Coral Reef Mapping and Monitoring Using Drones

Summary

The Nature Conservancy utilizes drones for habitat conservation, employing technology since 2014 to monitor coral restoration. They leverage high-resolution drone imagery and deep learning algorithms to identify and quantify live coral colonies. The organization shares their findings on coral growth, resilience, and restoration efforts, emphasizing the importance of detailed monitoring for effective conservation strategies.

Takeaways

• 🌏 The Nature Conservancy is a global non-profit organization focusing on habitat conservation using drone technology since 2014.
• 🚁 They have utilized drones for almost a decade to build capacity with partners and assist countries in protecting their habitats.
• 🌱 The organization is particularly interested in coral restoration work, monitoring the success of coral nurseries and outplanting efforts.
• 🤖 They have developed deep learning algorithms to analyze drone imagery and detect coral colonies, enhancing the ability to monitor coral reef health.
• 📸 Over the years, they have transitioned from using a custom-built drone to more sophisticated models like the DJI Mavic and Wingtra Gen 2 for higher resolution imagery.
• 🛰 The use of drones allows for the creation of high-resolution maps of coral reefs, which are crucial for identifying live coral and assessing restoration efforts.
• 🏝️ The script discusses a specific project in Tahiti, where they mapped coral colonies to evaluate the success of restoration work by Coral Gardeners.
• 🔬 High-resolution drone imagery, combined with machine learning, is being used to identify individual coral species and monitor their growth and health.
• 🌊 The importance of selecting the right drone parameters, such as flying height and camera settings, is highlighted for accurate coral reef monitoring.
• 📈 The script mentions ongoing research to determine the ideal conditions for drone data collection, including sun angle, water motion, and cloud cover.
• 🧩 The organization also explores close proximity photogrammetry for detailed coral reef monitoring, overcoming limitations in detecting features from the air.

Q & A

What is The Nature Conservancy and what does it focus on?

The Nature Conservancy is a non-profit organization that operates globally, focusing on the conservation of habitats. It uses technology such as drones to assist in its mission to help countries protect their natural environments and the life they support.

How long has The Nature Conservancy been using drones for habitat monitoring?

The Nature Conservancy has been utilizing drones for habitat monitoring for almost a decade, starting from May 2014.

What is the primary goal of using drones in The Nature Conservancy's work?

The primary goal of using drones is to build capacity with partners and leverage technology for habitat protection and restoration, particularly in monitoring coral restoration efforts.

What type of technology was initially used in The Nature Conservancy's drone projects?

Initially, a drone was built on a budget of two thousand dollars, using a GoPro camera and a custom 3D model frame with electronics housed in a tupperware container.

How has the drone technology evolved over the years in The Nature Conservancy's projects?

The technology evolved from a basic prototype to using 3DR Solo platforms with modified GoPros, then to a Sony qx1 camera, and currently to DJI products like the Mavic and a Wingtra Gen 2 drone with a Sony RX1 R2 camera for higher resolution imagery.

What is the significance of using drones for coral reef monitoring?

Drones allow for the capture of high-resolution imagery that can be used to identify and monitor coral colonies, assess restoration success, and detect changes in coral reef ecosystems over time.

How does The Nature Conservancy use deep learning algorithms in their drone imagery analysis?

Deep learning algorithms are used to process the drone imagery and detect the occurrence of coral colonies, classify individual coral species, and quantify live coral for effective monitoring and management of coral reef health.

What challenges does The Nature Conservancy face in identifying live coral from drone imagery?

Challenges include achieving sufficient spatial resolution to identify individual live coral colonies, dealing with the complexity of different coral species, and the need for accurate field data to train machine learning models.

How does The Nature Conservancy ensure the accuracy of their coral reef monitoring?

Accuracy is ensured through the use of high-resolution cameras, precise flying altitudes, and rigorous post-processing techniques, as well as the integration of field data and machine learning for image classification.

What role does the collaboration with experts and the use of underwater cameras play in The Nature Conservancy's coral reef projects?

Collaboration with experts aids in the identification of coral species, while underwater cameras attached to RTK GNSS systems provide accurate geo-referencing and detailed imagery for monitoring coral growth and health.

What are some of the lessons learned from The Nature Conservancy's drone usage in coral reef monitoring?

Lessons include the optimal flying height for mapping individual coral colonies, the importance of field data for training machine learning models, and the challenges of detecting smaller coral colonies and the impact of environmental conditions on imagery.

How does The Nature Conservancy address the issue of beach erosion and shoreline protection in its projects?

The organization uses drone imagery to identify areas of live coral, rubble, hard bottom, sand, seagrass, and turf algal substrates, which are crucial for shoreline protection. They also work on coral restoration and develop hybrid solutions involving artificial reefs and shoreline engineering.

What is the significance of the close proximity photogrammetry in coral reef studies?

Close proximity photogrammetry allows for the collection of detailed stereo images of the reef, capturing information that drone imagery cannot, such as features within two to three meters due to water refraction and visibility issues. This method aids in detailed change detection and monitoring of coral health.

What are some of the challenges faced in underwater photogrammetry?

Challenges include accurate geo-referencing, dealing with data gaps, analyzing 2D versus 3D models, water quality issues such as backscatter, sunlight refraction, and the large data volume requiring significant processing power and skill set development.