Month: September 2024

Abstract

The velocity and volume of MultiSpectral (MS) remote sensing data have recently increased exponentially. In recent times, however, the absence of a spatial data cube to store analysis-ready data (ARD) products for the Indian sensors’ data delimits its ready use and depreciates its value. Establishing a framework for storing, managing, and providing online processing ARD products for different sensors is necessary. The current work proposes a framework to produce ARD products by radiometrically correcting the data using the 6 S atmospheric correction and Shepherd Diamond-based terrain correction method to provide normalised surface reflectance. The generated ARD product for LISS-III shows a good correlation with the Planet Lab’s surface reflectance ARD product and an excellent correlation with the SACRS2- a Scheme for Atmospheric Correction of ResourceSat-2 corrected product. A frequency-based geometric correction algorithm provides RMSE of less than half a pixel registration error compared to LANDSAT-8 OLI orthorectified imagery. Finally, A Spatial Data Cube (SDC) with CARD4L metadata standard stores the ARD products post ingestion. The paper explains the complete integrated software development with an end-to-end processing chain of LISS III, an Indian optical sensor data.

Abstract

Within food systems governance spaces, civil society organizations (CSOs) play important roles in addressing power structures and shaping decisions. In Canada, CSO food systems actors increasingly understand the importance of building relationships among settler and Indigenous peoples in their work. Efforts to make food systems more sustainable and just necessarily mean confronting the realities that most of what is known as Canada is unceded Indigenous territory, stolen land, land acquired through coercive means, and/or land bound by treaty between specific Indigenous groups and the Crown. CSOs that aim to build more equitable food systems must thus engage with the ongoing impacts of settler colonialism, learn/unlearn colonial histories, and build meaningful relationships with Indigenous peoples. This paper explores how settler-led CSOs engage with Indigenous communities and organizations in their food systems governance work. The research draws on 71 semi-structured interviews with CSO leaders engaged in food systems work from across Canada. Our analysis presents an illustrative snapshot of the complex and ongoing processes of settler-Indigenous engagement, where many settler-led CSOs aim to work more closely with Indigenous communities and organizations. However, participants also recognize that most existing engagements remain insufficient. We share CSOs’ practices, tensions, and lessons learned as reflections for scholars and practitioners interested in the continuous journey of building settler-Indigenous partnerships and reimagining more just and sustainable food systems, work which requires iterative and critically reflexive learning.

Abstract

Beliefs form the fabric of every society. Likewise, there are socio-cultural beliefs that people hold as causes of climate risk. This paper sought to identify the socio-cultural beliefs on drought among crop farmers in Talensi, Ghana and how these provide insights for environmental management, social vulnerability, early warning systems and coping and adaptation. The selection of Talensi District was appropriate because it is one of the agrarian districts located in drought prone zone of Ghana. The study was designed following the case study approach. A total of 69 participants were selected through purposive sampling to participate in key informant interviews and focus group discussions conducted across nine (9) communities. The study found that manifestation of bad and/or indecent behavioural practices; performance and/or non-performance of traditional rites; presence and behaviour peculiar animals; and magical conjurations and incantations by spiritualists, diviners and soothsayers were the significant socio-cultural beliefs accounting for drought. The study concludes that the socio-cultural beliefs of the local people are their social-cultural capital and this asset is a useful gamut in explaining the social vulnerability; development of early warning drought systems; and selection of coping and adaptation strategies in Talensi District. A major recommendation is that individuals and institutions with expertise in technical and scientific early warning drought information should be circumspect in not adopting a judgmental approach when they are communicating and disseminating risk information, to the detriment of indigenous knowledge.

Abstract