New app to track wetland solves challenge
This was a great example of what could be done as a country to develop citizen science and technology participation.
MBOMBELA – The national leg of the 2014 International Space Apps Challenge was recently hosted by mLab Southern Africa in collaboration with Vodacom.
This was a great example of what could be done as a country to develop citizen science and technology participation.
Mbombela resident, Pam Sikwayo (26), took part in the challenge on April 11 and 12 in Pretoria. It was held in 94 locations around the world or online and participants were asked to solve 65 problems.
It was aligned with Nasa’s missions along the following five themes: earth watch, technology in space, human spacefaring, robotics and asteroids.
Sikwayo’s team was one of the three local ones selected to participate in the international leg.
Together they solved the “Track that Wetland” challenge by creating an app which allows users to observe plant communities within and outside of wetland and delineate their boundaries. It also evaluates them to validate or calibrate satellite data.
The app can guide people to locate the edge of a wetland and upload the coordinates for a point, perhaps with photographs and additional information.
These can then be used to validate or calibrate high-resolution remote-sensing products for wetland.
The Mpumalanga Provincial Government has set its sights on developing science and technology within the region and aims to open a R40-million maths, science and technology academy, which will benefit
100 schools in the province by August.
“Growing up in Nelspruit, I wasn’t aware of how technology could be used to develop our country. I would like to use my experience in multimedia and animation to contribute to this, particularly in Mpumalanga, where the standard is set to improve,” says Sikwayo.
“We are proud of the three teams selected as local winners,” says Derrick Kotze, CEO of mLab Southern Africa. “Many of them come from humble backgrounds and yet have risen above their challenges to display their real potential, and make not only themselves, but our country proud.”
mLab Southern Africa is at the forefront of citizen science-and-technology development, particularly among youngsters from disadvantaged communities.
The high level of youth unemployment continues to be a problem.
Together with its partners, the company is committed to mentoring and supporting existing and upcoming entrepreneurs wanting to develop solutions that will assist in the overall social development of the country.
