GSI engages AI and machine learning in mineral exploration
Times of India | 5 March 2024
KOLKATA: Janardan Prasad, Director General of the Geological Survey of India (GSI), underscored the institution's remarkable 174-year legacy and its invaluable contributions to the nation's mineral resource exploration on Monday at the Central Headquarters in Kolkata. He reiterated GSI's unwavering commitment to fostering self-reliance in mineral resources through the integration of advanced probing techniques, artificial intelligence, and machine learning in mineral exploration. Prasad also highlighted GSI's collaborative efforts with national and international agencies to achieve this objective. Additionally, he accentuated GSI's significant achievements in geo-hazard management and the development of early warning systems.
The occasion was marked by an aura of enthusiasm and reverence. Festivities commenced with the ceremonial homage to Thomas Oldham, the visionary founder of GSI, and M. S. Krishnan, the pioneering Indian Head of GSI. Following this, an exhibition displaying rocks, minerals, and fossils captivated the interest of students from various colleges in Kolkata and its surrounding areas.
In his welcoming address, Joydeep Guha, Additional Director General and Head of Department at the Central Headquarters (CHQ), underscored the pivotal role played by GSI in fostering mineral exploration and expanding geoscientific knowledge in India since its inception.
During the event, M. K. Mukhopadhyay, former Director General of GSI and esteemed Chief Guest, shared profound insights gleaned from his extensive geological fieldwork in remote regions, as well as his engagements with policymakers. He emphasized the contrasting facets of a geologist's life, navigating between remote fieldwork and high-stakes policy deliberations. Mukhopadhyay urged the GSI community to uphold a standard of excellence and encouraged policymakers to harness GSI's scientific acumen in addressing natural calamities.
Simultaneously, the latest edition of the Indian Journal of Geoscience (Volume 77, Issue IV) was unveiled during the event, spotlighting cutting-edge research and advancements within the geoscience realm. Furthermore, a series of lectures and presentations were delivered by distinguished geologists and subject matter experts, elucidating topics such as mineral prospectivity analysis utilizing Machine Learning and emerging technologies in geoscience, alongside the challenges posed by future mineral and metal demands.