About UN Global Pulse
UN Global Pulse works through a network of labs to accelerate the discovery, development, and responsible use of big data and artificial intelligence innovations and policies for sustainable development, humanitarian action, and peace.Activities by UN Global Pulse
PulseSatellite: A collaboration tool using human-AI interaction to analyse satellite imagery
Africa, Asia and the Pacific BangladeshSomalia
PulseSatellite is a collaborative satellite image analysis tool that leverages neural network models that can be retrained on-the-fly and adapted to specific humanitarian contexts and geographies. The tool has models for mapping structures in refugee settlements, roof density detection, and flood mapping.
We are also working closely with UNOSAT to develop benchmark datasets for shelter (refugee camp) mapping, building footprint detection and damage assessment. We plan to use these to test many of the available well trained and top-performing models, but in the context of UN-focused datasets (e.g. with more of a Global South and development context than many of the standard machine learning benchmarks) and make this available as a service to the UN system.
Operational contexts are rapidly changing, meaning that AI models may not always perform well. Through using a human-in-the-loop approach we have found that models can be adapted to such changing settings, however, this still requires (sometimes significant) manual intervention from analysts.
A computational framework for predictive modeling of refugee and IDP movements
Global UgandaBrazilMaliBurundiCentral African RepublicSomaliaAfghanistanUkraineBangladeshThis project provides a systematic model-agnostic framework for structuring the prediction problem of refugee and IDP movements. It aims to facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of this emerging field of research for humanitarian aid agencies.
Activity Type Policy/Regulatory GuidanceResearch/Reports/AssessmentsImagining post-Covid-19 UN: foresight for organizational realignment and adaptation
Global Not ApplicableUN Global Pulse fostered a strategic foresight exercise to frame the role of the UN post-COVID-19 through scenarios and future visioning. The activity leveraged partnerships with two private sector entities to access AI tools for foresight research and scenario building.
Activity Type Research/Reports/AssessmentsNetworks/Mentorship/ExchangeDeveloping Ethical AI Frameworks and Data Exchanges for Uganda and Ghana
Africa UgandaGhanaUNGP has been supporting the Governments of Ghana and Uganda on developing solutions to address two issues: access to data and ethical rules for emerging technologies. This support has led to the development of a Roadmap for an Ethical AI Framework and a Roadmap for the development of Community-Centric Data Exchanges for each country.
Activity Type Policy/Regulatory GuidanceTechnical assistance