The Covid-19 Pandemic has left the world awestruck at our sheer vulnerability before such a miniscule organism. However, the ensuing lockdown has done something other than striking a blow at the global economy. It reminded us how the world would look without pollution and extreme human encroachment. There were fish in the canals of Venice after almost a century. Birds had returned, mountain goats walked the streets, villagers in Bihar could see the Himalayas for the first time in decades. It is a shame that we have a pandemic to thanks for a few days of pollution free weather. A large part of the world’s population is in denial of the threat that climate change carries. So, how can AI be of any help?

Establishing climate change as a concrete truth

As said earlier, a lot of people are in denial of the threat of climate change. A lot of us do not understand what a global temperature increment by 1.5 degrees can mean for the planet. Sasha Luccioni feels that visualizing the true impact of climate change and creating predictive images of what it could look like in different parts of the world can turn some heads and help spread the awareness.

Graphic visualizations which are almost accurate and represent the future state of a city after being exposed to global warming and other ill effects of pollution and climate change for a few years can drive some urgency.

This sort of visualization can happen only through the meticulous analysis of vast amounts of data. Data that consists of weather stats, soil test reports, vegetation reports, images, and videos. This sort of analysis can be conducted only with machine learning models which contribute to the formation of AI systems that can conduct the operation autonomously and accurately.

Cannot fix what you cannot see

The surface area of the earth is 510.1 million square kilometers. Monitoring the whole surface of the earth to recognize change is next to impossible. Well, it was impossible. Now, with the help of AI Planet Labs has embarked on this task.

Planet Labs is using a constellation of satellites for imaging the whole surface of earth. They have one system in operation that images the earth daily at three meters per pixel and another one that images the earth surface at 70-80 centimeters per pixel. Now, how does this help? They run this data through algorithms to find changes like discoloration of the soil, erosion, deforestation, and urban expansion. This helps them locate the areas that are under threat and move the local authorities to action. This can detect natural disasters like floods and droughts early.

With this sort of monitoring we do see some hope for humanity to save our beautiful planet from the perils of climate change.

Enabling the ground-workers with AI solutions

The AI researchers are doing their best to brainstorm ways of implementing AI for the benefit of the planet. Be it using remote sensing to track gas proportions at mountain peaks, or using image recognition to spot oceanic junk, AI has been at the helm of the efforts to restore balance in the climate. However, the NGOs and other groups that participate in various initiatives across the world to help prevent climate change often lack the support of data. A lot of institutes are taking up the noble task of educating and enabling such NGOs with an understanding of data analytics and automation.

The vice mixed with virtue

While machine learning is being used as a potent weapon against the evil forces of pollution the data centers that support AI are among the major producers of carbon dioxide. The computers used for churning data produce an incredible amount of heat which has a direct impact on the environment.

Data science itself has appeared as the counter to this issue. For instance Google brain has reduced the heat production at its data centers by 40% by analyzing the data related to heating of computers.

The world needs responsible actions by people in all positions and from all walks of life. From the CEOs of major conglomerates to the person selling ice-cream from a cart outside a school, everyone has a role to play in the safeguarding of our planet. As a technology enthusiast and student of engineering in one of the most polluted cities in the world you can undergo a machine learning course in Delhi and participate in the change.