In the heart of Morocco’s bustling urban landscapes, a groundbreaking study is paving the way for a greener, more sustainable future. Researchers, led by A. Moussaoui from the Department of Cartography and Photogrammetry at the School of Geomatics and Surveying Engineering, Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine Institute Hassan II in Rabat, are harnessing the power of geospatial technologies to identify vacant spaces and suitable rooftops for urban agriculture. Their work, published in ‘The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences,’ offers a promising solution to the challenges posed by rapid urbanization and the consequent loss of agricultural land.
The study focuses on integrating urban and peri-urban agriculture into open spaces, community gardens, rooftops, and greenhouses. This approach aims to cultivate regional agricultural commodities like cereals and market garden crops, ensuring food security and meeting the needs of citizens. “Urbanization is driving the conversion of agricultural land into high-value uses, but we can reclaim some of that space by looking upwards and utilizing rooftops and other open areas within cities,” explains Moussaoui.
The research employs advanced geospatial technologies to extract vacant spaces and suitable rooftops. For vacant space extraction, the team tested three classifiers: Support Vector Machine (SVM), Minimum Distance, and Random Forest. The SVM classifier emerged as the most accurate, with a precision rate of 75%. For rooftop extraction, the researchers evaluated three methods, including object-based classification using SVM, the pre-trained and optimized deep learning model Footprint Building Extraction-USA, and Mapflow’s building model. The latter two methods achieved the highest accuracy, with F-Factor values above 77%.
The commercial implications of this research are substantial. By identifying suitable spaces for urban agriculture, cities can reduce their food miles, lowering transportation costs and carbon emissions. Additionally, urban farming can create new economic opportunities, from vertical farming startups to rooftop gardening services. “This isn’t just about growing food; it’s about creating sustainable urban ecosystems that support local economies and enhance quality of life,” says Moussaoui.
The study also highlights the potential for geospatial technologies to revolutionize urban planning. As cities continue to grow, the need for sustainable, data-driven solutions will only increase. This research demonstrates how machine learning and remote sensing can be leveraged to create more livable, resilient urban environments.
Looking ahead, the integration of urban agriculture into city planning could become a global trend, driven by the need for food security and sustainability. The methods developed in this study could be adapted to various urban contexts, from dense megacities to sprawling suburbs. As geospatial technologies continue to evolve, we can expect even more innovative solutions to emerge, shaping the future of urban agriculture and sustainable development.
In the words of Moussaoui, “The future of urban agriculture is not just about growing food; it’s about reimagining our cities as sustainable, resilient, and inclusive spaces.” With the insights and tools provided by this research, that future is looking increasingly bright.