During recent discussions, new opportunities for collaboration emerged between Navashni Govender, Senior Conservation Manager at SANParks in Kruger National Park, Prof. Katharina Breininger, head of the Pattern Recognition Lab in Informatics, and Dr. Mirjana Bevanda from our Earth Observation Research Cluster (EORC).
The exchange centered on fire-related applications of informatics and earth observation and how innovative technologies could contribute to a deeper understanding of fire dynamics in African savannas. The group discussed the potential role of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), space-borne sensors, and machine learning / deep learning approaches in monitoring and analyzing the impact and interactions of fire in these ecosystems.
This initial dialogue sets the stage for promising joint research activities that combine field-based conservation expertise with advanced computational methods and remote sensing. The collaboration aims to strengthen the link between technology and practice, supporting better-informed strategies for managing and understanding fire in savanna landscapes.
