How GeoAI-ready are you, what the EUDR delay means, & a guide to GeoAI for OSINT

Welcome to GeoAI Horizons - your monthly look at the intersection of geospatial data & artificial intelligence!

In this edition of GeoAI Horizons, we take a look at the ramifications of the proposed delay to the European Union's Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), how to use GeoAI in the world of open-source intelligence (OSINT) and investigative journalism, and ask just how ready are you for GeoAI?

What the EUDR delay means for your supply chain—and why action is still urgent

Last month, the European Commission proposed delaying the enforcement of the EUDR by 12 months. Within an hour of the news going live, we discussed this in greater detail on the latest GeoAI Bytes.

Some companies might feel tempted to hit pause on compliance. But the world’s forests can’t wait, and neither should you. The environmental urgency of deforestation and its contribution to climate change remains the same. The EUDR was introduced to reshape global supply chains for key commodities like coffee, cocoa, and soy, ensuring they are sourced without contributing to deforestation.

Companies already equipped with scalable, precise tools for risk assessment are in a prime position to stay ahead. While compliance might seem daunting, solutions that streamline deforestation risk assessments—by automating the digitization of plots and aggregating reliable data—allow businesses to maintain momentum without getting caught in complex, manual processes. The delay doesn’t diminish the importance of responsible supply chains, but it does provide time to ensure systems are not only compliant but optimized for the long term.

With GeoAI, businesses can simplify this process, automating the mapping of supply chains and assessing deforestation risks without building complex, manual workflows. Whether you’re refining what’s already in place or starting from scratch, now is the time to get ahead—ensuring your business is ready when the EUDR does take effect.

The proposed 12-month delay to the EUDR should not be considered a reason to slow down. As the World Resources Institute points out, the EU’s imports of commodities account for 13-16% of global deforestation, despite the EU representing only 7% of the world’s population. This disproportionate environmental footprint means stronger protections are urgently needed, not delayed.

Read more here.

How prepared is your organization to meet the rising demand for GeoAI?

In an era where Generative AI has transformed internal data management, GeoAI is the next leap forward. It brings tailored, actionable insights on your physical assets anywhere in the world—fast, cost-effectively, and without the need for large investments.

Whether you’ve already invested in machine learning or just getting started, there are countless areas where you can make small adjustments to create a big impact.

Check out the assessment linked below to:

1. Chart your responses against leading practices
2. Access specialist advice on how to take your efforts to the next level
3. Prepare an action plan for improvements

Uncovering ground truth: Using GeoAI in OSINT & investigative journalism

GeoAI is reshaping investigative journalism and open-source intelligence (OSINT), offering new tools to uncover hidden narratives within complex geospatial data. By blending AI with satellite imagery, GeoAI enables analysts and journalists to extract valuable insights from vast datasets, allowing for deeper, more accurate investigations and reporting.

Today’s information landscape demands stringent verification and validation. GeoAI strengthens this process by enabling analysts to cross-check data against real-world imagery and detect patterns otherwise invisible. For instance, monitoring deforestation, tracking the impact of conflict zones, or identifying infrastructure changes can all be achieved remotely, providing a trustworthy "ground truth" perspective on critical issues.

Beyond validation, GeoAI can reveal stories that might otherwise remain hidden. This technology uncovers trends in land use, urban expansion, and climate impacts—issues with both local and global relevance. Such insights allow for data-driven reporting, bringing greater credibility and depth to journalistic investigations while exposing untold stories with clarity.

Importantly, GeoAI is increasingly accessible, allowing smaller teams to use these tools without requiring extensive technical expertise. This democratization of technology means more analysts and journalists can engage in robust, data-informed investigations, bringing transparency to underreported issues and fostering accountability.

To delve further into how GeoAI is transforming OSINT and investigative journalism, explore its real-world applications and how this technology is changing the landscape of investigative reporting.

Read the full article here.

Dig deeper into GeoAI use cases

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Engage with the GeoAI community

With event season in full swing, there are a wealth of upcoming events we will be attending where you can engage with other like-minded space and GeoAI professionals, including;

• Mining 4.0: November 6-7. Discover the forefront of mining innovation at the 6th Mining 4.0 Summit in Barcelona, organized by Future Bridge Events and Future Bridge Mining Events . The exclusive small-scale event will focus on how digitalization, automation, and technology are revolutionizing exploration, extraction, and processing operations across?Europe, as well as in Africa, the Middle East, the US, Canada, and South America. Martina L?fqvist and Inessa KRAVCHENKO will share how Picterra has helped leading mining operators reduce manual monitoring times from two weeks to two hours, with accuracy levels over 95%.
• BWI Hackathon: November 26-28. Keyboards are clicking, excited murmuring. The coffee machine runs continuously, and comfort food is ready on the tables. Concentration is in the air. People at their desks, their eyes intently fixed on the screen. They are all here to face different challenges in teamwork. When LAN party nostalgia meets a futuristic spaceship atmosphere, welcome to the BWI Data Analytics Hackathon. Picterra will host a session on how participants can build a model to detect military air vessels.
• Sustainability from Space: November 19. In an era of unprecedented access to data and advanced analysis, accurate geographic information transforms the efficiency and sustainability of many industries - not least those of agriculture and forestry. Ahead of the upcoming implementation of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), this event brings together experts from policy, academia, technology, and industry to discuss innovative strategies and practical solutions for adapting to these changes.

That's it for this edition of GeoAI Horizons. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss future editions! Do you have feedback or something you'd like us to cover? Don't hesitate to get in touch.