are considered developing compared to
countries of other continents, especially Europe and Asia. Europe,
for instance, is described as the most developed continent in the
world (Shvili,2021) with all the countries within Europe classified
as developed, while most African countries are classified as least
developed countries (LDC) (Pariona, 2019). Furthermore and within
Africa, some countries are considered more developed than others
with Mauritius, Seychelles, Algeria, Tunisia, Botswana, Libya, South
Africa, Egypt, Gabon, and Morocco listed as the top 10 most-developed
countries in Africa (World Population Review, 2022). However, Nigeria,
despite having a population of about a 216million (Worldometer, no
date) and ranked the second-largest economy in Africa with a GDP of
$1.14trillion (Egscholars, 2022) is still a developing country alongside
others including Ghana, Benin, Cameroun, Togo, Kenya, Uganda,
Rwanda, and Tanzania(Worlddata, no date).
Several definitions have been given to “digitalisation”. (Gartner, 2022)
defined digitalisation as “the use of digital technologies to change
a business model and provide new revenue and value-producing
opportunities; it is the process of moving to a digital business”. It is
the process of changing data into a digital form thatcan be easily read
www.africasurveyorsonline.com
March-April issue l 2023 25
DIGITAL TWIN
and processed by a computer (Oxford Learner’s Dictionary). Similarly,
(Veldhuizen et. al, 2019) went further to define digitalconstruction
(DC) as “utilising digital technologies to construct more efficiently with
higher quality”. Digitalisation in the CI can, therefore, be described
as the application of digital tools to enhance construction processes
and operations. Irrespective of the definition given to digitalisation,
it can be said that it makes the construction process easier, faster,
safer, sustainable and efficient. This offers a lot of opportunities for
the future of the youths in Africa whose interest lies in the use of
digital technologies. The United Nations asserted that “Africa has the
youngest population in the world, with 70 per cent of sub-Saharan
Africa under the age of 30. Such a high number of young people is
an opportunity for the continent’s growth – but only if these new
generations are fully empowered to realise their best potential”(no
date). The African Youths with their high number in the continent is
an advantage to the CI if they have the right training to explore the
opportunities that DC brings.
Trends in digitilisation
Artificial Intelligence (AI). (Copeland, no date) defined AI as “the ability
of a digital computer or computer-controlled robot to perform tasks
commonly associated with intelligent beings.” In order words, AI
enables machines to think like humans. According to Great Learning
Team, 2022, AI is the simulation of natural intelligence in machines
in such a way that they are programmed to learn and copy the actions
of humans. The use of AI in construction is enormous and it has been
used over time. For example, it can be used to address safety concerns,
labour shortages, cost and time overruns on construction projects,
design a building better, risk mitigation, project planning, increasing
productivity, and use in post-construction.
Virtual Reality (VR): VR is the use of wearable devices, usually on the
eyes to access a virtual world that seems real to the wearer of the
device. University of Toronto, 2021 defined VR as the use of computer
technology to create a simulated environment that can be explored
in 360degrees and places the user inside the virtual environment to
give an immersive experience. VR has become increasingly popular in
Africa; its popularity is only limited to shopping centers and malls for
the purpose of recreation and games only. Its awareness, benefits and
application in the CI in solving problems are far being explored. VR is
seen as a game and not a tool to enhance construction operations or
learn new techniques in construction technology. Brooks, 2022 opined
that VR is useful as an effective tool for training, safety and avoiding
costly overruns on construction projects. Furthermore, VR enables
project stakeholders to have an overview of what to expect early at
the design stage of construction before the execution of the project,
therefore, allowing changes to be made early enough to adjust the
scope and budget of the project to meet the expected reality. VR use
for training and enhancement of safety is useful during pandemics
such as COVID-19 when movement was restricted.
Drones: (ImperialWar Museum, 2022) reported that the earliest use
of Drones was in the Vietnam War where Reconnaissance Unmanned
Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), later known as Drones, were first deployed on a
large scale. Its use has, however, surpassed wars alone. For example, in
the African construction industry, Drones have been used to take aerial
photographs and videos to report the status of construction projects.
Its use can, however, be extended to monitoring site activities remotely
and promoting safe construction. Some drones have sensors that can
Adegoke is a volunteer as the Technical Secretary of the Nigerian
Society of Engineers Victoria Island Branch, He is a member of the
Committee on International Affairs for the Nigerian Institute of
Quantity Surveyors.
alert project managers of potential hazards. Drones can also be used
to monitor construction, especially in dangerously high-rise structures
and very risky areas. Wingtra (no date)stated the benefits of drones as
fast in producing images on sites, producing accurate data, assisting in
cost and time saving, remote access to sites, and increased safety.
3-Dimensional Printing: This is also commonly referred to as 3D
printing. Designing buildings, 2022 described 3D printing, sometimes
referred to as Additive Manufacturing (AM)) as the computercontrolled
sequential layering of materials to create three-dimensional
shapes. Its application has been widely used in the manufacturing
industry to produce replacement parts for machines. Its popularity and
application in the CI have, however, been recent. Automated machines
are programmed to produce buildings at a speed and accuracy much
faster than that of using manual labour. It has been reported that
the use of 3D printing in homes saves time, reduces waste, promotes
sustainability, and reduces construction costs. This was buttressed by
Ennomotive, 2021, who confirmed that a Shanghai-based Decoration
Design Engineering Win sun built 103D printed houses in under 24
hours with each of the houses costing only about $5,000 to build.
Ennomotive, 2021 also stated that 3D printing has been appliedin
the printing of bridges and canals. There has also been evidence of
3Dprinted homes in Africa, with the first 3D affordable printed in
Malawi, costing $10,000 and walls completed in 12 hours (Fleming,
2021).3D printing application in Africa where there is an abundance
of human resources and a high unemployment rate is subject to the
argument of whether its application is best for the continent or not.
Robotics: Robots have been used in construction in recent times.
Its use has been, for example, in the inspection of sewers systems,
underground tunnels and inspection at dangerous heights. Robots
have proven to be effective in providing safe and sustainable
construction while assisting tomake up for labour shortages in
some countries. ABB, a major player in the automation industry,
stated that Robotic automation provides huge potential to enhance
productivity, efficiency and manufacturing flexibility throughout the
26 March-April issue l 2023 www.africasurveyorsonline.com
DIGITAL TWIN
CI. For example, automating the fabrication of modular homes and
building components off-site, robotic welding and material handling
on building sites and robot 3D printing of houses (ABB, 2021). They
further stated that it would make the industry safer and cost-effective
and will in turn promote sustainability because less waste will be
generated throughout the automated process of the construction
which employs the use of Robots. Japan has experimented the use
of Robot for construction to help in replacing the declining labour
shortage in the country. For example, a type of robot called Humanoid,
is being experimented to carry out the works humans would ordinarily
do. Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and
Technology (AIST) has developed a prototype of a humanoid robot
(HRP-5P),designed to operate autonomously for use in construction
sites and environments hazardous to humans (METI, 2019).This use
of this Humanoid can be conveniently applied in Africa, especially
where dangerous construction activities are to be undertaken and
where construction hazards are enormous. It also offers a lot of
opportunities for Africa where the majority of the youthful population
is not interested in working directly in the CI. In Nigeria, for instance,
it is difficult to find skilled labour for construction. Most of the skilled
labour come from neighbouring countries such as the Benin Republic
and Togo.
Smart Buildings: Digitilisation in the CI cannot be discussed without
mentioning the current trend in the development of smartbuildings.
Zhou & Yang, 2018 affirmed that a smart building is a type of building
with a reasonable investment in efficient energy management, and
a comfortable and convenient environment, designed by considering
the optimized relationship between structure, system, service, and
management. The level of smartness of a building varies and it is not a
measure of how much technology is deployed in the building but how
the deployed technology is maximised. Hence, it is not uncommon to
find a few smart buildings in Africa although the level of smartness
of the buildings in Africa cannot be compared to that obtained in
other continents such as Europe, Asia and North America. Some of the
smartest buildings in the world are located in Singapore, Netherlands,
China and Malaysia. Africa countries are again missing in the list of
countries with the smartest buildings. However, some minimal smart
technologies have been known to be deployed in some buildings in
Africa. These technologies include smart security systems, smoke and
fire detection system and smart energy consumption systems.
VII. Smart Cities: The concept of smart cities depicts acity which has
incorporated some smart technology to run efficiently and sustainably.
Lagos, Nigeria was once celebrated as a smart city. The smart
technology deployed in Lagos was however limited and not of many
benefits to the residents of the state. The smart technology could have
used to solve been the endemic traffic problems experienced by the
residents of Lagos state. They can also apply to other cities in Africa
where smart technology could address waste disposal, crime detection
and prevention and environmental management including flooding.
Digital Twins: Digital Twin is a relatively new concept in digital world.
It is the creation of a digital image for example of a building or
structure that enables it to interact with the environment as though
the building or structure is real. In order words, it is easy to predict
the outcome of the usage of such building and structure digitally.
According to IBM, (no date), “A digital twin is a virtual representation
of an object or system that spans its lifecycle, is updated from realtime
data, and uses simulation, machine learning and reasoning to
help decision-making”. IBM further described digital twin as a virtual
model designed to accurately reflect a physical object. The advantages
of using digital twin are that it helps in research and development,
improved efficiency, and prediction of the end life of the product (IBM,
no date). Other advantages of digital twins are that they can help
in cost reduction, improve schedules and estimate performance and
contract negotiation of infrastructure projects (AfricaSurveyors News,
2022). Similar to other digital technologies, its application has been in
the manufacturing industry long before its recent adoption in the CI.
(IBM, no date) alluded to the fact that digital twins can be applied to
massive structures such as buildings which enables the improvement
in the systems, especially during the design stage. Furthermore, IBM
stated that digital twins can be applied to urban planning by Civil
engineers and professionals in the CI planning activities because
digital twins can show3D and 4D spatial data in real-time while
incorporating augmented reality systems into the built environment.
Metaverse: The Metaverse is perhaps, one of the most recent,
interesting but yet confusing digital innovations whose popularity is
gaining traction recently. The simplest explanation is that Metaverse
is a virtual world where people come to interact just like they do in
the real world. There has been a report of major organisations setting
up their stores in the virtual world. For instance, Lee (2022) reported
that Gucci, a well-known brand just bought a plot of digital land in
the metaverse. This alludes to the fact that in the nearest future,
more organisations will establish their presence in the virtual world.
This portends a paradigm shift for real estate practitioners, who are
familiar with operating in the real world. To confirm that real estate
in the metaverse will thrive the nearest future, Finn (2022) observed
that visionary real estate practitioners that believe in a digital future
are already accumulating digital land in the same way they do with
traditional real estate. It was further observed that brokers are already
selling luxury real estate plots in the metaverse.
www.africasurveyorsonline.com
March-April issue l 2023 27
MARITIME
NIMASA set to regulate submarine
cable, pipeline operations
L-R: Efosa Idehen, director of Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement, receiving a souvenir from Bashir Jamoh, the director general of Nigerian
Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), during a meeting between both agencies to close ranks on submarine regulation in
Nigeria, at the head office of NIMASA in Lagos. | Image: courtesy
The Nigerian Maritime Administration
and Safety Agency, (NIMASA) has
entered into an agreement with the
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC),
to develop a regulatory framework that will
provide operational guidelines for submarine
cable and pipeline operators in Nigeria.
The officials of both organisations reached
the agreement at a pre-audit meeting on
submarine cable regulation held in Lagos
recently, which had Dasuki Arabi, the director
general of the Bureau of Public Service
Reforms (BPSR) in attendance.
They also agreed to identify and resolve
areas of likely regulatory overlaps, ensuring a
framework based on consultation to engender
the attainment of Nigeria’s digital economy
transformation.
Bashir Jamoh, the director general of
NIMASA, who chaired the meeting, said
the Agency is committed to the Ease
of Doing Business while implementing
international conventions that are ratified and
domesticated in Nigeria.
Pointing out Nigeria, which is now a
destination for global communication players,
said is time for Nigeria to prevent the burying
of unregulated underwater cable capable of
becoming hazardous to shipping.
According to him, the burying of the marine
cable has been ongoing for over two decades
in Nigerian waters and the focus is to ensure
the safety of navigation of shipping on
Nigerian waters despite the laid underwater
cables.
“NIMASA is actually developing the guidelines
to regulate submarine cable operators in line
with the provisions of the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
We do not just implement laws; we consult
because where the responsibility of an Agency
stops, that is where the responsibilities
of another start. Collaboration is a key
component of ease of doing business in the
best interest of the country and we will work
closely with the NCC to achieve this,” Jamoh
explained.
On his part, Umar Garba Danbatta, the
executive vice chairman of the NCC, who was
represented by Efosa Idehen, the director of
Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement,
said the dialogue strategy with stakeholders,
adopted by NIMASA in developing the
guidelines, would ensure a win-win situation
for all.
He urged NIMASA management to include the
Ministry of Justice in the dialogue, a request
that NIMASA DG granted immediately.
Also speaking, Dasuki Arabi, the director
general of the Bureau of Public Service
Reforms, commended NIMASA and NCC for
adopting effective inter-agency collaboration
to avert a potential challenge for the country
in the future.
28 March-April issue l 2023 www.africasurveyorsonline.com
MARITIME
Marine megafauna aerial survey
starts along Kenya’s coastline
Marine megafauna are under the
spotlight as scientists begin an
aerial survey to assess undersea
wildlife along parts of the Kenya coast.
As Kenya’s first major maritime survey in
29 years, scientists hope to learn vital
information that will show how populations
of sea life have thrived and deteriorated. It
will also look at how sea life has responded
to man-made threats such as climate change,
pollution and overfishing.
The Exercise surveying giant sea creatures
off the coast of Kenya, it is being conducted
by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the Wildlife
Research Training Institute (WRTI), and the
International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).
Dr Patrick Omondi, Director of WRTI, said
healthy populations of marine megafauna
are a key indicator in assessing the health
of ecosystems and play a crucial role in
maintaining their balance.
“Worldwide, we have seen a decrease in
important marine megafauna, such as
sea turtles and sharks, inspiring a call for
worldwide action to protect these creatures
and their habitats,” said Omondi.
“Kenya is committed to implementing
international conservation measures—
including this census which is expected to
inform the national blue economy plan. This
survey will provide scientific information to
support marine spatial planning, pinpoint
areas that need to be protected to conserve
marine megafauna and identify potential new
tourism opportunities. This will help ensure
a healthy environment for a sustainable blue
economy and preserve marine megafauna
populations.
Maurice Nyaligu, the Eastern Africa Regional
Head of Programs for IFAW, underlined the
importance of the survey to Kenya's Vision
2030 regarding the blue economy, IFAW's
marine strategy for Eastern Africa, and the
economic benefit for the counties involved.
"The survey has come at a crucial time to
show the conservation and economic value of
Kenya's marine resources to the nation and
the region in general," said Nyaligu. "IFAW
is proud to be part of this process at such a
pivotal moment, given that the future of our
marine life is on the line" " he concluded.
The survey uses a crewed aircraft to traverse
parts of the sea off Kenya’s Indian Ocean
coastline to photograph aquatic creatures
such as whales, dolphins, and dugongs and
without disruption to the animals. In the first
test flight on, March 28, 2023, 20 dolphins
were spotted in the Mombasa region and
there are hopes that more will be seen.
Dr Erustus Kanga, Director General of KWS,
said the survey will be beneficial in creating
Kenya’s marine ecosystem management plans
and species conservation approaches.
“The survey will help broaden marine
conservation areas to meet the 30 by
30 agenda. This partnership will also be
helpful in pinpointing prime locations to be
incorporated into Kenya's marine conservation
areas, making environmental protection a
significant part of the Kenyan blue economy
and diversifying nature-based tourism
projects,” said Kanga. "The cooperative spirit
of this project exemplifies the Integrated
Coastal Zone Management approach.
The plane used for the megafauna aerial survey. Photo: Rosie Awori / © IFAW
www.africasurveyorsonline.com
March-April issue l 2023 29
DRONES
Mapping drone startup Wingtra is
charting a new future after landing $22M
Image Credits: Wingtra
By Catherine Shu
Wingtra’s drones
are used to
perform
surveying missions
by organizations
around the world,
including NASA and the
Army Corps of Engineers. Now,
the startup is mapping out a new
expansion strategy after landing $22
million in Series B funding, which it will
use to improve its current tech and add new
features.
“Our product roadmap is highly confidential, but let’s say our
high-level vision looking a decade or so forth is to take people
out of the loop and have completely automated data collection,
processing and analysis,” co-founder and CEO Maximilian Boosfeld
told TechCrunch.
Based in Zurich, Switzerland, with offices in Fort Lauderdale and
Out of the images collected with the WingtraOne drone
30 March-April issue l 2023 www.africasurveyorsonline.com
DRONES
Zagreb and nearly 200 employees, Wingtra says it is the world’s largest
producer of commercial vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drones.
It makes mapping drones and develops software for fully autonomous
flights, which collects and processes aerial survey data.
Wingtra drones are used by surveyors in a wide range of industries,
including construction, mining, environmental monitoring, agriculture,
urban planning and land management.
Investors in Wingtra’s Series B included DiamondStream Partners,
EquityPitcher Ventures, Verve Ventures, the European Innovation
Council Fund (EIC Fund), Ace & Company, and Spring Mountain Capital
founder, John L. Steffens.
Wingtra was founded in 2014 when Boosfeld, Basil Weibel, Elias
Kleimann and Sebastian Verling started working on a thesis while
studying at ETH Zurich’s Autonomous Systems Lab. The paper
proposed a design for a small unmanned aerial vehicle that could take
off and land vertically like a helicopter and transition to fixed-wing
mode for long-range flight.
While working on their thesis, the four registered Wingtra to develop
and commercialize the tech. They soon got accepted into the Wyss
Zurich accelerator program, an incubator for commercializing scientific
breakthroughs that was run by ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich.
They developed the WingtraOne, a mapping and surveying UAV, during
the program.
Wingtra’s flagship drone is now the WingtraOne VTOL, which the
company says is used by hundreds of businesses and organizations in
96 countries, including NASA, Texas A&M University, The Ohio State
University, CEMEX, Rio Tinto, Army Corps of Engineers, and Kenya Red
Cross. In total, the company’s drones make more than 100,000 flights
each year and have mapped 18 million acres of land and sea.
The startup’s second-generation drone, released in 2021, is called
the WingtraOne Gen II and can create survey-grade 2D and 3D maps
with RGB cameras. Wingtra says that a single flight covering over 100
hectares can be digitized at 0.5 in/px, or up to 30 times faster and
90% cheaper than terrestrial surveying.
The three main industries Wingtra sells to are construction and
industry, urban planning, and land development and mining.
Boosfeld told TechCrunch that the biggest challenge in managing such
large assets is the availability of up-to-date, accurate and affordable
data. Lack of data leads to inefficiencies, high costs and preventable
CO2 emissions, but terrestrial surveying is labor intensive and can be
dangerous and impossible to do without risking lives and fines when
there are natural disasters like landslides.
Wingtra’s drones are meant to be operational under all those
conditions. The startup says operators need minimal training to use
the drone because of the WingtraPilot app’s simple operating system
and automated route planning features.
One example of an organization that uses Wingtra drones to make
collecting surveying data more efficient is the Alabama Department of
Transportation (ALDOT), which uses them to oversee the upkeep and
maintenance of the state’s roadway infrastructure. The ALDOT flies
drones over construction projects each business day and uses the data
to help ensure that erosion control measures, including silt fences, are
installed properly.
Another example of how Wingtra is used is the Red Cross in Kenya,
which deployed the startup’s drones and software to manage a major
locust invasion. The gathered data was used to track the migration of
locust swarms, estimate crop damage, and ultimately make decisions
about how to mitigate the invasion.
In terms of competition, Wingtra’s best-known rivals are AgEagle’s
eBee, and DJI’s Phantom 4 RTK and M300 drones. Boosfeld says
the eBee paved the way for accessible, industry-level drone
photogrammetry. Wingtra and AgEagle lead in the survey and mapping
fields for different reasons: the eBee X is a well-industrialized and
reliable fixed-wing survey and mapping drone, while WingtraOne
offers a VTOL drone with top-grade image quality for coverage.
Wingtra’s key differentiation is its take-off and landing technology.
On the other hand, the eBee X is a traditional fixed-wing drone that
needs to be launched by hand and lands on its belly, which Boosfeld
explained, means operators need to make sure launches and landings
happen with wide clearance and on terrain that is dry and soft enough
to support it.
He added that higher-end aerial mapping cameras are heavy, and
fixed-wing drones like the eBee X cannot support their weight.
“Currently, only VTOL drones can offer image resolution of 42MP,
which translates to better accuracy, and ultimately, more reliable map
reconstruction,” he said.
Speaking about DJI’s Phantom 4 RTK, Boosfeld said that even though
it is marketed as a survey and mapping drone, it doesn’t have much
in common with the WingtraOne. The Phantom 4 RTK is a typical
multirotor, which means it behaves in the air like a helicopter. This
means the WingtraOne is capable of the much broader coverage
demanded by most mapping projects, while multirotors like Phantom 4
RTK can cover relatively limited areas.
According to Boosfeld, DJI’s M300 is a large multirotor that is good for
inspection, search and rescue, and other medium-range applications,
but is less efficient than dedicated mapping systems. For example,
even though it is bigger than the Phantom 4, it is still a multirotor that
relies exclusively on sizable batteries to lift it.
Wingtra also doesn’t have to deal with the political issues that DJI
does in the U.S. market, where the latter is blacklisted by the U.S.
Defense Department because of alleged ties to the Chinese military.
In a statement about the investment, DiamondStream Partners’ Dean
Donovan said, “We are very excited about partnering with Wingtra.
The product’s simplicity of use, its high reliability engineering, and
the company’s global network of value-added resellers and service
providers have positioned it to expand its leadership in the $83+
billion mapping segment of the aerial intelligence market globally. We
look forward to helping the company in the United States and Latin
America, which will be increasingly important geographies as Wingtra
continues to expand.”
www.africasurveyorsonline.com
March-April issue l 2023 31
PROJECT
STRYDE awarded seismic technology contract
for Nigeria oil and gas onshore exploration
Sam Moharir - Head of Business Development - MENA
The global expert in onshore seismic acquisition technology and
solutions, STRYDE, has been awarded a contract worth over $1
million for the supply of 10,000 seismic receiver nodes and its
“Nimble” node receiver system in Nigeria.
STRYDE’s seismic sensor technology will be utilised on an upcoming
3D seismic survey conducted by Nigerian geoscience solutions
provider, ATO Geophysical Limited as part of an onshore oil and gas
exploration project in the region.
The seismic survey is due to begin in Q2 2023 and will be the
first commercial deployment of STRYDE’s Nimble System in the
country as it continues to dominate the nodal sensor market with its
international expansion within the energy sector.
STRYDE, who are the creators of the world’s smallest and lightest
seismic node, will enable ATO to deliver high-density seismic data for
the exploration of new reservoir locations in the
grasslands and marshlands of Nigeria, for a local
oil and gas operator.
The supply of its node management solution, the “Nimble System”
will enable further efficiencies on the survey to be unlocked by
allowing ATO to rotate up to 2,160 nodes per day, enabled by the
system’s unique capability to simultaneously charge and harvest data
from 360 nodes in under four hours. This system is also equipped with
STRYDE’s state-of-the-art software for efficient seismic survey field
operations, data harvesting, and quality assurance, allowing ATO to
produce processing-ready seismic data fast than ever before.
Sam Moharir, Head of Business Development (MENA), at STRYDE
commented on the transition to nodal technology: “It was imperative
for ATO Geophysical Limited to have access to cost-effective
technology that could also overcome challenges associated with
the terrain they were due to operate in. With cabled systems
traditionally being more physically challenging to deploy in remote,
large, and complex terrain, STRYDE Nodes offer a more efficient
Until recently, the region has typically relied on
bulky, expensive, and complex cabled geophone
receiver systems to acquire seismic data which
traditionally incurs significantly high CAPEX
and OPEX costs, more exposure to HSE risk,
higher technical downtime, and inefficiencies
in the seismic acquisition program. With the
introduction of cable-less receiver technology
like STRYDE’s miniature sensor, geophysical
providers and operators can now acquire highquality
data much more efficiently and with less
cost, risk, and environmental footprint.
32 March-April issue l 2023 www.africasurveyorsonline.com
ONSHORE EXPLORATION
and practical solution for improving seismic
survey efficiencies through the elimination of
restrictive and heavy cabled geophones.”
Thomas Ajewole, Managing Director of ATO
Geophysical Limited said: “As a leading seismic
data acquisition expert in Nigeria, we look
forward to NZ’s partnering new on our cadastral first project with survey rules take effect
STRYDE and capitalising on the benefits of its
technology by providing our customers with
a more efficient and cost-effective solution to
onshore seismic data acquisition.
“As we continue to support the exploration of
new oil and gas projects in the region, STRYDE
Nodes present an exciting opportunity to
acquire high-resolution seismic data required
to image the subsurface and pinpoint new
reservoir development opportunities for our
customers.”
STRYDE’s CEO, Mike Popham, said: “STRYDE is excited to be enabling
our first seismic surveys in Nigeria with ATO. This builds upon
our successful history of seismic projects across Africa, including
Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Kenya.
“We’re proud to see our nodes increasingly being utilised around
the world for a range of industrial applications, replacing expensive,
cumbersome, and impractical alternative systems with our dynamic
©stock.adobe.com/au/Zerophoto
technology.”
New Zealand’s Cadastral Survey Rules 2021
(CSR 2021) came into effect on Monday, 30
August 2021, setting the standards on how
cadastral surveyors define and describe land
boundaries.
There will now be a six-month transition
period to 25 February 2022, during which
field work can be undertaken and CSDs
certified and lodged under either the old
Rules for Cadastral Survey 2010 or the
CSR 2021.
After 25 February 2022, only CSDs
certified in terms of the CSR 2021 will
be accepted.
The Landonline website has been
updated to support the capture and
In addition to providing validation seismic solutions of surveys in under the CSR oil and 2021 gas market,
STRYDE also supports new well as energy to support industries the transition including period. Geothermal,
Toitū Te Whenua Land Information
CCUS, Hydrogen, and Mining,
New Zealand
providing
systems
an affordable
and processes
solution
have
to a
typically expensive phase of any exploration project.
also been updated to support the new rules.
Support material for both sets of rules is
available during the transition period:
This contract follows a series of geothermal, oil and gas, civil
• Transition details as part of the
engineering, mining, and CCUS Cadastral projects Survey already Rules 2021 secured (CSR by 2021) STRYDE in
2023.
implementation.
• Cadastral Survey Guidelines
www.euclideon.com
www.africasurveyorsonline.com
POS ON21 PG 00 Euclideon HPHB.indd 1
March-April issue l 2023 33
23/9/21 11:29 am
34 March-April issue l 2023 www.africasurveyorsonline.com
EMPOWERING
our new generation of electric work robots
more powerful more intelligent more future-flexible
world leader in electric underwater robotics
GIS
Geographical Information System
Fostering Financial
Inclusivity in Africa
through GIS-Based
Solutions
By Deborah Faboade
Geographical Information System
(GIS) significantly promotes
financial inclusion in Africa by
mapping and analysing financial access.
In essence, GIS can help identify unserved
or underserved areas and understand the
demographics and characteristics of these
populations to inform targeted financial
services. Subsequently, it increases access
to financial assistance for the unbanked and
underbanked people while fostering financial
literacy and stability.
Furthermore, GIS can also monitor and help
evaluate the progress and impact of financial
inclusion initiatives. Thus, this article will
highlight how GIS is harnessed to promote
financial inclusivity in Africa.
GIS-Based Solution for Economic and
Financial Inclusion in Africa
Financial Inclusion for Smallholder Farmers
For these smallholder farmers, agricultural
growth affects their financial gain,
empowering further reinvestment and
cultivation of lands for both present and
future generations. One of the biggest
challenges, thus, is access to financial
resources and services to foster investment
needs. To solve this issue, the United States
Agency for International Development
(USAID) launched the Financing Ghanaian
Agriculture Project (USAID FinGAP) from 2013
-2018.
The project’s objective was to establish
various pay-for-results methodologies and
intensive technical assistance to advance the
commercialisation of agriculture in Ghana by
providing financial access vital to enabling
investment in the sector. To further the
project’s goal, USAID collaborated with over
50 business advisory services and financial
institutions (commercial banks, investors,
rural banks, etc.) dedicated to the agriculture
sector to ensure smallholder farmers
and agribusinesses secure, cost-effective
alternatives to finances and investments.
CARANA, a corporation that designs
economic growth strategies for countries
and businesses, implemented the project.
CARANA invented the Investment Mapping
System (IMS), a web-based GIS platform,
to allow investors and companies to take
stock of business opportunities and make
strategic investment decisions. The system
is utilised alongside satellite imagery and
publicly available data to examine a region’s
geographical makeup, ensuring investors
obtain a better view of farms and buildings.
In addition, the system enables agribusinesses
to access partners based on geographical
locations and highlight future agricultural
business investments, amongst others. The
result of the project includes financing almost
3,000 agribusinesses in maize, rice, and soy by
leveraging USD 168 million as opposed to the
projected initial USD 75 million and securing
an additional USD 91.1 million for a further
assistantship.
GIS for Bank Upgrade and Strategy
In Africa, the unbanked and underbanked
Africans battle various financial blocks.
According to a release by This Day news
channel, complaints from nine banks in
Nigeria rose from 2.5 million in 2020 to
5.39 million in 2021, leaving customers
dissatisfied. According to the bank operators,
the protests were due to the complexity of
financial transactions. Nonetheless, GIS can
enhance financial inclusivity by analysing
geographic locations of unmet demands
of certain products and services. Locating
the geographic distribution of unsatisfied
customers ensures that bank operators
can deeply dive into the root cause of the
problems.
GIS integration aims to give financial
institutions insights into how to serve their
customers better and reach areas without
banking services (including loans, interests,
aids, risk management, etc.). To this end, banks
and financial institutions can make informed
decisions against their competitors, creating a
healthy financial industry focused on pleasing
customers.
In addition, financial organisations could
make personalised recommendations
and packages for specific customers or
geographical locations. For instance,
the United Bank of Africa (UBA), Nigeria,
employed the services of Spatial Technologies
Limited (STL), a Nigerian geospatial company
creating geospatial data for the Nigerian
market.
36 March-April issue l 2023 www.africasurveyorsonline.com
GIS
The partnership’s primary aim is to enhance
financial services and establish a data-driven,
cost-effective solution for expansion. Other
objectives include setting a scientifically
backed method to locate ATMs for
remuneration, creating techniques that find
shadowed smaller branches across Lagos
(the project’s starting point), and analysing
the bank’s competitiveness and geographical
distribution of customers to offer better
services and products.
To this end, STL utilised MapInfo, a GIS
software and provided months of on-site
training for the bank’s staff, expected to
further its uses. In addition, UBA has made
strategic business decisions to satisfy its
customer base with this technology.
In a demonstrated project, Adeyemi
Adeboboye, a Lecturer at the Department
of Surveying and Geoinformatics, Nnamdi
Azikwe University, Akwa, indicated how GiS
and data analysis helps banks upgrade and
point position locations, gather data for
bank selection to provide detailed business
descriptions and gain strategic insights. The
result of the project was the creation of the
geographical topography of the area, the
banks distribution, the number of staff, the
number of customers attended to per day, the
geographical distances between banks, and
streets where banks are located, amongst
others.
With access to this information, banks can
appropriately adjust where needed and gain
intelligent business data; they can gain an
overview of shortages, non-functioning bank
branches, and unreached areas. In addition,
they can strategically plan how to open in
areas without financial services, beyond
infographics but also in terms of landscape
and terrains. For instance, if demography is
majorly water-bodies, banks can collaborate
with NGOs, raise donations, or create projects
to bring financial services and products
to these people. It could be software
applications dedicated to only that specific
area due to their unique needs.
In another project, a group of researchers
from the Department of Geomatic
Engineering and Geospatial Information
Science, Kimathi University College of
Technology and the Department of Geomatic
Engineering and Geospatial Information
Systems, Jomo Kenyatta University of
Agriculture and Technology, aimed to devise
Image: Digital Banker Africa
a recommended secured banking system
that lay out the Cooperative Bank of Kenya’s
holdings. In addition, the project would
enable a better process of granting loans,
reduce human errors during data entry tasks,
mitigate fraud, and show the locations of the
bank’s holdings and values attached.
Thus, the project concluded by devising a
GIS-backed platform to detect fraudulent
customers and institutions involved in
improper loan acquisition and pictorial
locations and identifications of collateral
properties, including values and
transportation access to the collateral
properties. In addition, the platform also
showed the customers loaning services from
the day of authorisation to the pay-off day,
all holdings of interests for the bank, and
generated documents of interests vital for
bank expansion and growth.
Nonetheless, financial institutions in urban
areas like Lagos tend to focus on serving
urban customers more than rural customers
due to low financial literacy, minimum digital
skill sets and low-income occupations.
However, rural customers need access to
financial services to purchase agricultural
tools (smallholder farmers), make and receive
money transfers, access loans to expand
businesses, increase financial stability and
access insurance to mitigate risks.
Conclusion
Africa needs help accessing sufficient
and home-grown data for meaningful
infrastructural growth. GIS management
and efficiency run heavily on accessing the
correct data to further a cause. Africa needs
to invest in creating data-saturated centres,
organisations and applications to fully reap
the benefits of GIS for financial inclusivity
(and other sectors).
The continent must partner with institutions
and organisations to create home-grown
data to properly organise a data system that
is regularly updated and maintained. While
there are data centres like Africa Data Centres,
MainOne, Raxio Data Centre, Teraco Data
Environments, Ersi, the Global Monitoring for
Environment and Security (GMES) and Africa,
amongst others, more of these organisations
need to spring up. Africa has 87 data centres
across 15 of the 55 countries on the continent
compared to Europe, with 2,880 data centres
across 44 countries of 44 countries (according
to the UN). This data shows a significant
disparity in the amount of sufficient data the
continent can access. Having adequate data is
the first step to bridging financial differences
on the continent.
Governments and organisations on
the continent must increase efforts in
organising data upskilling and skilling
workshops to facilitate data analysis, GIS
adoption, and integration. Furthermore, with
sufficient and efficient databases and data
centres, African governments can identify
vulnerability hotspots and create initiatives,
workshops, training centres, conferences and
organisations to bridge the continent’s wide
financial gaps. Although it will be unwise
to romanticise data and GIS as the perfect
solution, these tools create a starting point
for bridging the gap.
www.africasurveyorsonline.com
March-April issue l 2023 37
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