IBM and SEforALL Introduce AI Tools to Advance Sustainable Urban Development | Image Source: Wikimedia.org
BAKU (Azerbaijan), 15 November 2024 – At the 29th Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP29), IBM ​and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) presented new artificial ​intelligence (AI) solutions aimed at ​promoting sustainable urban development worldwide. These public access tools are ​designed to assist decision makers in ​planning urbanization and identifying energy and infrastructure needs, particularly in developing regions.
The collaboration between ​IBM and SEFORALL led to two key platforms ​led by AI: Open Building Insights (OBI) and Modeling Urban Growth. OBI collects ​complex data on an interactive visual map, providing information on urban expansion ​and energy needs. This tool is ​already being used in Makueni County, Kenya, ​and it helps about 1.1 million citizens plan ​their energy production by ​2030.
Urban ​growth modelling, available at GitHub, allows users around the world to predict urban growth models and support urban development ​initiatives using open source ​AI technology. This platform enables ​decision-makers to make informed decisions on infrastructure development and resource allocation.
John Matogo, IBM’s Head of Corporate Social Responsibility for Africa and the Middle ​East, said: “In IBM, we are proud to launch solutions that ​take advantage of the power of ​artificial intelligence to impact communities around the world. This sentiment underscores IBM’s commitment to harness technology for social progress.
Damilola Ogunbiya, Executive ​Director and ​Special Representative ​of the Secretary-General for SEFORALL, stressed the importance of integrating impact assessment into energy sector planning, particularly for developing countries. He noted that this integration “will be a long way to develop comprehensive solutions to many of the development problems facing the South and its ​people today. ‘
This initiative is part of ​IBM’s broader efforts as part of IBM’s Sustainability ​Accelerated Program, which aims to provide not-for-profit organizations with cutting-edge technological and AI ​solutions to support vulnerable communities. By focusing on sustainable urban ​development, IBM ​and SEFORALL contribute to global ​efforts to ​address climate change ​and promote equitable ​growth.
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