In Phase II, the team plans to expand the framework beyond UC’s groundwater observatory by incorporating additional datasets, field sites and scientific applications. The broader goal is to create a scalable AI-enabled framework supporting research in critical minerals, geothermal energy, carbon and hydrogen storage, and other subsurface energy and environmental challenges.
“This project is about transforming how scientists characterize and predict complex subsurface systems,” Soltanian said. “Rather than analyzing geological information, geophysical measurements, field observations and numerical simulations separately, we are developing an integrated AI-enabled scientific workflow that brings these different sources of information together into a unified framework.
“One of the most exciting aspects of the project is that we are developing a general scientific framework that can be adapted to many different subsurface challenges rather than addressing only a single application,” he said.
Tang will lead development of the project’s extended-reality interface, allowing researchers to interactively explore the spatial datasets and model predictions generated by the AI-enabled workflow.
“My primary role will be to develop an AI-enabled digital twin that allows scientists to interactively explore spatial data generated from surrogate predictions,” Tang said.
“We believe that extended reality and interactive environments are essential for keeping the human in the loop in the age of AI,” Tang said.
National news outlets such as Politico highlighted the new initiative.
Featured image at top: UC Professor Reza Soltanian’s project was selected for a new Department of Energy initiative to use artificial intelligence to speed scientific breakthroughs. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC