Alphabet-owned research and development company X Development is currently working on a revolutionary geolocation and georectification technology that utilizes artificial intelligence. This cutting-edge technology aims to enhance the National Guard’s awareness and analysis capabilities in response to natural disasters.
Dubbed Bellwether, the prototype employs AI to analyze Civil Air Patrol aerial images received. It can accurately determine the positioning of these images, even when they show significant damage or changes to the landscape. Furthermore, Bellwether can identify and label critical infrastructure within these images, allowing the National Guard to respond quickly in the aftermath of a natural disaster.
Master Sgt. Kenneth Houck of the Georgia Air National Guard praised Bellwether’s ability to drastically reduce the time spent analyzing CAP imagery from days to seconds. This speed improvement enables the Guard to respond faster than ever before during critical moments following a natural disaster.
Nirav Patel, Senior Scientist and Program Manager for Remote Sensing at DIU, also commended Bellwether’s effectiveness in interpreting aerial images taken from different perspectives. This feature helps streamline response times and support those impacted by disasters.
Bellwether was developed in response to a 2022 DIU solicitation on behalf of the National Guard, which sought AI-powered technologies capable of processing electro-optical aerial images. With its advanced capabilities, Bellwether is set to revolutionize disaster response efforts by providing real-time insights into critical situations following natural disasters.
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