Remote Sensing for Mapping Urban Informal Waste Management Systems Course

Course Introduction

Rapid urbanization has placed enormous pressure on waste management systems, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where informal waste handling plays a critical role. Informal waste collectors often provide vital services, yet their contributions remain under-recognized, poorly mapped, and inadequately integrated into city planning. Remote sensing technologies now offer new opportunities to monitor, analyze, and improve informal waste management practices.

This course equips participants with the knowledge and skills to apply remote sensing and geospatial analysis in identifying, mapping, and evaluating informal waste management systems in urban contexts. Through hands-on exercises, participants will learn how to collect, process, and interpret spatial data that highlights the role of informal waste actors and their networks.

Participants will be introduced to methodologies for detecting waste hotspots, landfill dynamics, and urban environmental risks using Earth Observation (EO) data. The course emphasizes both technical skills and the social dimensions of waste management, ensuring that geospatial insights contribute to inclusive and sustainable urban development.

By combining geospatial technologies with participatory mapping and urban data, learners will discover how to strengthen the integration of informal waste collectors into formal city systems. This approach enhances policy development, improves resource allocation, and builds more resilient waste management frameworks.

The course further explores the use of emerging technologies such as drones, AI-driven image recognition, and mobile data collection tools in waste management monitoring. It highlights innovations that support circular economy strategies and climate-friendly urban planning.

By the end of the training, participants will be prepared to apply remote sensing for practical decision-making, policy support, and advocacy. They will be able to use geospatial evidence to promote inclusive waste management systems, environmental justice, and sustainable urban development.

Who Should Attend

• Urban planners and city development officers
• GIS and remote sensing specialists in waste and environmental management
• NGOs and development agencies working on urban sustainability
• Policy makers in ministries of environment, urban development, and sanitation
• Academic researchers in urban studies, waste management, and geospatial sciences
• Consultants in environmental governance and circular economy solutions
• Waste management authorities seeking to integrate informal sector data

Duration

5 days

Course Objectives

• Provide participants with practical knowledge on applying remote sensing for mapping urban informal waste systems.
• Develop skills in analyzing satellite and drone data to identify waste hotspots and landfill dynamics in cities.
• Strengthen participants’ ability to integrate geospatial data with social and economic waste management indicators.
• Train learners to apply participatory mapping tools to incorporate informal actors in geospatial waste assessments.
• Equip participants with methods for monitoring environmental and health impacts of waste using EO data.
• Enhance capacity to design GIS-based waste management plans that combine formal and informal sector contributions.
• Build technical expertise in open-source and commercial geospatial software for urban waste mapping applications.
• Enable participants to apply remote sensing to support circular economy initiatives and climate-smart waste policies.
• Improve participants’ ability to communicate geospatial insights effectively to policy makers and stakeholders.
• Prepare learners to apply cutting-edge technologies like AI and drones in waste monitoring and mapping projects.

Comprehensive Course Outline

Module 1: Introduction to Remote Sensing and Urban Waste Systems

• Overview of remote sensing applications in urban environmental management
• The role of informal waste systems in urban waste cycles
• Global challenges and opportunities in waste data collection
• Linking geospatial tools to inclusive urban policy

Module 2: Fundamentals of Remote Sensing for Waste Mapping

• Types of satellite and drone imagery used in waste detection
• Spatial resolution and data accuracy considerations
• Identifying urban waste flows and hotspots
• Open-access datasets for waste management projects

Module 3: Mapping Informal Waste Systems

• Techniques for detecting informal dumpsites and collection routes
• Using geospatial data to estimate waste volumes and flows
• Integration of participatory GIS for community-driven mapping
• Case studies of informal waste sector mapping initiatives

Module 4: Landfills, Dumpsites, and Environmental Risks

• Remote sensing for landfill monitoring and spatial growth detection
• Identifying leachate and pollution risks using EO data
• Mapping environmental health risks around waste hotspots
• Tracking informal waste activities near formal disposal sites

Module 5: GIS Integration for Urban Waste Planning

• Combining remote sensing and GIS for urban waste assessments
• Building city-wide waste flow models with geospatial data
• Integrating informal actors into GIS waste management systems
• Supporting evidence-based policy with GIS outputs

Module 6: Tools and Software for Waste Mapping

• Open-source GIS platforms (QGIS, Google Earth Engine) for waste mapping
• Drone mapping software for localized waste detection
• Data processing workflows for large-scale waste datasets
• Data quality control and validation techniques

Module 7: Community Participation and Social Dimensions

• Participatory mapping for informal waste actor engagement
• Integrating qualitative and geospatial data in analysis
• Mapping social and economic contributions of waste pickers
• Ensuring inclusivity in urban waste management planning

Module 8: Emerging Technologies in Waste Monitoring

• AI and machine learning applications in waste recognition
• Mobile apps and crowdsourcing for waste data collection
• UAV-based mapping of urban waste activities
• Blockchain applications for waste accountability

Module 9: Policy and Decision-Making Applications

• Designing policy briefs and visual tools using geospatial data
• Communicating waste management insights to stakeholders
• GIS-based dashboards for waste management monitoring
• Building cases for integrating informal systems in city planning

Module 10: Future Trends and Global Best Practices

• Circular economy strategies supported by geospatial mapping
• Climate-smart urban waste management approaches
• Case studies of successful GIS waste management projects
• Innovations shaping the future of inclusive waste management

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com Tel: +254 721 331 808

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Upskill Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Upskill certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com, +254 721 331 808

Terms of Payment

Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties payment of the course fee should be done 3 working days before commencement of the training so as to enable us to prepare better