If you had a chance to do something, and you only had one day every four years to do it, what would it be and why would it be to release your newsletter? Too dramatic maybe, okay but on this once in every fours years opportunity we just had to send out a newsletter. Welcome back to DSAIL MAIL now back to what really brought you here. We have been up to quite a lot from the last time you heard from us. Now let us dive in shall we? |
Conferences and Workshops |
DSAIL director and Data Science Africa board chair Prof. Ciira Maina attended this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos and participated in the launch of the International Computation and AI Network (ICAIN). This collaborative effort brings together the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), ETH Zurich, EPFL, the Swiss National Computing Centre (CSCS), the European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems (ELLIS), Data Science Africa and the Finnish IT Center for Science (CSC) in an effort to leverage AI and high performance computing resources to tackle global challenges. DSA and DSAIL will participate in developing AI technology for sustainable agriculture in the face of the climate crisis together with collaborators such as Amini, a Kenyan climate startup and Communal Shamba Coffee from Tanzania. |
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DSAIL recently partnered with Kabarak University in Nakuru, Kenya for their Data Science and Artificial Intelligence conference, and it was a huge success. Our director, Prof. Ciira Maina, was one of the five keynote speakers at the event, and he delivered an inspiring talk on the significance of Data Science and AI research in Africa.
But that's not all - four of our researchers also presented their latest projects, covering areas such as agriculture, climate, and healthcare. Austin Kaburia showcased his data processing pipeline for large weather networks to ensure data quality, Gabriel Kiarie and Evelyne Kahoro discussed their innovative waste management and prediction system, and Antony M. Gitau wowed the audience with his computer vision-based approach for orthopaedic monitoring. It was truly an honour to be a part of the 2nd DS&AI conference at Kabarak University from the 6th to the 9th of February 2024. |
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Discover DSAIL-TreeVision, an application that leverages AI and 3D computer vision to accurately perform tree inventory tasks. This tool is the result of two years of hard work and the collaborative effort of DSAIL members! Our innovative tool harnesses the power of stereoscopic images to accurately measure tree biophysical parameters, such as diameter at breast height, crown diameter, and height. Designed with Python and other open-source technologies, DSAIL-TreeVision features a user-friendly interface and modular architecture.
Whether you’re a researcher or a forestry professional, our software simplifies data acquisition, camera calibration, and parameter extraction. The future of forest inventory lies in non-contact technologies and at DSAIL, we have begun to embrace the future .DSAIL-TreeVision paves the way for interesting future research in automated tree inventory leveraging the advances in computer vision. You can read the DSAIL-TreeVision paper |
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A low-cost raspberry Pi based time domain reflectometer for fault detection in electric fences. |
We are pleased to announce that our research paper, titled “A low-cost Raspberry Pi based time domain reflectometer for fault detection in electric fences”, has been published in IET Science, Measurement & Technology. This paper presents a novel system that can detect and locate faults in electric fences using time domain reflectometry. DSAIL is at the forefront of environmental conservation. This research aims to improve the efficiency of monitoring electric fences used in protected areas. Read more about this research |
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DSAIL’s commitment to bridging the gap between research and real-world solutions is exemplified by its latest product, DSAILPondLive, a fishpond water quality monitoring system fabricated locally at DSAIL Lab. This innovative solution utilizes Internet of Things (IoT) technology to provide real-time insights into important water quality parameters, such as turbidity and temperature, enabling farmers to optimize conditions for healthy fish growth. With advantages including precision farming, proactive interventions, and increased profitability, this system represents a transformative shift towards efficient and sustainable aquaculture practices.
Stay tuned for future developments, including the introduction of an affordable dissolved oxygen sensor, which promises to empower fish farmers of all scales and contribute to a thriving global food security initiative. |
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Our Past and Upcoming Events |
We recently had an incredible opportunity to showcase our research and products at the Open Day event organized by DeKUT. The event was full of energy and excitement, as we got to interact with students from various institutions and members of the community who were eager to learn about our work. It was truly an amazing experience to see the enthusiasm and curiosity of the attendees, and we were thrilled to be able to share our knowledge and expertise with them. We received a lot of positive feedback and interest, which has motivated us to continue pushing the boundaries of innovation and research. We are grateful for this opportunity and look forward to participating in more events like this in the future. |
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🎉 Get ready to take your data science skills to the next level at DSA2024Nyeri! You're invited to join us at DeKUT Kenya for an exciting summer school from June 3rd to 5th. Immerse yourself in topics such as large language models, generative AI, edge machine learning, statistical learning, and remote sensing. This is an incredible opportunity to unlock your potential and discover the future of data science. Don't miss out - RegisterNow to secure your spot! 🔥 #DataScienceAfrica
P.S. There's more! The summer school is just the beginning. We have an amazing workshop lined up from June 6th to 7th, with even more exciting topics to dive into. We'll be launching the workshop CfP in the next few weeks, so stay tuned for more details! |
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Meet Teo, who is working on coffee yield prediction approaches. |
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Meet Victor, who is currently focused on animal species detection efforts within Mugie Conservancy |
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Mbatia‘s project involves generating tree counts through the analysis of drone images |
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