LDSF radial-arm plot design
Science-Based Soil & Land Health Monitoring Pipeline
K4GGWA
Science-Based Soil & Land Health Monitoring Pipeline
An end-to-end system connecting LDSF field surveys, regional soil labs, Africa’s largest soil spectral database, predictive mapping, open data infrastructure, and decision-support for resilient restoration.
LDSF-based field data
40+ countries
Open STAC access
Predictive maps with uncertainty
Explore the pipeline
Step 1
LDSF field data collection
We collect high-quality, comparable soil and land health data using the Land Degradation Surveillance Framework (LDSF). Our approach is systematic, agile, and cost-effective—designed for Africa’s diverse landscapes and the realities of fieldwork.
- Systematic and multi-scalar sampling design to capture heterogeneity across landscapes
- Multi-variable assessments of soil, vegetation, land use and context
- Training of local teams for quality, consistency, and safety
- Specialised rangeland module to capture rangeland-specific indicators
Field teams collecting samples
Why this is uniquely valuable
End-to-end pipeline, from intensive and systematic field data collection to state-of-the-art soil spectral analysis and modeling, for science-based, scalable land health information.
Each part of the pipeline strengthens the next: field data calibrate and improve laboratory analytics, soil and vegetation data powers predictive maps, open infrastructure makes the evidence accessible and usable, and decision-support tools turn it into restoration action.
Grounded in field data
Systematic sampling using the LDSF framework across Africa’s diverse landscapes for high-quality, comparable evidence at scale.
Soil spectral analytics
The LDSF database
Africa’s largest soil spectral library, plugging a critical gap across the continent.
Predictive maps for trend analysis and modeling
State-of-the-art models & explicit uncertainties.
Open, STAC-based data access
Interoperable, transparent and FAIR - so maps, metadata, and outputs can be reused across many different workflows and decision-cases.
Supports defensible restoration decisions
Evidence-based insights to guide action and track outcomes.
Our work
Our impact
Strengthens scientific capacities, open data, and the effectiveness of restoration work across Africa.
Capacity building
Empowering local actors, labs, and institutions across Africa.
Scientific credibility
Rigorous methods, standards, and QA/QC for trusted results.
Open data
Open, accessible, interoperable data and transparency.
African data sovereignty
Data owned and governed in Africa, for African priorities.
Scalable monitoring
For long-term trend analysis and landscape assessments.
Restoration intelligence
Better information for better restoration outcomes.