HyRELIEF - Enhancing ECOSTRESS Drought Monitoring with Hyperspectral Narrowbands (HNBs)

The HyRELIEF project, spearheaded by Dr. Michael Marshall and a team of drought monitoring experts

from the University of Twente in the Netherlands, aims to revolutionize drought monitoring systems in

Africa’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs). By leveraging advanced geospatial tools, including ECOSTRESS

data and PRISMA hyperspectral narrowbands (HNBs), the project seeks to significantly improve the

accuracy of evapotranspiration (ET) and evaporative stress index (ESI) estimates.

The primary objective is to build resilience among smallholder farmers and pastoralists against the

adverse impacts of drought through enhanced geospatial information. The project is financially

supported by the European Space Agency (ESA) over a duration of 24 months.

Key partners in this initiative include ILRI (International Livestock Research Institute), NDMA (National

Drought Management Authority), and RCMRD (Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for

Development), who will serve as early adopters and provide vital support throughout the project

lifecycle.

Milestones for the project include training workshops, stakeholder engagement, and the development

of a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) to facilitate iterative testing and refinement. The HyRELIEF project

holds strong potential for establishing effective drought resilience protocols and enhancing drought

monitoring capabilities within the planned timeframe, ultimately contributing to the sustainability of

agricultural practices in vulnerable regions.