Ideatlas

About

Developing AI-based methods to map and characterize informal settlements
from Earth Observation data.

Objective

Ideatlas

Objective

The primary objective of IDEAtlas, an ESA funded project, is to develop, implement, validate and showcase advanced AI-based methods to automatically map and characterize the spatial extent of slums from Earth Observation (EO) data. This will support national and local governments as well as the civil society to monitor progress on SDG indicator 11.1.1 on the proportion of the urban population living in slums, informal settlements or inadequate housing.

The project will adopt a user-centred approach where various local, national and international stakeholders will participate in the co-design and co-development of the AI-based solutions. The project builds on previous and partners with ongoing works and available data generated within IDEAMAPS and SLUMAP.

The developed algorithms will then be implemented and integrated into a cloud-based end-to-end processing system, and its performance demonstrated in eight test cities

Get In Touch

8+

Pilot Areas

4+

Continents

13+

Early Adopters

Key Principles

Key principles and outputs of the end user-centred design process

This engagement will innovate methods and provide fit-for-purpose solutions. As such, our fundamental strategy and innovation are a participatory AI approach to co-design the EO solutions, not only with direct users of our models and data (e.g., custodian agencies and National Statistical Offices (NSOs)), but also with the residents and local administrators who live and work in the areas (i.e., subjects). While it is relatively common for a user-centred design to include a technical team and model users (e.g., national governments or academic users), co-design is rarely performed with the people being modelled or those who will ultimately be affected by model outputs. Thus, our EO solution will reflect the needs of model users, for example, being transferable, scalable, and trusted across diverse settings and give a voice to Geo-ethical consideration of the subjects,

Pilot Cities

Early Adopter Pilot Cities

Meet the team

The successful development and implementation of a cost-effective EO solution to monitor the spatial extent of slums and informal settlements relies on well-founded algorithm selection and on efficient system implementation. Therefore, this team has carefully been assembled, comprising two leading partners on its own field – one scientific and one industrial EO organization.