A breakthrough from Islamabad’s Institute of Space Technology (IST) has captivated the Asia-Pacific tech arena. GeoGemma, a Pakistan‑built satellite‑imagery tool integrating Large Language Models (LLMs) with Google Earth Engine, just won the “Best AI Use Case” award at the Asia-Pacific (APAC) Solution Challenge held in Manila on June 30, 2025 .
What is GeoGemma?
- Origin Story: Conceived in 2024 by final-year space science students Ahmed Iqbal and Hanzila Bin Younus at IST, GeoGemma was more than just an academic project—it was an ambitious vision to democratize geospatial analysis .
- Power Under 2 GB: This open-source LLM, optimized to run on everyday laptops, bridges complex spatial-data analytics and user-friendly natural-language prompts—no lengthy coding required .
Why GeoGemma Won
- Petabytes of Data Made Simple: Google Earth Engine holds ~80 PB of satellite data. GeoGemma allows users to extract and analyze variables—from mountain temperatures to thermal imaging—using conversational prompts.
- Unmatched Accessibility: By eliminating the need for advanced programming, the tool makes geospatial insights available to non-specialists—critically lowering the barrier to entry .
- Real-World Applications: Its versatility spans multiple sectors: oil & gas, real estate, agriculture, supply chain, environmental monitoring, and greater .
The Award & Passing the Field
- Among 750 submissions from over 200 universities, GeoGemma reached the APAC finals and clinched the top honour.
- Two other Pakistani teams—one from Fast University—also made it to the Top 10, signalling a growing national wave in AI innovation.
Team & Funding
- The founding duo (Iqbal and Younus), with supervisor Dr. Sajid Ghaffar, pitched their idea to the Google DeepMind Gemma Academic Programme in mid‑2024—and secured a $10,000 grant that September.
- For the APAC presentation, two more IST students joined: Abdullah Asif as front‑end developer and Khaleelullah as AI engineer/tech lead.
Looking Ahead
- Beta Launch Expected by Year-End: The team plans to make GeoGemma publicly available before December 2025.
- Industrial Partnerships: With credibility secured, the project aims to deliver custom modules tailored to specific sectors—a step toward scalable, proprietary applications .
Why This Matters
- Empowerment Through Simplicity
GeoGemma allows experts and novices alike to access satellite insights without coding complexity. - Boosting Pakistan’s AI Credibility
Winning a top Google‑sponsored regional challenge showcases the nation’s growing prowess in space-tech and AI. - Cross‑Sector Utility
From climate monitoring to urban planning, the tool’s versatility opens new doors for innovation and data‑driven decision‑making.
Conclusion
GeoGemma’s success marks a milestone in Pakistan’s tech journey—melding artificial intelligence, satellite data, and open-source ideals. With robust backing, recognition, and ambitious plans ahead, GeoGemma is poised to revolutionize how satellite imagery is accessed and used.
Stay tuned on meganews.tv for updates on the public beta launch and upcoming collaborations!
