In a rapidly changing world where climate challenges and environmental sustainability are paramount, innovative tools and technologies are critical to understanding and protecting our natural ecosystems. Prof Samuel Adelabu, Vice-Dean: Research and Postgraduate Studies in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (NAS), and a leading geospatial scientist at the University of the Free State (UFS), is at the forefront of this effort. His work integrates cutting-edge satellite, drone, and subsurface sensing technologies to provide detailed insights into Earth’s landscapes – helping to shape strategies for sustainable development across Africa and beyond.

Prof Adelabu’s inaugural lecture on 10 June 2025, titled From Heaven to Earth and Even Underneath, showcased the remarkable scope of geospatial science, exploring how environmental data captured from satellites, drones, ground sensors, and subsurface tools can improve ecosystem management.

Reflecting on the occasion, Prof Vasu Reddy, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Internationalisation, highlighted the significance of this academic milestone: “This is a significant milestone in anyone’s academic career, particularly Prof Adelabu. A promotion does not come as a free meal. It’s a recognition of your talent, your stature, and your contributions to the university on becoming a full professor at the UFS.”

He further emphasised the broader importance of the inaugural lecture: “An inaugural lecture is not just simply a rite of passage; it is a declaration in some ways. It is where a scholar steps forward, not just to share knowledge, but to share their ideas, their thinking, and their purpose. It’s a moment to reflect on their journey, to illuminate the path forward, and to say here is the work that I’m doing. Here is why I am doing the kind of work that I am engaging in. And here is how we move forward together, because research might seem to be an individualistic enterprise, but it is fundamentally a collective journey. It is a scholarship with a soul, with a vision, and with a voice.”

Innovative technologies driving environmental insight

Prof Adelabu’s research focuses on integrating multiple data sources to build comprehensive environmental monitoring systems. While satellite observations provide broad, synoptic views of the Earth, he explained the necessity of complementing these with ground-based measurements such as field spectroscopy and ecological surveys to validate and enrich data.

He highlighted innovations such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or drones) equipped with multispectral and thermal sensors. These tools offer high-resolution imagery and 3D models using structure-from-motion techniques, revealing details visible to satellites alone. These technologies facilitate precise vegetation mapping, fire damage assessment, and ecological studies, especially within protected areas.

Prof Adelabu also delved beneath the surface, discussing subsurface sensing technologies such as LiDAR and ground-penetrating radar (GPR). These methods uncover terrain and soil structures critical for understanding landscape stability and ecological processes. His research in mountainous grasslands demonstrates how combining these technologies improves soil erosion predictions and supports sustainable land management.

Bridging research and impact for sustainable development

Beyond the technical innovations, Prof Adelabu presented real-world applications of geospatial science addressing climate change adaptation, conservation, and urban development. His studies include fire risk assessment in Golden Gate Highlands National Park, monitoring vegetation recovery after fires, and mapping biodiversity to guide conservation planning. In urban contexts, he has analysed settlement patterns, urban heat islands, and energy transitions using satellite and night-time light data.

A central theme in his work is the integration of big data, machine learning, and cloud computing platforms such as Google Earth Engine to process vast data sets, turning raw information into actionable insights for policy makers and stakeholders. He stressed the importance of building geospatial capacity in Africa, fostering collaboration, and ensuring access to data and tools to advance sustainable development continent-wide.

Prof Paul Oberholster, Dean: Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, praised Prof Adelabu’s contributions: “Prof Adelabu is recognised as a thought leader who will continue to elevate the university’s research profile, both locally and globally. What truly sets him apart is not only his academic excellence, but his deep sense of service and mentorship. A committed supervisor, a trainer – he has shaped the careers of many emerging scientists across Africa.”

Concluding his lecture, Prof Adelabu emphasised a forward-looking vision for geospatial science – one that is accessible, integrated, and impactful, bridging research, policy, and practice to tackle complex environmental and social challenges.

About Prof Samuel Adelabu