In continuation of the GIS Talk Series on Emerging Topics in Earth Observation and Spatial Data Science, a workshop was conducted on “Machine Learning and Cloud Computing for Crop Classification” at the Centre for Geographical Information System (CGIS), Faculty of Geo-Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore Pakistan. The participants benefited from the discussion on the key concepts of Machine Learning, Cloud Computing, and Image Classification with hands-on exercises. The workshop aimed to strengthen collaboration between academia and industry. Teams from the Urban Unit, Lahore (https://www.urbanunit.gov.pk/) and Smart Sensing for Climate and Development (SCD) at the Centre for GIS, University of the Punjab, Lahore demonstrated the general workflow of Machine Learning algorithms and Google Earth Engine (GEE), a cloud computing platform, for Land Cover / Crop classification.

Prof Dr. Shahid Ghazi, Director CGIS, in his opening remarks,  emphasized the adaptation of emerging technologies for research and development. Dr. Muhammad Usman, and Dr. Sawaid Abbas, from CGIS, Smart Sensing for Climate & Development (SCD) shared their expertise and valuable insights regarding Geospatial analysis on Google Earth Engine and Machine learning algorithms and the Urban Unit team including, Mr. Sami Ullah Khan, Dr. Syed Muhammad Irteza, and Mr.Aurangzeb Rehmani explored the intricacies of crop cycle analysis, crop cover classification, and training data compilation. Special thanks to Dr. Urooj Khan from the Urban Unit for facilitating the workshop. The workshop aimed to strengthen collaboration between academia and industry.

The workshop consisted of three interactive sessions, aimed at providing participants with basic knowledge and skills on various aspects of machine learning, cloud computing, JavaScript coding in the GEE, crop cycle, crop cover classification, and training data compilation for satellite image classification.

Prof. Dr Shahid Ghazi, Director Centre for Geographical Information System

In his opening remarks, Prof Dr. Shahid Ghazi, emphasis on the adaptation of emerging technologies for research and development. Prof. Ghazi acknowledged the importance of linkages between academia and industry.

Speaker: Dr Muhammad Usman, Smart Sensing for Climate and Development, CGIS

The first session focused on providing participants with a comprehensive introduction to cloud computing and its applications in land cover land use classification. Special emphasis was placed on GEE, a platform for processing and analyzing BIG Geospatial Data. Participants gained insights into the features and functionalities of the GEE, enabling them to harness power of planetary scale mapping to implement advanced analyses and develop customized algorithms.

Speaker: Dr Sawaid Abbas, Smart Sensing for Climate and Development, CGIS

In the second session, participants delved into the fundamental concepts of machine learning. They received a comprehensive overview of different machine learning algorithms, including supervised and unsupervised learning techniques. The session covered essential topics such as data preprocessing, feature engineering, model selection, and evaluation methods, equipping participants with the necessary knowledge to apply machine learning.

Speakers: Mr Sami Ullah Khan, Dr Syed Muhammad Irteza, and Mr Aurengzeb Rahmani, The Urban Unit, Lahore.

The final session explored the intricacies of crop cycle analysis, crop cover classification, and training data compilation. Participants learned about the importance of understanding the temporal dynamics of crops, identifying crop cover using remote sensing data, and compiling high-quality training datasets for subsequent image analysis and crop cover estimation using Earth Observation data.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Urban Unit team including Dr. Urooj Khan, Mr. Sami Ullah Khan, Dr. Syed Muhammad Irteza, and Mr.Aurangzeb Rehmani, for their invaluable contributions to facilitating the workshop. A special thanks to the speakers Mr Sami Ullah Khan, Program manager RS from the Urban Unit, Dr. Muhammad Usman, Assistant professor at CGIS, Dr. Sawaid Abbas, Assistant Professor at CGIS, Smart Sensing for Climate & Development (SCD) and Dr Syed Muhammad Irtaza for sharing their expertise and valuable insights during the workshop. Their contributions and informative session enriched their understanding of the topic. We sincerely appreciate their time, knowledge, and dedication to promoting advancements in the field.

We also express our gratitude to Prof. Dr. Shahid Ghazi, Director CGIS, for their guidance and support in making the workshop a success.

A big thanks to the management team, supporting staff and Smart Sensing Society for their meticulous planning, attention to detail, and seamless execution. A special thanks to Mr Abu Talha, Mr Muhmmad Umer, Ms Rabia Siddique, and Ms Nawa-i-Habib for their hard work and dedication made this event a resounding success. We are grateful for their efforts in bringing together experts, participants, and resources to create a valuable learning experience.

Congratulations to all the participants who actively engaged in the workshop and demonstrated their enthusiasm for learning and exploring new techniques in crop classification. Your dedication and commitment to enhancing your skills in machine learning and cloud computing are truly commendable. We hope that the knowledge gained during this workshop will empower you in your future endeavours and contribute to advancements in the field of crop classification.

Date: 25 May 2023

Time: 1000-1600

Target Audience: Undergraduate and Graduated Research Students

Pre-requisite: Basic Remote Sensing and Computer Programming

Medium of Instruction: English

Venue: Smart Sensing for Climate and Development Lab, Centre for Geographical Information System, PUCIT, University of the Punjab, Lahore.