Geospatial Data: Superpowering AI Infrastructure Planning

Oct 2, 2024

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Over the next few years, it's estimated that nearly a trillion dollars will be spent on data centers, semiconductors, and power grid upgrades. And this is all just to meet the growing computational needs of AI technologies. In fact, industry estimates suggest that global data center capacity could double by 2030, but this growth is far from straightforward.

As AI technologies like generative AI continue to expand, the infrastructure needed to support them is growing at an unprecedented rate. However, data centers cannot just be built anywhere. Placement of new data centers isn’t just about finding enough land — it’s about balancing proximity to power plants, high-capacity transmission lines, and broadband infrastructure, while also considering environmental factors.

Location intelligence plays a pivotal role in this expansion.

In this episode of Core Conversations, host Maiclaire Bolton Smith and Joe Francica, Principal Product Manager in CoreLogic’s Location Intelligence Group discuss how geospatial tools can help mitigate some of these risks by identifying locations that are less vulnerable to natural hazards while also balancing the need for power and broadband access. As AI continues to evolve and the demand for data centers grows, having access to detailed geospatial data will give companies a strategic advantage in making informed, forward-looking decisions.

In This Episode:

2:11 – How much data center capacity will AI technologies (and their power consumption) require?

4:49 – Why is AI consuming so much energy?

8:55 – Which energy sources are data centers using and where are they generally located?

9:31 – How does the availability of broadband play into the equation?

10:40 – How does climate resilience come into play when looking for optimal locations of data centers?

13:04 – how is proximity to an electrical grid or transmission facility part of the equation?

14:29 – Erika Stanley does the numbers in the housing market in The Sip.

15:40 – How are all the variables for optimum data center placement weighted. Is there a hierarchy of importance?

16:42 – Where is the optimal place in the U.S. for data centers?

20:05 – Erika Stanley reviews natural catastrophes and extreme weather events across the world.

20:59 – Where is AI is going to take us in terms of the demand for the data centers, and what do companies that are trying to get ahead of the curve need to think about?

Up Next: What Makes Geospatial Data Unique for Expanding Telco Infrastructure?

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