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Geospatial / Feed

Geospatial data and analysis is critical for conservation, from planning to implementation and measuring success. The Geospatial group focuses on all aspects of this field, from field surveys to remote sensing and data development/analysis to GIS systems.

Group curators

Vance Russell
Over 35 years of experience in biodiversity conservation worldwide, largely focused on forests, rewilding and conservation technology. I run my own business assisting nonprofits and agencies in the conservation community
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discussion

200 Basemaps with a couple lines of code

Vance Russell

4 October 2024 8:11am

Geospatial Wildlabbers,Opengeos, and QGIS are the gifts that keep on giving. It used to be that Arcgis Pro had the easiest basemaps to add to a project. I'm not so sure about that...

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Liz Ferguson

4 October 2024 4:55pm

Sweet!! Thanks for this pro tip Vance!

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discussion

Want to learn QGIS!

Priyank Shah

26 December 2023 11:49pm

Hi Guys, I wanted some suggestions on GIS.As GIS applications are increasing day by day I wanted to learn this program, so how do I begin with as I am a beginner and have...

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Abinesh A

20 September 2024 3:59pm

GIS is an inevitable tech that's used in many field where wildlife science ain't an exception. I scrolled through the conversation and I hope there are plenty of resources here by now... So I would like to share few things relevant to the software and the importance in wildlife science. 

Speaking about my usage of GIS in wildlife science, I started using it since during my bachelor's in wildlife science for identifying biodiversity rich zones in the Nilgiri hills of India, a decade back... Continued with an Master's degree in wildlife science, GIS was again useful for estimating the population of tigers in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in India. Again for my MPhil thesis, I used occupancy models integrated with SDM for geckos to delineate the boundaries for gecko genera ,surprisingly there was this elevation which acted to separate one genus from another showing a altitudinal preference towards elevation (Biogeographically)

 And so within this timeline I could see the evolution of the software and the usage trends in this field. 

It still excites me , either to do something about creating a new shapefile for an unexplored remote region ,or predicting the range dynamics under species distribution modelling! 

Thrills too, 

Mapping for Species distribution models (SDM) using ecological knowledge, more often 

  1. a taxonomist gets benefitted of identifying new species through the predictions.
  2. A conservation policy maker can identify places for species translocation in future (under climate change scenarios)
  3. Am evolutionary biologist can understand the biogeographic patterns of species from paleo climate to future via current climatic conditions
  4. Identify critical conservation blocks for immediate conservation of species of concern under anthropogenic pressures (For eg, Tigers or Critically endangered species)

Use the resources (online and via researchers ) try mapping more (maybe your study species of interest ) to study of interest (study area, biogeography, Sdm, LULC etc) using more of satellite data! It's really interesting this way! 

Sure there are more avenues to use GIS BEING A Wildlife Biologist! Infact, inevitable:)

Best wishes  

Abinesh A

Priyank Shah

5 October 2024 2:50am

Hello Sir,

Thank you so much for your reply and sharing this amazing resource, so far I have got some really great resources, so thank you for adding to those. I hope you can find some for your studies as well by going though the chat.

best of luck for you Masters.

Priyank Shah

5 October 2024 2:52am

Hello Sir, 

Thank yo so much for sharing such an insightful message, as you said I have got some wonderful resources from other community members, so yes, just want to get better with QGIS now.

Thank you so much.

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discussion

Natural Lands Map V 1.0

Elsa Carla De Grandi

4 September 2024 6:51pm

Hello, The release of Version 1.0 of the open-source Natural Lands Map has been announced. Developed in collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund, Systemiq, and the Science...

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Elsa Carla De Grandi

24 September 2024 8:32pm

Thanks for the feedback, Chelsea. Agree that it would be useful to understand who will be using it. I suppose other GIS/Remote Sensing specialists within NGOs. Perhaps someone in your team, @Helga_Kuechly ?

Also if anyone happens to have experience using the dataset it would be great to add this to the Inventory and also provide feedback to WRI through this form too.

Elsa Carla De Grandi

30 September 2024 11:35pm

This link shows the difference between the new version and the old version of the Natural Lands Map for Cote d'Ivore and Ghana showing a lot less natural forest.

 

Read "#côted #ghana | Land & Carbon Lab" on

#côted #ghana | Land & Carbon Lab

🌍 Version 1 of our new, open-source Natural Lands Map combines local data with global data to improve land cover delineation! For example, here we can see how including local data enhances the accuracy of maps in #Côted’Ivoire and #Ghana, showing much less natural forest than what’s possible with global data alone. This tool, developed in collaboration with WWF, Systemiq Ltd. and Science Based Targets Network, provides critical insights for sustainable sourcing, addressing issues like deforestation and habitat loss. Check out our blog to learn more: https://bit.ly/3TEQa8q

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Link

Awesome GEE Community Catalog

Elsa Carla De Grandi

1 October 2024 8:12pm

This is an amazing resource for finding and integrating datasets in your Google Earth Engine workflows. There are over 1,469,693 images in the catalog! The awesome-gee-community catalog is compatible with the existing Google Earth Engine master catalog and is grouped by...

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discussion

Rapid geospatial package install

Vance Russell

26 September 2024 9:15am

Want to install geospatial packages more quickly than conda? UV is a lightweight installation package that lets you rapidly install dozens of packages. Thank you to Quisheng Wu...

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Elsa Carla De Grandi

30 September 2024 11:20pm

This is great, thanks for sharing Vance. It looks very comprehensive and includes geemap. Amazing! This will save a lot of time and headaches. Would be great to have some reviews of these packages in the Inventory at some point!

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discussion

Integrating Satellite Data with on-the-ground conservation tech

Seamus Lombardo

9 September 2024 4:59pm

Hi All - I'm new to WILDLABS. I'm Seamus, I work at Planet on our impact and sustainability team, focusing on applications of our satellite data to biodiversity. We've seen...

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Phil Bresnahan

20 September 2024 3:12pm

Hi, Seamus—welcome to WILDLABS! 

I work on building ground and sea-truthing technologies for satellite remote sensing related to conservation tech. For example, we have used data collected from Smartfins (thermometers on surfboard fins) to validate Landsat TIRS thermal data and other low-cost tech such as mini- and sensing Secchi disks to evaluate satellite ocean color data. I don't work in conservation tech in the strictest sense (more accurate to say coastal water resources/resilience), but of course it's related, so thought I'd chime in. 

https://aslopubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/lom3.10624https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272771421004996

Sounds like a great position at Planet, and an important pursuit—good luck, and I hope our paths cross!

Seamus Lombardo

24 September 2024 6:02pm

Hi Phil, 

Thanks for sharing - this is really interesting work! 

Seems like a cool integration of ground-based (or ocean-based) data and satellite data, with a community science aspect as well. I look forward to giving this paper a full read. 

Thanks, 
Seamus

 

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event

Design-led innovation for nature

Catherine Greene

20 September 2024 2:24pm

How can space-enabled data and services be translated into information that is trusted and actionable, fuelling responsible behaviours towards nature? A new programme where SMEs will be paired with design consultancies...

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discussion

Monitoring on a Shoestring

Vance Russell

16 September 2024 8:48am

Monitoring may be the most written about but least implemented (properly) topic in conservation. It primarily comes down to three reasons: lack of 1) capacity; 2) funding; and 3)...

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discussion

NASA ARSET Trainings

Elsa Carla De Grandi

28 August 2024 8:06pm

Hello everyone,I'd like to recommend a recent NASA ARSET training focused on 'Invasive Species Monitoring with Remote Sensing'. The training was held between 14-28th August but...

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Ahmed Junaid

9 September 2024 10:18am

ARSET have amazing resources.

Liz Ferguson

13 September 2024 5:17pm

Hi there! Funnily enough, I have been attending ARSET Trainings for years - I think I've participated in about 80% of the ones they have offered over that time - they are awesome, particularly regarding providing ideas for data sources or tools. I find myself always wanting more of a hand's up support with many of them, but they also have some that go through activities in Google Earth Engine, etc. I've been longing for them to setup a QGIS training series with many of the workshops, however I imagine that would be a pretty big lift. I recommend taking as many as you can to gain the insights into resources!


Cheers, 

Liz

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discussion

ANGELA ANDREW MASSAY

ANGELA ANDREW MASSAY

7 June 2024 12:43pm

Hi everyone,I'm Angela Andrew Massay a female Tanzanian who is the graduate from Sokoine University of Agriculture. I am holding a bachelor of science in wildlife management. As a...

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HeinrichS

10 September 2024 11:39pm

Definitely start with free QGIS since all the others Ahmed mentioned have licensing requirements. QGIS is well supported and can do almost everything other systems can do, and in some cases more. And not to mention all the tutorials and youtube videos to explain from basic to very advanced usage. 

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discussion

Global model for Livestock detection in airborne imagery - Data, Applications, and Needs

Ben Weinstein

12 August 2024 8:19pm

Hi all,I was at a AI for ecology working group a few weeks ago and was asked to look into an airborne model for detecting livestock to assist in land-management, agriculture and...

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Elsa Carla De Grandi

4 September 2024 6:15pm

It looks like the website has not been updated since 2022 and indeed you need to register. If you go under 'Manage Account' you may be able to register. I tried to register but I got an error saying 'Login failed! Account is not active'.  I got an email saying "Your account must be approved before being activated. Once your account has been approved, you will be notified." So I am waiting for the account to be approved...

I'll keep you posted

Lars Holst Hansen

6 September 2024 12:46pm

Hi Ben!

Great initiative! 

A review of deep learning techniques for detecting animals in aerial and satellite images

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1569843224000864#b0475 

lists a number of data sets (incl. one published by you it seems...) 

Also, @dmorris keeps a list of Terrestrial wild animal images (aerial/drone):

https://lila.science/otherdatasets#images-terrestrial-animals-drone

which seem like it might be useful for you.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1569843224000864#b0475https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1569843224000864#b0475
Ismael V. Brack

9 September 2024 8:10pm

Hi @benweinstein !

  1. Surely a general detector might be very useful for detecting objects in aerial imagery! Maybe something similar to what MegaDetector does in camera trap images, generally detecting person, animal, and vehicle (and thus also empty photos). This could greatly improve semi-automated procedures. It could also serve as a first step for context-specific detectors or classifiers to be developed on top of this general one.
  2. There is also the WAID dataset that is readily available. Our research group could also provide images containing cows, sheep, and deer from South America.

Best

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Link

phytools 2.0: an updated R ecosystem for phylogenetic comparative methods (and other things)

Ahmed Junaid

9 September 2024 9:53am

Article on phytools 2.0 (R Package) by Liam J. Revell​ (2024).

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Read "phytools 2.0: an updated R ecosystem for phylogenetic comparative methods (and other things) [PeerJ]" on PeerJ

phytools 2.0: an updated R ecosystem for phylogenetic comparative methods (and other things) [PeerJ]

Phylogenetic comparative methods comprise the general endeavor of using an estimated phylogenetic tree (or set of trees) to make secondary inferences: about trait evolution, diversification dynamics, biogeography, community ecology, and a wide range of other phenomena or processes. Over the past ten years or so, the phytools R package has grown to become an important research tool for phylogenetic comparative analysis. phytools is a diverse contributed R library now consisting of hundreds of different functions covering a variety of methods and purposes in phylogenetic biology. As of the time of writing, phytools included functionality for fitting models of trait evolution, for reconstructing ancestral states, for studying diversification on trees, and for visualizing phylogenies, comparative data, and fitted models, as well numerous other tasks related to phylogenetic biology. Here, I describe some significant features of and recent updates to phytools, while also illustrating several popular workflows of the phytools computational software.

PeerJ
Link

EarthExplorer USGS

Ahmed Junaid

9 September 2024 7:42am

EarthExplorer USGS provides access to a vast array of satellite imagery. Whether you're tracking environmental changes, conducting research, or simply exploring the Earth's surface, EarthExplorer USGS is your go-to resource for high-quality, free data.

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Read "EarthExplorer" on

EarthExplorer

Query and order satellite images, aerial photographs, and cartographic products through the U.S. Geological Survey