Geospatial Artificial Intelligence (GeoAI)

SHAPING THE FUTURE WITH GEOai

Geospatial information provides the spatial and temporal context that enables AI to generate location-aware insights for real-world applications. GeoAI enables accurate spatial analyses, predictive modelling, and a more responsible use of AI supported by transdisciplinary collaborations. These elements generate impactful, location-based insights for global challenges such as disaster management, urban planning, food security, and environmental monitoring. Our GeoAI know-how helps to strengthen the AI abilities of institutions so that we can create impactful insights for a better future.

GeoAI combines advancements in geospatial technologies with the evolution of AI, robotics and big data to translate complex geospatial data into actionable insights. At ITC, we emphasize methodological innovation, diverse applications, robust computing infrastructure, and a commitment to responsible use.

The growing threat

The world faces urgent challenges such as urban planning, food security, ecosystem degradation, and disaster response as a result of changing weather patterns and continued population growth. Transforming raw data into accessible and actionable information is essential to accelerate sustainable development and provide effective solutions. With the power of GeoAI, it is possible to rapidly combine and process geospatial insights from remote sensing imagery, crowd-sourced local knowledge, maps, and other sources at scale into such actionable information.

Our approach to geoai

GeoAI leverages artificial intelligence to convert complex and heterogeneous collections of geospatial data into valuable insights. This accelerates sustainable development across various sectors, including urban planning, food security, ecosystem health, and disaster response. Through methodological innovations and robust infrastructure development, we ensure that AI solutions are powerful, ethical, and transparent, closely aligned with the needs of the people they serve.

"GeoAI helps turn large amounts of geospatial data into actionable insights. At ITC, we specialize in using GeoAI to solve critical societal and environmental challenges. We do this by looking at the entire workflow: from acquiring accurate data and incorporating local knowledge into GeoAI algorithms, adapting cutting-edge AI algorithms to geospatial data to maximize performance, and incorporating ethics and responsible AI practices to generate trustworthy and actionable outputs for decision-makers."

Making real impact

At ITC, it is our mission to create real-world impact, primarily in the global south. We aim to create this real-world impact by advancing GeoAI through innovative research and practical solutions. We are committed to Sustainable Development Goals such as SDG 2 and SDG 15. Below are some example projects that we are proud to work on.

Learning from old maps to create new ones

Maps are becoming outdated with 10% of objects changing annually. This project aims to automatically interpret new sensor data to detect and update changed objects in digital maps. The sensor data includes high-resolution 2D aerial images and 3D laser scans. We use existing digital maps to learn object appearances in these datasets. The first step is to fuse nationwide map data with sensor data to create a large training dataset. The second step involves setting up a deep learning network to classify sensor data into map classes. The third step incorporates detected changes to update the map.

IntelliGeo

IntelliGeo is an open source QGIS plugin that integrates Large Language Models to simplify geospatial analysis. Funded by the Dutch Research Council, the project is managed by the University of Twente and collaborates with the Barcelona Supercomputing Center. It aims to enhance AI-human collaboration for applications like flood risk detection and crop yield estimation.

Space4all

Developing an innovative AI methodology by combining Citizen Science data and Earth Observation data with climate change data to locate hotspots of urban poor exposed to climate-related hazards (e.g., sea-level rise, storms, floods, extreme temperatures).

European Citiverses Uniting for Inclusiveness

The Citiverses Uniting for Inclusiveness (CU) project advances urban digital innovation with an inclusive digital twin. By collaborating across sectors and incorporating gamification by the University of Twente, it creates a scalable model that enhances quality of life and promotes digital inclusivity, aligning with the EU Digital Strategy.

MASSIVE

Project funded by the Norwegian Research Council on using deep learning techniques to improve glacier mapping and surface mass balance estimation from multimodal EO data.

DIVE INTO OUR MASTER'S PROGRAMMES

View all programmes

Geo-information Science and Earth Observation
Contribute to solving some of the world's most pressing challenges by mastering the acquisition, analysis, and processing of geo-information data.
5 SpecialisationsMaster of Science2 yearsFull-time100% English3 Joint programmes
Disaster Resilience
Focus on disaster risk reduction, preparedness, response, and resilience - especially in the context of climate change.
MSc2 Joint programmes
Geospatial Artificial Intelligence (GeoAI)
Harnessing the power of technology to automate the analysis and interpretation of large and complex spatial datasets like satellite images, UAV data, and local sensor data.
MSc3 Joint programmes
Resources Security
Gain knowledge and skills in quantitative remote sensing to map, model, monitor and manage water, earth and natural resources through an interdisciplinary approach.
MSc2 Joint programmes
Spatial Data Science
The Spatial Data Science specialisation is designed for students who want a bit more flexibility to create their own learning path to achieve their career goals with the help of an advisor.
MSc
Urban and Land Futures
Learn to tackle social, environmental, economic, and land tenure challenges in urban and regional areas.
MSc2 Joint programmes
Spatial Engineering
Natural disasters, poverty, food shortage, epidemics, climate change: learn to tackle society’s greatest and complex challenges using spatial data and technical and socio-economic knowledge.
Master of Science2 yearsFull-time100% English

Boost your skills with our short courses

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Advanced Agent Based Modeling
Join this intensive 1 week course to build your own ABM, analyze your specific case with experts, practice advanced techniques, and plan the next steps for your own fully functional model.
Massive open online course40 hours100% English
Introduction to Agent Based Modeling
Join this self-paced 1 week course to grasp complex concepts, craft ABMS with geospatial data, and code in NetLogo.
Massive open online course40 hours100% English

In addition to our master's programmes, ITC offers a range of short courses - also through our Geoversity platform. Whether you want to gain new skills or deepen your expertise, you'll learn from leading experts, work on hands-on projects, and acquire the tools needed to understand GeoAI better. Discover the course that fits your goals and start making an impact today.

ITC's expertise in GeoAI

Active in a worldwide network to use GeoAI for a better future.
Renowned professors and extensive scientific publications about GeoAI
Over 70 years of expertise in capacity building as part of the University of Twente

Meet some of our experts

Are you interested in collaborating with ITC on GeoAI? Whether you’re looking to study, partner on a research project, access local expertise, join a course, or simply brainstorm ideas, we’re here to connect with you. Feel free to reach out—your ideas and questions are always welcome! Please contact prof. Raul Zuritta-Milla or any other expert we have at ITC on GeoAI.

UT's AI Expert finder

At the University Twente we have AI specialists in a number of topics and domains. Find an AI expert on a specific topic by using our UT AI Expert finder.

Our approach to geoai

Making real impact

DIVE INTO OUR MASTER'S PROGRAMMES

Spatial Data Science

Boost your skills with our short courses

Meet some of our experts