KHON KAEN, Thailand – The Faculty of Technology at Khon Kaen University (KKU), led by Associate Professor Dr. Wimontip Singthuan, Associate Dean for Education, Digital, and Student Affairs, in collaboration with graduate students from the Geological Technology program, has launched an innovative AI chatbot named “GEO-HOO” to support the Khon Kaen Geopark. The innovation transfer event took place from September 18-19, 2025.
The project, a partnership between KKU’s Faculty of Technology and the Geopark Association, aims to enhance digital learning and elevate public access to geological information. The GEO-HOO AI Chatbot was presented and demonstrated at Rai Tankhun Pandin in Khon Kaen province.
GEO-HOO: An Intelligent Virtual Guide
Developed as an AI chatbot on the LINE application, GEO-HOO is designed to disseminate geological knowledge to community tour guides and youth in an easily understandable and accessible format, anytime and anywhere. Its continuously updated database functions as a “virtual guide assistant,” providing academic answers to questions about significant geological sites.
Participants in the training included representatives from various community networks, such as Ban Rai Nai Khiao Community Enterprise, Phu Wiang National Park, Huen Phu Wiang Restaurant, Khok Nong Na Pasuk Wiang Kao Community Enterprise, Khon Kaen Provincial Administrative Organization, Phu Wiang City Tourism Club, as well as teachers and students from Wiang Wongkot Wittayakom School.
Driving Towards UNESCO Global Geopark Status and Sustainable Development
The GEO-HOO innovation is more than just a smart tourism tool; it represents a crucial step in advancing the Khon Kaen Geopark’s bid to become a UNESCO Global Geopark. It achieves this by fostering community-based geotourism and promoting learning within the local population.
The project also aligns with several key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
- SDG 4: Quality Education – By transferring geological knowledge through digital technology.
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – By empowering local guides and fostering a creative economy.
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – By promoting tourism that respects and preserves natural resources.
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – By building collaboration between the university, government agencies, and local communities.
This initiative also reflects the Faculty of Technology’s SMART values, emphasizing social devotion, data-driven management for innovation, achievement through teamwork, responsibility for research application, and leveraging technology for societal transformation. Furthermore, it aligns with the faculty’s strategic goals, including educational transformation through digital platforms, applying research in geology and AI for practical benefits, digitalizing the organization, providing academic services for societal benefit, and strengthening partnerships for development.
