Centre for Environment and Sustainability

RESEARCH AIM Arthur C Clarke building, Floor 2

University of Surrey
The aim of the research Guildford Translation of Earth
is to critically analyze the
Surrey Observation data into
GU2 7XH
E-mail: a.andries@surrey.ac.uk Sustainable Development
potential for applying EO https://www.surrey.ac.uk/people/ana-andries Indicators: an analytical
data to populate SDG framework
Study supported under the NERC
indicators. The research SCENARIO Doctoral Training
Partnership with PhD funding for
presents an analytical
the first author. Supporting and
framework for assessing
funding from NPL as the CASE
the potential of EO award partner for the PhD re-
Ana Andries1- PhD student
approaches to populate search.
S. Morse1
the SDG indicators
R. J. Murphy1
where a Maturity Matrix
J. M. Lynch1
Framework (MMF) is
E.R. Woolliams2
applied to all of the 232 J. Fonweban3
SDG indicators.

1
University of Surrey,
a.andries@surrey.ac.uk
2
National Physical Laboratory (NPL)
emma.woolliams@npl.co.uk
3
UN Food and Agriculture Organization,
Ghana
John.Fonweban@fao.org
 METHODS PRELIMINARY RESULTS

The research approach is based on a systematic review where Green denotes a high potential of EO data directly to

qualitative and quantitative methods are applied in order to measure the SDG indicator. Yellow indicates the SDG

pursue the aim of the research. indicator might be directly or indirectly measured by

A development of a preliminary framework is designed for the EO data. Red indicates that the indicator is mostly

applicability of EO to support SDG indicators based on measured through an indirect approach with EO data

reviewing papers and reports. The review is aiming to provide playing a minor role. Grey represents indicators with no

a basis for a meaningful classification of the varying types of present evidence in the literature of support for

the contribution of EO data specifically for the SDG population via EO data.

indicators and of the overall potential of EO for the SDG

ABSTRACT indicators – this was developed into a ‘maturity matrix The MMF has been applied to all 232 indicators within

framework’ (MMF) described below. the SDGs and the results are presented in the
In 2015, member countries of the United Nations ‘dashboard’ below. The colour banding summarises the
adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals A Maturity Matrix Score (MMS) ranging from 0 (no evidence ranges of MMS values assigned to each indicator.
(SDGs) at the Sustainable Development Summit of potential) to 10 (strong evidence of potential) was derived
for the potential role of EO to populate each SDG indicator There were 84 indicators with sufficient evidence from
in New York. These global goals have 169 targets
using the assumptions and equations outlined below. the literature to generate a positive MMS representing
and 232 indicators which are based on the three
36% of the total number of SDG indicators.
pillars of sustainable development: economic, A very important part of the research requires engagement
EO potential to monitor SDG Indicator
social and environmental. Substantial challenges with experts in EO and sustainable indicators. In order to MMS values
gather their views, a semi-structured interview is conducted Red= 1-4; Yellow 4-7; Green 7-10; Grey –0
remain in obtaining data of the required quality,
especially in developing countries, given the MMF for the potential contribution of EO to
meet the data needs for a SDG indicator
limited resources involved. One promising and
First Premise Second Premise
innovative way of addressing this issue of data Methods of Level of completeness offered by
Requirement for non-EO
processing EO EO data for the data required (DR)
Score information
availability is to use Earth Observation (EO). The data
(Premise 1.2) to fully satisfy the indicator
(Premise 1.1) (% given only for guidance)
research phases are designed to serve to a system- Indicator measured by
0 No EO N/A
non-EO data
atically review of the scope for using EO to sup-
Empirical or semi- EO data supplements
port SDG indicators and to assess its potential to 1 empirical model- primary analysis based Very low (1- 25 % of DR)
ling on non-EO data
provide data enabling calibration, either directly
Pixel-based
or indirectly, and wholly or partially. technique
2 Equal EO/non-EO
(unsupervised Low (26 % - 50 % of DR)
classification)

This research can offer new insights into an im-

EO data used directly;
portant, effective and actual framework of relia- Pixel-based and
non-EO data required
3 sub-pixel based
e.g. as training set for Moderate (51 % - 75 % of DR)
techniques
ble and cost-effective data such as satellite im- artificial intelligence

ageries. Future work will seek to develop the MMF using input from EO and indicator experts .
Image Segmenta- EO data used directly;
tion -Object-based limited non-EO data
4
classification requirement e.g. for High (76 % – 90 % of DR) Full paper access:
(OBIA) validation
https://isdrs2018.exordo.com/files/papers/70/initial_draft/1c_Andries_Paper_Final_paper.pdf

EO data used directly;

Visual interpreta-
5 non-EO derived data are Very high (> 91 % of DR)
tion
not required