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PolyU harnesses GeoAI technologies to enable sustainable urban development

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HONG KONG, April 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Geospatial artificial intelligence (GeoAI) is an interdisciplinary field that combines geospatial science and artificial intelligence (AI). The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is harnessing innovative GeoAI technologies to provide ground-breaking solutions for some of the environmental and social challenges facing the world today, in various fields including transportation, urban and public safely, planning, climate change and natural disasters.

Prof. Qihao WENG, Chair Professor of Geomatics and Artificial Intelligence of the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, and Global STEM Professor, established the PolyU Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Geomatics (RCAIG), to focus on the development of original and innovative AI methodologies and technologies for geomatics and their applications in urban areas, with the goal of it becoming a global R&D hub in GeoAI. Prof. Weng has recently been honoured with the 2024 American Association of Geographers (AAG) Wilbanks Prize for Transformational Research in Geography and the 2024 AAG Remote Sensing Specialty Group Lifetime Achievement Honor Award for his ground-breaking contributions in geography.
One direction for the Research Centre is investigation into human-environment interactions in urbanisation by utilising geospatial analytics, GeoAI and big data methods. Another direction is to create various data products of global urban areas using Earth Observations (EO) and to provide EO-based urban data services.
As RCAIG Principal Investigator and Director, Prof. Weng said, “Earth observation is important as a guiding compass for understanding changes in the environment and society. Our research focuses on diverse fields including geospatial big data and AI, remote sensing, ground-based sensors, navigation and positioning, surveying and geodesy, laser scanning, and photogrammetry. These technologies play a crucial role in addressing and resolving key environmental and social challenges.”
In particular, GeoAI has revolutionised building monitoring by utilising thousands of learnable parameters. An illustration of this is its ability to automatically learn and identify general patterns of buildings such as colour and shape. This technology is crucially applied to detect disaster-damaged buildings, retrieve building height, identify structural changes and estimate building energy consumption. As a result, GeoAI has emerged as a mainstream solution for more efficient and insightful building monitoring.
Environmental monitoring
In the field of urbanisation monitoring, an RCAIG research team has developed an impervious surface area based urban cellular automata (CA) model that can simulate the fractional change of urban areas within each grid by utilising annual urban extent time series data obtained from satellite observations. By categorising the historical pathways of urban area growth into different levels of urbanisation, the model offers more detailed insights compared to traditional, binary, CA models. This demonstrates its great potential in supporting sustainable development.
Research conducted by Ms Wanru HE, an RCAIG doctoral research assistant, and her team was reported in the paper “Modeling gridded urban fractional change using the temporal context information in the urban cellular automata model”, and has been published in Cities. Their model effectively captures the dynamics of urban sprawl with significantly improved computational efficiency and performance, and will help enable the modelling of urban growth at regional and even global level, under diverse future urbanisation scenarios.
GeoAI for traffic management
In the area of smart traffic management, to enhance the efficiency of ride-hailing platforms and achieve intelligent management of their services, the RCAIG research team has developed a multi-agent order matching and vehicle repositioning approach. This innovative technology focuses on coordinating the supply and demand of ride-hailing services, ultimately aiming to improve their overall efficiency.
Their approach provides a ground-breaking solution to tackle two critical aspects necessary for efficient ride-hailing services. Firstly, it addresses order matching by efficiently assigning orders to available vehicles. Secondly, it incorporates proactive vehicle repositioning, strategically deploying idle vehicles to regions with potentially high demand.
Based on multi-agent deep reinforcement learning, this innovation solves the complex planning issues in transportation and offers a new perspective on a long-term spatio-temporal planning problem. The research conducted by Ms Mingyue XU, another RCAIG researcher, and her team, was reported in the paper “Multi-agent reinforcement learning to unify order-matching and vehicle-repositioning in ride-hailing services”, and has been published in the International Journal of Geographical Information Science. The study achieved outstanding results, including reduced passenger rejection rates and driver idle time.
About RCAIG 
With a focus on GeoAI, RCAIG is dedicated to conducting research in diverse fields, including urban building and energy, urban safety and security, environmental monitoring and conservation, urban resilience and public health. This aligns with the 11th United Nations Sustainable Development Goal, which aims to create inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and human settlements. Website: https://rcaig.com/
Learn more about Prof. Qihao Weng’s research focus in the video: https://polyu.me/3Vt7yih

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Stefanini Group Appoints Farlei Kothe as CEO for NA, EMEA, and APAC Regions

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BRUSSELS, Oct. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Stefanini Group, a global tech multinational that assists customers in their digital transformation, has appointed Farlei Kothe as the CEO for the NA, EMEA, and APAC regions. With over 15 years of experience at Stefanini, Farlei Kothe’s leadership aims to drive efficiency and strengthen Stefanini’s market position across key regions.

Stefanini aims to integrate its teams across these regions, ensuring seamless collaboration and operational excellence. By uniting resources, the company wants to offer a unified, consistent client experience. “Our focus is to drive results. We are aligning our teams across the NA, EMEA, and APAC regions to break down silos and strengthen Stefanini’s position as a unified, globally competitive organization,” said Farlei Kothe, CEO Officer for the NA, EMEA, and APAC regions.
Stefanini leverages AI and automation to enhance operations, decision-making, and efficiency across regions.
“AI and automation will revolutionize how we operate, driving rapid innovation, improving client services, and streamlining our global operations. We’re on a mission to standardize essential processes and crank up efficiency through smart automation” Farlei Kothe emphasized.
Stefanini is taking bold steps to centralize management, strengthen cross-regional communication, and implement advanced digital tools to optimize collaboration. These shifts will eliminate redundancies, accelerate decision-making, and improve response times for clients across different regions. Clients can expect more consistent services, faster resolutions, and access to a broader range of global resources, all while maintaining local support.
“Farlei has the expertise and entrepreneurial spirit to unify these critical regions and ensure we continue delivering unparalleled value to our clients. They will benefit from a unified approach, gaining access to a wider range of global resources while still receiving localized support,” said Marco Stefanini, Founder and Global CEO of Stefanini Group.
In the short term, the company expects operational costs to decrease, while in the longer term, Stefanini aims for stronger client relationships, improved brand unity, and revenue growth driven by innovative solutions.
About Stefanini
Stefanini is a global tech multinational originating from Brazil, with more than 35 years of experience in the market and a presence in 41 countries. The company invests in a comprehensive innovation ecosystem to support key industry verticals and assist customers in their digital transformation. With robust offerings aligned with market trends such as AI, automation, cloud, Internet of Things (IoT), and User Experience (UX), the company has received multiple awards and recognition in the field of innovation. 
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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/stefanini-group-appoints-farlei-kothe-as-ceo-for-na-emea-and-apac-regions-302273028.html

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Northern Data Group Announces Third Quarter 2024 Earnings Conference Call

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FRANKFURT, Germany, Oct. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Northern Data AG (ETR: NB2) (‘Northern Data Group’ or ‘the Group’ ), a leading provider of AI and high-performance computing (HPC) solutions, today announces that it has scheduled its third quarter 2024 earnings conference call for Thursday, October 17th, 2024, at 4:00 P.M. CET.

During the call, management will discuss its operations and the financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2024.
This conference call will be available through an audio webcast. Please use this link to register.
Additionally, analysts can join the conference call using their local dial-in number:
Germany Toll-Free: +49 800 0009712United Kingdom/International Toll-Free: +44 800 358 1035United States Toll-Free: +1 855 979 6654Global dial in numbers can be found here
Access code required: 183303
A replay of the conference call will be available through the Investor Relations section of the Northern Data Group website at Publications (northerndata.de)
 
About Northern Data Group:
Northern Data Group (ETR: NB2) Northern Data Group is a leading provider of AI and High-Performance Computing (HPC) solutions, leveraging high-density, liquid cooled, GPU-based technology to empower the world’s most innovative organizations. Together with our partners, we are passionate about the potential of HPC to drive not only technological advancements but also societal progress.

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Artificial Intelligence

At World Fibre Conference, YOFC Unveils Next-Gen Intelligent Networks for the AI Age

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SHANGHAI, Oct. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — At the 2024 World Optical Fibre & Cable Conference held in Shanghai on October 10th, Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable Joint Stock Limited Company (YOFC), showcased its leadership in optical technology. YOFC, renowned for its extensive work in the R&D and manufacturing of optical preform, fibres, optical cables, and data communications products, has been a principal partner of this event for many years. ZHUANG Dan, Executive Director and President of YOFC, attended the conference and delivered a keynote speech titled “Accelerating the Construction of New Optical Networks in the AI Era and Building a New Chapter of Intelligent Future.” He also engaged in a roundtable discussion with senior executives from international giants such as Europe-based Prysmian and US-based Corning, exploring key industry topics in the AI era and discussing the future of the sector.   

Mr. Zhuang discussed how AI is driving a global scientific and technological revolution, ushering society into a new era of intelligence. The transition is characterized by a dramatic surge in data traffic and increased computational needs, placing greater demands on the infrastructure supported by fibre optic networks. Concurrently, with the advancement of AI technology and the rapid evolution of fibre and cable technology, numerous new fibre products are being developed and introduced to the market. These innovations are designed to enhance various types of network infrastructure and proactively shape an intelligent future.
Specifically, innovative fibres featuring miniaturization, high-density, and anti-bending capabilities can significantly support the evolution of fixed networks towards higher density and speed, enabling the transition from Gigabit to 10 Gigabit. Additionally, advanced fibres with large bandwidth, low-loss, and low-latency properties are vital for rolling out new generations of mobile networks, such as 5G-A and soon 6G. These fibres are not just enhancing mobile networks but are also essential for data centers, where they support massive data flows by providing high-density, low-latency, and energy-efficient optical interconnections. Additionally, the role of submarine cables, which boast large capacity, extended reach, and superior stability, remains indispensable in building the backbone of the global communication network.
Amidst these technological shifts, YOFC has capitalized on the opportunities presented by AI innovations. The company recently unveiled its i-Fibre series, which stands out for its ultra-large capacity, minimal loss, and low latency, combined with integrated sensing, communications capabilities, and environmentally friendly features. Through this initiative, YOFC is aiming to provide robust infrastructure support necessary for building an intelligent future.  
Notably, YOFC’s G.654.E fibre stands out with ultra-low attenuation. It combines a low non-linear effect (large effective area) with a small attenuation coefficient, significantly extending transmission distances. These features make it a preferred choice for 800G and 1.6T ultrahigh-speed transmission in the AI era. Since initiating the R&D of the fibre in 2010, YOFC has achieved a leading position in the global market, deploying more than one million fibre kilometers of this cutting-edge product. With a substantial market presence in China, the company has notably impacted infrastructure projects for major telecoms and utility providers including China Mobile, China Telecom, China Unicom, and the State Grid Corporation of China, and has expanded its influence to projects in the Philippines, Brazil, and beyond.  
To meet the demand for ultra-large bandwidth and high-speed interconnections in data centers, particularly within intelligent computing networks, YOFC has rolled out next-generation high-end multimode fibres, including the OM4 Ultra and OM5. These fibres have been widely adopted in numerous large data centers worldwide, driving intelligent computing into a new era of high efficiency and environmental responsibility.
Additionally, YOFC remains committed to the R&D of next-generation mainstream fibres, such as space division multiplexing (SDM) fibres and hollow-core fibres. SDM fibre, which can increase the transmission capacity of a single fibre by tenfold, is engineered to satisfy the needs for ultra-large capacity and ultra-high density connectivity in the AI era. YOFC has ramped up to mass production, supported by comprehensive in-house capabilities for developing key raw materials and an array of production and testing equipment. The company is actively conducting pilot tests with operators to refine these advancements.
Furthermore, YOFC is pioneering in hollow-core fibre technology, which offers substantial advantages over traditional solid-core fibres by significantly reducing latency and attenuation while boosting capacity. This is particularly beneficial for applications that require minimal latency, such as long-distance communications and data center interconnections crucial for powering extensive AI models. With robust in-house research and collaborative efforts with both domestic and international carriers and data centers, YOFC is not only advancing technology but also solidifying its leadership in the field, accumulating valuable engineering experience and showcasing its industrial expertise.
Sir Charles Kuen Kao, who invented fibre optics, famously declared that this technology would dominate for 1,000 years. Echoing this sentiment, Mr. Zhuang pointed out that the current data and computation surge in the AI era is catalyzing swift advancements and industrial improvements within the industry. According to CRU’s latest forecast, the global fibre and cable market is anticipated to experience an average annual growth rate of 4.6% by 2028, with Asia-Pacific, Africa, and North America exceeding 5%. These figures signal a robust future growth phase for the sector.
Since its establishment in 1988 and the commencement of operations in 1992, YOFC has been committed to connecting every corner of the world with optical fibres. The company has delivered over 1 billion core kilometers of fibres, operating in more than 100 countries and regions while serving over 3 billion people. YOFC has also reduced its carbon footprint by 9.25 million tons and contributed to increasing the global penetration of fibres. On its journey to harness the power of light, YOFC remains steadfast. As Mr. Zhuang indicated, YOFC will stay true to its mission of continuously innovating, and developing more advanced, reliable, and premium products and solutions. In collaboration with industry peers, the company seeks to accelerate the construction of next-generation fibre networks in the AI era, collectively envisioning a grand blueprint for an intelligent future.
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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/at-world-fibre-conference-yofc-unveils-next-gen-intelligent-networks-for-the-ai-age-302273798.html

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