SALUT is a partnership involving two European institutions, Ku Leuven University and the GISIG Association of Italy, alongside three local entities: the National Integrated Planning and Programme Unit (NIPP), the Department of Physical Planning, and the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC). Leading the project is Danny Vandenbrouke, of Ku Leuven University, who acknowledged that increased use of sensor data in the context of climate change monitoring and understanding.
“So in this case, we will focus on the procurement and installation of weather stations, but very cheap ones, not the very full-fledged stations, because they are very expensive. But nowadays you have, well, stations for less than 300 Euros, so it’s feasible. We will buy 20 of them and install them in and around Saint Lucia, mostly in schools.”
While the Meteorological Office already operates some sensors, the use of sensor data within the context of spatial and geospatial technologies remains relatively new for Saint Lucia. The data collected through this initiative will not only support climate monitoring but will also serve as a practical, hands-on learning tool for students and professionals alike.
“We want to train the people here first, people from NIPP, from the Department of Planning, from the college, and then they in turn will go to the schools where the sensors will be installed and have kind of applied projects together with the young people so that they understand what is a weather station, what are these sensors, what can you learn from it in the context of climate change.”
Haward Wells, Director of the National Integrated Planning and Programme Unit (NIPP), views the project as a critical enhancement to NIPP’s ongoing work in sustainable development and the use of spatial data.
“Data is being collected daily, within and throughout the government of Saint Lucia by various sectors. However, with this new mandate, all of this data would finally be collected at a single portal within a single location. And we can finally have this data being cross-referenced or being used holistically.”
A major focus of the SALUT project is citizen science, which encourages schools and communities to actively participate in climate data collection. Wells believes that sparking curiosity among young people will create a powerful multiplier effect, leading to positive and lasting change over time.
“We operate in an environment that is constantly under threat by climate change, but climate change on its own, if you can track it, if you can’t measure it, then really and truly it’s not, you can’t sell it to people that it’s important.”
Adrian D’Auvergne, Dean of Engineering at the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, noted that the project will help generate crucial datasets that can be used to support future long-term planning.
“We are first going to play the role of students as we are going to be learners as we learn how to install, maintain, collect data, and analyze data for decision making, and then we are going to impart this knowledge and skills that we have gained from the project to the Saint Lucian public.”
This three-year project is grant-funded to the tune of 400,000 Euros, with no direct cost to the Government of Saint Lucia. While the financial investment is modest, stakeholders believe the long-term impact of this initiative could be transformational.