SPACE CLUB, CENTRE FOR SPACE RESEARCH ...

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like dumping over 710,000 Boeing 737 airplanes into the ocean…each year. Getting an exact measurement of how much waste has ended up in nature is ...
SPACE CLUB, CENTRE FOR SPACE RESEARCH AND APPLICATIONS FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, AKURE www.spaceclubfuta.com.ng GLOBAL YOUTH MAPPER – ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION PROJECT The Youth Mapper Club of the Space Club is starting a new project under the Centre for Space Research and Applications, FUTA in collaboration with USAID (United States Agency for International Development) and the Global Youth Mapper. 40 volunteers comprise of Students of the University will work on this project and the result will be presented at the International Astronautical Congress in Adelaide, Australia later this year. Urban waste is one of the major threats to global environment in the world today and also, it’s one of the cause of flooding and airborne diseases. As global civilization keeps improving, there is increase in commercial, residential and infrastructure development due to the population growth which has a negative impact on the environment if not properly planned, monitored and maintained. We know there’s trash lying around. But in order to clean it up, we first have to get a clear picture of the situation. Mapping (Using Remote Sensing and GIS) can give us the exact location, amount, and type of garbage. This is essential to organize the logistics and the handling for clean-up by the Government, other agencies and NGOs. After it’s gone, this data is great for tracking our progress, and keeping tabs on these dump sites for the future. But that’s not all. Perhaps the most important reason to map is to spread the message. If seeing is believing, then looking at a virtual map of overflowing trash sites will help open our eyes to the problem. And, hopefully, inspire people around to join us and do something about it. Every year, 20 million tons of garbage is added to our oceans, 80% of it from mainland waste. That’s like dumping over 710,000 Boeing 737 airplanes into the ocean…each year. Getting an exact measurement of how much waste has ended up in nature is difficult. But think about this. Out of the 1.3 billion tonnes of household waste generated per year, only about 258-368 million tons of trash end up in one of the 50 largest dumpsites. Where is the rest of it? (0.54Kg of waste is generated per day per person in Akure in Ondo state) We are living in an era full of trash, and it’s clear the problem is massive, growing constantly and varies considerably by region. To get a handle on it, we need to locate and identify illegal dump sites in Our City (Akure). With this project, better plans and more structure waste system can be made and enforced. Which is one of the major steps to take in promoting a better and improve environment and atmosphere. This will assist the government and NGOs in clearing of dumping site and make our city a better place to live in. We will be Using the Open Street Map, TeachOSM tasking manager and other Remote Sensing and GIS tools for the mapping.