Scientists partnering with tech industry experts to create an innovative Artificial Intelligence application for Arctic marine mammal research.
Several million photos that might contain polar bears; a call to jury duty; and a Microsoft Hackathon. This series of events led NOAA Fisheries scientists at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center to team up with tech industry talent to develop Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Arctic marine mammal research.
The team is developing AI models to detect ice seals, polar bears, and other marine mammals in images taken during aerial surveys of Arctic sea ice. The AI system will complete image analysis onboard the flight, greatly reducing image storage requirements. It will save scientists years of tedious work, and make Arctic marine mammal population assessments faster and more efficient.
Ice seals—ribbon, ringed, spotted, and bearded are dependent on Arctic sea ice for pupping, resting, and completing their annual molt. Polar bears range over enormous expanses of the ice to hunt these seals. These species play key roles in the Arctic marine ecosystem and are a vital resource for Alaska Native communities. To effectively manage and conserve these animals, it is crucial to know how many there are, and how their populations change over time.
Collecting this essential information presents scientists with a host of challenges.
Continue reading at NOAA Fisheries
Image via NOAA Fisheries
