New online course explores practical applications of location data and AI

The Location Innovation Hub has launched a new online course designed to help professionals apply artificial intelligence to geospatial workflows. The English-language training, delivered through the Open Geospatial Consortium’s (OGC) platform, offers a focused introduction to the growing role of AI in the use of satellite imagery, point clouds and time-series data.

In just over an hour, participants are introduced to a range of geospatial data types and shown how emerging foundation models – including the Segment Anything Model (SAM) and GeoLLM – are transforming analytic processes. The course features real-world examples that demonstrate how organizations are already deploying GeoAI to improve decision-making, automate mapping tasks and uncover new spatial insights. It also highlights key global trends shaping the future of this rapidly advancing field.

The training is aimed at professionals in both the public and private sectors who work with spatial data or AI-driven solutions. A certificate can be downloaded upon completion, and participants are encouraged to share feedback to support ongoing course development. The programme is available here.

Building skills for the GeoAI era

A related webinar will take place on 1 December from 12:00 to 13:00 EET (11:00-12:00 CET), offering further perspectives on the themes introduced in the GeoAI courses. The session will explore how combining machine learning, deep learning and spatial analytics enables the transition from raw geospatial data to actionable intelligence.

The Location Innovation Hub serves as a centre of expertise for location information and technology. It supports small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as public authorities, in areas such as business development, adoption of new technologies and identification of funding opportunities. The hub’s work is coordinated by the Finnish Geospatial Research Institute, and its services are delivered through a broad partner network.

The course and the broader initiative reflect a growing emphasis on cross-sector collaboration to accelerate innovation in GeoAI – where artificial intelligence and GIS converge to address real-world challenges and enable more effective adoption of advanced spatial technologies.