New KI:STE Project − AI Strategy for Earth System Data

Artificial intelligence (AI) methods are currently experiencing rapid development and are also being used more and more frequently in the context of environmental data. However, this use is often in the context of isolated solutions. The systematic use of modern AI methods is not yet established in environmental and Earth system sciences. In particular, there is often a discrepancy between the requirements of a solid and technically sound environmental data analysis and the applicability of modern AI methods such as deep learning for researchers.

The KI:STE project (AI strategy for Earth system data; in German: KI-Strategie für Erdsystemdaten) closes this gap with a sophisticated strategy that combines the development of diverse AI applications on different socially relevant aspects of environmental and Earth system research with a strong training and network concept. It creates the technical prerequisites to make high-performance AI applications on environmental data portable for future users and to establish environmental AI as a key technology.

KI:STE is being funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) for a period of three years. The project will start on 1 November 2020, providing the opportunity to develop an AI platform and compose an Earth science database in collaboration with the University of Cologne, the University of Bonn, RWTH Aachen University, Ambrosys GmbH, 52°North GmbH, and the Institute of Bio- and Geosciences – Agrosphere (IBG-3). JSC is the coordinator of the project and will work on developing a scalable machine learning workflow oriented towards the AI platform. Further information can be found at https://kiste-project.de/home-en/.

Contact: Dr. Scarlet Stadtler, s.stadtler@fz-juelich.de

from JSC News No. 276, 31 October 2020