Scientists at UC Santa Barbara’s Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory have developed AI technology that uses drone flights to capture and scan videos to detect great white sharks off the coast of Padaro, California.
SharkEye Program
The SharkEye program, led by senior research scientist Neil Nathan, aims to keep tourists safe and collect scientific data on the animals. If sharks are spotted, information is shared with local beaches and officials to help keep beachgoers informed.
The program has been in operation since 2019 and has noticed an increase in white shark populations in Southern California. The team is currently testing an app that would allow members of the public to check the waters before they jump in.
How it Works
SharkEye drone videos identify the number of great white sharks as well as their estimated size. After being analyzed by an AI tool, push alerts are sent in real time to beachgoers nearby via a shark app.
Nathan explained that young sharks tend to cluster close to the coast because they are less able to regulate their body temperature and their food sources are there. The team hopes that through using drones to collect data on sharks, they can raise respect and awareness for the animals.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
