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Dr Jackie Lighten added a new Discussion - "Synopsis of current autonomous drone tech? " to Drones
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Used to pick up signals from tracking gear on the ground, collect images of wildlife and habitats from the air, gather acoustic data with specialized hydrophones, or even collect snot samples from whales' blowholes, drones are capable of collecting high-resolution data quickly, noninvasively, and at relatively low cost.
🌍 Conservation technology is transforming how we protect wildlife, but are we thinking carefully enough about the risks? Drones, camera traps, GPS trackers, acoustic sensors, AI, and remote sensing have become essential tools for conservation practitioners around the world. They help us monitor species, detect threats, and respond faster than ever before. But these same technologies can also introduce unintended risks, and in some cases, can be exploited by those seeking to harm the very wildlife we're trying to protect. 🦏 Input now and/or join the discussions/research.
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- Anyone using Microsoft Sparrow?
Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used in the field to analyse information collected by wildlife conservationists, from camera traps and satellite images to audio recordings. AI can learn how to identify which photos out of thousands contain rare species; or pinpoint an animal call out of hours of field recordings - hugely reducing the manual labour required to collect vital conservation data. The AI For Conservation group is intended to unite and inspire all WILDLABS community members—whether already involved in AI for conservation, or not—to understand how to use and/or directly contribute to open-source research and development efforts.
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- Open-Source Solutions for Amphibian Passive Acoustic Monitoring: Lessons from Patagonia
Monitoring amphibians across the temperate forests of Patagonia presents significant logistical and technical challenges. Remote locations, harsh environmental conditions, and the large volumes of data generated by Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) can make long-term biodiversity surveys difficult to implement and maintain. In addition, environmental data often relies on multiple independent devices, increasing costs, complexity, and logistical demands in remote field conditions. Through the WILDLABS Awards 2025, our team explored practical ways to address these challenges by combining open-source hardware, environmental sensing, and AI-assisted acoustic analysis.
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- Conservation Technology - Paris, France
Just starting your conservation tech career path? Our Early Career group is the best place to network, chat about your master's projects, and seek advice from your peers and those who have been down this path before! Join now to get to know community members and students from around the world!
🌍 Conservation technology is transforming how we protect wildlife, but are we thinking carefully enough about the risks? Drones, camera traps, GPS trackers, acoustic sensors, AI, and remote sensing have become essential tools for conservation practitioners around the world. They help us monitor species, detect threats, and respond faster than ever before. But these same technologies can also introduce unintended risks, and in some cases, can be exploited by those seeking to harm the very wildlife we're trying to protect. 🦏 Input now and/or join the discussions/research.
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Conservation tech work doesn't stop after data is collected in the field. Equally as important to success is navigating data management and processing tools. For the many community members who deal with enormous datasets, this group will be an invaluable resource to trade advice, discuss workflows and tools, and share what works for you.
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- Wild Moves and Wild Album: New GBIF Data Portals for Animal Tracking and Camera Trap Data
New data portals are making it easier to discover and explore wildlife tracking and camera trap datasets from around the world.
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- Engineer Searching for Biologists
The eDNA & Genomics Group focuses on advancing biodiversity monitoring, species detection, and ecological research using environmental DNA (eDNA) and genomics technologies. Our members are engaged in the collection, sequencing, and analysis of DNA from environmental samples—such as soil, water, and feces—to detect species presence, assess genetic diversity, and study population structure without the need for direct observation or capture.
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- Assessing Critical Habitats Using Environmental DNA to Conserve the World’s Rarest Heron- White-bellied Heron Ardea insignis
The White-bellied Heron (Ardea insignis) is the world's rarest heron, with only about 60 individuals remaining globally. Bhutan holds nearly half of the remaining population, making conservation efforts within the country crucial to the species' survival. As part of my PhD research at Texas State University, I have been working to better understand the ecology, habitat suitability, and conservation needs of this critically endangered species. I employ an interdisciplinary approach that integrates field ecology, environmental DNA (eDNA) and portable genomics technologies to improve biodiversity monitoring and conservation planning for White-bellied Heron in Bhutan. Unlike traditional monitoring approaches that rely solely on direct observations, eDNA allows researchers to detect biodiversity from traces of genetic material left behind in the environment. The WILDLABS Award provided an exciting opportunity not only to advance research but also to demonstrate how emerging conservation technologies can be applied in remote landscapes while building local capacity for conservation genetics. Through this project, we sought to explore how portable molecular tools can support conservation decision-making while making advanced genetic technologies more accessible to researchers and practitioners in Bhutan.
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The East Africa Community is WILDLABS first regional hub. This group creates a space to foster connections and collaboration between conservation and technology players in the Silicon Savannah.
🌍 Conservation technology is transforming how we protect wildlife, but are we thinking carefully enough about the risks? Drones, camera traps, GPS trackers, acoustic sensors, AI, and remote sensing have become essential tools for conservation practitioners around the world. They help us monitor species, detect threats, and respond faster than ever before. But these same technologies can also introduce unintended risks, and in some cases, can be exploited by those seeking to harm the very wildlife we're trying to protect. 🦏 Input now and/or join the discussions/research.
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This group is for anyone interested in applying software to conservation and wildlife research. Whether you're a developer eager to contribute to conservation or a newbie with valuable data and ideas but limited software experience, this group connects people with diverse expertise. It provides a space for asking questions, sharing resources, and staying informed about new technologies and best practices.
🌍 Conservation technology is transforming how we protect wildlife, but are we thinking carefully enough about the risks? Drones, camera traps, GPS trackers, acoustic sensors, AI, and remote sensing have become essential tools for conservation practitioners around the world. They help us monitor species, detect threats, and respond faster than ever before. But these same technologies can also introduce unintended risks, and in some cases, can be exploited by those seeking to harm the very wildlife we're trying to protect. 🦏 Input now and/or join the discussions/research.
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- Getting behavioral data out of datasets that weren't built for it
Want to talk about sensors that don't quite fit into any of our tech-specific groups? This is the place to post! From temperature and humidity to airflow and pressure sensors, there are many environmental sensing tools that can add valuable data to core conservation monitoring technologies. With the increasing availability of low-cost, open-source options, we've seen growing interest in integrating these kinds of low bandwidth sensors into existing tools. What kinds of sensors are you working with?
🌍 Conservation technology is transforming how we protect wildlife, but are we thinking carefully enough about the risks? Drones, camera traps, GPS trackers, acoustic sensors, AI, and remote sensing have become essential tools for conservation practitioners around the world. They help us monitor species, detect threats, and respond faster than ever before. But these same technologies can also introduce unintended risks, and in some cases, can be exploited by those seeking to harm the very wildlife we're trying to protect. 🦏 Input now and/or join the discussions/research.
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- Getting behavioral data out of datasets that weren't built for it
Protected area management systems empower essential frontline conservationists to monitor wildlife and ecosystems in real-time. With tools like SMART, EarthRanger, and Esri's Conservation Land Management toolkit, users can collect, integrate, and display data from across landscapes to ensure that key information from the field gets to decision-makers in time to make a difference. This group is the place for new and experienced users of these tools alike to ask questions, share experiences, and work together to improve their effectiveness in critical conservation landscapes around the world.
🌍 Conservation technology is transforming how we protect wildlife, but are we thinking carefully enough about the risks? Drones, camera traps, GPS trackers, acoustic sensors, AI, and remote sensing have become essential tools for conservation practitioners around the world. They help us monitor species, detect threats, and respond faster than ever before. But these same technologies can also introduce unintended risks, and in some cases, can be exploited by those seeking to harm the very wildlife we're trying to protect. 🦏 Input now and/or join the discussions/research.
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Synopsis of current autonomous drone tech?
Dr Jackie Lighten
Hi,I wonder if anyone could provide a synopsis of where drone tech currently sites for autonomous usage and AI implementation for surveys and monitoring?In particular I would like...
4 November 2024
Dr Jackie Lighten commented on "One Health Researchers anyone?"