AIC4NL has launched an exploratory study to determine what public and private stakeholders need to work together to develop a unified AI stack for remote sensing. At the CometLab on the NL Space Campus in Noordwijk, during an event on data sovereignty for the Open Dataspace Lab, we presented on AI stack development and the role that modular, scalable, and open technologies play in building future-proof AI and data infrastructures.
What is remote sensing?
Remote sensing involves observing the Earth from a distance, using everything from satellites and drones to ground-based cameras. These sensors record what is happening on and around the Earth’s surface: how vegetation changes, how water and soil behave, and how areas evolve over time.
Sharing data in a secure manner
The Open Dataspace Lab (ODL) is an initiative for responsible data sharing between organizations. It offers government agencies and businesses a shared space to make satellite, sensor, and drone data accessible and analyze it collaboratively, while maintaining sovereignty over the data. You share the insights from your data while retaining ownership. Rijkswaterstaat uses the ODL to combine data from various parties and thus work more efficiently.
The Role of AI
Remote sensing generates a significant amount of image and sensor data. With the help of AI, you can organize this data and identify patterns. Models detect changes in land use, flag anomalies, and support predictions—faster and more accurately than manual analysis. This transforms raw data into actionable insights for governments and businesses.
Taking inventory
The exploratory study focuses on the question of what various government agencies and private entities collectively need from the AI ecosystem. What applications are needed, what data and models underpin them, and what does the AI stack that enables this look like?
Several stakeholders were present at the event: the European Space Agency (ESA), the Ministries of Health, Welfare and Sport and of Infrastructure and Water Management, Rijkswaterstaat, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, and private sector organizations. By understanding all the needs, we can identify where supply and demand intersect and determine the conditions under which data sharing works best.
AIC4NL as director
AIC4NL stands for the responsible development and application of AI across three layers: infrastructure, technology, and applications. At the infrastructure level, sovereignty plays the leading role. We want data to remain within Europe and to retain control over it ourselves. By collaborating on a single AI stack focused on remote sensing, we ensure a shared foundation of data, models, and infrastructure that public and private parties control themselves.
Want to learn more? Please contact Joris Krüse, Digital Government Program Manager, at digitaleoverheid@aic4nl.nl.
