Microsoft president Brad Smith has announced a proposal for a global computing initiative for sustainability. Smith wrote: “Our community needs a new kind of computing platform – a Planetary Computer, a platform that would provide access to trillions of data points collected by people and by machines in space, in the sky, in and on the ground and in the water.” This platform would provide data on the different environments around the globe. Advanced machine learning mixed with the widespread collection of data could provide all sorts of solutions to environmental problems. This would help scientist, conservationist, and businesses with local environmental issues. Some issues include tree density, land use, biodiversity, climate change, and water management.
This Planetary Computer will make use of satellite imagery to provide up-to-date information about ecosystems. It will also be combined with Microsoft’s existing AI for Earth program which helps to provide access to the world’s environmental datasets. I think this is an amazing idea that will show the true power of comprehensive data analysis. I can’t wait to see the environmental problems this platform will help solve.
Source – Microsoft aims to build Planetary Computer system for sustainability, by Cliff Saran. Found at – https://www.computerweekly.com/news/252481690/Microsoft-aims-to-build-planetary-computer-system-for-sustainability
LIS 4022 Spring 2020 