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WILDLABS logoWildlabs.net : The conservation technology network

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This group is for anyone interested in applying software to conservation and wildlife research. Whether you're a developer eager to contribute to conservation or a newbie with valuable data and ideas but limited software experience, this group connects people with diverse expertise. It provides a space for asking questions, sharing resources, and staying informed about new technologies and best practices.

Group curators

discussion

Have you used Wildbook?

John Probert

6 January 2017 4:31pm

Hello. I'm looking at automated species image recognition software, specifically through Wildbook. I was wondering if anyone has used it before, and what their thoughts were...

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discussion

Accelerators For Wildlife Conservation Apps?

Megan Cromp

31 October 2016 5:35pm

Hello, Does anyone know if there are any accelerator programs that focus on assisting with the development of wildlife conservation apps? Particularly ones that are...

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Anne

16 November 2016 3:26pm

Hi Megan, 

 

It sounds very interesting the app you are developing. I am working for a smaller nature conservation Fund and am trying a partnership with a platform that is also in development and aimed at connecting people and organizations, facilitate update and knowledge sharing and increasing the visibility and donor pool of the organisations. As I said it's still in development but you can take a look if you like www.pifworld.com/eng. I am however also very curious to get to know other (potential) tools that work similar.

 

It would be great to chat one time to get better acquainted, maybe you can send me your contact details by PM if you'd like to follow up?

Best, Anne Alexandre

 

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discussion

September Meetup: Gaming for Conservation Impact, Thursday 29th Sept

Stephanie O'Donnell

27 September 2016 10:43am

Topic: Internet of Elephants - Gaming for massive conservation impact Date: Thursday, 29th September Time: 10-12 (talk and...

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corinna_IoE

10 October 2016 9:28am

Thanks Alasdair for signing up! Happy to welcome you as one of our test users. The link will follow in a bit, meanwhile feel free to join our Facebook Play Group to get weekly updates on our process and backstories of the amazing animals we're allowed to work with: https://www.facebook.com/groups/IoEPlay/

Corinna

Karina Assiter

16 November 2016 2:22pm

Im sorry I missed this event - I hope there will be others like it...

Stephanie O'Donnell

16 November 2016 2:32pm

Hi Karina, 

There most definitely will be more events like this one. We are thinking of holding another gaming for conservation meetup in early 2017, potentially in London. Would that be of interest? 

Hmm. having looked up where Wentworth institute of Technology is - looks like you're actually based in the USA Cambridge. Do you ever make it over to the UK? Otherwise, maybe we could look into organising something more local to you..

Steph 

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discussion

Kid-friendly wildlife apps

Katarzyna Nowak

4 November 2016 4:16pm

I am wondering if anyone could recommend a wildlife conservation / wildlife crime awareness app that is kid-friendly and resonates / would resonate with...

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Chloe Aust

9 November 2016 11:54am

Hi Katzyna, we have an app called Instant Wild where you can see camera trap images coming in and help identify what is in them - you can take a look/find out more at http://www.edgeofexistence.org/instantwild 

Chloe

Sophie-Cohen

15 November 2016 4:47pm

Hi Katzyna,

Not an app, but United for Wildlife are releasing a new free online course on the illegal wildlife trade on the 17th that has Vietnamese subtitles and transcripts available. The website with the course is here: http://learn.unitedforwildlife.org/ but the new course won't be live until the 17th. I am happy to send you some further information on this if you would like? 

Just let me know!

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discussion

Engaging this community

Gautam Shah

23 August 2016 8:27am

Hi all - its great to have this community and the entire WILDLABS network at hand.  I know that I could benefit a lot from engaging more with everyone...

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event

Video: Discover the SMART Approach

The SMART Partnership

20 July 2016 12:00am

The Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) Partnership combines a ranger-based data collection tool with capacity building and a suite of best practices aimed at helping protected area and wildlife managers...

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article

TEAM Network and Wildlife Insights

Eric Fegraus

28 April 2016 12:00am

Operating the largest tropical forest camera trap network globally, TEAM Network has accumulated over 2.6 million images. How can large datasets coupled with new techniques for data management and analysis provide...

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discussion

Can gaming help conservation? - Wildsense Tiger App

Stephanie O'Donnell

27 November 2015 11:01am

We asked twitter the question, 'can gaming help conservation?' and were delighted when Aaron Mase (University of Surrey) responded with an emphatic 'yes...

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Aaron Mason

28 December 2015 7:09pm

Hi Steph,

Thanks for your message. I would be delighted to answer your question about Wildsense.

You are correct that our aim is to do a lot more than raise awareness and engange citizens with our Wildsense Tigers game.

We are using images from a range of image sharing websites that have been uploaded by people online and publicly shared. Each photograph contains valuable information that often includes the time and location that the photograph is taken. If we can understand when a photo was taken, where it was taken, and the individual animal in the photograph, then we can start to build up a picture of the movement of individuals. We are benefiting from people power from the users that are both indirectly uploading photographs online and also directly interacting with our Wildsense game. We are combining this with computing power with our data analysis, computer vision and machine learning software.

We are doing this experiment on a large scale and we believe that "the wisdom of the crowd" will enable us to gather and analyse enough information so that we can build an accurate picture. We started with wild tigers and our plan is to create a platform that can be used for other species as well. We are working on other animals already behind the scenes.

I hope that answers your question.

Best wishes,

Aaron Mason

Barbara de Waard

11 January 2016 1:29pm

Hi Aaron,

It's a great concept of using gaming for the benefit of conservation, but I do have one big question about Wildsense and tigers. Since poaching is one of the main threats to the 3,000 or so remaining wildl tigers, there are great risks involved with publicizing the location and timing of any tiger sightings.

Furthermore, this approach can probably only work for Bengal tigers, since other tiger species, such as Sumatran and Malayan, are very rarely sighted, even by the most dedicated conservationists ( or poachers), as their jungle habitat is so dense. For Bengal Tigers, there are already ventures for online monitoring and identificaton, such as Tigernation.org.

Good luck with your project. Barbara from BiodiversityBusiness.

 

Aaron Mason

11 January 2016 6:33pm

Hi Barbara,

You are right in that cyberpoaching is becoming an increasing risk. I have seen various cases where information posted on social media has provided too much information and then ended up in the wrong hands (e.g. http://www.army.mil/article/75165/Geotagging_poses_security_risks/).

We need to be careful about the accuracy of information that is disclosed. Providing an approximate time and location seems to be the most popular adopted approach. 

Hacking is another issue. For example, I have seen research demonstrating the potential to gain unauthrised access to GPS collar data.

 

Our main focus has been the Bengal Tiger but we want to see how much we can learn about other tigers as well. Our end goal is to support a range of animal species.

 

P.S. I am pleased that you are aware of http://www.tigernation.org - I co-founded it :)

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article

Gaming for Good: Minecraft and Quiz Up

Peter Jacobs

3 December 2015 12:00am

Can games have real world impacts on issues like the illegal wildlife trade? In part two of his case study for the Gaming for Conservation Group, Peter Jacobs discusses United for Wildlife's efforts to engage young...

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article

Gaming for Good: Runescape and Angry Birds

Peter Jacobs

25 November 2015 12:00am

Can games raise awareness of conservation issues like the illegal wildlife trade? In part one of his case study for the Gaming for Conservation Group, Peter Jacobs discusses how United for Wildlife is partnering with...

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article

From Data Collection to Decisions

TimWilkinson

6 November 2015 12:00am

The speed at which data travels from the point of collection to a format which is understandable and useful for decision makers can be of critical importance. In this case study, Tim Wilkinson discusses a powerful suite...

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