Introducing the Edge Computing Group

The group offers a space to: 

• Connect technologists and conservationists working at the intersection of edge AI and computing to share approaches, tools, models, and solutions, focused on real-time, on-device data processing in remote environments.
• Address unique challenges of edge computing, especially hardware integration, real-time adaptive sampling, and operating smart sensors in remote environments using AI
• Share resources including tools, datasets, models, and hardware specs
• Share discussions on optimizing ML for edge AI
• Present solutions and learn from others in the community
• Share resources to encourage solutions that are FAIR - findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable

Who should join: Conservationists, engineers, ecologists, researchers, working on edge technology, like smart camera traps, drones, bioacoustics sensors, etc., and challenges related to deploying AI in remote, low-connectivity areas.

What challenges we hope to solve and gaps we hope to bridge: Isolation, lack of centralized resource repository, interoperability challenges, deploying models and smart sensors across networks in remote regions. optimizing AI models for devices with little power, compute and memory. 

If you have any more ideas on how this group can support the WILDLABS community, please reach out to one of the group leaders below.

Welcoming our new Group Leaders 

For the next year, our three new group leaders, Henry Rees and Frank van der Most, will help curate a vibrant space for community and collaboration for all those interested in Funding and Finance related to conservation. If you see them around WILDLABS, please give them a warm welcome and get in touch!

Youssef Bayouli

@Earthman  is a technologist based in Tunisia with a background in IoT, advanced robotics, and AI systems. He has worked on AI-powered camera trap projects and is currently involved in a bioacoustic AI bird mapping initiative with the Tunisian Association for Wildlife. Youssef is an open-source contributor, a member of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (2021–2025) within Young Professionals Task Force (YPTF) , and an alumnus of the National Geographic and Nature Conservancy externship program focused on marine and community conservation.

Jenna Kline

@jennamkline is a PhD candidate in computer science and engineering at The Ohio State University, where her research focuses on multi-modal, autonomous remote-sensing systems, with an emphasis on drone platforms and edge AI. Passionate about conservation and the environment, Jenna combines her technical expertise in AI and robotics with a deep love for nature, shaped by her upbringing near Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Northeast Ohio. She is committed to leveraging cutting-edge technologies to support ecological research and conservation efforts.

We would love to hear from you 

If you want to learn more about the Edge Computing community and how you can get involved, reach out to Youssef, Jenna, or Alex. Feel free to share your thoughts and ideas about growing the Edge Computing community in the discussion thread below!