Google DeepMind's AlphaEarth AI model maps the planet like a 'virtual satellite'
The model integrates data into a unified digital representation or 'embedding,' which is easily processed by computer systems. The team also released a dataset of annual embeddings in Google Earth engine to promote research and real-world use.
In a blog post, the team described how the model worked. 'First, it combines volumes of information from dozens of different public sources— optical satellite images, radar, 3D laser mapping, climate simulations, and more. It weaves all this information together to analyse the world's land and coastal waters in sharp, 10x10 meter squares, allowing it to track changes over time with remarkable precision,' it noted.
Google DeepMind said the AI model solved big issues that existed with mapping geospatial data, which were data overload and inconsistency.
The researchers also claimed that the AI model delivered 24% lower error rate than other leading AI models and required 16 times less storage.
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