Professor Evgeny Burnaev, the director of the AI Center at Skoltech, became a laureate of the Russian Government’s Award in Science and Technology. The award ceremony took place on December 11 at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation. 

The prize was awarded for the development and application of intelligent multispectral systems for remote monitoring of the natural and man-made environment, carried out by a team of scientists led by Professor Nikolai Kazansky, the head of the Institute of Image Processing Systems in Samara, part of the Kurchatov Institute. The project is aimed at creating opto-digital systems that allow effective remote monitoring. These systems analyze data coming from hyperspectral sensors placed on board spacecraft, drones, and other platforms. The information obtained is used for natural resource management, emergency monitoring, environmental and infrastructure assessment. 

Evgeny Burnaev was responsible for the implementation of artificial intelligence methods for processing remote sensing data. The project used algorithms that underlie the Data Fusion framework and the platform for supporting management decisions in the field of sustainable development of regions based on the framework, developed at Skoltech with the support of the Analytical Center under the Government of the Russian Federation. Data Fusion is a multimodal data analysis and spatial monitoring tool. The platform is already actively used for monitoring forest fires, identifying sources of pollution, managing infrastructure, and controlling carbon emissions, helping to make better management decisions. 

“It is a great honor for me to be part of the team that developed the award-winning project,” said Evgeny. “It covers a wide range of tasks — from analyzing data from spacecraft and drones to creating solutions that help process multimodal data and monitor emergencies, manage natural resources, and ensure environmental safety. Such technologies are becoming an important tool for maintaining sustainable development and making responsible decisions in various sectors of the economy.”