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Snapshot · OMB 2025 inventory · processed Oct 11, 2026
DOI · DOI-0172 · record R2591

Foundation Models to Advance Earth Science [2024 INV#WO0000000107153]

Department of the Interior · USGS

Overview

Development stage
PilotSource: b) Pilot – The use case has been deployed in a limited test or pilot capacity.
High-impact designation
Not high-impactSource: c) Not high-impact
Impact justification
Not reported
Start date
2024-06-01 (day precision)Source: 6/1/2024
Withheld from public reporting
NoSource: a) No

Mission

Topic area
Science
Operational functions
No function tag matched Derived by keyword rules; see methodology

Problem the AI is intended to solve

Advance the understanding of Earth's conditions and processes by developing and deploying generalist AI models (Foundation Models) trained on Earth Observations from field, suborbital, and orbital sensors.

Expected benefits

These models, along with the resulting insights, will empower scientists and land user managers to achieve more while also advancing the broader field of AI and machine learning science.

System outputs

Information on Earth conditions and processes

Technology

AI classification
Generative AISource: Generative AI: AI that generates new or synthetic content (e.g., images, videos, audio, text, code).
System name(s)
Not reported
Custom-developed code
No
Public source code
Not reported

Sourcing

How it was built
Developed in-houseSource: b) Developed in-house
Vendor (as reported)
Not reported
Vendors (standardized)
None on the standard list

A vendor is the supplier named by the agency. It does not identify the underlying model or AI technology.

Data and privacy

Involves PII
No
Privacy Impact Assessment
Not reported
Authorization to Operate
No
Demographic features
k) None of the above
Training and evaluation data
Remotely sensed and other Earth observation data.
Federal Data Catalog
Not reported

Governance

5 of 8 minimum-practice questions answered. A blank answer means the agency reported nothing; it does not mean the practice is absent.

Pre-deployment testingNo answer reported
AI impact assessmentNo answer reported
Independent reviewReported in placeSource: a) Yes – by another appropriate agency office or reviewer not directly involved in the AI’s development
Ongoing monitoringReported in placeSource: a) Yes, sufficient monitoring protocols have been established
Operator trainingReported in placeSource: a) Yes, sufficient and periodic training has been established
Fail-safeNot applicableSource: b) Not applicable
Appeal processReported in progressSource: c) Establishment of an appropriate appeal process is in-progress
User and public consultationNo answer reported

Potential impacts and how they were identified

Not reported