Eyes in the skies: drones, satellites and digital data for nature conservation

re:publica 17 - Politics & Society

In the past few years, WWF has been increasing its use of new digital technologies, including real-time smartphone data collection from field locations, development of online interactive maps and tools, and new data collected from airplanes and remotely operated drones for forestry, species and ecosystem monitoring, coastal and marine applications, and anti-poaching operations. This presentation will showcase some of the latest innovations.

• Aurélie Shapiro
• Janelle Dumalaon

Aurélie Shapiro, remote sensing specialist from WWF-Germany, will showcase some of the latest innovations from around the WWF network which use new digital and space technologies. From collecting real-time information on conservation agriculture activities from rural farmers with smartphones in Zambia, surveying open areas with camera-fitted kites, to assessing plantations of the Democratic Republic of Congo in 3-D, flying high over dipterocarp forests in Borneo to survey Orangutan nests, or surveying habitats and vaccinating endangered black-footed ferrets in the Northern Great Plains of the United States, WWF is benefitting from creative solutions which were not possible a decade ago. The successful results of these activities were not without challenges: working in remote locations without cellular network, securing permission to fly drones, sensitive electronics, large volume data processing, too much wind or not enough wind, and finding just the right peanut butter. Join Aurélie to learn more about WWF’s wildlife conservation in the digital age.

After an intro presentation , there will be an interview with Aurélie.