ArticleWildlife Protection How AI is Helping to Detect Wildfires and Protect Wildlife by In-house Editor September 14, 2024 written by In-house Editor September 14, 2024 Wildfires are becoming a bigger threat to nature and wildlife worldwide. How AI is Helping to Detect Wildfires and Protect Wildlife has become crucial in addressing this growing issue. Recent bushfires in Australia showed how devastating fires can be. To fight this, researchers at the University of South Australia are using small satellites and artificial intelligence (AI) to detect wildfires faster and protect ecosystems. Their efforts highlight How AI is Helping to Detect Wildfires and Protect Wildlife in more efficient ways, safeguarding our environment and natural habitats. Why Early Detection Matters Catching wildfires early can greatly reduce their impact. In the summer of 2019-2020, Australia experienced massive fires that burned over 12 million hectares—an area the size of England. The fires affected countless animals, including over 143 million mammals, 181 million birds, and 60,000 koalas. These fires proved the need for quicker detection so firefighters could act before the flames spread. The Kanyini CubeSat: A New Way to Detect Fires Scientists at the University of South Australia created a small satellite called the Kanyini CubeSat. This tiny satellite, with AI-powered software, detects wildfires from space much faster than current methods. While today’s satellites take 6 to 8 hours to spot fires, the Kanyini CubeSat aims to do it in under an hour. In a test, the AI system spotted smoke in just 14 minutes. This allows firefighters to respond quickly, helping save homes, lives, and wildlife. The Kanyini CubeSat, developed with the Government of South Australia and other partners, is set to launch soon. This technology could change how we fight wildfires. Helping Wildlife Recover After Fires The damage doesn’t end when the fires stop. The 2020 Australian bushfires burned an area twice the size of Ohio and left billions of animals struggling. To track how wildlife recovered, the Eyes on Recovery project was launched by WWF and Google. They set up over 1,000 cameras in burned areas to monitor the return of wildlife. Dr. Emma Spencer and her team installed these cameras in Blue Mountains National Park. However, they gathered millions of images, many of which were blank, making it difficult to sort through all the data. AI Makes Data Processing Easier To manage the huge amount of data from the cameras, researchers created an AI system to quickly analyze the images. The AI can tell the difference between smoke and clouds, speeding up detection and reducing the amount of data that needs to be processed. This AI cuts the data by 84% and reduces energy use by 69%. It makes the entire wildfire detection process faster and more efficient. Conclusion AI and satellite technology are giving us new tools to fight wildfires and protect wildlife. Faster detection allows for quicker responses, preventing massive damage. AI also helps researchers track wildlife recovery, making it easier to protect ecosystems after fires. These advancements offer hope for a better future in wildfire management and wildlife protection. AIConservationSatelliteTechWildfireDetectionWildlifeProtection 0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail In-house Editor previous post Wildlife Terrorism: A Growing Global Problem next post Kerala’s ‘Green Tourism Destinations’: A Step Towards Sustainable Tourism You may also like Wildlife Photography for Conservation: Preserving Memories Through Photography October 4, 2024 Virtual Wildlife Safaris: A New Way to Raise... October 2, 2024 The Importance of Marine Wildlife Tourism in Ocean... September 30, 2024 Wildlife Conservation in a Changing Climate: Challenges and... September 27, 2024 Eco-friendly Wildlife Resorts: The New Luxury in Responsible... September 24, 2024 From Poaching to Preservation: How Technology is Saving... September 21, 2024 Sustainable Wildlife Tourism: How to Travel Responsibly in... September 19, 2024 Shreyovi Mehta: 9-Year-Old Wildlife Photography Contest Runner-Up September 17, 2024 Kerala’s ‘Green Tourism Destinations’: A Step Towards Sustainable... September 16, 2024 Wildlife Terrorism: A Growing Global Problem September 13, 2024 Leave a Comment Cancel Reply Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.