Discovery Achievements

The Discovery Phase project was successful in meeting its aim:  “To demonstrate the feasibility of using Earth Observation (EO) techniques as the basis of a sand and aggregate management system in Kenya and the usability and acceptance of such a service.”  User Feedback from the prototyped solution was overwhelmingly positive with the majority of users asking when they could get the system!  Similarly, senior stakeholders in both county and national government noted the appropriateness and timing of a service to address sustainable sand harvesting based on EO.

The key achievements are

• Demonstration of the feasibility of using EO techniques as the basis of a sand management system in Kenya and the usability and acceptance of such a service.​
• Documented understanding of sand management context, landscape and user needs in Kenya. (Summarised in EO4SAS Position White Paper)​
• Implemented and tested prototype EO tools
• Defined an EO-based sand management service and planned an Operational Phase project to deliver it including a sustainable, post-funding future.