GeoAI Challenge

Everything happens somewhere – applying machine learning to geospatial analysis

Join the GeoAI Challenge in 2026 (fifth edition), a competition aimed at providing solutions for collaboratively addressing real-world geospatial problems by applying artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML). Through this platform, participants will attempt to address the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related problems using real-world data. In addition, participants will acquire hands-on experience in AI/ML in areas relevant to solving SDGs and compete for prizes, recognition, and certificates.

Join the GeoAI Challenge in 2026 (fifth edition), a competition aimed at providing solutions for collaboratively addressing real-world geospatial problems by applying artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML). Through this platform, participants will attempt to address the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related problems using real-world data. In addition, participants will acquire hands-on experience in AI/ML in areas relevant to solving SDGs and compete for prizes, recognition, and certificates.

The GeoAI Challenge features five problem statements

Agricultural plastic cover mapping with satellite imagery
Curated by FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization)
Ground-level NO2 Estimation Challenge
Curated by Politecnico de Milano Politecnico di Milano, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and University of Padua, Interdepartmental Research Centre in Geomatics (CIRGEO)
Clandestine runways detection in the Peruvian Amazonian basin with open source satellite
Curated by (UNODC) United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
Vegetation Mapping Challenge
Curated by The National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI)
Human Settlement Detection Challenge
Curated by The National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI)
Ongoing challenge
Reaching new heights with GeoFM

Producing accurate Digital Surface Models (DSM) and Digital Terrain Models (DTM) with ground cover information at a global scale remains a major challenge. Traditionally, these datasets rely on expensive airborne LiDAR surveys, which are not available everywhere. To tackle this issue, for the first time ever,  the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and AI for Good partners with ESA Φ-lab Challenges to present a new GeoAI Challenge. The joint “Reaching new heights with GeoFM” Challenge, marks an important step toward creating a global mapping of surface heights and land‑cover classes using only open‑access satellite imagery.

GeoAI Challenge Timeline
  • February – April 2026
    Curation phase
  • April – June 2026
    Competition phase
  • July 2026
    Evaluation phase

Everything happens somewhere

Sky

GEOAI-DataSources-SKY-01

Ground

GEOAI-DataSources-GROUND-01
GEOAI-DataSources-GROUND-UserGen-03

Water + below surface level

GEOAI-DataSources-BELOWGROUND-01
Related sessions
Discovery - GeoAI
OnlineAI and environmentAI and people+1 Badge available
25 February 2026
14:00 - 15:30
EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
Discovery - GeoAI
OnlineAI and environmentAI and people+1 Badge available
19 March 2026
14:00 - 15:30
EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
Discovery - GeoAI
OnlineAI and environmentAI and people+1 Badge available
30 March 2026
14:00 - 15:00
EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
Discovery - GeoAI
OnlineAI and environmentAI and people+1
8 April 2026
14:00 - 15:00
EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia

Benefits

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Crowdsourcing multiple solutions for high-impact problems that could improve real production AI/ML systems

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Increasing awareness about the problem domain and your work either in research or business

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Access to a growing and highly skilled talent pool of AI researchers, students, and professionals interested in the same problems as your group for further collaborations or hiring

Technical partners

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Sponsorship Inquiries​






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