Let's INSPIRE Europe!

Last week, the breathtaking Štrbské Pleso in Slovakia hosted Inspirujme se 2024, a prominent conference on geoinformatics and environmental informatics organised by Slovak Ministry of Environment and Czech Environmental Information Agency (CENIA). Bringing together around 100 Czech and Slovak participants, the event provided a unique platform for collaboration, fostering innovation, and addressing the role of technology in tackling environmental and societal challenges.

PoliRuralPlus was proud to contribute to this dynamic space, with our team delivering a standout presentation exploring the exciting possibilities of combining geographic information (GI) with large language models (LLMs). Presented by Karel Charvát and František Zadražil, the session was titled:

"What can be achieved by linking Geographic Information and Large Language Models (LLMs)?"

Key insights from the presentation

  1. Revolutionizing geographic data access
    The talk delved into how ChatGPT-like systems could be tailored for spatial data queries, making geographic information more accessible and actionable for various stakeholders.
  2. Jackdaw – A game-changing innovation
    Jackdaw, a tool developed by our team, was showcased as an innovative platform that:
    • Queries spatial data and enriches responses using AI.
    • Leverages INSPIRE catalogs to help users find and utilize relevant geographic services efficiently.
    • Integrates spatial data with text-based documents, including legislative resources, enabling thematic map creation for decision-makers.
  1. Feasibility studies and real-world impact
    A feasibility study highlighted the practicality of merging AI with spatial datasets, demonstrating how Kavka simplifies complex geographic queries and offers actionable insights.

Engaging with the pilots

In addition to sharing technical insights, the conference also allowed us to explore potential connections within the Czech and Slovak PoliRuralPlus pilots. By engaging with local stakeholders, we identified opportunities to further align our work with regional needs and to enhance the impact of our tools in supporting rural-urban development in Slovakia.

Addressing broader challenges

The conference provided an opportunity to discuss pressing topics such as the accessibility of open spatial data in the EU and the role of regional and local governments in using technology to address these challenges. It also set the stage for identifying opportunities where information technologies, like Jackdaw, can drive meaningful change. We also demonstrated how INSPIRE data can be used for local and regional decisions using Jackdaw in connection with INSPIRE catalogs.

Why this matters

At PoliRuralPlus, we are committed to fostering sustainable and inclusive rural-urban development through innovative tools and approaches. Our participation in events like Inspirujme se 2024 allows us to share our work, learn from others, and inspire new ideas that benefit both rural and urban communities across Europe.

We thank the organizers and participants for creating this vibrant space for collaboration. The insights and connections made, particularly within the Czech and Slovak pilots, will shape our efforts moving forward.


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