About the Project
Lake Rukwa Monitor is an advanced environmental monitoring platform that utilizes Google Earth Engine to track changes in Lake Rukwa, one of Tanzania’s important wetlands.
Our Mission
We aim to provide accurate, real-time, and accessible satellite-based data to support sustainable management of Lake Rukwa’s water resources, biodiversity, and surrounding ecosystems.
What We Monitor
- Our Mission Our mission is to develop an efficient and user-friendly web-based system for computing and monitoring water transparency in Lake Rukwa using remote sensing and geospatial technologies. The system aims to provide accurate, timely, and spatially distributed information on water transparency to support environmental monitoring, water resource management, research, and sustainable decision-making. By integrating Sentinel-2 satellite imagery, geospatial analysis, and web mapping technologies, the project seeks to improve access to water quality information through an interactive platform that allows users to visualize, analyze, and monitor changes in water transparency over time. The system is designed to reduce the limitations of traditional field-based monitoring methods, which are often costly, time-consuming, and spatially limited. In addition, the project promotes the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, and web technologies in addressing environmental challenges and supporting sustainable management of inland water ecosystems in Tanzania.
Technology
This project is powered by Google Earth Engine, using multi-temporal satellite imagery from Landsat, Sentinel-1 & Sentinel-2.
Scientific Background
Water transparency is widely recognized as a key indicator of aquatic ecosystem health because it directly controls light penetration, which in turn affects photosynthesis, primary productivity, and overall water quality (Kirk, 2011).
It is commonly measured using Secchi Disk Depth (SDD) or indirectly estimated from turbidity and the optical properties of water. In Lake Rukwa, an endorheic lake located in southwestern Tanzania, recent observations suggest a noticeable decline in water transparency, largely associated with increased sediment inflow, nutrient enrichment, and intensified human activities within the catchment (Mshana, 2015; Lake Rukwa Basin Water Board, 2020).
The deterioration of water transparency is strongly linked to land use and land cover changes, including deforestation, agricultural expansion, and small-scale mining activities. These activities increase soil erosion and surface runoff, leading to higher concentrations of suspended sediments entering the lake (FAO, 2015; Wang et al., 2011).
Traditional field-based methods such as Secchi disk measurements are labor-intensive and provide limited spatial and temporal coverage. This creates a significant data gap for effective management.
This project addresses these challenges by developing a web-based system that integrates remote sensing data, geospatial analysis, and predictive modeling to deliver near real-time information on water transparency in Lake Rukwa, supporting better decision-making and sustainable management of this vital ecosystem.
Lazaro Safari Sospeter
Researcher / Student
University: Ardhi University, Tanzania
Program: BSc. Geographical Information System and Remote Sensing
Research Title: Web System for Computing Water Transparency, Study Area Lake Rukwa
Dr. Anastazia Msusa
Academic Supervisor
Title: Dr.
Department: Department of Geospatial Science and Technology
University: Ardhi University