News

iLEAPS has once again secured the prestigious Future Earth Cross-Cutting Funding, in collaboration with the Mountain Research Initiative (MRI), Future Earth Asia, and the Sustainable Water Future Programme.

The project titled "A transdisciplinary approach to improve water resources prediction in complex mountain regions (Transdisciplinary Mountain Hydrology, TD-MH)", focuses on sustaining water security in rapidly changing mountain regions, combining advanced hydrological modeling, satellite and ground-based data, and stakeholder input. Through a co-production approach, it aims to deliver science that is both credible and actionable, supporting long-term water management solutions in vulnerable regions.

Led by the Indian Institute for Tropical Meteorology, Pune, this project—“Enhancing Urban Resilience and Air Quality Management in Delhi NCR through Integrated Earth Observation and Decision Support Systems”—aims to determine whether converting open wastelands into urban green spaces can reduce heat stress, improve air quality, and strengthen urban resilience. Using high-resolution Sentinel satellite data, machine-learning algorithms, and integration with AIRWISE and NSM_Urban models, the project will map wastelands across 19 NCR districts, assess dust emissions, and simulate greening scenarios. The outcomes will inform a Decision Support System (DSS) to help planners and policymakers identify priority areas for land conversion and guide evidence-based strategies for a more climate-resilient and sustainable Delhi–NCR.
Other partners of the project are Research Application Laboratory (RAL), National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), Boulder, Colorado, USA. and the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, and Maseeh Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin.

iLEAPS is pleased to announce its success in securing funding under the Future Earth Cross-Cutting Initiative (September 2024 call). The project is led by Middlesex University in collaboration with GreenFin Research Cluster academics and practitioners. Other Future Earth partners involved include the Finance & Economics Knowledge-Action Network (KAN) and the Water–Energy–Food Nexus Knowledge-Action Network (KAN).

This project will develop an end-to-end solution to improve farmers’ lives in Africa. To address the need for more equitable access to international markets, the project will utilise state-of-the-art satellite and supporting technology (e.g. drones, smartphones) to evidence improved farming practices, working with an initial sample of 400 cooperative farmers supported by the DAWN Commission in Western Nigeria. The trans-disciplinary expert project team will work with local farmers and support services on the ground to develop an effective blueprint (initially non-technical) proof-of-concept for developing a green blockchain end-to-end food production, transportation and export market solution – initially for the UK export market. This will collect data on farming practices, size, location, equipment usage and sharing, crop selection, crop performance, routes to market and financial performance, and co-create solutions with stakeholders.