Researchers, including ecology professor Douglas McCauley, combine thermal imaging and artificial intelligence to track marine mammals and prevent fatal cargo ship collisions
A team of researchers, led by Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology professor Douglas McCauley, has unveiled new technology to prevent fatal collisions between oceangoing vessels and gray whales in the San Francisco Bay. Operating out of the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory (BOSL) and designed in collaboration with the U.S. Coast Guard and other local partners, the system uses artificial intelligence and Flir thermal cameras to detect the heat signatures of whales and their exhaled breath.
Once spotted, the detections are verified by marine mammal specialists and shared on the Whale Safe website, alerting nearby mariners to reroute or reduce their speeds. The intervention comes at a critical time, as climate change and declining Arctic sea ice have driven starving gray whales into the heavily trafficked bay in search of food.
“It is heartbreaking to see these starving whales stumbling around in the middle of the hustle and bustle of San Francisco Bay,” said McCauley, who serves as BOSL director. “But what gives me hope is seeing how all the right partners in the Bay Area community have come together to do something. This new system will save whales’ lives.” Read the full story on The Current.
Photo Credit: Darrin Allen / NOAA