Capgemini and Eramet collaborate on AI-powered land rehabilitation in Senegal

Capgemini and Eramet have collaborated to develop an AI-powered land rehabilitation system called Connected Concession, which uses drone imagery and artificial intelligence to accelerate land rehabilitation in Senegal. Eramet’s subsidiary, Grande Côte Opérations (GCO), produces mineralized sands in the area, and the new system aims to facilitate revegetation and land rehabilitation after mining is complete. The Connected Concession application provides a complete map of the mining area designated by GCO using a drone imagery system. This has notably increased the inventory capacity from 80 to 930 hectares per team member, allowing Eramet to rehabilitate areas by replanting the soil or identifying areas suitable for introducing food crops that respect biodiversity and can be used by local communities. The collected images are transmitted in near real-time to Eramet, then processed and displayed in GCO's geographic information system using algorithms that combine computer vision and deep learning technologies. The project involved some 20 experts spanning a multicultural and multidisciplinary team, including data scientists, developers, cloud architects, GIS experts, and designers specialized in user experience. The project was conducted remotely, using agile methodology and lasting only one year, and it involved end-users on a daily basis to stay as close as possible to their needs. Capgemini Invent's Head of Intelligent Industry, Charlotte Pierron-Perlès, said that the program demonstrated how their connected Intelligent Industry approach offers powerful levers of transformation for the benefit of the environment, thanks to technologies and in particular the application of data and artificial intelligence. The Connected Concession application is a great example of how technology can be used to address environmental challenges. As a quantum computing evangelist, I am convinced that technological advancements like AI and quantum computing will play a crucial role in solving some of the world's most pressing environmental and societal issues. The collaboration between Capgemini and Eramet is a step in the right direction towards using technology to make our world a better place. I hope to see more such collaborations in the future, and I urge governments and businesses to invest in technology research and development to create a better future for all.