Bridges to Prosperity has played a crucial role in enhancing rural connectivity by assisting the Rwandan government in the completion of more than 200 bridges, such as a trail bridge in Gahira. The organization works at the intersection of innovation and infrastructure, building safe passageways that empower isolated communities to access essential services.
In many parts of the world, basic maps lack critical information about rivers and roads, leaving regions overlooked by infrastructure efforts. This gap inspired Bridges to Prosperity to pioneer new approaches to identifying and addressing these hidden needs since its founding in 2001.
Over the past two decades, the nonprofit has contributed to the construction of over 600 trail bridges across 21 countries, linking people to schools, clinics, and markets. In 2020, recognizing the high costs of construction, it shifted their model to collaborate closely with governments, making the process more sustainable.
However, figuring out which regions most urgently needed bridges presented a unique challenge. Many smaller streams and rivers, especially those that create dangerous barriers during rainy seasons, were absent from existing maps.
Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Mapping
A study of 5,000 waterways revealed that nearly four in ten streams and rivers were missing from all available mapping resources. This discovery emphasized a deep inequality in how mapping investments are made across the globe.
To bridge this data divide, Bridges to Prosperity developed Fika Map, a tool powered by AI mapping to highlight optimal bridge locations, estimate building costs, and provide comprehensive region analysis. Fika, derived from Swahili, meaning “to arrive,” reflects the tool’s mission.
In partnership with Better Planet Laboratory, the group also launched WaterNet, an AI-driven system mapping the world’s waterways by analyzing satellite images for variations in elevation and vegetation. The technology is now aiding governments in Rwanda, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Zambia to strategically plan for future bridges and infrastructure growth.
The nonprofit’s geospatial database began with its own bridge-building history, which was then enhanced by adding data from public institutions, satellite providers, and unconventional sources like fitness apps to estimate travel times. Yet, locating small, unmapped waterways remained a major hurdle.
Experts note that mapping remote streams requires high-resolution satellite imagery, which can be expensive and challenging to procure. Combining both optical and radar-based satellite data has helped create more accurate maps, but cost and accessibility remain limiting factors.
Keeping programs like Fika Map and WaterNet affordable and scalable has been a central concern, especially since many AI systems are not trained with enough data from the Global South. Sharma emphasized the importance and difficulty of making digital tools inclusive and globally relevant.
Recent measurements by Bridges to Prosperity and its collaborators show their dataset identified 124 million additional kilometers of waterways, more than tripling the world’s known rivers and streams. These advancements have enabled governments to accelerate bridge planning and construction, sometimes completing work in months that previously took years.
The team sees these AI-powered tools as essential not just for decision-making, but for understanding and advocating for rural development needs. By shining a light on overlooked regions, they aim to fuel transformative improvements in connectivity and daily life.
