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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

Contact us

Tel: +254 113 194 740

Emaii: info@africasurveyorsonline.com

Web: https://africasurveyorsonline.com

The Editor accepts letter and manuscripts for publication from readers all over the world. Include your name and address as a sign of good faith although you may

request your name to be withheld from publication. We can reserve the right to edit any material submitted. Send your letters to: info@africasurveyorsonline.com

Disclaimer:

Nailex Africa Publishing makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the contents of its publications, but no warranty is made to such accuracy and

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


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our new generation of electric work robots

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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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