AI Detected Whales - Spacewhales

SERVICES

What We Do

SPACEWHALE is a novel method for detecting whales in very high-resolution (VHR) satellite imagery which can monitor regions in the high seas where traditional boat or aerial-based surveys are difficult to execute. We merge the latest in space-based and Deep Learning assets with a team of expert biologists to offer clients a range of products including abundance and distribution estimates.

Abundance

We provide abundance estimates for large whales on a per-survey basis which can be used to generate population trends over time.

Distribution

Using advanced modelling techniques, we create distribution maps of target species in ESRI-compatible raster formats.

Bespoke analyses

Working with our clients we offer bespoke analyses to help guide conservation and advanced ecological studies.

Projects

Hawaii / Peninsula Valdes

Our pilot project, which was run in 2018 – 2019, tested the possibility of detecting whales from satellite imagery using a deep learning algorithm. Using a standard classification technique, we were able to identify 100% of the whales in the images.

Find more information at “Our Publications”

Humpback whales (<i>Megaptera novaeangliae</i>)<br />
© Michael Schauer

Fin whale (<i>Balaenoptera physalus</i>) mother and calf<br />
© Caroline Hoeschle

Projects

Pelagos Sanctuary

We applied the SPACEWHALE faster R-CNN object detection method to the Pelagos Sanctuary previously studied by the British Antarctic Survey. The SPACEWHALE algorithm succeeded in detecting an additional 13 whales in satellite imagery that were overlooked by a manual review process.

Projects

Bay of Biscay

During September 2020, we flew digital aerial surveys in the Bay of Biscay and captured satellite imagery simultaneously. We are investigating the overlap between traditional aerial surveys and cutting-edge semi-automated techniques using satellite images.

Humpback whale (<i>Megaptera novaeangliae</i>)<br />
© Caroline Hoeschle

Southern Right Whale (<i>Eubalaena australis</i>) in HR Satellite imagery<br />
© 2021 Maxar Technologies

Projects

Auckland Islands

Using archival satellite imagery near to 0.46 m GSD, we are able to expand our ability to quantify populations when higher resolution imagery is unable to be tasked. In Port Ross on the Auckland islands, we were able to distinguish between adult and juvenile Southern right whales.

Find more information at “Our Publications”

Projects

Loreto National Park

We used SPACEWHALE to survey an area within the Gulf of California to assess the distribution and abundance of blue whales and other wildlife species to support applied conservation efforts. Information from satellite surveys can make an invaluable contribution to conservation and management.

Blue Whale (<i>Balaenoptera musculus</i>) in VHR Satellite imagery© 2022 Maxar Technologies

Mapping Whales From Space - Our Publications

We are actively publishing the results from our work in peer-reviewed journals. These manuscripts remain some of the first publications that demonstrate deep-learning for detecting whales from satellite imagery.

Open our publications as PDF by clicking on the buttons below or find more information for Borowicz et al., 2019 (https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0212532), for Höschle et al., 2021 (https://doi.org/10.3390/s21030963), and for Höschle et al., 2022 (International whaling commision, https://iwc.int/en/).

Aerial Trained AI

Potential of Satellite Imagery Satellite surveys in remote high latitudes

Media

Counting Whales from Space with SPACEWHALES

Learn more about SPACEWHALES’ technology and application and how it may fit to your use case.

Partners

In June 2022, the SPACEWHALE team was named the champions of the 2022 Deloitte Gravity challenge with Whale and Dolphin Conservation.
https://gravitychallenge.space/gravity-04-challenge-solutions-awards

This prize will give SPACEWHALE the opportunity to further advance our ethical AI solution that we use for detecting whales from high resolution satellite imagery by helping to create a baseline for marine protected areas. Working with WDC will give us the chance to improve protections for charismatic and important marine mammals.
https://www2.deloitte.com/uk/en/pages/innovation/solutions/wdc.html

Their [SPACEWHALE team at BioConsult SH] work to date is inspiring and we believe that by working together we have a real chance to make the world a better and safer place for whales and dolphins.

Chris Butler-Stroud

International and UK CEO, Whale and Dolphin Conservation

DB+

Our Team