Satellites and AI have just accurately counted 1.8b trees in West Africa

Apr 16, 2021

A new study has used satellite imagery to map trees and shrubs. Image: Martin Brandt

Martin Brandt

Assistant professor of geography, University of Copenhagen

Kjeld Rasmussen

Associate professor emeritus, University of Copenhagen

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By combining supercomputing, machine learning, satellite data and field assessments, researchers were able to map billions of individual trees in West Africa. Image: Martin Brandt

Some people within the semi-arid Sahel safeguard and promote trees within settlements and farmlands. Image: Martin Brandt

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