Abu dhabi: The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) has been awarded the Innovate for Impact Use Case Winner Certificate at the AI for Good Global Summit, organised by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva, in recognition of its VIIRS LEO-SEVIRI GEO Satellite Super-Resolution technology. This technology enhances the resolution of geostationary satellite imagery by integrating frequent observations with the higher spatial detail of low Earth orbit satellite data, enabling high-resolution images every 15 minutes for improved weather monitoring and forecasting.
According to Emirates News Agency, the development of this advanced capability is a result of research conducted under the UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science (UAEREP). The project, titled 'Identification of Clouds' Microphysical Seedability in an Actionable Manner,' was led by Prof. Daniel Rosenfeld from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, in collaboration with the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI). The project utilized artificial intelligence to address the challenge of limited spatial resolution in geostationary satellite imagery, enhancing the capabilities of meteorological services.
Dr. Abdulla Al Mandous, President of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and Chairman of NCM, stated that this recognition highlights the significant impact of NCM's integrated research and innovation ecosystem. He emphasized that the achievement demonstrates the UAE's commitment to advancing scientific innovation and contributing to global efforts to enhance weather and climate resilience. The strategic investment in scientific research and AI is being translated into practical solutions, addressing emerging weather and climate challenges worldwide.
Alya Al Mazrouei, Director of the UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science, noted that this recognition underscores the importance of transforming research outcomes into advanced operational technologies. She highlighted the growing impact of the program in advancing next-generation weather technologies that leverage AI and emerging scientific approaches to address key challenges in atmospheric sciences and weather enhancement.
The award-winning technology addresses a long-standing issue in satellite meteorology. While geostationary satellites offer frequent observations, their imagery is generally limited by coarser spatial resolution compared to low Earth orbit satellites, which provide finer details but less frequent updates. The UAEREP team developed a diffusion-based super-resolution model using machine learning techniques, enhancing lower-resolution imagery to offer finer detail while maintaining the necessary update rate.
Future developments of this technology will focus on its near-real-time deployment and expansion across additional satellite channels and products to further support operational forecasting and rain enhancement activities. The AI for Good Global Summit serves as the United Nations' platform for advancing AI applications that contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals, bringing together global experts from various fields.