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.
Online radio monitoring for public health social listening and beyond
AfricaA radio monitoring pipeline was developed to 'listen' to online radio stations, transcribe the audio using machine learning speech-to-text models, and analyze the content using NLP methods. The dashboard is used by infodemic managers and decision-makers to inform public health interventions.
Activity Type AI Tools/SolutionsResearch/Reports/AssessmentsSpotlight Initiative – Mining Gender Perceptions from Public Radio Discussions
Africa UgandaThis project uses an AI-powered public radio social listening tool to mine data on perceptions around Gender Based Violence (GBV), Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), Harmful Practices (HP), Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR), and Violence Against Children (VAC). The data provides insights for timely and targeted interventions. Radio remains the most popular source of information in Uganda, used by different people irrespective of their demographics. Radio shows allow two-way communication between radio studios and people in the community through call-ins, making them a rich representation of the people that are digitally marginalized.
Activity Type AI Tools/SolutionsResearch/Reports/AssessmentsData Insights for Social and Humanitarian Action (DISHA): Socio-economic Mapping Solution for the Philippines
Asia and the Pacific PhilippinesThis solution is a dashboard that provides dynamic maps for Population Movement and Poverty Nowcasting based on anonymized and aggregated insights from mobile phone data. It uses machine learning models trained on government census data and telecom data.
Activity Type AI Tools/SolutionsResearch/Reports/Assessments