Fujitsu
Digital Owl – Saving our species with drones and AI
Project description
The digital owl uses artificial intelligence and high performance computing to analyse images captured via drones for the successful detection of endangered species. In partnership with the NSW Office of Environment & Heritage Save our Species programme, Fujitsu has developed this solution to enable biodiversity protection outcomes.
Impact description
In Australia there are approximately 1,700 plant and animal species under threat of extinction. Saving these species is crucial to the ongoing health of the various ecosystems. However, monitoring such a broad area can be prohibitively expensive, especially when considering the cost of chartering and fueling helicopters. Images captured via drone flight were analysed with artificial intelligence, detecting the 2 target species in the Goulburn River National Park in NSW, Australia. This data can be used to more effectively manage these endangered species, found nowhere else on Earth. Digital Owl assists conservation authorities to generate better informed species management plans for a lower upfront investment. This enables conservation budgets to be spread over a higher number of threatened species.
Goals addressed
Target countries
Australia
New Zealand