Anna-Maria Raita-Hakola heads the Computational Data Analysis and Imaging Research Group and the Spectral Imaging Laboratory. She is a postdoctoral researcher specializing in hyperspectral imaging, machine vision cameras, and machine learning methods (artificial intelligence). Her interests cover the entire research process, from sensor-level programming to the development of analysis methods and software. She has developed and coded spectral imaging software for prototype cameras and developed machine learning methods for remote sensing and medical applications. In addition to hardware, she is actively involved in computational analysis and machine learning of data (including hyperspectral data, but not excluding other data types).
Anna-Maria defended her doctoral thesis in December 2022 on the topic "From Sensors to Machine Vision Systems: Exploring Machine Vision, Computer Vision and Machine Learning with Hyperspectral Imaging Applications."
She has been involved with the lead role in several research projects, such as the SICSURFIS and FireMan projects funded by the Academy of Finland. She is currently working on the ML4Drone project, where she has been responsible for research as well as for the results of work packages and for supervising research assistants and doctoral students. Raita-Hakola's research has been recognized by the Academy of Finland's external evaluation, the Nokia Foundation, and the International Society for Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry (ISPRS). Besides, she was awarded the JYU Community Builder Award 2025, and she was appointed by the rector as the Master of Ceremony at JYU’s Conferment of Degrees ceremony 2026.
Raita-Hakola has secured over €108,000 in personal funding, with his most recent success being two years of personal funding for research into optical biopsy. The total project funding sought in collaboration, in which Raita-Hakola has been involved in conceptualizing, writing, and, with the funding, as a researcher, is €1.02 million.
In her teaching work, Anna-Maria is the lead teacher on several courses covering computational data science, anomaly detection, machine learning, and machine vision. In addition, she has worked as a researcher at the Kokkola University Concertium Chydenius. She is also active in university administration, serving on the Faculty Council and the University Collegium.
Keywords: Artificial intelligence, machine learning, computational data science, hyperspectral imaging, optical biopsy, remote sensing, soft sensors, spectral imaging, spectral imaging laboratory, AI, optical biopsy, artificial intelligence in medical applications, artificial intelligence in remote sensing, artificial intelligence and machine learning in new technologies.
I develop computational data analytics for various everyday life applications, i.e. I work with more familiar artificial intelligence models. I have developed and am developing methods, e.g. for skin cancer research, observing forest fires, studying rock paintings and examining the operation of industrial lines. My special skills are hyperspectral imaging, machine vision, artificial intelligence and machine learning.
