Sensors already equip a range of tools to enhance monitoring capacity for conservation. Some of the higher bandwidth technologies, like camera traps and acoustic monitoring systems, have been essential elements of the conservation toolkit for decades, and thus have enough users that we've created dedicated WILDLABS groups to address them. But a whole range of lower bandwidth sensors beyond these core technologies are being increasingly integrated into conservation monitoring systems, and offer rich new insights into the wildlife and ecosystems we're all working to protect. As with many technologies, cost and access have historically been challenges to the adoption of new sensors, but with low-cost and open-source solutions on the rise, we're excited to see what the future of this space holds.
Getting Started with Sensors:
- Watch Shah Selbe's Tech Tutors episode on scaling FieldKit, an open-source conservation sensor toolbox, from a project to a successful conservation tech product.
- Check out our Virtual Meetup about Low-Cost, Open-Source Solutions in conservation tech, including a talk by Alasdair Davies on the Arribada Initiative's work with thermal sensors in early warning systems.
- For a more in-depth introduction, watch the first video in our datalogger mini-series: Freaklabs: How do I get started with Arduino?
In this group, you'll meet others who are using and innovating diverse sensors in their work, discuss ways to make sensors more effective & accessible for conservationists, learn about what sensors are already helping us accomplish in the field, and have the opportunity to ask and answer questions. Join this group to get started!
Header image: Emma Vogel, University of Tromsø
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- 5 Discussions
- 2 Groups
Conservation Newbie, Technologist, Applications Developer, Hardware Tinkerer
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- 17 Discussions
- 9 Groups
FullSteam Labs
UX/UI Designer for environmental conservation web apps, Co-Owner of FullSteam Labs
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- 2 Discussions
- 8 Groups
Danau Girang Field Center & Cardiff University
Conservation biologist and PhD student specialising in movement ecology and behavioural research on Sunda pangolins in Malaysia Borneo. Using camera traps, biologging, and conservation social science.
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- 0 Discussions
- 19 Groups
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- 2 Discussions
- 6 Groups
University of Cambridge
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- 4 Discussions
- 1 Groups
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- 12 Groups
Ecohydrologist examining interactions between organisms and flow towards enhancements in conservation strategies
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- 0 Discussions
- 2 Groups
Samantha is a founding member and runs the Kelp Forest Foundation which looks to fill the gaps in the science around kelp cultivation.
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- 1 Discussions
- 1 Groups
Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT)
Technological support in WWT's Conservation Evidence Department - recently made redundant
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- 2 Discussions
- 5 Groups
University of Melbourne
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- 4 Discussions
- 7 Groups
Retired engineer, with long term interest in ecology and all things tech.
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- 1 Discussions
- 6 Groups
Community Announcement
Whether you spent the last year working in the field, lab, at home, or virtually, the WILDLABS community's conservation tech achievements were on full display in our annual #Tech4Wildlife Photo Challenge! Relive our...
25 March 2021
Funding
Funding Opportunity: COVID-19 Science Fund
National Geographic
National Geographic is offering funding up to up to $50,000 for conservationists conducting research on how the pandemic has impacted wildlife and conservation work. If you are interested in researching aspects of the...
10 March 2021
Article
Collaboration Spotlight: BoomBox
Ellie Warren and 2 more
Today we're celebrating the #Tech4Wildlife Photo Challenge by shining a spotlight on one of our favorite WILDLABS collaboration success stories: the BoomBox! This collaboration between Dr. Meredith Palmer, Jacinta ...
26 February 2021
Article
How can drones and ATVs protect black-footed ferrets from the plague? In this case study from WWF's Northern Great Plains Program, Black-footed Ferret Restoration Manager Kristy Bly discusses how delivering vaccines to...
17 February 2021
Article
News: FieldKit Presales and WSJ Feature
Conservify
Our friends at FieldKit are excited to announce the official launch of the FieldKit! These open source environmental sensing hardware modules are now available for pre-sale in the FieldKit store. You can also read about...
11 February 2021
Article
Protecting Wildlife with Machine Learning
Ellie Warren
Last year, Tim van Deursen and Thijs Suijten shared their new "Hack the Poacher" system with us, presenting a unique way to detect poachers in real-time within protected national parks. Read on to learn about their...
29 January 2021
Article
This month, WILDLABS member Drew Cronin shared the new paper "Empowering rangers through technology and innovation." This collaborative effort included several members of the WILDLABS community and leadership, and...
27 January 2021
In this case study from WWF's Northern Great Plains Program, Black-footed Ferret Restoration Manager Kristy Bly discusses how infrared FLIR cameras help teams detect and monitor the highly endangered black-footed...
19 January 2021
Article
Sustainable Fishing Challenges: Fish Catch Monitoring
Daniel Steadman
As we launch our new Sustainable Fishing Challenges group in the WILDLABS community, we are excited to welcome Daniel Steadman, the group manager, to give us an overview of three major areas in which #tech4wildlife...
4 December 2020
Funding
Kaggle Competition: Species Audio Detection
Rainforest Connection
Hey Acoustic Monitoring and AI for Conservation community members - don't miss Rainforest Connection's Species Auto Detection Kaggle competition, open for to competitors and teams now! Participants will have the chance...
24 November 2020
Article
Conservation Technology User Guidelines Issue 5: Drones
World Wide Fund for Nature/ World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
The latest issue of WWF's Conservation Technology Series is about drones and is designed for a broad audience of conservationists. Containing ten case studies, scientific literature, and handy information on getting...
18 November 2020
Community Announcement
WILDLABS: Building a Better World with ‘Bad’ Data
WILDLABS Admin
WILDLABS is celebrating its five year anniversary! Throughout the rest of 2020, we'll be sharing articles, community features, and case studies showcasing the incredible projects, collaborations, and successes that this...
17 November 2020
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September 2022
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| Description | Activity | Replies | Groups | Updated |
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| Would certainly be cool to see a tutorial on this! Looking forward to that! |
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Marine Conservation, Sensors | 3 years 8 months ago | |
| Almost done with the trap alarms. I added an additional buzzer (with internal circuitry) to get more noise. The added benefit is that the slightly different tunes creates... |
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Sensors | 4 years ago | |
| Hi Barry, I am tinkering with similar edge devices and aspirations! I recently acquired the Jetson Nano to start testing some aspects of the BearID Project software pipeline.... |
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Connectivity, Sensors | 4 years 2 months ago | |
| Thanks for the paper Harold, this looks like a possibility. Especially if there's a way to make bespoke detectors |
+22
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Sensors | 4 years 2 months ago | |
| Hi everyone, I'm building some small audio attachments to pop onto Vectronics collars. Does anyone have dummy or... |
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Sensors | 4 years 2 months ago | |
| Really interesting chat. I was looking at this "eTape" to measure inundation on marine turtle nests. https://www.adafruit.com/product/463 Will give you water presence... |
+10
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Sensors | 4 years 6 months ago | |
| Have you ever wanted to get a sample from the top of a tree, without having to climb it or shoot it out with a shotgun? Would it... |
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Sensors | 4 years 6 months ago | |
| Hello Rob, I have seen the bracelet style used on large mammals with mixed success and failure. The main considerations are terrain the animal uses, and fitting the bracelet... |
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Sensors | 4 years 6 months ago | |
| Amazing stuff Andrew! The dips in light idea made me think of exoplanet hunting straight away! Such a cool idea!! |
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Sensors | 4 years 7 months ago | |
| Hi Akiba No worries, thanks for responding! I'd love to delve into more detail on this once the new series has started and I have an idea of the tools and kit required!... |
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Open Source Solutions, Sensors | 4 years 8 months ago | |
| Hi Maxine, There are pros and cons to switching regulators and linear regulators. Linear regulators "throw away" the excess voltage in order to maintain a... |
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Open Source Solutions, Sensors | 4 years 8 months ago | |
| Hi. I've been following the opencollar initiative and was wondering what the current status is. The project looks amazing! |
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Sensors | 4 years 9 months ago |
