The Geospatial Commission, part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), has partnered with The Alan Turing Institute to explore the role that artificial intelligence (AI) can play in long-term decisions about how to use land.
The UK is facing significant and competing pressures for its land. Advances in spatial data science and technologies, such as AI, can bring to life the opportunities and trade-offs surrounding land use change. Data and images can be interpreted more efficiently and scenarios can be tested. Visualisation tools can help to bring choices to life.
Viscount Camrose, Minister for Artificial Intelligence, visited The Turing yesterday to explore the application of geospatial AI to enhance land use decision making. The Turing provided a demonstration of their AI-powered tool, which could support local authority planners in deciding how to use their land and unlock opportunities for multifunctional land use.
The Geospatial Commission has been in partnership with The Turing on land use since 2022. This led to the development of a prototype tool in June 2023, which leveraged data science and AI to visualise different future scenarios for land use in collaboration with Newcastle City Council.
The partnership is now further developing the prototype tool, incorporating national satellite data and vision foundation models for improved accuracy and analysis via AI. It is also incorporating a large language model approach, which will make the tool more accessible for non-technical users. The underlying model will be available for public download at the conclusion of the project later this spring.
