Clark embraces AI to advance geospatial analytics

The number of satellites orbiting earth has increased exponentially to more than 9,500 this year, with over 1,000 gathering valuable information about the earth’s surface, atmosphere, and oceans. NASA estimates that data from satellite missions will reach a cumulative size of 250 petabytes by the end of 2024.

Through geographic information science (GIS) — a field that Clark University’s Graduate School of Geography and Clark Labs pioneered starting in the late 1980s — researchers have used “remote sensing” satellite data to detect sources and concentrations of greenhouse gases, supporting development of climate change mitigation strategies. They also have mapped shrinking polar ice, monitored wetlands, quantified the impacts of flooding and other disasters, and identified deforestation, among other applications.

Today, scientists are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to sort through and interpret the burgeoning amount of high-quality satellite data that has become more accessible through cloud computing and storage, says Hamed Alemohammad, director of the Clark Center for Geospatial Analytics (Clark CGA).

“Artificial intelligence continues to reshape both scientific research and product development across the geospatial analytics field,” Alemohammad says. “The fusion of AI into geospatial analytics allows more data to be processed quickly and accurately and empowers a transformative era of data-driven decision-making that can unlock solutions for the benefit of the environment and communities around the world.”

Drawing upon Clark’s GIS legacy

Clark expanded its footprint across this new technological landscape in 2023 by establishing the Clark Center for Geospatial Analytics, which works at the intersection of geospatial data, AI, and geography.

Recently, Clark Labs — founded in 1987 by Ron Eastman — merged with Clark CGA. Eastman, professor emeritus of geography and former director of Clark Labs, will remain at the center as a principal investigator and senior research scientist. The combined team will continue to carry out existing projects and continue development of Clark Labs’ TerrSet software and other tools that have been established in recent years.

“With accelerating changes in environmental conditions and enormous societal consequences, it is critical that geographic information science rapidly develop geospatial monitoring and predictive modeling technologies,” Eastman says. “With a legacy of 35 years of leadership in this area, Clark CGA is well positioned to take on this challenge.”

Building on the success of Clark Labs, Alemohammad says Clark CGA will:

• Continue to develop innovative research tools and apply geospatial expertise to a range of real-world problems. This will include providing software solutions to organizations in need in areas such as land change modeling, time series analysis, decision support, and uncertainty quantification.
• Embrace the principles of open and reproducible science by expanding Clark Labs’ longstanding mission to develop open-source tools and solutions that are available for everyone to use or adapt.
• Work with stakeholders around the world to leverage advancements in AI to derive value from geospatial data and carry out impactful projects to benefit society.
• Continue to expand its partnerships with academic, non-profit, government and commercial sectors to make lasting contributions toward a sustainable and resilient future for our society and planet.
• Contribute to geospatial analytics and remote sensing curriculum at Clark and beyond, allowing students to develop new skills in this continually evolving sector.

“Our mission is to carry out transformative research that harnesses the power of geospatial analytics to address urgent challenges of global environmental change,” Alemohammad says. “The impacts of our changing climate on biodiversity and ecosystem services are unprecedented, and it is paramount to provide timely information on these changes for effective policy formulation.”

“Geospatial analytics isn’t just about maps; it’s about understanding the world’s complexities and solving global challenges. I firmly believe that embracing the latest technologies and innovative approaches, including GeoAI, is not just the future but the imperative for addressing pressing global issues,” says Nitsan Shakked, executive director of programs and operations at Clark CGA. “Our center stands at the forefront of this evolution, leveraging Clark University’s unparalleled expertise and experience to redefine how we analyze and interpret spatial data.

“By rethinking geospatial analytics, we’re not just mapping the world; we’re shaping its future,” Shakked adds. “Furthermore, through collaborative efforts with policymakers and stakeholders, we can ensure that geospatial analytics becomes an integral part of policy formulation and implementation, driving positive change on a global scale.”

Main photo, above: True-color Harmonized Landsat Sentinel-2 (HLS) satellite image of northwest Iceland acquired on July 11, 2023. Credit: HLS/NASA IMPACT; NASA Worldview.