Role of Artificial intelligence in conservation of environment

Geography and Environment (HCS) Concept of Ecology

Context: A recent report was published on the use of Artificial intelligence to help conserve environment.

Governments could save around 29 gigatons of emissions by 2030 by empowering authorities to use AI tools to pre-empt the destruction of rainforests.
Energy-related CO2 emissions worldwide amounted to around 37 gigatons in 2022.
AI applications in the sectors of agriculture, water, energy and transport could lead to a 4% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
Deforestation and land use changes cause more than 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

They should be attached to trees that “eavesdrop” on the surrounding forest and transmit that audio in real-time to the cloud.
The data is then analyzed by a machine learning model that has been trained to recognize sounds linked to illegal logging, such as a chainsaw or truck.
Alerts are then sent out to authorities on the ground.
Example: Brazil, Indonesia, Congo and the Philippines.

AI can be used to recommend the minimum amount of new additional material that needs to be added.
Materials such as steel and cement used for construction, but they’re also heavy CO2 emitters.
Steel production alone accounts for a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions from the manufacturing sector.
Example: US company Fero Labs uses AI to reduce the amount of mined ingredients or alloys.

Using 5G and Internet of Things sensors to gather real-time data from a building’s energy management system.
Then use an algorithm to analyze this data and optimize the heating and cooling system and make predictions for the building’s future energy demand.
Example: Arup’s app called Neuron

By developing AI-enabled bracelets that fit around animals’ ankles to help conservation teams easily locate the animals and monitor their behavior in real time.
The machine learning can spot when an animal is exhibiting abnormal movement patterns, a signal that it might be distressed, for example, if poachers are close.
It then sends an alert to wildlife operations centers and anti-poaching teams.
Example: The South Africa-based company Rouxcel Technology use this technology for Rhinos.

An AI system can be developed that draws on data from solar-powered sensors monitoring the microclimate around crops.
The devices can measure temperature, humidity, radiation and soil moisture in the field, while algorithms use these insights to make precise recommendations about plant health and how much water and fertilizer needs to be used.
This can both boost yields and reduce wasted resources.
Example: Germany-based startup Agvolution

When clouds move over solar panels, the power supply can suddenly drop off.
To fill the gaps, network operators need to have generation reserves running in the background that can quickly be ramped up when there’s risk of a power shortage.
These reserves usually come from fossil fuels.
AI can provide information of how clouds develop, in order to reduce the reliance on fossil-powered reserves.
Example: Open Climate Fix of UK