Digital Earth Africa
Digital Earth Africa turns satellite data into free and open maps of water, farmland and coasts for the whole African continent (Digital Earth Africa).
Image: NASA (iss073e0604445, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Aug. 30, 2025).
Last reviewed: 3 sources cited
Free satellite maps of an entire continent, for anyone who needs them.
Its Landsat-based maps of Africa reach back to 1984, so users can see four decades of change (Digital Earth Africa).
Explain Like I'm 10
- Satellites take pictures of Africa all the time, but the raw data is hard to use.
- Digital Earth Africa cleans it up and turns it into ready-made maps.
- Anyone can use them for free to track water, crops and coastlines.
The Five W's of Digital Earth Africa
Who
Digital Earth Africa, a programme of icipe, the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, built on partnerships with African institutions.
Source: Digital Earth Africa, About
What
An operational service that delivers free and open satellite data and products, such as Water Observations from Space and a cropland map.
Source: Digital Earth Africa, About
When
Running now as an operational service; its Landsat-based maps go back to 1984.
Why
To give planners and policy makers Earth observation information for better decisions and sustainable development.
Source: Digital Earth Africa, About
Connected Solutions
- Landsat 9 (NASA/USGS) Part of the Landsat record of Earth's land that began in 1972.
Impact Statement
Research programme solution · active
Digital Earth Africa provides free and open data and products to all its users as a public good (Digital Earth Africa).
Source: Digital Earth Africa, About
For Further Information: Digital Earth Africa, About
Digital Earth Africa's Landsat-based maps of Africa start in 1984 (Digital Earth Africa).
How This Saves People & the Planet
For People
Earth observation data support better decisions by governments and sectors, with benefits for individuals and communities (Digital Earth Africa).
Source: Digital Earth Africa, About
For Nature
Its services track water bodies, land degradation and coastal erosion across the continent (Digital Earth Africa).
Source: Digital Earth Africa, About
Use Digital Earth Africa
Want to go deeper? Digital Earth Africa explains its data and services.
For Further InformationRelated Solutions
More solutions like this one, matched by meaning.
Help This Work
Links go straight to the organization. Saving Planets doesn't receive any of the money.