NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept 21 – Search engine Google has unveiled its open Buildings 2.5D temporal dataset anchored on revolutionizing urban planning in Africa.
This is an expansion of its 2021 initiative that aims to map and monitor urban development across the Global South.
According to Google, urban populations are projected to swell by 2.5 billion by 2050, with nearly 90% of this growth occurring in Africa and Asia.
As such, accurate building data has become increasingly essential for governments, humanitarian organizations, and researchers.
Since its inception at the AI Research Lab in Accra, Ghana, the Open Buildings project has successfully mapped 1.8 billion buildings globally, providing critical data that has been utilized by organizations like Sunbird AI in Uganda and WorldPop in Nigeria for essential services like electrification and immunizations.
The newly released dataset not only maps buildings but also tracks changes over time and estimates their heights from 2016 to 2023.
This information is vital for urban planning, disaster preparedness, and resource management in rapidly growing cities like Kumasi, Ghana, and areas affected by disasters, such as Palu, Indonesia.
By leveraging AI to enhance low-resolution satellite images, the project has generated a detailed mapping of over 58 million square kilometers, ensuring that crucial data is available even where high-resolution images are lacking.
This innovative dataset empowers governments and organizations to make informed decisions in areas like flood preparedness and urban growth management, ultimately ensuring that communities are effectively supported.
