This is a hands-on workshop introducing the practical use of
Earth Index, a tool that uses AI to search for user-defined patterns in satellite imagery across large areas, anywhere on the planet. It is a game-changer for environmental journalism, opening up major possibilities: from spotting hotspots of illegal mining, to quantifying industrial farming in a region, or mapping new roads pushing into forested areas.
During the session, we will do a guided walkthrough of the platform and work through step-by-step exercises to explore its core features: how to create a project, define an area of interest, generate positive and negative labels, run predictions, refine the results, and export findings. We will also share practical tips and best practices based on the Pulitzer Center’s methodology for successfully integrating Earth Index into an environmental investigation, including how to audit results, reduce false positives, and inform field reporting.
By the end of the workshop, participants will have a clear understanding of Earth Index’s strengths and limitations, and how to add it to their investigative toolbox.
IMPORTANT!- You must register with your email address in advance for this session to gain full access to Earth Index. Please use this form to register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe0CXmCcA3SZyVfDMHO3l9suLK_RwCJUqz_IU-oymMRAFVSuQ/viewform
- Please bring a laptop with Google Earth Pro installed. You can download it here: https://maps.google.com/intl/es/earth/download/gep/agree.html
No previous experience or coding skills are required, although some familiarity with satellite imagery or geospatial data will help participants get the most out of the workshop. Those who register will receive free access to the Deep Search version of the tool, which is not directly available in the open version, and will be able to keep it afterwards.
