Open Source Solutions

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Open Source Solutions / Feed

This group is for anyone interested in open-source technologies for ecology and conservation. We welcome contributions from both makers and users, whether active or prospective. Here, we believe in the need for open-source hardware and software to do good science and research. It is a place to share novel or existing technologies, exchange resources, discuss new projects, ask for advice, find collaborators, and advocate for adopting open-source technologies.

Group curators

Pen-Yuan Hsing

@Nycticebus_scientia
| he/they

MammalWeb.org

Co-founded citizen science camera-trapping project with interest in developing 100% open source wildlife tech. Advocate for open science/open research. Community member of the Gathering for Open Science Hardware.

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Amanda Matthes

@Amanda_Matthes

trying to understand and improve the welfare of all animals that can suffer

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Brianna Johns

@briannajohns
| she/they

Gathering for Open Science Hardware (GOSH)

Interested in the application of open source technologies for conservation research.

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374

Active members

Active discussions

337

Comments

111

Resources

Despite critical advancements in the tech solutions available to conservationists worldwide, many existing tools are cost-prohibitive in the landscapes that need them most. Additionally, those who create low-cost and open-source alternatives to pricey market tech often operate on tight budgets themselves, meaning they need more resources to promote their solutions to a broader market. We need increased communication around these solutions to highlight their availability, share lessons learned in their creation, and avoid duplication of efforts.

This group is a place to share low-cost, open-source devices for conservation; describe how they are used, including what needs they are addressing and how they fit into the wider conservation tech market; identify the obstacles in advancing the capacity of these technologies; and to discuss the future of these solutions, particularly their sustainability and how best to collaborate moving forward. We welcome contributions from both makers and users, whether active or prospective.

Here is how we see the current OSS space and how this group plans to change it by supporting both makers and users:

Many users do not appreciate the significant benefits of open-source tech. This group will educate users about the advantages and the need for open-source tech, specifically in the context of ecology work. We achieve this by stimulating regular discussions on the forum and by encouraging and supporting users to use open-source tools wherever possible.

Building OSS can be difficult. We want to support both established and potential makers who wish to develop OSS. The OSS group is a place where makers can find funding opportunities, ask current and potential users questions, and share their technologies.

Using OSS can be difficult. We also want to support adopters of OSS tech. We do this by offering a place for users to share challenges they face and crowdsource advice on things like technology choice or technical support.

Makers do not know what users want or need. The OSS group is a place that facilitates conversations between makers and users. This will give users a voice and ensure that makers are aware of the needs of users, enabling them to build better solutions.

The community is small and scattered. We want to grow an inclusive community of OSS practitioners. Our goal is to become the go-to place for discussions on the topic where people feel a sense of belonging.

Resources for getting started

How do I use open source remote sensing data in Google Earth Engine? | Tech Tutors
How do I use open source remote sensing data to monitor fishing? | Tech Tutors
Low Cost, Open Source Solutions | Virtual Meetup
What would an open source conservation technology toolkit look like? | Discussion
December 2024 Open Source Solutions Community Call

Header image: Shawn F. McCracken

Group curators

@Nycticebus_scientia
| he/they

MammalWeb.org

TBC: xx articles
3 Resources
24 Discussions
3 Groups

@Amanda_Matthes

trying to understand and improve the welfare of all animals that can suffer

TBC: xx articles
4 Resources
6 Discussions
7 Groups

@briannajohns
| she/they

Gathering for Open Science Hardware (GOSH)

Interested in the application of open source technologies for conservation research.

TBC: xx articles
9 Resources
4 Discussions
4 Groups

Country based in

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@rscarrasco

OpenForests

Back-end developer at OpenForests

TBC: xx articles
0 Resources
1 Discussions
4 Groups

@lampros
| He/Him

I am a Data and Remote Sensing Analyst specializing in programming (R, Python) at Monopteryx, contributor to open-source projects related to machine-, deep-learning, remote sensing and interested in Biodiversity

TBC: xx articles
0 Resources
4 Discussions
10 Groups

@Maram

Biologiste

TBC: xx articles
0 Resources
0 Discussions
12 Groups

@parlaynu
| he/him

software engineer

TBC: xx articles
0 Resources
0 Discussions
13 Groups

@Alasdair

Arribada Initiative

Director at Arribada, a UK-based conservation technology research & development organisation

TBC: xx articles
2 Resources
98 Discussions
12 Groups

@Arjun_Viswa
| S

TBC: xx articles
0 Resources
0 Discussions
27 Groups

@dnavarro

TBC: xx articles
0 Resources
1 Discussions
4 Groups

@nancyalice
| she/her

Conservation Communicator | Technology for Wildlife Foundation (TfW)

TBC: xx articles
0 Resources
0 Discussions
10 Groups

@serena.le
| she/her

Conservation tech enthusiast

TBC: xx articles
0 Resources
0 Discussions
25 Groups

@jedatmanzanita
| he/him

Co-founder of Manzanita Cooperative. Domesticating new climate adapted crops from native foods that provide habitat.

TBC: xx articles
0 Resources
2 Discussions
2 Groups

@BioPhonia

TBC: xx articles
0 Resources
0 Discussions
4 Groups

@kalado
| Kalado

I am Brazilian and a software developer. I have 20 years of experience in the field and I am currently the CTO of Log Nature, a company specialized in creating solutions for the environmental sector.

TBC: xx articles
0 Resources
1 Discussions
8 Groups

Description	Activity	Groups	Updated
Making Waves: Open Hardware as a Solution to Scaling up Bycatch Mitigation	Hello Everyone! My name is Claire and I work as a Field Technician and Veterinarian for Arribada Initiative, check out our upcoming...	Marine Conservation, Open Source Solutions	1 year 10 months ago
pneumatic artificial muscle applications in conservation tech?	Hi all! I am a mechanical engineer working in the Aerospace Engineering department at a University, and I have the opportunity to take over...	Emerging Tech, Human-Wildlife Conflict, Marine Conservation, Open Source Solutions, Sensors	1 year 10 months ago
Catalog of open source conservation projects	There is the Conservation Tech Directory! There's an 'open-source' tag you can search by too.	Open Source Solutions, Software Development	1 year 10 months ago
Call for survey participants (AI/ML practitioners)	Hi everyone! and thanks @StephODonnell for the invite :)I’m a software engineer working on MLOps, and currently studying for a part-time...	AI for Conservation, Open Source Solutions	2 years 1 month ago
Global shortage of Raspberry Pis - What are the alternatives	Yes, but for our needs that are not powerful enough	Acoustics, Build Your Own Data Logger Community, Camera Traps, Emerging Tech, Open Source Solutions	2 years 1 month ago
Moveapps: EMAC23 Coding Challenge	Hi Andrea! Although I am a keen user and observer of the Moveapps initiative, my R or Python coding skills are next to non- existing. I am therefore not likely to be contributing...	Animal Movement, Conservation Tech Training and Education, Data management and processing tools, Emerging Tech, Human-Wildlife Conflict, Open Source Solutions, Software Development	2 years 2 months ago
Deep Sea BRUVS Development	Hi Titus,If the usual syntactic foam sources aren't available, an option may be to add an empty dry housing or use a larger housing for the BRUV, just to provide the buoyancy.You...	Camera Traps, Emerging Tech, Open Source Solutions	2 years 3 months ago
Otter video help!	No, I was never able to figure out how to send these to anyone on here. I was hoping to learn how to clear these videos up if possible!	Camera Traps, Data management and processing tools, Open Source Solutions, Software Development	2 years 4 months ago
MozFest 2023 call for proposals on Tech & Biodiversity	Hi all, one of the 8 MozFest 2023 spaces is 'Tech & Biodiversity', and the organisers seek input for an event on the intersection of...	AI for Conservation, Ethics of Conservation Tech, Open Source Solutions	2 years 6 months ago
Picking up signal of GPS tag	Hey Sol, The only way for you to collect information from a GPS tag attached to a FAD is if that tag transmits that data to the drone. Unfortunately most receiver packages...	Drones, Emerging Tech, Open Source Solutions	2 years 6 months ago
Software to aid acoustic sound files visualization/labelling + Software to syncronize video/acoustic sonograms	The open-source program Audacity can show the spectrograms and histograms and has quite a lot of other useful features, e.g. playing ultrasound calls slower, so it can be heard by...	Acoustics, Citizen Science, Data management and processing tools, Open Source Solutions, Software Development	2 years 7 months ago
Open-source Argos satellite tag for bears - available now	Oh, that looks so good, and some heavy hitting design firms too!	Animal Movement, Build Your Own Data Logger Community, Open Source Solutions	2 years 7 months ago

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