Danville Teen presents Deepfake Detection of Satellite Imagery Research at World GIS conference

Danville Teen Presents Deepfake Detection Research at World GIS Conference

Vaishnav Anand, a Bay Area high school student and rising junior at The Athenian School in Danville, recently presented his research on AI-based deepfake detection in satellite imagery at the 2025 Esri International User Conference in San Diego—18,000 professionals from 130 countries, gathering the global geospatial community to explore how technology can solve challenges ranging from climate change to public health.

Vaishnav is part of the National 4-H Geospatial Leadership Team, representing California alongside selected students from across the country. The team is supported by Esri, Google, UC San Diego, NC State University, USDA, and NIFA (National Institute of Food and Agriculture).

His research focuses on detecting manipulated satellite images—geospatial deepfakes—using artificial intelligence. With the growing risk of tampered maps and altered satellite data, his project addresses emerging challenges in national security, agriculture planning, disaster response, and public health mapping.

A highlight of the event came when Jack Dangermond, the founder and president of Esri and a globally recognized pioneer in GIS technology, personally visited Vaishnav’s booth. Dangermond took interest in the project and listened to Vaishnav’s detailed explanation of how AI can be used to detect falsified satellite imagery—a conversation that reflected the increasing importance of cybersecurity and data integrity in mapping technologies.

In addition to this one-on-one exchange, Vaishnav’s work was showcased among other innovative projects throughout the conference, allowing his research to contribute to broader discussions on AI ethics, geospatial data protection, and the future of GIS—topics that resonated with attendees from across the globe.

“Deepfakes are no longer limited to videos or social media—they’re beginning to affect geospatial data too,” Vaishnav said.
“This project combines AI and cybersecurity to help detect falsified satellite imagery that could lead to serious real-world consequences.”

Vaishnav’s work highlights how Bay Area youth are contributing to global conversations around AI ethics, geospatial technology, and cybersecurity.