The workshop under the Reinventing University project aims to advance high-performance computing personnel and forge international research partnerships in environmental and health innovations.
From 22 to 26 June 2026, the College of Computing at Khon Kaen University (KKU) organised a specialist workshop entitled “Spatio-Temporal GeoAI: From Convolutional Networks to Foundation Models for Earth Observation.” The initiative was designed to develop advanced computing expertise and build international research networks. Dr. Sarun Apichontrakul, Associate Dean for Administrative Affairs at the College of Computing, delivered the welcoming remarks to open the training session, which took place at Computer Laboratory 5 on the 5th floor of the KKU Library.
The workshop was conducted under the Fiscal Year 2026 Reinventing University Project, themed “Green and Sustainable Computing for Health and Well-being.” Its primary objective was to develop artificial intelligence and data science skills among faculty members, researchers, and students, keeping pace with global technological developments. The college hosted Dr. Ashok Dahal — an expert in GeoAI and the application of AI in geo-hazards from the Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, Netherlands — as the keynote speaker. The training curriculum covered fundamentals of GeoAI through to current technologies, including:
- Vision Transformers and Foundation Models for Earth observation tasks;
- Analysis of satellite data, such as SAR and InSAR, for global change monitoring;
- Application of Deep Learning models in natural disaster surveillance.
While the underlying project heavily focuses on health and well-being, the College of Computing recognizes that modern public health issues cannot be separated from environmental factors. Consequently, Earth Observation and GeoAI technologies play a critical role in evaluating and supporting decisions regarding natural hazards, such as land subsidence and flash floods, which directly affect public quality of life. This training session marks a significant milestone in forging long-term academic and research collaborations between Khon Kaen University and the University of Twente to drive future GeoAI innovations.
