Service evolution

End users are also requesting evolution of the service so it can provide Earth Observation based information to combat illegal activities on land, not restricted to illegal logging crime but also illegal mining and wildlife poaching

Service trail: Charcoal trafficking

One of the service trails focuses on illegal charcoal trafficking. Profits from illegal, illicit or unregulated charcoal trade in the East, Central and West Africa are estimated approximately in the range of 2.4–9 billion USD and may be used for financing other illegal activities, including smuggling of weapons and terrorism. The unregulated trade in charcoal is suggested to lead to a loss of 1.9 billion USD annually for African countries. Figure 8 illustrates the different phases of charcoal trafficking.

Main identified routes of interest for charcoal trafficking lie between Somalia, Kenya and the Gulf States. The first trial steps of this project include the identification of a vessel with a suspicious behavior, based on actual and historical AIS data, followed by the analyses of available satellite imagery and display of vessels with their AIS switched off or tampered. Once these suspicious vessels are determined, a detailed study of their routes is undertaken, which can provide additional information on the loading/unloading and transit areas.

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