The contributions of space geodesy to the construction of sustainable cities in Africa and around the world

Department of Geography and Spatial Planning, University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin

^* Corresponding author: adjaganelary@gmail.com

Abstract

The accelerate urbanisation African cities caused by the massive rural exodus contributed to the demographic boom of these cities. Our cities barely breathe. The swamps of yesterday have become the habitats of today, the marine areas become a refuge by excellence for families newly arrived in the city. This is the birth of precarious neighborhoods with growing land insecurity. The disappearance of marine and coastal biodiversity, the increase in pollution in all its forms; this is where space geodesy comes in. Recognized as one of the great revolutions of Navigation. Space geodesy has made available to territories and continents including the oceans a set of techniques that in their applications participate in the construction and management of sustainable cities in Africa and in the world; it participates through its fields of application in atmospheric monitoring, marine environment monitoring, territorial, climatological to ensure a better life on land, underground, in water and under water. These techniques and application are an urban decision support for the construction and management of sustainable cities; precise geodetic measurements make it possible to assess topography, identify flood zones, with facilitates the installation of resilient infrastructure.