86: Applying machine learning and AI to the geosciences

Machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) represent two of the trendiest and important topics in geophysics right now. In this episode, host Andrew Geary speaks with Aria Abubakar on his 2020 SEG-AAPG Distinguished Lecturer tour on the "Potential and challenges of applying artificial intelligence and machine-learning methods for geoscience." This conversation explores machine learning and AI from multiple angles. What is the biggest success of AI and machine learning to date in the geosciences? How can geophysicists tailor AI, machine learning, and data analytics algorithms and paradigms to meet the specific properties of geoscience data? How close are we to translating modern workflows from proof-of-concept works to scalable commercial products? If you are new to these topics or want to hear the latest news in this essential area of knowledge, Aria will be your guide for our current understanding, as well as the future possibilities for machine learning and AI. Visit https://seg.org/podcast/Post/9101 for the complete show notes and the link to Aria's upcoming lecture tour. BIOGRAPHY Aria Abubakar was born in Bandung, Indonesia. He received an M.Sc. degree (Cum Laude) in electrical engineering and a Ph.D. degree (Cum Laude) in technical sciences, both from the Delft University of Technology, in 1997, and 2000, respectively. After graduation, he worked as a researcher with the Laboratory of Electromagnetic Research at the Delft University of Technology. He joined Schlumberger-Doll Research in Ridgefield, CT in 2003, and his last position there was a scientific advisor and the manager of the Multi-Physics Modeling and Inversion Program. From 2013 until mid-2017, he was the Interpretation Engineering manager and scientific advisor at Schlumberger Houston Formation Evaluation in Sugar Land, TX. From mid-2017 until 2019, he was Data Analytics program manager and scientific advisor for the Software Technology based in Houston, TX. Aria is currently the Head of Data Science for the Schlumberger Exploration and Field Development Platform. His main responsibility is to oversee and coordinate the utilization of machine-learning and data-analytics technology for exploration and field development applications throughout Schlumberger. He is currently an Associate Editor of GEOPHYSICS and IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine. He was the 2014 SEG North America Honorary Lecturer. Aria holds 30 U.S. patents/patent applications and has published five book/book chapters, more than 90 scientific articles in journals, 200 conference proceedings papers, and 60 conference abstracts. He also has presented more than 300 invited and contributed talks in international conferences, institutes, and universities. CREDITS Original music by Zach Bridges. This episode was hosted, edited, and produced by Andrew Geary. Thank you to the SEG podcast team: Jennifer Crockett, Ally McGinnis, and Mick Swiney.