Abidemi Elesho

GIS & Remote Sensing Specialist with over 10 years of experience in spatial data management, cartographic modelling, and enterprise data governance. Expert in ArcGIS Pro, LiDAR/SAR analysis, and Python automation for environmental and infrastructure projects. Proven track record in leading large-scale mapping initiatives, including the development of a 356,638 sq. mile national land cover map. Specialist in mobile data collection and SDSFIE-aligned spatial standards, with extensive experience supporting international research and spatial dynamic initiatives.

Jan 2022 – July 2025                                                       Spatial Analytics                                                                

GIS CONSULTANT / FREELANCER

• Led end-to-end GIS delivery for environmental, landuse, and infrastructure projects, reducing spatial-workflow processing time by 35%.
• Led geospatial projects for land use, infrastructure, and environmental master planning, supporting early-phase design with 3D GIS models and scenario analysis.
• Designed and deployed mobile GIS data collection systems improving field accuracy by 25% and standardizing multi-team workflows.
• Advised clients on enterprise GIS architecture, spatial data governance, and ETL automation to strengthen decision making capacity.
• Delivered actionable geospatial intelligence for government, NGO, and private-sector clients.
• Designed and implemented standardized frameworks supporting utility data capture, harmonization, and high accuracy geospatial mapping for transmission and distribution assets.

Sep 2019 – Oct 2021                                                       Wageningen University & Research.                              The Netherlands

Geo-Information Research Assistant

• Developed a multi-country agricultural cocoa ontology improving semantic interoperability across 11 nations and enabling standardized analytics.
• Curated, digitized, validated, and harmonized cereal and cocoa datasets for large-scale remote sensing classification workflows.
• Designed and implemented a data governance framework that improved long-term data integrity and compliance among international partners.
• Trained global stakeholders on mobile GIS systems, enhancing data quality, reporting consistency, and operational readiness.
• Performed spatial analysis, environmental monitoring, and forest-mapping tasks supporting regional agricultural sustainability programs.

Nov 2018 – Aug 2019                                                      Wageningen University & Research.                          The Netherlands

GIS Analyst Trainee 

• Produced high-quality cartographic products and digital maps supporting forest monitoring and land-use planning initiatives.
• Implemented custom data schemas and QA/QC workflows improving dataset validation compliance by 20%.
• Managed multi-country spatial data collection efforts ensuring timely delivery of standardized, analysis-ready geospatial products.

Jan 2014 – Jul 2017                                                         Polaris Digitech Limited.                                                                   Nigeria

Assistant Manager GIS Data Quality & Management

• Oversaw geospatial data quality, standardization, and interoperability for large enterprise clients, including Google Nigeria.
• Designed GIS databases, executed spatial analyses, and optimized data management workflows to support enterprise operations.
• Led enterprise-scale GIS database projects and developed 3D land use/land cover maps for national infrastructure and environmental planning.
• Integrated remote sensing, GIS, and field survey data to produce spatially accurate models for planning and regulatory compliance.
• Extracted features from optical and SAR imagery using remote sensing and machine learning techniques.
• Led the development of a nationwide land cover and land use map (356,638 sq. miles) integrating multisource satellite imagery.
• Produced a national digital elevation basemap from SAR data for terrain modeling and infrastructure planning.
• Developed SOPs, training materials, and documentation to improve team productivity and knowledge transfer.
• Directed multiple national-scale data acquisition and field projects, coordinating multidisciplinary teams and ensuring mission milestones were met.

M.Sc. Remote Sensing & GIS | Obafemi Awolowo University, Sep 2010 - Nov 2014

B.Sc. Geography & Regional Planning | Olabisi Onabanjo University, Mar 2001 - Jan 2007