اللغة الإنجليزية 
البرتغالية 
الفرنسية 
العربية 
From monitoring the expansion of Africa’s great lakes to assessing the scars left by raging wildfires, Kimani, Julius Mbuvi is putting Earth observation to work for real-world challenges. An astronomy and astrophysics graduate from the University of Nairobi, he bridges his background in space science with practical EO applications through Digital Earth Africa’s tools. Using datasets such as Water Extent and Burnt Area Mapping, Julius has tracked the steady rise of Lake Nakuru over three decades and mapped the devastating Isiolo wildfires of early 2025, which burned over 200,000 acres of pastureland. His research highlights how accessible satellite data can inform environmental management, resource planning, and climate resilience across Africa.
Briefly describe your academic background and research focus.
I’m an astronomy and astrophysics graduate from the University of Nairobi. I’m deeply passionate about the use of space science for national development. In addition; I have developed an interest in earth observation applications and space systems engineering.
How did you discover Digital Earth Africa, and what drew you to its tools?
I discovered Digital Earth Africa via social media platforms such as LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter). What drew me to Digital Earth Africa is the availability of Jupyter notebooks equipped with efficient python programming tools for earth observation, its case samples on real-world earth observation applications and its alignment with the UN SGDs with regards to African development.
What’s the focus of your current research or project, and how does EO data help?
My current research is on the rising of big water bodies such as lakes. Through satellite images collected over a certain period of time, one can observe the extent of the rising waters of the lakes, calculate the water extent area and possibly determine the effects of nearby human settlements.
Which tools or datasets on DE Africa have been most useful in your work, and why?
The most useful DE Africa datasets that have been useful to my research work are water extent, water resource management, water quality, chlorophyll monitoring and burnt area mapping. This is because they have availed near real-time satellite images for EO research. In addition, their visualization tools assist one in getting an in-depth analysis of the changing patterns on the areas of focus.
Can you share one achievement or insight that DE Africa helped make possible?
DE Africa datasets were instrumental in observing the steady expansion of L. Nakuru over a period of 30 years and provided insights on how the rising waters have displaced human settlements situated in close proximity to the lake.
What’s the biggest challenge you see for EO adoption in African research, and any ideas to overcome it?
The availability of high-resolution near real-time or real-time satellite data for earth observation research at a low-cost to early researchers. This can be addressed by implementing an open data policy advocating for satellite data-sharing agreements under agreed favorable terms.
What would you like to see DE Africa achieve next for researchers across the continent?
The introduction of EO predictive modelling tools as part of their datasets. This will be essential in conducting predictive analysis of the changing patterns on earth which can be used to advise the relevant entities on the best way forward.
One piece of advice for a young researcher wanting to use DE Africa’s tools?
I would encourage the young researcher to exploit the dataset made available by DE Africa to paint a picture to the general public on the changing patterns of the local environment he or she lives in and how its directly or indirectly affects them, thereby putting an emphasis on the importance of natural resource management for future generations to come.
