With new technologies revolutionizing data collection, wildlife researchers are becoming increasingly able to collect data at much higher volumes than ever before. Now we are facing the challenges of putting this information to use, bringing the science of big data into the conservation arena. With the help of machine learning tools, this area holds immense potential for conservation practices. The applications range from online trafficking alerts to species-specific early warning systems to efficient movement and biodiversity monitoring and beyond.
However, the process of building effective machine learning tools depends upon large amounts of standardized training data, and conservationists currently lack an established system for standardization. How to best develop such a system and incentivize data sharing are questions at the forefront of this work. There are currently multiple AI-based conservation initiatives, including Wildlife Insights and WildBook, that are pioneering applications on this front.
This group is the perfect place to ask all your AI-related questions, no matter your skill level or previous familiarity! You'll find resources, meet other members with similar questions and experts who can answer them, and engage in exciting collaborative opportunities together.
Just getting started with AI in conservation? Check out our introduction tutorial, How Do I Train My First Machine Learning Model? with Daniel Situnayake, and our Virtual Meetup on Big Data. If you're coming from the more technical side of AI/ML, Sara Beery runs an AI for Conservation slack channel that might be of interest. Message her for an invite.
Header Image: Dr Claire Burke / @CBurkeSci
Explore the Basics: AI
Understanding the possibilities for incorporating new technology into your work can feel overwhelming. With so many tools available, so many resources to keep up with, and so many innovative projects happening around the world and in our community, it's easy to lose sight of how and why these new technologies matter, and how they can be practically applied to your projects.
Machine learning has huge potential in conservation tech, and its applications are growing every day! But the tradeoff of that potential is a big learning curve - or so it seems to those starting out with this powerful tool!
To help you explore the potential of AI (and prepare for some of our upcoming AI-themed events!), we've compiled simple, key resources, conversations, and videos to highlight the possibilities:
Three Resources for Beginners:
- Everything I know about Machine Learning and Camera Traps, Dan Morris | Resource library, camera traps, machine learning
- Using Computer Vision to Protect Endangered Species, Kasim Rafiq | Machine learning, data analysis, big cats
- Resource: WildID | WildID
Three Forum Threads for Beginners:
- I made an open-source tool to help you sort camera trap images | Petar Gyurov, Camera Traps
- Batch / Automated Cloud Processing | Chris Nicolas, Acoustic Monitoring
- Looking for help with camera trapping for Jaguars: Software for species ID and database building | Carmina Gutierrez, AI for Conservation
Three Tutorials for Beginners:
- How do I get started using machine learning for my camera traps? | Sara Beery, Tech Tutors
- How do I train my first machine learning model? | Daniel Situnayake, Tech Tutors
- Big Data in Conservation | Dave Thau, Dan Morris, Sarah Davidson, Virtual Meetups
Want to know more about AI, or have your specific machine learning questions answered by experts in the WILDLABS community? Make sure you join the conversation in our AI for Conservation group!
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- @Alino
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I am a zoologist and I am interested in biodiversity and the conservation of insects and mammals
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Dr JOhn Read is founder and CEO of Conservation Innovation company Thylation, and founder and director of several adaptive management conservation projects . www.ecologicalhorizons.com, www.thylation.com, www.johnlread.com
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- @honeyBadger
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Software developer looking for ways to contribute to animal conservation
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San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
Lead, San Diego Zoo Conservation Technology Lab
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Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology
Undertake and develop biodiversity monitoring
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Fauna & Flora
Remote Sensing Scientist
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Ocean Science Analytics
Marine mammal ecologist and online technical trainer
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- @Becky_Heath
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University of Cambridge & Imperial College London
Interdisciplinary scientist working in field data collection methods and tropical agriculture
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I am a Senior researcher and PI in Conservation and Animal Ecology at Fondazione Edmund Mach, Trento, Italy. I am coordinator of EUROMAMMALS, member of the advisory board of the Global Initiative on Ungulate Migration at CMS, and President of the International Bio-Logging Society
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- @serena.le
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Conservation tech enthusiast
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- @Pepyanyabuma
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Conservationist/ecologist
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€4,000 travel grants are available for researchers interested in insect monitoring using automated cameras and computer vision
6 June 2024
WildLabs will soon launch a 'Funding and Finance' group. What would be your wish list for such a group? Would you be interested in co-managing or otherwise helping out?
5 June 2024
Now accepting applications for two $15,000 grants to help protect wildlife through cutting-edge, technology-driven efforts
3 June 2024
An aspiring software engineer with a passion for coding and technology
30 May 2024
In 1987, sustainability was defined by the United Nations Brundtland Commission as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”In 1987,...
7 May 2024
€2,000 travel grants are available for researchers interested in insect monitoring using automated cameras and computer vision
3 May 2024
Save the Elephants is seeking a Principal Investigator for our Elephant Collective Behaviour Project. This role will spearhead research initiatives using cutting-edge video analysis tools to study elephant group...
1 May 2024
Article
Read in detail about how to use The Inventory, our new living directory of conservation technology tools, organisations, and R&D projects.
1 May 2024
Article
The Inventory is your one-stop shop for conservation technology tools, organisations, and R&D projects. Start contributing to it now!
1 May 2024
Technology to End the Sixth Mass Extinction. Salary: $132 - $160k; Location: Seattle WA; 7+ years of experience in hardware product development and manufacturing; View post for full job description
1 May 2024
Review by Professor Iain H Woodhouse
29 April 2024
Careers
The Smithsonian National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute is seeking a Program Manager to help coordinate multiple organizations in an effort to integrate movement data & camera trap data with global...
22 April 2024
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54 Products
Recently updated products
14 Products
Recently updated products
Description | Activity | Replies | Groups | Updated |
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Wildlife Insights launched their online platform hosting over 4 million camera trap images. They use AI to automatically classify the... |
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AI for Conservation | 4 years 5 months ago | |
Hey everyone! My colleagues and I are hosting a workshop on Animal Re-ID, and the submission deadline is a little less than a month... |
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AI for Conservation | 4 years 6 months ago | |
Chuck's Python for Everyone course is available these days at www.py4e.com, and he's also created a course called Web Apps for Everyone www.wa4e.com. Both... |
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AI for Conservation | 4 years 7 months ago | |
Hi all! This is a great article summarizing new applications for AI for conservation, and highlights @vsahai 's work with... |
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AI for Conservation | 4 years 10 months ago | |
Wild Me (wildme.org) is looking to retain a UI/UX Machine Learning Engineer to help translate advanced ML into beautiful interfaces... |
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AI for Conservation | 4 years 10 months ago | |
Wild Me (wildme.org) is looking to hire a second, Masters or PhD-level Senior Computer Vision Engineer to focus on individual ID of... |
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AI for Conservation | 4 years 10 months ago | |
Hi, I would just like to introduce our Project BEESWAX7 and announce that today we acheived two milestones for success; we recorded bee... |
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AI for Conservation | 4 years 11 months ago | |
There's a discussion over in camera traps about the design of a device to run autonomously (in an inaccessible location) with reliable... |
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AI for Conservation | 4 years 11 months ago | |
I got to help TNC launch fishnet.ai over the weekend, a home for training data for fisheries monitoring & computer vision AI. We have a... |
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AI for Conservation | 4 years 11 months ago | |
Please consider submitting to this workshop and/or challenge which may be relevant to your work: Call for Papers and Call... |
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AI for Conservation | 5 years ago | |
yep! Drop me an email at [email protected] and I'll get you a link. Steph |
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AI for Conservation | 5 years ago | |
Artificial intelligence & Machine Learning Algorithms are transforming data analysis, but little is known about how they... |
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AI for Conservation | 5 years 2 months ago |
Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society’s Annual Meeting 2023
20 February 2023 10:56pm
Operation Pangolin launches to save world's most trafficked wild mammal
16 February 2023 7:51pm
Zooplankton Prosome and Lipid Sac Segmentation
15 February 2023 1:44pm
AI, sensors enhance wildfire detection
15 February 2023 10:27am
A pilot program in Oregon’s Willamette Valley will test how well artificial intelligence-enabled sensors can identify and characterize wildfires, which will help with responder resource allocation and boost community resilience.
Hiring Full Stack Developer at Conservation X Labs
10 February 2023 5:35pm
Call for Data: A Global Database of Tree Crown Footprints from RGB Imagery
3 February 2023 11:22am
3 February 2023 7:01pm
You should definitely talk with Ben Weinstein and co (the folks behind DeepForest), if you haven't already!
10 February 2023 4:18pm
Bluesky have a commercial tree crown dataset available covering most of Great Britain (England, Wales and parts of Scotland). There is a canopy layer with approximate outlines of each canopy (the image on this page shows just circular crowns). It's created using aerial imagery.
National Tree Map | Bluesky International Limited
Bluesky’s National Tree Map™ (NTM™) is the most detailed dataset of its kind ever produced, with coverage across Great Britain and Ireland.
BlueskyMachine Learning Scientist
10 February 2023 10:37am
Research Associate - Machine Learning (Underwater Sound)
10 February 2023 10:19am
Engineering Manager, Skylight
10 February 2023 10:14am
New tutorial on Firetail 10 - annotation of acceleration data
8 February 2023 12:18pm
Hi! I created a new tutorial video on how to annotate high density acceleration data using Firetail 10 (www.firetail.de). In particular, I cover
* how to automatically segment your data
* how to edit and modify annotations
* how to transfer models across individuals
* how to overlay external and video annotations
If you like to follow the tutorial, grab
* your movebank account
* this study: https://www.movebank.org/cms/webapp?gwt_fragment=page=studies,path=stud…
* the free edition of Firetail from firetail.de
Commercially available connected audio sensors
2 February 2023 3:08pm
2 February 2023 3:55pm
Hi!
I am not aware of any such connected loggers/recorders but they would be nice.
The AudioMoths have been revolutionary in providing audologging at a low cost but they take a lot of "data muling" (carrying SD cards in and out of the field sites) and swapping of batteries.
Cheers,
2 February 2023 7:50pm
Hi Lars, thanks for the response. We are using lots of Song Meter Micro's atm and they have proved to be resilient. Just need something which doesn't involve going on site regularly - but get the data off.
3 February 2023 7:04pm
Rainforest Connection's (RFCx) Guardian devices may be of interest. They are solar-powered and have connectivity options for Wifi, GSM and satellite transfer. They've previously been used for detecting e.g., gunshots or chainsaws (using edge computing) and then sending positive detections/alerts to folks on the ground. RFCx also hosts Arbimon, a free, no-code software platform that facilitates analysis of audio data as well. Happy to chat more if you'd like to talk further about it!
Artificial Intelligence and Conservation: Indigenous AI
3 February 2023 4:40pm
Job: Building a network of conservation tech across continents
2 February 2023 1:50pm
Consultancy opportunity: Wildlife monitoring specialist
31 January 2023 11:26am
Assistant Professor in Conservation Science
25 January 2023 4:01pm
AI for Forest Elephants Challenge
25 January 2023 3:34pm
Advanced Field School in Computational Ecology
25 January 2023 2:54pm
Apply Now: AI for Conservation Office Hours
18 January 2023 5:15pm
Interview for Technologies in Conservation
24 November 2022 10:07am
16 January 2023 2:42pm
I'd be happy to chat with you if you wanted! My expertise is within passive acoustic monitoring particularly. The Conservation Tech Directory might be useful for you in identifying relevant actors within the space.
16 January 2023 5:16pm
Happy to contribute [email protected]
17 January 2023 5:12pm
My original background is in ecology and conservation, and am now in the elected leadership of the Gathering for Open Science Hardware which convenes researchers developing open source tech for science. I am not working on a specific piece of technology right now, but am happy to contribute some higher-level views for your interview if that helps.
African elephant facial or body recognition software
10 December 2018 7:26pm
14 November 2020 5:21pm
In DRCongo and just discovering this now. We operate in Lomami National Park, very remote regions, and our issue includes individual recognition of bonbos and forest elephants from camera trap data. Tim van Dam's comment hit home for me in that we have NO internet acces in the field sites, with internet, but not much access to cloud based propgram only in the cities of KIndu and Kisangani, over 100km from the field sites. We would liketo be able to download and use software, and even participate in testing some applications, but time lags are involved since data has to come out of thefield to move into the propgrams. I think basically we can do a lot with low tech solutions, and selectively move up the analytical chain but there is no question that we will remain with some fundamental connectivity problems....Is anyone esle facing thes kinds of constraints? Can anyone suggest some basic "recognition software" and a working group to allow us to get into this area and see what we can produce and contribute? John Hart www.bonoboincongo.com
15 November 2020 1:01am
This article in Seattle Times does pretty much a smiliar thing with Bears and you may find some solutiosn from their work
https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/training-facial-recognition-on-some-new-furry-friends-bears/
14 January 2023 9:48am
Hi Sophie, Can you please help me or get in touch in developing a system where we are able to detect an Elephant? Would like to discuss more about it. Kindly treat this as urgent!!
New paper - An evaluation of platforms for processing camera-trap data using artificial intelligence
13 January 2023 12:14am
We review key characteristics of four AI platforms—Conservation AI, MegaDetector, MLWIC2: Machine Learning for Wildlife Image Classification and Wildlife Insights—and two auxiliary platforms—Camelot and Timelapse—that incorporate AI output for processing camera-trap data. We compare their software and programming requirements, AI features, data management tools and output format. We also provide R code and data from our own work to demonstrate how users can evaluate model performance.
Conservation Technology Intern (Vietnam)
11 January 2023 5:00pm
PhD position (m/f/d) in Insect Ecology and Conservation
9 January 2023 12:53pm
Education Paper on Computer Vision for Ecology
9 January 2023 5:30am
Job: maker / workshop technician
5 January 2023 10:53am
Job: Software Engineer at Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory
19 December 2022 7:59pm
San Diego Zoo needs Summer Undergraduates!!
19 December 2022 1:58pm
Join NASA’s harmful algal bloom ML challenge and win prizes!
15 December 2022 7:56pm
17 February 2023 1:50am