CNES & IGN FI Sign A Cooperation Agreement With The Ethiopian Mapping Agency
On Wednesday 11 October, CNES, IGN FI and the Ethiopian Mapping Agency (EMA) signed a cooperation agreement in Addis Ababa to provide EMA with updates for the land cover layer of its 1:50,000 topographic maps. Under the agreement, CNES will supply cloud-free Sentinel-2 images corrected for atmospheric effects, while IGN FI will be responsible for training operators to use Sentinel-2 data and will support EMA for thematic checking of the land cover layer.
Many countries around the globe do not have up to date nationwide 1:50,000 coverage of their territories. Ethiopia is one of them and is looking to update its maps.
For CNES, this topographic mapping project will give it a chance to produce and deliver Sentinel-2 imagery in an operational context. The results of this trial will allow IGN FI to develop a more competitive offering for updating of 1:50,000 land cover map layers and production of maps at scales of 1:100,000 to 1:1,000,000 in Africa and around the world. EMA hopes, meanwhile, to be able to generate the land cover layer of the 1:50,000 map much more quickly and cheaply than before.
After signing the agreement, EMA’s Director General Sultan Mohammed expressed his appreciation and commented: “Thanks to CNES and IGN FI for their support in this very important undertaking that will enable EMA to provide updated maps to the user community in Ethiopia, that can also be scaled up to other countries in Africa.”
Founded in 1961, the Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES) is the government agency responsible for shaping and implementing France’s space policy in Europe.
IGN FI is internationally renowned in the field of geographic information. Since it was founded in 1986, IGN FI has established itself as a leader in geomatic projects, working with the predominant policy makers, both public and private.
