Empower Ukraine
A UK–Ukraine research and innovation initiative developing data-driven pathways for resilient, transparent and inclusive reconstruction through artificial intelligence, satellite imagery, digital twins and participatory decision-making.
Project Focus
AI, satellite imagery and on-demand digital twins for rapid, multi-scale assessment of damaged infrastructure and urban systems in Ukraine.
Strategic Aim
To translate fragmented post-conflict data into actionable reconstruction pathways, supporting evidence-based planning from asset to city scale.
Partnership
The project strengthens UK–Ukraine collaboration through UCL, Ukrainian universities, public-sector stakeholders and digital transformation networks.
Rebuilding through data, digital twins and inclusive decision-making
Empower Ukraine explores how AI, satellite imagery and digital twins can support rapid damage assessment, reconstruction prioritisation and transparent planning. The project develops a data-to-action reconstruction pipeline linking damage assessment, digital twins, prioritisation and site-level reconstruction processes.
The project aligns with the vision of a data-empowered society by supporting inclusive, evidence-based decision-making during rebuilding and infrastructure development.
What the project aims to deliver
On-demand digital twins
Explore how AI and satellite imagery can support the generation of digital twins on demand for rapid, multi-scale assessment of damaged infrastructure and urban systems.
Data-to-action pipeline
Link damage assessment, digital twins, prioritisation and reconstruction planning to actionable site-level processes.
UK–Ukraine pathway
Establish a knowledge exchange pathway to support capacity building, stakeholder engagement and sustained collaboration.
Planned project schedule
Partnership and scoping
Formalise and extend the UK–Ukraine partnership, consolidate data sources, platforms and stakeholder needs, and assess data infrastructure requirements.
Scoping workshop
Run an online scoping workshop with UCL researchers, Ukrainian academic partners and public-sector stakeholders, focusing on AI, satellite data and digital twins.
Hybrid roundtable
Convene a hybrid workshop or roundtable with broader stakeholders to validate findings and co-develop the roadmap for digital twins on demand.
Synthesis and dissemination
Produce a concise roadmap and white paper, and identify next steps for collaboration, including Horizon Europe and larger-scale funding initiatives.
People involved in the grant
UCL Team
Prof Stergios-Aristoteles Mitoulis
Lead Applicant
Dr Qiuchen Lu
Second Applicant
Dr Vijay Pawar
Collaborator
Dr Weiwei Chen
Collaborator
Dr Nadiia Kopiika
Collaborator
Dr Yiming Xiang
Collaborator
Ukrainian Partners
Lviv Polytechnic National University
LPNU
Represented by Prof Nataliya Shakhovska and Dr Ivan Brusak. LPNU contributes expertise in AI, computer vision, geospatial data analysis, photogrammetry, remote sensing and infrastructure assessment.
Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture
KNUCA
Represented by Prof Dniprov Oleksii and Prof Volodymyr Skochko. KNUCA contributes expertise in construction engineering, urban systems, infrastructure planning, post-war reconstruction and sustainable building practices.
What the grant will produce
Data-to-action reconstruction framework
A framework showing how satellite imagery, AI and digital twins can be translated into verifiable reconstruction processes across scales.
Roadmap and white paper
A concise roadmap and collaborative white paper synthesising technical, policy and implementation insights.
Participatory reconstruction pathway
A foundation for inclusive, data-informed decision-making, exploring how citizens can contribute to prioritisation and project acceptance.
Future collaboration routes
A pathway towards larger-scale UK–Ukraine initiatives, including Horizon Europe proposals, Excellence Hubs and potential formal collaboration agreements.