Tracking Our Changing Planet From Space - With Xiaoxiang Zhu

From dreaming of seeing the Earth from space to leading efforts to understand our planet using AI and satellite data to tackle urgent global challenges. Xiaoxiang Zhu, Chair Professor for Data Science in Earth Observation at TUM and PI at MCML, develops machine learning systems that analyze petabytes of satellite imagery. Her work focuses on extracting reliable geo-information from raw data, especially in places where data is scarce or misleading.

In this video, Xiaoxiang Zhu explains how her team segments informal settlements across the Global South and estimates population density using building height and function. These tools help close critical knowledge gaps, particularly in regions where poverty is underrepresented in current datasets.

Her aim is to turn complex remote sensing data into actionable insights for addressing urbanization, climate change, and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. By combining technical innovation with social impact, her work shows how AI can help us better understand — and improve — life on Earth.

The film was produced and edited by Nicole Huminski and Nikolai Huber.