# Methods for Accelerating Geospatial Data Processing Using Quantum Computers Source: [Methods for Accelerating Geospatial Data Processing Using Quantum Computers]() Collection index: [llms.txt]() Data updated: 2025-10-25T00:48:51.294Z Authors: Maxwell Henderson, Jarred Gallina, Michael Brett Published: 2020-04-07T02:14:51.000Z ## Abstract Quantum computing is a transformative technology with the potential to enhance operations in the space industry through the acceleration of optimization and machine learning processes. Machine learning processes enable automated image classification in geospatial data. New quantum algorithms provide novel approaches for solving these problems and a potential future advantage over current, classical techniques. Universal Quantum Computers, currently under development by Rigetti Computing and other providers, enable fully general quantum algorithms to be executed, with theoretically proven speed-up over classical algorithms in certain cases. This paper describes an approach to satellite image classification using a universal quantum enhancement to convolutional neural networks: the quanvolutional neural network. Using a refined method, we found a performance improvement over previous quantum efforts in this domain and identified potential refinements that could lead to an eventual quantum advantage. We benchmark these networks using the SAT-4 satellite imagery data set in order to demonstrate the utility of machine learning techniques in the space industry and the potential advantages that quantum machine learning can offer. ## Recorded benchmark results A research result applies to its stated dataset, split, metric and evaluation configuration. Compare like-for-like settings, preserve the metric's unit and direction, and distinguish paper-reported results from independent reproduction. The best result recorded here is not a claim of exhaustive, current global coverage. ## Original sources and implementation [Original paper]() [PDF]()