Practical AI 🌍 AI in Africa - Radiant Earth
Jan 5, 2022
Hamed Alemohammad from the Radiant Earth Foundation and Joyce Nabende from the Makerere AI Lab dive into the transformative role of AI in Africa. They explore how machine learning is utilized for earth observation, focusing on crop identification and monitoring deforestation. The duo highlights the challenges of managing satellite imagery and the importance of accessible, standardized datasets. They emphasize the collaborative efforts to empower local communities through data-driven approaches, aiming for sustainable development across the continent.
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Earth Observation and SDGs
- Earth observation data from satellites helps monitor progress towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- AI/ML is crucial for analyzing the petabytes of satellite data generated daily.
Satellite Data Access
- Governments and commercial entities operate satellite fleets, with data increasingly stored in the cloud.
- Government data is generally open access, while commercial data often involves costs, though disaster and research programs may offer free access.
Standardizing Geospatial Data
- Radiant Earth's STAC specification standardizes geospatial data cataloging, addressing the challenge of diverse data sources.
- STAC facilitates data discovery and access, promoting interoperability among providers.