How AI is helping map electricity gaps in Zambia

Key Concepts:

• Map Your Grid: A platform designed to make electricity grid data open and easily accessible.
• GitHub Copilot: An AI-powered coding assistant that can generate code, create visualizations, and automate development tasks.
• Open Data: Data that is freely available for anyone to use, reuse, and redistribute without restrictions.
• AI (Artificial Intelligence): Utilized here for code generation, data interpretation, and visualization.
• VS Code (Visual Studio Code): A popular code editor used for development.
• Layered Visualization: A data representation technique where multiple datasets are overlaid on a single map or chart to show complex relationships.
• GitHub Issue: A feature within GitHub used to track tasks, bugs, or feature requests for a project.
• Pull Request: A mechanism in GitHub for developers to propose changes to a codebase, which can then be reviewed and merged.
• Sustainable Development: Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, often involving environmental, social, and economic considerations.

Addressing Zambia's Electricity Challenge In Zambia, millions of people continue to face significant challenges in accessing reliable electricity. The initiative aims to address this critical infrastructure gap by leveraging technology, specifically through the combination of "Map Your Grid" and "GitHub Copilot."

The Role of Map Your Grid Map Your Grid serves as the foundational component by taking existing electricity grid data and transforming it into an open and easily usable format. This accessibility of data is crucial for any subsequent analysis and decision-making processes.

Leveraging GitHub Copilot for Visualization GitHub Copilot plays a pivotal role in translating this open data into actionable insights. It can instantly convert the grid data into clear, informative maps that highlight areas most in need of power.

• Example Process (using VS Code):
  1. A basic script is loaded in VS Code, containing Zambian grid and population data.
  2. A request is made to Copilot to create a "sophisticated layered visualization with a list of comprehensive enhancements."
  3. Copilot then automatically builds a layered map. This map effectively reveals the specific energy access gaps across Zambia, providing a clear visual representation of where power is most needed.

Automated Code Generation with Copilot Beyond visualization, GitHub Copilot's coding agent offers an advanced capability: generating code without requiring manual input.

• Process (using GitHub Issues):
  1. Users can simply write out their requirements or specifications into a GitHub issue.
  2. Copilot's coding agent then automatically creates a pull request based on these requirements.
  3. This generated pull request can then be reviewed and merged into the project, significantly accelerating development cycles. This demonstrates that complex tasks can be accomplished "without us writing a single line of code."

Accelerating Sustainable Development The core argument presented is that the synergy between open data (provided by Map Your Grid) and Artificial Intelligence (embodied by GitHub Copilot) is a powerful catalyst for accelerating sustainable development. By rapidly identifying energy access gaps and streamlining the development of solutions, this approach directly contributes to improving living standards and infrastructure. The initiative encourages users to visit Map Your Grid to explore how GitHub Copilot can be utilized to "power a brighter future."

Conclusion The collaboration between Map Your Grid and GitHub Copilot in Zambia exemplifies a powerful model for addressing critical development challenges. By making essential grid data open and leveraging AI for instant visualization and automated code generation, the initiative provides a rapid and efficient means to identify energy access gaps and accelerate the implementation of solutions. This approach underscores the transformative potential of combining open data principles with advanced AI tools to drive sustainable development and improve lives.