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1 person is interested
Imaging wildlife trails using a drone
ORGANIZATION: WILDTRACK INC
Please visit the new page to apply.
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1 person is interested
WildTrack (wildtrack.org) is in the process of developing a wildlife census technique based on animal footprint identification augmented by AI. Please look at our website for information about our Footprint Identification Technique (FIT), and our publications/media outreach
Right around now we would normally be collecting footprint images from drones ourselves, but due to COVID we find our normal field sites inaccessible.
We're looking for drone pilots (amateur or professional) who often see animal trails in the places they fly. We want to collect multiple images of animals trails, stills and video.
If you are interested please get in touch and we can explain what we need.
Thank you!
More opportunities with WILDTRACK INC
No additional volunteer opportunities at this time.
About WILDTRACK INC
Location:
PO BOX 90328, DURHAM, NC 27708, US
Mission Statement
WildTrack’s Mission is to protect endangered species using a unique combination of advanced data analytics, artificial intelligence, and traditional ecological knowledge.
Description
WildTrack (wildtrack.org) was founded in 2004 by conservation biologists Drs Sky Alibhai and Zoe Jewell after years of collecting data from tracking black rhino in Zimbabwe, Africa. Their data showed that invasive monitoring (darting and collaring) was negatively impacting female fertility. Working with indigenous trackers they instead developed a footprint identification technique (FIT) that is able to identify species, individuals, sex and age-class just from footprints.
Our WildTrack Specialist Group community of more than 20 professional conservation biologists focuses on non-invasive, and community-based technologies.
One of our approaches is footprint identification technology (FIT). Footprints are many times easier to find than the animals themselves, and can inform on their numbers and distribution. Our morphometric and AI models can provide accuracies of >90% in classifying by species, individual, sex and age-class. These data are made available for species protection and the mitigation of human-wildlife conflict.
We maximise data collection by engaging a wide range of participants from scientists, recreational citizen scientists, eco-tourists and expert trackers who often hold valuable traditional ecological knowledge.
Our hands-off, animal-friendly approach also reduces the risk of human:other species transmission of viruses and reduces the risk of future pandemics
CAUSE AREAS
WHEN
WHERE
This is a Virtual Opportunity with no fixed address.
DATE POSTED
May 12, 2020
SKILLS
GOOD FOR
N/A
REQUIREMENTS
- Orientation or Training
- As much time as the volunteer can spare to fly over some animal trails and take images. It might be a couple of hours, or several sessions over a week depending on trail availability
- The volunteer will need access to a drone and an area where animal footprints/trails are seen on the sand/snow. A quadcopter is probably better for this task than a fixed-wing.