Harnessing AI and Earth Observation Data for Climate Resilience and Universal Connectivity

Description

This talk highlights how AI and Earth observation technologies are transforming data availability for two urgent global challenges: climate resilience and universal school connectivity. In the Caribbean, where Category 5 hurricanes can devastate nearly 90% of housing stock in Small Island Developing States (SIDS), comprehensive building data is often missing or inaccessible. The “Digital Earth for Resilient Caribbean” initiative addresses these gaps by integrating drone, LiDAR, satellite, and street-view imagery with AI workflows to classify roof types, materials, and building conditions. These efforts aim not only to enhance disaster response and recovery but also to strengthen long-term resilience through government capacity building and knowledge exchange.

In parallel, the presentation showcases UNICEF Giga’s mission to connect every school to the Internet by 2030. Reliable school location data is essential, yet often incomplete or inaccurate in low- and middle-income countries. By leveraging ML and satellite imagery, we’ve developed scalable pipelines to map schools at the national level. These efforts ensure that no child is left behind in accessing digital opportunities. Together, these projects demonstrate how geospatial AI can bridge critical data divides in the Global South, supporting both climate adaptation and inclusive education.