Sensors already equip a range of tools to enhance monitoring capacity for conservation. Some of the higher bandwidth technologies, like camera traps and acoustic monitoring systems, have been essential elements of the conservation toolkit for decades, and thus have enough users that we've created dedicated WILDLABS groups to address them. But a whole range of lower bandwidth sensors beyond these core technologies are being increasingly integrated into conservation monitoring systems, and offer rich new insights into the wildlife and ecosystems we're all working to protect. As with many technologies, cost and access have historically been challenges to the adoption of new sensors, but with low-cost and open-source solutions on the rise, we're excited to see what the future of this space holds.
Getting Started with Sensors:
- Watch Shah Selbe's Tech Tutors episode on scaling FieldKit, an open-source conservation sensor toolbox, from a project to a successful conservation tech product.
- Check out our Virtual Meetup about Low-Cost, Open-Source Solutions in conservation tech, including a talk by Alasdair Davies on the Arribada Initiative's work with thermal sensors in early warning systems.
- For a more in-depth introduction, watch the first video in our datalogger mini-series: Freaklabs: How do I get started with Arduino?
In this group, you'll meet others who are using and innovating diverse sensors in their work, discuss ways to make sensors more effective & accessible for conservationists, learn about what sensors are already helping us accomplish in the field, and have the opportunity to ask and answer questions. Join this group to get started!
Header image: Emma Vogel, University of Tromsø
- @Paul_J_Clerkin
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I am a shark researcher interested in using technology to improve the way we study sharks.
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- @dilip_singh556
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On the way to Bridge technology and Nature.
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Maker at an Open Library and Space: "be-gumpura studios"
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Cornell University
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- @Jackeline
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- @RHugtenburg
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Student at Aberystwyth University. Bug Fanatic🪲. Worked at Octophin Digital for my industrial year placement 🐙.
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Arm
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- @Robincrocs
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Wildlife biologist, works with Caimans and Crocodiles
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International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Key Biodiversity Areas Programme Officer, IUCN
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Article
In a recent publication we tested Underwater Passive Acoustic Monitoring (UPAM) as a feasible non-invasive technique to study the calling behavior of therathened aquatic Andean frogs under natural conditions in the...
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Article
The Variety Hour: 2024 Lineup
Alex Rood
You’re invited to the WILDLABS Variety Hour, a monthly event that connects you to conservation tech's most exciting projects, research, and ideas. We can't wait to bring you a whole new season of speakers and...
22 March 2024
Funding
This funding opportunity is to support projects to enhance existing, high TRL (7-9) marine biogeochemical sensors and integrate with National Marine Equipment Pool’s autonomous underwater platforms. You must be based...
11 March 2024
Article
Low-cost hydrophone - Invitation to tender
Xavier Mouy
The IQOE Task Team on Low-Cost Hydrophones for Research, Education, and Citizen Science is looking for industry partners to develop a low-cost hydrophone.
15 December 2023
Funding
With $60,000, $30,000, and $10,000 grants available for 14 outstanding projects, the support of engineering and technology talent from Arm (the leading semiconductor design company), and access to the world’s biggest...
1 December 2023
Article
Read our interview with Clementine Uwamahoro, African Parks’ Country Manager in Conservation Technology overlooking technology operations for both Akagera National Park and Nyungwe National Park.
29 November 2023
Careers
The Department of Applied Ocean Physics and Engineering (AOPE) at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) seek to hire 1-2 scientists at any of the Assistant/Associate/Senior Scientist levels to develop research...
27 November 2023
Article
ICOTEQ launch TAGRANGER® system of products
Craig Rackstraw
TagRanger® is a state-of-the-art wildlife finding, monitoring and tracking solution for research, conservation and environmental professionals. With superior configurability for logging data, reporting location and...
23 November 2023
Careers
Yale University & Map of Life Rapid Assessments - XPRIZE
8 November 2023
Careers
Data Scientist - Remote Sensing of Individual Trees
Alex Killion
Yale University & Map of Life Rapid Assessments - XPRIZE
8 November 2023
Careers
Yale University & Map of Life Rapid Assessments - XPRIZE
8 November 2023
Article
The new white paper from Rainforest Connection (RFCx) explores the power of ecoacoustics and AI to monitor biodiversity and track progress towards GBF targets using case studies from around the world.
20 September 2023
April 2024
event
Stephanie O'Donnell
May 2023
April 2023
| Description | Activity | Replies | Groups | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hi everyone, @craig joined last month's Variety Hour to chat about Tagranger, which you can read more about here. A TagRanger®... |
|
Biologging, Connectivity, Sensors | 1 day 9 hours ago | |
| 'Most importantly, we have to make it play a MIDI version of the DoctorWho theme song when you arm the device. That has to be the #1 feature if you ask me!' Seconded! |
+9
|
Acoustics, Biologging, Emerging Tech, Open Source Solutions, Sensors | 2 days 10 hours ago | |
| Sounds good. Just sent you a private message. |
|
Climate Change, Conservation Tech Training and Education, Sensors | 4 days 7 hours ago | |
| This is so cool @Mauricio_Akmentins - congrats and look forward to seeing your project evolve! |
|
Acoustics, Biologging, Climate Change, Conservation Tech Training and Education, Data management and processing tools, Emerging Tech, Open Source Solutions, Protected Area Management Tools, Sensors, Software and Mobile Apps | 1 week 4 days ago | |
| First things first, our team, @jcguerra10, @hefca, and myself, is thrilled to share with immense pride... |
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Build Your Own Data Logger Community, Data management and processing tools, Sensors | 2 weeks 4 days ago | |
| Hi @Henrikcox I hope you are well. I am not sure if you may remember myself and my colleague from CLS. We had a meeting and met in-person at Earthranger last year. ... |
+15
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Human-Wildlife Conflict, Sensors | 3 weeks ago | |
| Unless you are planning on making a mesh network between nodes then the total distance spanning the location of all the nodes is important to know, not just the intra node... |
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Sensors, Protected Area Management Tools | 1 month 2 weeks ago | |
| Hi Danilo. you seem very passionate about this initiative which is a good start.It is an interesting coincidence that I am starting another project for the coral reefs in the... |
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Acoustics, AI for Conservation, Biologging, Camera Traps, Citizen Science, Climate Change, Community Base, Connectivity, Drones, Emerging Tech, Human-Wildlife Conflict, Open Source Solutions, Sensors, Software and Mobile Apps, Wildlife Crime | 2 months 2 weeks ago | |
| Real nice video. I'll have another look in the weekend in detail. |
+10
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Acoustics, Community Base, Protected Area Management Tools, Remote Sensing & GIS, Sensors | 2 months 3 weeks ago | |
| Fire detection is a sort of broad idea. Usually people detect the products of fire, and most often this is smoke.Many home fire detectors in the US use a radioactive source... |
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Community Base, Conservation Tech Training and Education, Data management and processing tools, Ethics of Conservation Tech, Human-Wildlife Conflict, Open Source Solutions, Protected Area Management Tools, Sensors, Wildlife Crime | 2 months 3 weeks ago | |
| Thank you for sharing! Super interesting, as we don't see many underwater stereo cameras! We also use Blue Robotics components in our projects and have found them reliable and... |
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Sensors, Camera Traps, Marine Conservation | 3 months 3 weeks ago | |
| I am working on a prototype to detect and alert for temic & karbadust. They are used for the poisoning of waterholes in South Africa.... |
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Sensors | 3 months 3 weeks ago |
Competition: Plastic Data Challenge
The Incubation Network
3 March 2020 12:00am
Call for Nominations: Tusk Conservation Awards
Tusk
3 March 2020 12:00am
Hawai'i Conservation Conference
Hawaiʻi Conservation Alliance
28 February 2020 12:00am
Fence-Based Elephant Early Warning System
Appiko
25 February 2020 12:00am
Workshop: Using Bioacoustics for Field Survey
CIEEM
20 February 2020 12:00am
Hacking Climate Change - Coaction on Climate Crisis
COACT
20 February 2020 12:00am
HWC Tech Challenge Update: Thermal Elephant Alert System
Anne Dangerfield
17 February 2020 12:00am
ICEI2020: 11th International Conference on Ecological Informatics
ICEI 2020
14 February 2020 12:00am
Seafood fund seeks ideas for innovation projects up to £250k
Seafood Innovation Fund
11 February 2020 12:00am
WILDLABS Virtual Meetup Recording: Acoustic Monitoring
WILDLABS Team
5 February 2020 12:00am
Open source, low cost proximity loggers
17 December 2019 10:45am
WILDLABS Virtual Meetup Recording: Drones
WILDLABS Team
9 November 2019 12:00am
Plant-Powered Camera Trap Breakthrough
Alasdair Davies
15 October 2019 12:00am
How do you weigh a live whale?
Fredrik Christiansen
9 October 2019 12:00am
Instant Detect 2.0 emerges
Sam Seccombe
3 September 2019 12:00am
ESA Kickstarter: Environmental Crimes
European Space Agency
22 August 2019 12:00am
ICCB 2019: 5 Key Discussions about the Future of Conservation Tech
Stephanie O'Donnell
21 August 2019 12:00am
Conservation and Technology Conference
Bat Conservation Trust
29 July 2019 12:00am
From the Field: Melissa Schiele
10 June 2019 12:00am
Technology companies, FCO, and conservation NGOs come together to scale technology solutions to end wildlife crime
WILDLABS Team
4 June 2019 12:00am
Technology lab focused on wildlife protection opens on Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Ol Pejeta Conservancy
31 May 2019 12:00am
FLIR Conservation Discount Program
24 May 2019 4:39pm
25 May 2019 1:18am
Hi Montanamud,
Thanks so much for posting this. I'm Alasdair from the Arribada Initiative, working on the WWF / Wildlabs Asian Elephant Human Wildlife Conflict Challenge to develop an early warning system using thermopiles / microbolometers. We use the Lepton range of FLIR products. Do you know if Lepton modules will be eligable within the Conservation Discount Programme too?
Kind regards,
Alasdair
29 May 2019 6:14pm
Hi Alasdair-
Currently the Lepton is not on the list. If you would, please fill out the form on this webpage and request the Lepton be added - I will also bring it up and see if we can get it on the list.
FLIR Conservation Discount Program
FLIR Systems, Inc.
23 May 2019 12:00am
Environmental Management and the Raspberry Pi
21 May 2019 10:42pm
GWP Webinar Recording: Using SMART at scale for effective wildlife protection
World Bank Global Wildlife Program
21 May 2019 12:00am
Meet the WILDLABS TECH HUB Winners
WILDLABS Team
13 May 2019 12:00am
Technology for Wildlife and the Looming Spectre of E-Waste
Laure Joanny
3 May 2019 12:00am
How IoT is being used for Australian agriculture
28 April 2019 8:43am
Suggestions or Preferences for content for this forum?
16 March 2019 3:27am
9 April 2019 6:00pm
Hey Akiba,
It would be great to have a conversation about what could be done in the field with IoT systems beyond virtual fencing and other current systems being implemented in conservation. Cases are great here but thinking beyond of what's the need and where could some creative thinking be applied to solve conservation problems. Thanks for getting this going!
Vance
12 April 2019 12:37am
That sounds awesome. Perhaps we start with that. Perhaps discussing some case studies of IoT being used outside of wildlife conservation (ie: enviornmental monitoring, etc), some theoretical applications of IoT that can be followed up with practical discussions on the implementation, or perhaps some hands on tutorials?
I'll start looking into some content ideas and please post anything you find, want to discuss, or would be more interested to hear about.
Akiba
12 April 2019 6:12pm
Sounds great!
Starting an Open Source DataLogger Project
19 March 2019 7:04am
2 April 2019 11:00pm
and love your work MichalSmielak! Looks like a very nice design indeed.
7 April 2019 2:42am
Hi everyone.
It's still a bit early in the process but we have been working on two separate data loggers for the OpenWild toolkit. We're putting this out now so we can discuss the OpenWild tools for the virtual conference coming up on Tuesday. It's mainly to get a conversation started on an open source toolkit.
This datalogger is the one described above with all of the features except for the Grove sensor connectors. We decided that instead, we'll put Arduino compatible shield connectors and have different shields that can add support for specific applications. Here are the features for the OpenWild Datalogger 900M
- Arduino compatible but with (16 kB RAM and 128 kB Flash)
- Low power
- Solar w/rechargeable batteries
- SD card
- Real time clock (DS3231SN)
- Precision 2.5V voltage reference
- Waterproof IP65 enclosure
- 900 MHz Wireless radio (802.15.4)
- 500 mW transmit amplifier, 12 dB low noise receive amplifier
- Communication range of up to 5 km (depends on antenna & terrain)
The initial github repository can be found here. Please note it's still in a pre-release stage so software and everything else will be fleshed out as it gets closer to a 1.0 release.
@Rob+Appleby : Actually an animal-borne datalogger would be really interesting. Will check that out after these two are working and released.
7 April 2019 3:22am
We've also put together a variation on the wireless datalogger. We've found it extremely useful for us in other projects, especially in developing countries without much communications infrastructure except for cellular. This is the OpenWild Wireless DataLogger 3G-GPS.
This can function as a standalone datalogger with a 3G connection to upload data as well as an SD card to have offline storage or backup of data. It can also be used as a gateway for other wireless sensors where it can aggregate the data from a local wireless sensor network and send the information via a 3G uplink. In this case, it will need a wireless shield (ie: 900 MHz 802.15.4 in the case of the OpenWild Datalogger 900M) to collect data from other wireless sensors.
One of the main topics we'd like to discuss along with the OpenWild toolkit is how to proceed with showing how to operate and customize these tools. This might likely be from a series of videos, tutorials, and workshops. It's nice to design all this technology, but our experience is that the most important factor is showing people how these tools can be relevant in their field of work.
But in any case, there's a lot of development effort going on at the moment and we're looking forward to putting together a base of tools specifically designed for wildlife conservation technology. It's really exciting and all of us at freaklabs and hackerfarm are interested in what's happening here.
Here is the feature set for the OpenWild Datalogger 3G/GPS (we actually need better names for everything but that will come later).
- Arduino compatible but with (16 kB RAM and 128 kB Flash)
- Low power (3G modem can be power cycled so that it can turn on only when used)
- Solar w/rechargeable batteries
- SD card
- SIM Card
- Real time clock (DS3231SN)
- Precision 2.5V voltage reference
- Waterproof IP65 enclosure
- 3G WCDMA support (SIM5320 3G module)
- Can support Americas, Europe, Asia. Need to know location to look up the frequency bands used by the country/region
- GPS support
Software will be coming soon. Things are pretty busy at FreakLabs so we mainly wanted to crank out the hardware so we have something to work with. Then the software can come along as free time pops up.
16 November 2023 1:11am