By Danilo Urzedo / Trishant Simlai / Kate Lewis Hood 26 May 2022 Technology for Wildlife: Tools and Ethics Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) image. Image source: Technology for Wildlife Foundation [photo]. Retrieved 26 March 2022, from https://www.techforwildlife.com/spatial-intelligence Technology for Wildlife Foundation uses data from satellites, aerial and underwater robots, and fieldwork to aid conservation projects. They collect and process remote sensing imagery, and use cloud-based smart dashboards to visualise near real-time information. In relation to forests, maps developed by the organisation can be used to identify tree species, monitor tree health, and estimate carbon sequestration potential, while UAVs can also be used to offer real-time information and surveillance. But what about the ethics of these technologies in contexts of uneven access to forest rights and resources? Technology for Wildlife has undertaken research into the practices and ethics of using non-military drones in India, with a focus on impacts on rural communities. They have also provided spatial analysis support to socio-environmental campaigns against environmentally destructive infrastructural developments in Mollem National Park, Goa.Find out more in our radio interview with Shashank Srinivasan, founder of Techonology for Wildlife.
By Danilo Urzedo / Trishant Simlai / Kate Lewis Hood 26 May 2022 Technology for Wildlife: Tools and Ethics Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) image. Image source: Technology for Wildlife Foundation [photo]. Retrieved 26 March 2022, from https://www.techforwildlife.com/spatial-intelligence Technology for Wildlife Foundation uses data from satellites, aerial and underwater robots, and fieldwork to aid conservation projects. They collect and process remote sensing imagery, and use cloud-based smart dashboards to visualise near real-time information. In relation to forests, maps developed by the organisation can be used to identify tree species, monitor tree health, and estimate carbon sequestration potential, while UAVs can also be used to offer real-time information and surveillance. But what about the ethics of these technologies in contexts of uneven access to forest rights and resources? Technology for Wildlife has undertaken research into the practices and ethics of using non-military drones in India, with a focus on impacts on rural communities. They have also provided spatial analysis support to socio-environmental campaigns against environmentally destructive infrastructural developments in Mollem National Park, Goa.Find out more in our radio interview with Shashank Srinivasan, founder of Techonology for Wildlife.