Geospatial Systems - Keneuoe Maliehe
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Profile
Keneuoe Maliehe
Biography
About Keneuoe Maliehe
I hold a Bachelor of Science in Geography and a Bachelor of Science Honours in Geoinformatics, both from the University of Pretoria in South Africa. I also completed a postgraduate certificate in Geomatics and Participation, where I was enrolled in the third semester of a Master of Science in Geomatics programme at the Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences in Germany. My most recent qualification is a Master of Science in GIS and Remote Sensing from Maynooth University in Ireland.
My academic training has made me both a data and human scientist and an engineer with an appreciation for geospatial data preparation, as well as technical know-how in relevant means to explore, analyse and present data for visualisation. My interests in environmental management and sustainability have been developed throughout my journey in academia.
Industry has added a different dimension to my interests and passions in geospatial systems. Having worked on diverse projects in consulting engineering, aerial surveying and geospatial product development environments has made me appreciate the need for concerted efforts in responding to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). I also saw new knowledge spinning out of the COVID-19 pandemic data, and the past eighteen months have heightened my interests in environmental stewardship in the quest of a sustainable Earth. It exposed to me some interesting outcomes which raised pertinent questions regarding humanity’s readiness in dealing with challenges spanning from unprecedented global disasters.
For my PhD research, I am looking at integrating different kinds of geospatial data and developing artificial intelligence techniques to help address some of the biggest threats facing the planet. I would like to focus on the sustainable use of energy resources, adequate spatial planning, building digital platforms and human capacity to ensure data-driven decision-making in building resilient and sustainable cities while reversing the effects of climate change. I want to see my research influencing policy or being implemented to address the targets set out in SDGs 7, 11 and 13 which are at the core of what drives me.
I chose the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Geospatial Systems because I believed my research interests would fit appropriately with those of the EPSRC CDT and that I would learn from the pool of geospatial scientists and engineers as well as also make valuable contributions to the mission of the CDT.
I would like to see an improvement in the quality of life of the people on the African continent and I wish to contribute to this. Aerial and satellite imagery provide us with the basis for mapping, as well as the foundations for all infrastructural development in an area. Therefore, I see geospatial information technology as an enabler of economic development, which can provide African governments and institutions with better decision-making tools, allowing them to know more about their continent and the people.
Climate action, clean energy and sustainable and resilient cities are areas I am passionate about and advances in these areas increase the potential for contribution towards the development of efficient and environmentally sustainable cities in Africa as well as globally. My aspirations after the PhD are to apply the newly acquired knowledge to building our future as a planet. I also hope to then share my knowledge with others by lecturing and mentoring.
Lastly, I have always made it a point to stay affiliated with my Alma maters and I hope to carry on in the same spirit. I hope to remain in partnership with the CDT after completion of my PhD and to be affiliated on joint projects and research and to continually add value in any way I can.
Research interest: A Spatiotemporal Analysis of Methane Emissions in South Africa Using Observations of Sentinel-5P’s TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument.
