Aquilina Wawira MwandikoResearch profile
Aquilina Wawira Mwandiko

Geospatial Intelligence, Climate Resilience & ESG Researcher

Applied geospatial research for climate-resilient infrastructure and sustainable investment decisions.

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Portrait of Aquilina Wawira Mwandiko

Bensheim, Germany
mail@aquilinamwandiko.com

Career interest

Open to international, Germany-based and European opportunities across programme leadership, strategic partnerships, business development, digital transformation and geospatial innovation.

Research statement

Where spatial evidence meets investment decisions

Over 15+ years I have applied GIS, satellite data and field surveys to climate resilience and infrastructure in 12+ countries. My flood mapping of all 17 districts of Mogadishu became the basis for prioritising drainage investments, and I screened about 100 solar mini-grid sites for Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Energy.

My MSc in Geographic Information Systems (University of Nairobi) used climate and geospatial data to project run-off in Nairobi County. My MBA thesis at Hochschule Darmstadt developed geospatial ESG risk-scoring dashboards for renewable energy portfolios in Germany, aligned with CSRD/ESRS and LkSG.

Through my work evaluating AI models on surveying and GIS reasoning, I have seen how confidently these models can be wrong about space. This drives my interest in reliable, explainable GeoAI for decisions that matter.

Education

  • MBA, Hochschule Darmstadt, Oct 2024 – Nov 2026
  • MSc Geographic Information Systems, University of Nairobi, 2016 – 2019
  • BTech Geoinformation Technology, Technical University of Kenya, 2013 – 2015
  • Diploma in Cartography, Kenya Institute of Surveying and Mapping, 1997 – 1999
Proposed doctoral research direction

Integrating Geospatial Intelligence, Artificial Intelligence and ESG Risk Assessment for Climate-Resilient Renewable Energy Infrastructure

A proposed direction, open to refinement with a supervisor.

1. Hazard and exposure

How can satellite and GIS data measure climate hazards such as flood, heat and wind for renewable energy sites?

2. AI-supported screening

Can GeoAI models score site risk reliably, and how should their errors be measured?

3. From risk to decision

How can spatial risk scores feed ESG reporting (CSRD/ESRS) and investment choices?

4. Decision support

What dashboards help authorities and investors act on this evidence?

Research outputs

Outputs and applied research

Study area map: renewable energy sites and Natura 2000 protected areas in Hesse
Most recent work · MBA thesis · 2026

Geospatial ESG Risk-Scoring Dashboards for Renewable Energy Portfolios in Germany

Hochschule Darmstadt · Design Science Research · four operating wind and solar sites in Hesse

Problem, method, results & value
Problem
Company-level ESG reports hide where wind and solar assets are really exposed to climate, water, biodiversity and nearby communities, while CSRD/ESRS now asks for exactly that.
Method
A site-to-portfolio risk-scoring artefact using public geospatial data (Copernicus, ERA5, HLNUG, Natura 2000) in QGIS, presented in a Power BI dashboard. ESRS E1, E3, E4 and S3 indicators (LkSG as value-chain lens), AHP-weighted (consistency ratio 0.011).
Results
WND-02 0.66 › PV-01 0.48 › WND-01 0.40 › PV-02 0.27, stable in all 8 sensitivity scenarios.
Value
Transparent scoring and design principles that help portfolio managers prepare CSRD disclosures.
QGISPower BIAHPK-meansCSRD / ESRSLkSGDesign Science Research
Proposed trunk drainage map for Mogadishu, prepared by UNOPS for the World Bank-funded SUIPP, October 2018
Somalia · World Bank · 2018

Mogadishu Trunk Drainage Master Plan & flood-risk mapping

Somalia Urban Infrastructure Planning Project (SUIPP) · Benadir Regional Administration · GIS lead and acting Deputy Project Manager

Problem, method, results & value
Problem
Flooding affected over 50,000 people in every event, so the city’s drainage had to be redesigned.
Method
Participatory flood-risk mapping with focus group discussions in all 17 districts, combined with GIS, hydrological modelling and MCA prioritisation.
Results
3 costed drainage options · 7 investment phases · 27.22 km priority roads · 34 local graduates trained.
Value
A costed drainage master plan for the city, phased for investment.
Participatory mappingHydrological modellingArcGISMCA prioritisation
SAR flood extent map
Somalia · Sentinel-1

Rapid post-flood impact assessment

Satellite radar analysis for recovery planning

Problem, method, results & value
Problem
After a flood, recovery planners need to know quickly where the water went and who was affected.
Method
Cloud-based Sentinel-1 SAR change detection in Google Earth Engine.
Results
10.8 million hectares covered: flood extent, land-cover impact and affected population.
Value
Evidence for recovery planning.
SARGoogle Earth EngineJavaScript
Solar mini-grid site suitability map
Sierra Leone · Energy

Solar mini-grid site suitability

Site screening for rural clean-energy investment

Problem, method, results & value
Problem
Investors and the Ministry of Energy needed to know which rural sites were suitable for solar mini-grids.
Method
Multi-criteria analysis in Google Earth Engine and an ArcGIS Online platform.
Results
About 100 rural sites assessed and mapped.
Value
A narrower investment shortlist for the Ministry of Energy.
Multi-criteria analysisGEEArcGIS Online

Publications and media

Field experience

Worked on the ground in 12 countries

KenyaTanzaniaUgandaSomaliaSouth SudanMozambiqueThe GambiaSenegalCentral African RepublicMalawiZambiaSierra Leone

Remote programme support for further countries, including Eritrea. UNDSS SSAFE trained.

Communication

Languages

  • Englishfull professional proficiency
  • Kiswahilinative
  • Germanbasic, actively learning
  • Frenchbasic
Methods

Methods and tools

ArcGIS Pro / OnlineQGISGoogle Earth EngineSAR flood mappingCatchment and run-off modellingSite suitability analysisDrone and LiDAR dataPythonSQLPower BIODK and QField field dataAI model evaluationCommunity consultations
Referees

Academic and professional referees

Contact details and reference letters are available on request.

Prof. Dr. Prof. h.c. Ralf Schellhase

Professor of Marketing; MBA Director

Hochschule Darmstadt · Germany

MBA thesis supervisor

Dr.-Ing. David N. Siriba, MISK (LS)

Senior Lecturer, Geospatial & Space Technology

University of Nairobi · Kenya

Academic referee (MSc GIS)

Mr Tim Lardner

Regional Director, Europe & Central Asia

UNOPS · Switzerland

Former line manager

Mr Dietmar Fischer

Managing Director

VIOLA HQMC GmbH · Germany

Current supervisor

mail@aquilinamwandiko.com

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