Technology firm FieldWatch to expand across Africa as demand for rapid GIS mapping grows

AI-powered aerial monitoring and mapping firm FieldWatch has announced plans to expand operations across Africa, aiming to revolutionise the continent’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS) sector by offering faster, cheaper and more scalable mapping solutions.

Speaking in Nairobi during the Kenya Space Innovation and Investment Forum 2025, founder and CEO Ayodele Falowo said FieldWatch’s technology replaces slow, labour-intensive mapping workflows with automated systems capable of converting raw aerial imagery into ready-to-use 2D vector maps within minutes.

“Manual vectorisation is too slow and expensive to create the current, large-scale maps Africa needs for rapid development,” Falowo told delegates. “Our innovation eliminates the need to trace buildings and features one by one. With Africa urbanising so fast, there is simply no time—or budget—for outdated methods.”

The two-day forum brought together leaders and innovators from across Africa’s growing space ecosystem, including organizers and finalists of the Africa Earth Observation Challenge (AEOC), representatives from the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), government officials, researchers, and a wide network of private sector partners committed to advancing Kenya’s space agenda.

Falowo noted that despite Africa’s diverse economies, many countries face the same challenge: inadequate and outdated infrastructure data. This gap, he said, affects everything from urban planning and land administration to infrastructure development, climate adaptation, and disaster-response planning.

“Africa shares a common problem—the infrastructure data gap,” he said. “You cannot plan cities you cannot see clearly. Accurate, up-to-date maps are no longer a luxury; they are a development necessity.”

FieldWatch’s platform leverages artificial intelligence, machine learning and high-resolution aerial imagery from drones and satellites to produce detailed maps far faster than traditional GIS methods. The company says its solution can support governments, surveyors, city planners, insurers, construction firms and environmental agencies.

Kenya, Falowo added, offers an ideal launchpad for continental expansion due to its vibrant tech ecosystem, fast-growing drone industry and strong government interest in space and geospatial innovation.

Participants at the forum said the growing integration of AI into geospatial systems could significantly boost Africa’s capacity to plan and manage its rapidly expanding cities. With many urban centres projected to double in size in the next decade, experts warn that lack of reliable spatial data risks worsening traffic congestion, informal settlements, inefficient land use and vulnerability to climate-related disasters.

FieldWatch plans to open regional hubs and build partnerships with governments and private sector players in East, West and Southern Africa over the coming year. Pilot projects are already being considered in Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda and Nigeria, Falowo said.

“Our vision is to make high-quality geospatial data accessible to every African city and organisation that needs it,” he said. “If Africa is to build smart, resilient cities, we must first map them accurately—and at scale.”

Analysts say the company’s expansion signals growing confidence in Africa’s emerging space and geospatial industries, sectors expected to play a central role in the continent’s digital transformation.