Spatio-Temporal AI Laboratory for Sustainable Development Opens in Kazakhstan

The International Joint Laboratory of Spatio-Temporal AI and Sustainable Development has officially launched at the National Academy of Sciences of Kazakhstan, Orda.kz reports.

The center will specialize in forecasting natural disasters, managing resources, and advancing technologies for sustainable development. It was established in partnership with Zhejiang University of Technology and supported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and high-tech companies, including Kangva, Netac Technology, UniTTEC, and Xuandu Spatiotemporal Cloud Technology. Planned investments total around 70 billion tenge.

At the core of the laboratory is a spatio-temporal artificial intelligence system that processes large-scale data from ground, aerial, and satellite sources. These are integrated via a cloud-based CCS system to ensure coordination and autonomous operations.

The laboratory will focus on natural disaster forecasting, such as floods, droughts, earthquakes, and forest fires, as well as energy consumption modeling, traffic and logistics optimization, agricultural monitoring, biodiversity tracking, and water resource management, particularly in cross-border areas.

A key feature of the facility is the SIGMA mobile unit—an intelligent field platform based on the SITRAK-C7H 6×6 vehicle, capable of on-site data processing under extreme conditions using information from satellites, UAVs, ground robots, and IoT sensors.

Positioning itself as a regional technology hub, the laboratory plans to expand operations to Central Asia, and potentially Iran, Mongolia, and Afghanistan. It is expected to contribute to joint efforts in tackling climate-related and environmental issues.

Training programs for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students will be developed, aimed at building skilled human capital and fostering an innovation ecosystem.

By leveraging advanced AI solutions, the lab will address challenges related to public safety, agriculture, transportation, and environmental protection, offering a platform for scientific cooperation between Kazakhstan, China, and neighboring countries.

Original Author: Maria Kravtsova