https://medium.com/@ageospatial/geoforge-geospatial-analysis-with-large-language-models-geollms-2d3a0eaff8aa

GeoForge: Geospatial Analysis with Large Language Models (GeoLLMs)

4 min read

Feb 20, 2024

I: From ‘Geo+ for ChatGPT’ to ‘GeoForge’

At Ageospatial, our vision since our ideation in October 2023 has been to make Geospatial accessible through Geo-AI. Our journey began with ‘Geo+ for ChatGPT’, an OpenAI GPT extension/plugin designed for spatial data generation on the OpenAI platform.

‘Geo+ for ChatGPT’ showcased significant potential, engaging over 1000 users and securing a steady weekly user base of 600, along with 1600 LinkedIn followerswithin its launch month of January 2024. We encountered limitations of the text format, which pushed us to move our development outside of the ChatGPT platform for an independent web-based Geospatial platform that we like to call ‘GeoForge’.

II: Development of ‘GeoForge’ — Geospatial Analysis with GeoLLMs

‘GeoForge’ makes mapping and geospatial analysis easy for everyone, whether you’re just starting out or you’re already an expert. Our approach is built on three key principles:

LLM into GeoLLM: We fine-tuned the capabilities of OpenAI’s GPT-4 language model, by training it with additional geospatial vocabulary and knowledge. This training ensures that our GeoLLM can accurately interpret and respond to spatial queries while minimizing the inaccuracies often seen in standard language models. Additionally, we are developing new methods for data generation such as allowing the language model to generate a solution graph with each node representing data(input, intermediary, output) and data processing operations. Once the solution graph is generated, the model can execute each node in sequential order to answer the user’s query using our algorithms. This approach allows the model to understand and process complex geospatial tasks and queries.
Data quality: Ensuring data integrity is at the core of our priorities for this project. For this reason, we ensure our data is of high quality and up to date by utilizing open-source databases that are actively updated. For our database, we have decided to integrate next-generation database management systems like DuckDB Spatial, to ensure high performance and speed without compromising data integrity. Internal protocols running through servers based in our home country of Switzerland are implemented to ensure the privacy of the data.
User-friendly interface: A user interface that’s ‘simple but not simplistic’, with features like client-side tile rendering and customizable data layers. ‘GeoForge’ is designed to be both simple and sophisticated, catering to users’ needs without overwhelming them. Direct interactions with GeoLLMs further improve the user’s experience by enabling dynamic map adjustments, base map style customization, automatic camera adjustments, and interactive visualizations.

A geospatial workflow with ‘GeoForge’