HYPERMINER_EXTRACTED EARTH

HYPERMINER_EXTRACTED EARTH explores the hyper extraction of natural and economically valuable resources using advanced mining acceleration technologies by the means of hyperspectral imaging, artificial intelligence and data-driven decision making.

Hyperspectral data from CUBESATs equipped with machine vision in outer space are already actively used to allocate deposits and natural resources on Earth with unprecedented accuracy and vision. As major discoveries of near-surface mineral deposits are declining globally, new methods are needed to detect economical deposits at great depths. However, this is challenging due to the relatively small size of ore deposits, the limited number of existing geological data at depth, and limitations of the geophysical methods used for their detection. Machine learning can aid in developing better models for the prediction of rock type and economical mineral deposit locations for extraction purposes without engaging in time and resource-intensive approaches. What is the impact, though, of this hyper accurate and accelerated resource allocation technologies on the natural environment?

HYPERMINER_EXTRACTED EARTH is a speculative artistic project, and inquiry, exploring extraction and automatisation by the means of artificial intelligence. The artwork, a triptych, shows the allocation, extraction and recomposition of the most valuable natural resources found. The result is a new geode representing an extracted earth.

Title: HYPERMINER_EXTRACTED EARTH

Artist: Frederik De Wilde

Year: 2021

Credits

The work was produced during the “Geographies of AI” residency program at Onassis Stegi in the context of the European ARTificial Intelligence Lab 2020 residency program.