Advances in Spatial Machine Learning 2026
A Two-Day Scientific Workshop
Workshop Overview
This two-day scientific workshop aims to bring together leading researchers in the field of spatial machine learning. Unlike many conferences that focus on showcasing achievements, our goal is to address unsolved issues and open questions, fostering innovation and collaboration.
Key Topics (preliminary)
- Validation and Preservation of Spatial Patterns: Ensuring models provide accurate local predictions while preserving important spatial patterns.
- (Spatial) xAI
- How to ensure that the spatial ML model is useful?: how to avoid overfitting, do we need better algorithms or better training and validation data?
- Common mistakes in spatial ML
- New methods/emerging trends (e.g., foundational models, conformal predictions, etc.)
- An “open” session - we welcome participants to propose relevant topics.
Location and Date
The workshop will take place 9-10 April 2026 at the University of Tartu, Estonia.
Program
| Day/time | Topic |
|---|---|
| Wed, Apr 8 | |
| evening | Ice breaker |
| Thu, Apr 9 | |
| 9:00–17:00 | Workshop (more detailed agenda TBA) |
| evening | Joint dinner |
| Fri, Apr 10 | |
| 9:00-13:30 | Workshop (more detailed agenda TBA) |
Expected Outcomes
By bringing together experts in the field, we anticipate:
- Identifying key challenges and research priorities in spatial machine learning
- Fostering collaborations between different research groups
- Developing guidelines for best practices in spatial machine learning documentation and validation
- Generating ideas for future research projects and potential funding opportunities
This workshop represents a unique opportunity to shape the future of spatial machine learning in ecological research by focusing on open questions and challenges.
Organizers
Supported by
