MIDS Capstone Project Spring 2020

Re:Source

How can we respond to the expansive effects of climate change? Virtually every ecosystem has been altered due to climate change, and the sub-saharan savanna’s of the Serengeti and Maasai Mara are no exception. Over the past decade chronic drought has endangered the Serengeti/Mara ecosystem, impacting not only the wildlife but economic stability across Kenya and Tanzania. In response, researchers have been working to identify the problem and enumerate the various adverse consequences, while park rangers and environmentalist have taken it upon themselves to distribute water to preserve the health of the wildlife without a clear source of information to direct their efforts.

To solve this problem, Re:Source leverages near-daily satellite imagery and the latest in computer vision to detect water availability in the network of lakes, streams and rivers that span the Serengeti/Mara ecosystem. Near real-time remote sensing enables park rangers, water resource managers and environmentalists to focus their efforts on the regions of the park most adversely impacted. Additionally, our tool serves as a valuable resource for researchers and conservationists whose aim is to identify and respond to instances of drought.

Last updated:

April 15, 2020