Browsing by Author "Aikins, B.E."
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Item Assessing Forest Species Diversity in Ghana’s Tropical Forest Using PlanetScope Data(Remote Sensing, 2024) Njomaba, E.; Ofori, J.N.; Aikins, B.E.; et al.This study utilized a remotely sensed dataset with a high spatial resolution of 3 m to predict species diversity in the Bobiri Forest Reserve (BFR), a moist semi-deciduous tropical forest in Ghana. We conducted a field campaign of tree species measurements to achieve this objective for species diversity estimation. Thirty-five field plots of 50 m × 20 m were established, and the most dominant tree species within the forest were identified. Other measurements, such as diameter at breast height (DBH ≥ 5 cm), tree height, and each plot’s GPS coordinates, were recorded. The following species diversity indices were estimated from the field measurements: Shannon–Wiener (H′ ), Simpson diversity index (D2 ), species richness (S), and species evenness (J ′ ). The PlanetScope surface reflectance data at 3 m spatial resolution was acquired and preprocessed for species diversity prediction. The spectral/pixel information of all bands, except the coastal band, was extracted for further processing. Vegetation indices (VIs) (NDVI—normalized difference vegetation index, EVI—enhanced vegetation index, SRI—simple ratio index, SAVI—soil adjusted vegetation index, and NDRE—normalized difference red edge index) were also calculated from the spectral bands and their pixel value extracted. A correlation analysis was then performed between the spectral bands and VIs with the species diversity index. The results showed that spectral bands 6 (red) and 2 (blue) significantly correlated with the two main species diversity indices (S and H′ ) due to their influence on vegetation properties, such as canopy biomass and leaf chlorophyll content. Furthermore, we conducted a stepwise regression analysis to investigate the most important spectral bands to consider when estimating species diversity from the PlanetScope satellite data. Like the correlation results, bands 6 (red) and 2 (blue) were the most important bands to be considered for predicting species diversity. The model equations from the stepwise regression were used to predict tree species diversity. Overall, the study’s findings emphasize the relevance of remotely sensed data in assessing the ecological condition of protected areas, a tool for decision-making in biodiversity conservation.Item Integration of multiple geospatial applications and intelligence for responding to COVID-19 in Ghana(Ghana Med j, 2021) Owusu, A.B.; Afagbedzi, S.K.; Bandoh, D.A.; Frimpong, J.A.; Kissiedu, I.N.; Aikins, B.E.; Hinneh, R.; Kenu, E.Objective: We describe the use of integrated geospatial applications for the provision of access to timely and accurate data on samples, visualisation of Spatio-temporal patterns of cases and effective communication between field sample collectors, testing laboratories, Regional Health directors and Government Decision Makers. Design: This study describes how an integrated geospatial platform based on case location and intelligence was de veloped and used for effective COVID-19 response during the initial stages of COVID-19 in Ghana. Data Source: Collector for ArcGIS, ArcGIS Survey123 Main outcome measure: successful development and deployment of integrated geospatial applications and analytics. Results: The Collector for ArcGIS app was customised to collect COVID-19 positive cases location information. Survey 123 was introduced as a COVID-19 contact tracing application to digitise the case-based forms and provide real-time results from the laboratories to GHS and other stakeholders. The laboratory backend allowed the testing laboratories access to specific information about each patient (sample) collected by the fieldworkers. The regional supervisors’ backend web application provided accessing test results for confidentiality and timely communication of results. Conclusion: Geospatial platforms were successfully established in Ghana to provide timely results to Regional Health Directors and Government decision-makers. This helped to improve the timeliness of response and contact tracing at the district level.Item Land Use Land Cover Change within Kakum Conservation Area in the Assin South District of Ghana, 1991-2015(West African Journal of Applied Ecology, 2018-09) Doe, E.K.; Aikins, B.E.; Njomaba, E.; Owusu, A.B.Kakum Conservation Area is roughly 1187km2, extending over large portions of forest reserves in the Assin South District of Ghana. The district hosts the remaining biodiversity hotspots within highly fragmented rainforest of West Africa. Although the conservation has been gazetted as protected area, it has since been impacted by illegal chainsaw logging, expanding agricultural land use and built construction to meet the housing needs of the rapidly growing population of the district. However, there is paucity of data on the magnitude, rate and types of land cover change occurring in the district. This study seeks to address these by examining the magnitude, the rate and direction of change in land cover between 1991 and 2015. The study objective was achieved using supervised classification and post classification change detection of remotely sensed Landsat satellite imagery of the district taken in 1991, 2001 and 2015. The results show that, within the study period, the population of the area increased by 2.9%, thick forest decreased by 8.2km2, light forest increased by 5.3km2 and built environment increased by 2.9km2 per annum. These results are considered potential hindrance to sustainable development, including biodiversity conservation in the forest reserves and climate change mitigation in general. There is therefore need for measures to end deforestation and stimulate reforestation of the lost forest cover. The district needs to initiate an enquiry into the effectiveness of the current forest reserve management practices and sustainability of land use systems in the district.