The Artificial Intelligence Methods Lab (AIML) at the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics of Vilnius University, represented by its Head, Assoc. Prof. Valentas Gružauskas, and project researchers Artiom Hovhannisyan and Evgenij Shapovalov, participated in ESA Industry Space Days on 16–17 September 2026 at ESA/ESTEC in Noordwijk, the Netherlands. During the event, the team presented research on the application of artificial intelligence to Earth observation.
VU MIF AIML team. From the left: project researches Evgenij Shapovalov and Artiom Hovhannisyan and the Head of AIML Assoc. Prof. Valentas Gružauskas
Industry Space Days brought together representatives of the space sector and researchers from various countries to present their work and discuss potential areas for cooperation. Read more about the event.
At the Vilnius University stand, the AIML team presented research on the application of artificial intelligence to Earth observation, with particular emphasis on environmental monitoring and public-sector needs. The presentation, “AI Application in Earth Observation for Public Sector”, explored how satellite imagery, various types of measurements and AI methods can support better-informed decision-making.
VU MIF AIML team participated in ESA Industry Space Days 2026
One of the research areas presented was peatland hydration monitoring. By combining radar and optical satellite imagery with ground-based measurements, the team is developing deep learning methods to estimate peatland moisture levels. The aim of this work is to contribute to more effective peatland management and help identify conditions associated with peatland degradation and wildfire risk.
The team also presented research on solar panel mapping, in which deep learning is used to identify sollar panel installations in satellite imagery. The research examines how artificially generated training images can improve the accuracy of detection methods and help address gaps in information about the location and distribution of solar energy infrastructure.
Another important area of application is urban heat mapping, carried out as part pf the “UrbanClimate” project. In this research, satellite and drone imagery is combined with local physical measurements to improve the spatial resolution of thermal images. The aim is to help identify urban heat hotspots and support data-driven decisions on cooling measures, such as expanding green spaces and implementing shading solutions.
The presentation also covered research related to satellite image sequences forecasting and development of AI agent-based workflows for environmental analysis. These methods explore ways to fill gaps in satellite observations, automate parts of the analysis process and make the resulting outputs easier to interpret.
Across these projects, AIML focuses on developing reliable and reproducible AI methods that connect advances in scientific research with practical challenges faced by the public sector.
The AIML team thanks everyone who visited the AIML stand and shared their questions and ideas. The team also welcome further conversations with researchers, public institutions, and industry partners working in the field of Earth observations.
