The Khaos research group from ITIS UMA receives the Mediterranean Digital Award from the Andalusian Regional Government.

The group from the University of Málaga has been honored with the Mediterranean Digital Award, granted by the Andalusian Regional Government, for its outstanding contribution to the improvement of services through digitalization. The award was presented during the second edition of these prizes, held at the Córdoba Conference Center, in a ceremony presided over by the President of Andalusia, Juanma Moreno.

The award was granted for the EnBic2Lab project, the Laboratory of Environment, Biodiversity, and Climate Change, funded by the European LifeWatch ERIC program. This initiative has led to the creation of the first map of Mediterranean forest species generated through artificial intelligence and satellite imagery, representing a significant advancement in the use of digital technologies for environmental conservation.

The developed computer system enables the creation of highly accurate annual maps, supporting decision-making in forest conservation and restoration strategies. Thanks to this tool, more than 90 forest species can be identified with a reliability rate close to 80%, minimizing human error and reducing the costs associated with traditional photo-interpretation methods.

The award was accepted by Professor José Francisco Aldana, principal investigator of the Khaos group and Deputy Director of the Institute of Software Technology and Engineering. In his speech, Aldana highlighted the collaborative nature of the project, which involved 23 scientists from 16 research centers or universities across 11 Mediterranean countries, who shared their forest inventory data to make this development possible.

This award reinforces the significance of the Khaos group in the field of R&D&I applied to sustainability and positions the University of Málaga as an international benchmark in the use of emerging technologies for environmental management.