Giga is a collaborative project between UNICEF and the ITU, focusing on bringing internet connectivity to educational institutions. A critical need for the team is accurate data on school locations. Traditional methods of collecting this data are resource-intensive and challenging, especially in remote areas. To address these challenges, we are advancing techniques that combine high-resolution satellite imagery with computer vision to enhance data gathering. While these methods have shown success in specific countries, such as Sudan, further advancements are needed to create scalable solutions.

Dr. Dohyung Kim serves as the Data Science Lead for the Giga initiative at UNICEF, where he spearheads the integration of machine learning (ML) and earth observation data. He holds a PhD in Geographical Sciences from the University of Maryland, specializing in remote sensing for global forest monitoring. Prior to his role at UNICEF, Dr. Kim contributed his expertise as a postdoctoral researcher at NASA and has also worked with various international organizations, including the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Bank.