Day 1: EO Data & AI/ML Fundamentals
Building the foundation for AI-powered Earth Observation
Day 1: EO Data & AI/ML Fundamentals
Earth Observation Data, AI/ML Fundamentals & Geospatial Python
Building the essential skills for AI-powered satellite data analysis
Day 1 Overview
Welcome to Day 1 of the CoPhil EO AI/ML Training Programme! Today you’ll build a solid foundation in Earth Observation data and AI/ML fundamentals. By the end of the day, you’ll understand Copernicus missions, Philippine EO resources, and be ready to start building AI models.
This day provides the foundation for your AI/ML journey in Earth Observation. You’ll gain both theoretical understanding and hands-on experience with the tools and data that power modern EO applications.
Learning Objectives
By the end of Day 1, you will be able to:
- Identify the characteristics and applications of Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 missions
- Navigate Philippine EO platforms including PhilSA SIYASAT, NAMRIA Geoportal, and DOST-ASTI tools
- Explain the AI/ML workflow for Earth Observation applications
- Distinguish between supervised and unsupervised learning with EO examples
- Understand neural network fundamentals and data-centric AI principles
- Load and visualize vector data using GeoPandas
- Read and process raster imagery using Rasterio
- Query and filter satellite imagery collections in Google Earth Engine
- Apply cloud masking and create temporal composites
- Export processed EO data for AI/ML workflows
Today’s Schedule
| Time | Session | Topic | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09:00-11:00 | 1 | Copernicus Sentinel Data & PH EO Ecosystem | Presentation, Demos |
| 11:00-13:00 | 2 | Core Concepts of AI/ML for EO | Presentation, Case Studies |
| 14:00-16:00 | 3 | Hands-on Python for Geospatial Data | Notebook 1 |
| 16:00-18:00 | 4 | Introduction to Google Earth Engine | Notebook 2 |
Training Sessions
Session 1
Copernicus Sentinel Data & Philippine EO Ecosystem
Learn about Europe’s flagship EO program and the Philippine agencies advancing EO in the country.
Session 2
Core Concepts of AI/ML for Earth Observation
Demystify AI/ML workflows, supervised vs unsupervised learning, neural networks, and data-centric approaches.
Session 3
Hands-on Python for Geospatial Data
Master vector data with GeoPandas and raster data with Rasterio - the foundations of EO data processing.
Session 4
Introduction to Google Earth Engine
Leverage cloud computing power to access, filter, and preprocess petabytes of Earth observation data.
Prerequisites
What You Need
Before starting Day 1:
Technical Setup:
All exercises run in Google Colaboratory - no local installation required! See our Setup Guide for detailed instructions.
Hands-on Notebooks
Day 1 includes two comprehensive Jupyter notebooks that you’ll work through during Sessions 3 and 4:
- Notebook 1: Python for Geospatial Data - GeoPandas and Rasterio exercises
- Notebook 2: Google Earth Engine - GEE filtering, compositing, and export
Both notebooks run in Google Colab with all dependencies pre-configured.
2025 Updates Highlighted
This training incorporates the latest 2025 developments in Earth Observation and AI:
- Sentinel-2C operational (January 2025) - Three-satellite constellation with 5-day revisit
- Sentinel-1C active - Restored dual-satellite SAR coverage
- Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem - New data access platform with SentiBoard dashboard
- PhilSA SIYASAT portal - Secure data archive for NovaSAR-1 and maritime monitoring
- DOST P2.6B AI investment (until 2028) - SkAI-Pinas, DIMER, AIPI platforms
- ESA Φsat-2 mission - On-board AI processing demonstration
- NASA-IBM Geospatial Foundation Model - Open-source pre-trained model for EO
- Data-centric AI paradigm - Emphasis on data quality over model complexity
What’s Next?
After completing Day 1, you’ll have the foundational knowledge to move to:
Day 2: Machine Learning for Earth Observation - Where you’ll apply supervised and unsupervised learning algorithms to real satellite imagery for land cover classification and change detection.
Quick Links
Session 1: Copernicus & PH EO Session 2: AI/ML Fundamentals Session 3: Python Geospatial Session 4: Google Earth Engine Notebook 1: GeoPandas & Rasterio Notebook 2: Earth Engine Setup Guide Download Materials Philippine EO Resources FAQ
Need Help?
Throughout Day 1, you can:
- Ask questions in the live session
- Consult the FAQ for common issues
- Check the Glossary for term definitions
- Download Cheat Sheets for quick reference
- Access the Philippine EO Resources directory
For technical issues during the training:
- Google Colab issues: Check Setup Guide
- Data access problems: See session-specific troubleshooting sections
- General questions: Contact your instructors or teaching assistants
Day 1 is part of the CoPhil 4-Day Advanced Training on AI/ML for Earth Observation, funded by the European Union under the Global Gateway initiative and delivered in partnership with PhilSA and DOST.