Estimating Damage Caused by Locusts Using Satellite Imagery in East Africa

Towards the end of 2019 and the beginning of 2020, East Africa faced devastating locust swarms that wreaked havoc on crops and fields. MASAE Analytics responded by employing data science, GIS, and mapping to estimate the extent of the damage using satellite imagery.

Why This Matters

Locust infestations pose a severe threat to food security and livelihoods across East Africa. Rapid, accurate damage assessment is essential for coordinating response efforts, securing funding, and mitigating the long-term impacts on affected communities.

Our Approach

  • Satellite Imagery Analysis:
    Leveraged high-resolution imagery to detect and quantify crop damage across vast areas.

  • GIS & Mapping:
    Produced detailed maps to visualise the spatial distribution and severity of locust-induced losses.

  • Data Science:
    Applied analytical models to estimate the economic and agricultural impact of the swarms.

Results and Impact

The project delivered timely, actionable insights to humanitarian and government agencies, supporting targeted interventions and resource mobilisation for affected regions.

MASAE was commissioned to develop the GOGLA Investment Dashboard—a digital platform designed to visualise and query trends in the global off-grid solar energy industry. The dashboard enables stakeholders to access up-to-date information on investment flows, supporting strategic decision-making and sector growth.

MASAE was commissioned to develop the GOGLA Investment Dashboard—a digital platform designed to visualise and query trends in the global off-grid solar energy industry. The dashboard enables stakeholders to access up-to-date information on investment flows, supporting strategic decision-making and sector growth.

Mercy Corps contracted Altai Consulting and MASAE to support the PERMA consortium in Iraq, focusing on research and evaluation for agricultural development. The project aimed to provide robust research partnership and technical support to PERMA’s agricultural initiatives.

Mercy Corps contracted Altai Consulting and MASAE to support the PERMA consortium in Iraq, focusing on research and evaluation for agricultural development. The project aimed to provide robust research partnership and technical support to PERMA’s agricultural initiatives.