Esaie Dufitimana

Esaie is currently a Ph.D. researcher with Quantum Leap Africa at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) in Rwanda, and the University of Rwanda. His research is focusing on the use of high-resolution satellite imagery, spatial data, and machine learning techniques to study socio-economic inequalities and their implications on public health in urban settings. He holds a Master of Science in Geo-information Science and Earth Observation from the University of Twente, the Netherlands. His research interests focus on understanding the interaction between people and their living environment and include Spatial Data Science, Machine Learning, Earth Observation, Geo-information science, urban analytics, environment, and land and urban systems. He has worked as an Assistant Lecturer at INES-Ruhengeri, where he taught courses related to geospatial technologies, including Remote Sensing, GIS, Cadastral Surveying, Land Reform and Development, and SDI. He has also worked as a Global Forest Watch Technology Fellow with the World Resources Institutes, where he developed a forest monitoring application for the Nile-Congo ridge area of Rwanda using Earth Observation data. He has also worked with non-profit organizations as an Environmentalist and GIS professional.

Esaie is a Regional Ambassador at YouthMappers, involved in the recruitment of highly motivated students to formally establish university-based YouthMappers chapters and contribute to the growth and sustainability of the YouthMappers network, as well as elevating students’ voices and contributions to open mapping for enhancing community resilience.