Cristhian Camilo Delgado Fajardo is working on technology which uses satellite data and artificial intelligence algorithms to pinpoint where methane emissions are coming from.
And now the University of Otago PhD candidate has led an Otago team to win the Space for Planet Earth Challenge, which aims to use space technologies to find new and innovative solutions to monitor and control methane emissions, and directly contribute to the fight against climate change in the South Pacific.
Mr Delgado Fajardo worked with University of Otago academics Prof Peter Whigham, Assoc Prof Grant Dick and Assoc Prof Pascal Sirguey to see if methane emission monitoring could be enhanced by using satellite data and artificial intelligence algorithms.
"We saw the Space for Planet Earth Challenge as a unique opportunity to leverage space technologies for addressing environmental challenges, particularly in monitoring methane emissions from agricultural activities.
"This topic was perfectly aligned with my PhD, so we saw a valuable opportunity to get training, support and do networking."
Methane is a strong greenhouse gas, and emissions primarily come from leaks from petrochemical extraction and industrial processing operations. But the challenge aimed to find ways to identify methane emission target areas from weaker sources, such as livestock and agriculture operations, landfills and natural emissions from sources including wetlands and coastal areas.
Mr Delgado Fajardo said the team was "thrilled and honoured" to have won the award, and it had motivated them to continue their work in addressing environmental challenges through innovative research and technology.
"The judges appreciated our comprehensive methodology, the showcasing prototypes, and its potential impact.
"The fact that our initiative could be easily transferable to newer satellites, like methaneSAT, makes it very attractive.
"Winning this award validates our research efforts and may open up new opportunities for collaboration and further advancements in environmental monitoring technologies," he said.
The prize included $25,000 and six months’ mentorship from SpaceBase, which the team are utilising to enhance their project.
They recently presented their ground-breaking work at the 2024 Machine Intelligence for GeoAnalytics and Remote Sensing conference.
The challenge had two category winners — a university/start-up level and a secondary school level — which were open to individuals and teams in New Zealand, Australia, the Pacific Islands and the Philippines.
The secondary school category was won by the Methane Mavericks from Kyneton High School and Maryborough Education Centre, in Newham, Australia.
