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.
Geography
Services
Technologies
Year:
2020
Regions
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.
