Better, Not Just More: Data-Centric Machine Learning for Earth Observation

Ribana Roscher, Marc Rußwurm, Caroline Gevaert, Michael Kampffmeyer, Jefersson A. dos Santos, Maria Vakalopoulou, Ronny Hänsch, Stine Hansen, Keiller Nogueira, Jonathan Prexl, Devis Tuia

Research output: Working paperPreprintAcademic

243 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Recent developments and research in modern machine learning have led to substantial improvements in the geospatial field. Although numerous deep learning architectures and models have been proposed, the majority of them have been solely developed on benchmark datasets that lack strong real-world relevance. Furthermore, the performance of many methods has already saturated on these datasets. We argue that a shift from a model-centric view to a complementary data-centric perspective is necessary for further improvements in accuracy, generalization ability, and real impact on end-user applications. Furthermore, considering the entire machine learning cycle - from problem definition to model deployment with feedback - is crucial for enhancing machine learning models that can be reliable in unforeseen situations. This work presents a definition as well as a precise categorization and overview of automated data-centric learning approaches for geospatial data. It highlights the complementary role of data-centric learning with respect to model-centric in the larger machine learning deployment cycle. We review papers across the entire geospatial field and categorize them into different groups. A set of representative experiments shows concrete implementation examples. These examples provide concrete steps to act on geospatial data with data-centric machine learning approaches.
Original languageEnglish
Place of PublicationIthaca, New York
PublisherArXiv.org
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print/First online - 22 Jun 2024

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Better, Not Just More: Data-Centric Machine Learning for Earth Observation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this