AMESD SADC THEMA PRODUCTS & SERVICES: ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERSPECTIVES IN SUPPORT OF AGRICULTURE & ENVIRONMETAL MAN

1. AMESD SADC THEMA PRODUCTS & SERVICES: ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERSPECTIVES IN SUPPORT OF AGRICULTURE & ENVIRONMETAL MANAGEMENT 9-10 OCTOBER 2012 GICC-GABORONE, BOTSWANA PRESENTED BY DR. MANTHE-TSUANENG

2. PRESENTATION OUTLINE • BACKGROUND INFORMATION • DFRR EXPERIENCE WITH AMESD THEMA • CHALLENGES OF THE AMESD FIRE STATION • RECOMMENDATIONS TOWARDS IMPROVEMENT

3. BACKGROUND INFORMATION • DFRR started using the MODIS fire detection system from May 2006. • DFRR collaboration with AMESD (through DMS) was launched in July 2010. • The AMESD fire station was installed in DFRR HQ (Loapi House) on 31st March 2011. • The station provides active fire data and satellite images from satellite sensors of MODIS and SEVIRI.

4. BACKGROUND INFORMATION CONT’D… • The Modis fire detection system was internet based and provided 2 products: Active Fire and Burned Area. • The AMESD fire station is not internet based and it provides 4 products: Active Fire, Burned Area, Fire Danger Index and Fuel Condition. • The AMESD station allows for receiving, analysing and sharing data without internet which was a challenge when using the former fire detection system.

5. DFRR EXPERIENCE WITH AMESD THEMA • Through the AMESD fire station, DFRR is able to produce maps and fire bulletins showing active fires and burn scar which are used to alert stakeholders of fire outbreaks and hence assist in timely decision making in fire management. • The system retrieves and stores (in a full automated process) fire data to detect and monitor daily fires over Botswana which assists in early detection of fires and improved response to fire outbreaks. • 3 day forecast

6. INFORMATION PRODUCED BY MODIS • FIRE BULLETIN • MAP Active fires detected by MODIS* on 13 September 2012 Fires that were detected during the previous periods (earlier today) but are now inactive, are shown in purple or pale orange. Please note that the absence of fires simply means that none were detected at the time of the satellite overpass. Fires could have been obscured from the satellite’s view due to cloud cover at the time, or fires may have been inactive/smouldering.

7. CHALLENGES OF THE AMESD FIRE STATION • Some fires cannot be detected due to their small size, low radiation produced and cloud cover. • It takes time to calculate the area burnt as polygons are used and thereafter, areas that are not burnt have to be calculated and excluded from the polygons.

8. CHALLENGES OF THE AMESD FIRE STATION CONT’D… • 2 overpasses per day by the MODIS satellite (11am and 3pm) pose a challenge as fire needs to be closely monitored and hence high frequency satellite would be more helpful. • Poor connectivity between satellite sensors is a challenge as at times, one sensor would show a fire while the other will not show it.

9. RECOMMENDATIONS TOWARDS IMPROVEMENT • The use of sensors which can capture images through cloud cover and also be sensitive to low radiation produced by small fires. • AMESD to devise a tool with which to calculate area burnt (for archived images) within a short period of time e.g. like where you click on an active fire and you get the approximate area burnt there and there.

10. RECOMMENDATIONS TOWARDS IMPROVEMENT CONT’D… • AMESD to train more technical support staff to assist with issues of non- or slow response of the computers to commands and other issues. • Consider linking data from a satellite with many overpasses per day e.g. MSG to MODIS such that data captured by either one of them can be accessed at 1 location without having to move from one to the other. This would greatly improve fire monitoring.