14:25 | Shanghai (China), Sep. 23.
The biodiversity of Peru's Alto Mayo rainforest is slowly being whittled away by systemic illegal logging.
However, Rainforest Connection pioneered an acoustic monitoring system that could detect the sound of chainsaws in the cacophony of the jungle – and instantly alert park rangers to the source of the noise.
How does it work? Technology is the ally. A smartphone -a new or old one- can help save the rainforest. Likewise, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is helping to get a better interpretation.
In Peru, the tech startup is testing an acoustic alert system in San Martin region. In the past, they worked in Madre de Dios region. Additionally, the devices have been implemented in other nine countries.
Topher White, Rainforest Connection founder and CEO, explained at
Huawei Connect that a smartphone is connected with small solar panels in the trees. This is transforming these mobile phones into the "ears" of the rainforests to detect different sounds in real time.
How is the team sure that the sound corresponds to chainsaws or other machinery? Huawei is working with Rainforest Connection to a rigorous monitoring.
Equipped with AI, these phones are now used to listen to and identify the sounds of trucks and electric saws that are illegally felling trees, helping international environmental protection organizations more efficiently protect the planet.
Next year, another 6,000 square kilometers of tropical rainforests in even more countries will benefit from these efforts.
"Digital technology is reshaping the world. We want it to benefit everyone and we want digital inclusion for all. In this regard, technology is the foundation, applications are the key, and skills provide assurance," added Huawei's Deputy Chairman Ken Hu.
Inclusive technology
Rainforest Connection project is one of the allies of Huawei's Tech4All Initiative. Also, AI is used in other tech projects.
For example, the DigiTruck program provides digital skills training to teachers and women in remote rural regions in Africa.
"Digital inclusion will need the joint efforts of businesses, governments, and society at large. Currently, we have just made the first small step. We welcome more people and organizations to join us," said Hu.
In Spain, Huawei is partnering with the local medical research lab IIS Aragon and the research center DIVE to develop a new medical device that can detect visual impairment in young children.
Children simply need to look at images on the screen of Huawei's Matebook E tablet, which stimulate the eyeballs.
The DIVE system then collects gaze data and then transmits this data to a Huawei P30 phone. With the help of the HiAl and the machine learning capabilities of the P30 phone, a doctor can then analyze the data and detect the signs of eye diseases using an app called Track Al.
(END) SPV/RMB/MVB
Published: 9/23/2019