Two final-year space science students from Islamabad’s Institute of Space Technology (IST) have caught the attention of global tech giant Google with their groundbreaking AI project, GeoGemma. Developed by Ahmed Iqbal and Hanzila Bin Younus, GeoGemma is an artificial intelligence tool that allows users to perform complex geospatial analysis using simple text prompts, eliminating the need for programming expertise.
The innovation earned top honors at the Asia-Pacific Solution Challenge in Manila, where it was awarded the “Best AI Use Case” by Google and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The tool leverages the vast repository of Google Earth Engine—estimated at over 80 petabytes of satellite data—by enabling users to access and analyze spatial information without writing a single line of code.
“You can ask it anything—from temperature trends on K2 to urban heat maps—and it fetches the data instantly,” said Iqbal, speaking from the award ceremony in the Philippines.
The project took shape in 2023 when Iqbal came across the Google DeepMind Gemma Academic Program. With guidance from their supervisor, Dr Sajid Ghaffar, the team secured a $10,000 grant to integrate an open-source AI model with satellite data processing capabilities. As the project progressed, two more IST students, Abdullah Asif and Khaleelullah, joined the team to handle front-end development and AI engineering respectively.
GeoGemma stood out among more than 750 entries submitted by over 200 universities, ultimately landing a spot in the top ten finalists. Another Pakistani team from FAST University also made it to the final round, marking a strong showing for the country in a highly competitive global event.
What makes GeoGemma particularly impactful is its lightweight design—under 2GB in size—allowing it to run on standard laptops without the need for advanced computing infrastructure. The tool is expected to have applications in a variety of sectors including climate research, urban planning, real estate, oil and gas, and logistics.
With plans to launch commercially by the end of the year, the GeoGemma team is now seeking partnerships with industry players to expand the tool’s real-world impact. “We’ve built the foundation. Now, the goal is industry partnerships,” Iqbal said, adding that Google’s recognition has opened doors for further development and global outreach.
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GeoGemma’s success underscores the rising potential of Pakistani students in the global tech landscape and serves as a milestone in making satellite data more accessible to researchers, planners, and policymakers around the world.