Advance in geospatial technology: Surveyor General highlights milestones

The Surveyor General of Nigeria, Adebomehin Adeyemi has emphasized the nation’s commitment to embracing geospatial technology, marking a significant step forward mapping and data analysis.

This he said at a one day workshop on the use cases for the very high resolution drone imagery and street view data collected for part of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) on Thursday.

Speaking at the event, Surveyor General, detailed the rigorous efforts undertaken to process vast amounts of geospatial data, highlighting the technological advancements being integrated into national planning and security strategies.
According to him, “For the past four days, we decided to pause because we still have about five blocks to go through. However, having successfully covered about 20 out of the 25 we were approved to process, we chose to begin the showcasing phase early.

“The last man standing among the team, who oversees artificial intelligence, is set to leave tomorrow, and we wanted to present our achievements before his departure,” he stated.

Adeyemi stressed the importance of high-resolution imaging and real-time data processing, noting that traditional satellite images do not provide the depth of analysis required for modern applications.
“You can’t get it from an image. That is the truth about it. Even if an image is used, processing it can take months, if not years.

“Our current system, which I like to call ‘Alienwish,’ has been operational for the past five days, handling intensive processing of about 17,000 images.”

Highlighting the role of sophisticated computing systems, he noted that the processing work required continuous cooling mechanisms, including air conditioning and built-in fans to prevent overheating.

The Surveyor-General further underscored the significance of geospatial management in shaping the world and ensuring Nigeria remains at the forefront of technological advancements.
Also acknowledged the contributions of international experts who assisted in the project. “We do not want Nigeria to be left behind. That is why we are making extra efforts to achieve this milestone.

“This initiative aligns with the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to leverage technology for national development.”

“We all know what drones are capable of nowadays. Gone are the days when armies relied solely on manpower. Today, drones can accomplish in seconds what used to take thousands of troops.”

“A special thanks to our partners who sent four of their experts to support this initiative. One of them, a multi-talented professional, not only pilots drones but also manages IT operations.

“Yesterday, he demonstrated a system that could isolate and analyze buildings within an election mapping project—a capability we previously lacked.”
Also speaking is the Head of Department in Photogrametry and Remote Sensitivity, Surveyor Azeez Afeez, emphasized the potentials of digital twins in urban development, aids population estimate, disaster management and border monitoring.

With digital twins forming the foundation for smart cities, he stressed the importance of Nigeria keeping pace with global advancements.

He said, “We have successfully captured high-resolution imagery of parts of Abuja, enabling us to plan new roads, power lines, and pipelines without physically surveying the areas.

“By mapping buildings in real geometry, we can estimate population figures and predict flood impacts, helping save lives and resources.”

“As the giant of Africa, we must not be left behind. This technology is key to building autonomous infrastructure in the future. This initiative, in collaboration with the Nigerian Immigration Services and other agencies, aims to modernize national planning.” he concluded.