--- title: "Scientific compute: Edge compute & AI | Nexus Observatory" description: "Scientific compute, inside Edge compute & AI: EO foundation models, training data and labels, land cover and change detection…" url: https://observatory.global/edge-ai/scientific-compute/ publisher: Nexus Observatory Inc. updated: 2026-10-27 --- [Nexus Observatory](https://observatory.global/) / [Edge compute & AI](https://observatory.global/edge-ai/) / **Scientific compute** # Run the model where the data lands. Scientific compute, inside Edge compute & AI: EO foundation models, training data and labels, land cover and change detection, hazard and exposure mapping and more. Every item is traced to its specification, from OGC Training Data Markup Language for AI (TrainingDML-AI) to CEOS Analysis Ready Data framework, and runs on the open Observatory Protocol. [Plan with us](https://observatory.global/contact/) Architecture [The protocol](https://observatory.global/protocol/specification/) **Technologies**: 9 **At the frontier**: 3 **Protocol functions**: 3 of 8 **Industries served**: 8 Reference design, drawn to scale · drag to turn · hover a part **01** What it is ## Foundation models for Earth observation and geospatial. AI from model to accountable operation: edge inference and model optimisation, foundation models for Earth observation and geospatial work, time-series and sensor AI, multimodal fusion and supervised agentic operations, federated and privacy-preserving learning, physical AI and robotics within stated red lines, MLOps, evaluation and model risk, and the governance frameworks that apply to each. Compute placed where data is produced and decisions are needed: the device, far, near and regional edge tiers, multi-access edge computing, modular edge data centres including the AI tower in a box, servers and accelerators, storage, power and cooling, ruggedisation, fleet orchestration, OTA and GitOps, and the hardware trust that makes remote sites safe to run. Each technology below carries what it is, what we do with it, and the standard it is drawn against. AI systems ### EO foundation models Large pretrained models over optical, SAR and multi-temporal imagery, fine-tuned for many downstream tasks. We design, integrate and operate. OGC Training Data Markup Language for AI (TrainingDML-AI) · CEOS Analysis Ready Data framework AI systems ### Training data and labels Documented, licensed training sets with known label quality and geographic coverage. We design and operate. OGC TrainingDML-AI · ISO 19157-1 (data quality) AI systems ### Land cover and change detection Classification and change maps with accuracy reported against reference data. We design, integrate and operate. ISO 19144-2 (Land Cover Meta Language) · ISO 19157-1 AI systems ### Hazard and exposure mapping Flood, fire, landslide and subsidence mapping that feeds risk and response decisions. We design, integrate and operate. CEOS Analysis Ready Data framework · ISO 19157-1 AI systems ### SAR interferometry and deformation analysis Measuring millimetre ground and structure movement from radar phase, with learned noise and unwrapping aids. We design and integrate. CEOS Analysis Ready Data: Normalised Radar Backscatter **Frontier** · AI systems ### Geospatial embeddings and similarity search Vector representations of places and scenes that make large archives searchable by example. We design and integrate. OGC GeoAI Domain Working Group **Frontier** · AI systems ### Super-resolution and gap filling Generative methods that sharpen or fill imagery, labelled as model output with stated uncertainty. We design. ISO 19157-1 **Frontier** · AI systems ### AI weather and climate emulators Learned models that emulate numerical weather prediction at much lower compute cost. We integrate and operate. WMO Integrated Processing and Prediction System (WIPPS) AI systems ### Geospatial model metadata Machine-readable model descriptions with inputs, bands, resolution and intended use. We design and operate. STAC Machine Learning Model extension · ISO 19115-1 **02** Architecture ## Where it sits, and what it speaks. Scientific compute draws on 2 domains and 16 layers of the spectrum; the highlighted layers carry this area. It speaks 3 of the protocol's 8 core functions. Edge tiers and multi-access edge computing 9 Modular edge data centres and the AI tower in a box 8 Servers and accelerators 8 Storage and edge data management 6 Cooling and ruggedisation 10 Kubernetes and fleet orchestration 8 OTA updates, GitOps and software supply chain 8 Confidential computing and hardware trust 8 Edge inference, model serving and optimisation 10 Foundation models for Earth observation and geospatial 9 Time-series and sensor AI 8 Multimodal fusion and agentic operations 7 Federated and privacy-preserving learning 7 Physical AI and robotics (within red lines) 7 MLOps 7 Evaluation, model risk and AI governance 10 01**Join** Identity, attestation quote, signed policy. 02**Admit** Admitted for a stated scope, nothing wider. 03**Describe** What, where, how and by whom, with calibration. 04**Time** One clock across the grid, with its error bound. 05**Observe** Every value with quality and provenance. 06**Qualify** Tested against the specification, state on record. 07**Federate** Signed exchange across grids and trust domains. 08**Orchestrate** Software and configuration by signed plan. **03** On the grid ## Every site joins one observing grid. The open networks on the grid today, over real relief and the geodesic cells we count them into, filtered to the space domain this area serves. A site built here enrols into the same grid. **04** In the field ## Where this runs, sector by sector. 4 deployment scenarios from the sector research that rely on scientific compute. [Government and public safety Wildfire camera network and fire-weather stationsCamera towers with edge inference and co-located fire-weather stations, utility- or agency-funded.](https://observatory.global/sectors/public-safety/) [Industrial Utility private LTE for the grid edgeDistribution automation, distributed-energy control and wildfire-risk weather on a dedicated band.](https://observatory.global/sectors/industrial/) [Agriculture Farm or cooperative agromet network with crop modelsCompact stations and soil probes feeding irrigation, disease and frost models.](https://observatory.global/sectors/agriculture/) [Energy Utility grid-edge private LTESee industrial.](https://observatory.global/sectors/energy/) **05** Open and enterprise ## Open by default. Enterprise by contract. The open counterpart lives on the main site for anyone to read and run. The enterprise service is designed, deployed and operated with you, under contract. Open, on the main site - Class assumptions - Power and thermal methods Enterprise, on this site - MEC deployment - Edge AI sites **06** The rest of the line ## Edge compute & AI, area by area. [Edge compute & AI AI towerA modular edge data centre, delivered as one unit.](https://observatory.global/edge-ai/ai-tower/) [Edge compute & AI MECApplications one hop from the radio.](https://observatory.global/edge-ai/mec/) [Edge compute & AI Edge AIInference on the stream, not the archive.](https://observatory.global/edge-ai/edge-ai/) [Edge compute & AI Physical AIDrones and robots, inside published red lines.](https://observatory.global/edge-ai/physical-ai/) ## Bring us the site. Survey, design, deployment and operation for scientific compute. The form names who receives your details. [Talk to us](https://observatory.global/contact/) [contact@observatory.global](mailto:contact@observatory.global?subject=Edge%20compute%20%26%20AI%3A%20Scientific%20compute) [Nexus Observatory](https://observatory.global/)**Edge compute & AI** . Inference beside the instrument.[Talk to us](https://observatory.global/contact/) Edge compute & AI - [AI tower](https://observatory.global/edge-ai/ai-tower/) - [MEC](https://observatory.global/edge-ai/mec/) - [Edge AI](https://observatory.global/edge-ai/edge-ai/) - [Scientific compute](https://observatory.global/edge-ai/scientific-compute/) - [Physical AI](https://observatory.global/edge-ai/physical-ai/) Technologies - [Edge tiers and multi-access edge computing](https://observatory.global/technologies/edge/edge-tiers-and-multi-access-edge-computing/) - [Modular edge data centres and the AI tower in a box](https://observatory.global/technologies/edge/modular-edge-data-centres-and-the-ai-tower-in-a-box/) - [Edge inference, model serving and optimisation](https://observatory.global/technologies/ai/edge-inference-model-serving-and-optimisation/) - [Foundation models for Earth observation and geospatial](https://observatory.global/technologies/ai/foundation-models-for-earth-observation-and-geospatial/) Industries - [Public safety](https://observatory.global/sectors/public-safety/) - [Civil resilience](https://observatory.global/industries/) - [Nature](https://observatory.global/industries/) - [Oceans](https://observatory.global/industries/) - [Energy](https://observatory.global/sectors/energy/) - [Telecom](https://observatory.global/industries/) - [Transport](https://observatory.global/sectors/transport/) Service platforms - [Observatory Protocol](https://observatory.global/protocol/) - [Protocol & Grid](https://observatory.global/grid-services/) - [Software](https://observatory.global/software/) - [Hardware & power](https://observatory.global/hardware/) - [Sensors & instruments](https://observatory.global/sensors/) - [Connectivity](https://observatory.global/connectivity/) - [Earth observation & GeoAI](https://observatory.global/earth-observation/) © 2026 Nexus Observatory Inc. 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