{"id":6369,"date":"2022-05-27T23:03:11","date_gmt":"2022-05-27T23:03:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/techclot.com\/index.php\/2022\/05\/27\/ai-image-analysis-helps-track-biodiversity-by-railway-lines-et-magazine\/"},"modified":"2022-05-27T23:03:11","modified_gmt":"2022-05-27T23:03:11","slug":"ai-image-analysis-helps-track-biodiversity-by-railway-lines-et-magazine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/techclot.com\/index.php\/2022\/05\/27\/ai-image-analysis-helps-track-biodiversity-by-railway-lines-et-magazine\/","title":{"rendered":"AI image analysis helps track biodiversity by railway lines | E&T Magazine"},"content":{"rendered":"

AI image analysis helps track biodiversity by railway lines | E&T Magazine<\/a><\/p>\n

\n Trials in using artificial intelligence (AI) to identify species of trees and other plants, from photographs taken by on-train cameras, have shown that lineside vegetation can be monitored safely, cheaply, quickly and at scale.\n <\/p>\n

\n

Monitoring flora and fauna by railway tracks in order to support better management of lineside habitats is extremely difficult due to safety concerns, the size of Britain\u2019s 20,000-mile rail network and the number of expert surveyors required.<\/p>\n

The UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) and technology firm Keen AI have been working with Network Rail to develop innovative solutions to remotely monitor biodiversity. They have demonstrated that AI can identify invasive species by the track, as well as native trees that are potentially at threat due to disease such as ash dieback.<\/p>\n

This information would enable railway workers to carry out appropriate action to better manage lineside vegetation, as part of Network Rail\u2019s commitment to achieve biodiversity net gain on its land by 2035.<\/p>\n

Since the 1960s, changes in vegetation associated with the railway have resulted in the loss of biodiverse, flower-rich habitats. Network Rail has committed to end net loss in biodiversity on its land by 2024 and achieve a net gain by 2035 as part of its Biodiversity Action Plan<\/a>, produced in conjunction with UKCEH.<\/p>\n

UKCEH and Keen AI have created AI software that can identify ash trees as well as Japanese knotweed (a source of complaints to Network Rail by its neighbours every year), Himalayan Balsam and the poisonous plant Ragwort.<\/p>\n

The companies are now developing camera equipment capable of taking clear photographs of vegetation on a high-speed train and have held two successful trials on return trips: one between Birmingham and Aberystwyth, Wales, the other between Weymouth and Moreton, in Dorset.<\/p>\n

\n
\n \"On-train\n <\/picture>
\n

Image credit: Keen AI<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dr Tom August, a computational ecologist at UKCEH, said: \u201cThe trials demonstrated that we will be able to monitor lineside vegetation safely, cheaply, quickly and at scale.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur equipment was able to take thousands of clear images from a train travelling at up to 80mph and our AI software can identify ash and other species to a high level of accuracy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Amjad Karim, chief executive of Keen AI, explained how the work on the railway builds on a separate previous project, funded by Innovate UK, to photograph and identify roadside vegetation.<\/p>\n

Karim said: \u201cNetwork Rail spends \u00a3200m each year on vegetation management in order to keep the network operational. The aim of our work is to give staff at Network Rail the tools they need to safely and accurately identify where action may be required.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been pushing the boundaries of what is possible when it comes to the speed of the camera, quality of images and size of the system, all while keeping it flexible and low-cost.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the coming months the team will be improving the system, increasing the rate of image capture and ensuring each is precisely mapped to where it was taken, even at speeds of up to 100mph. This will ensure the vast majority of trees and plants along a track are recorded.<\/p>\n

\n
\n \"One\n <\/picture>
\n

Image credit: Keen AI<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Another way in which AI can potentially monitor lineside biodiversity is by identifying animal species from sound recordings or photographs taken by remote-monitoring stations, without the need for surveyors on the ground. UKCEH has trialled the use of biodiversity monitoring stations to record bird song and bat calls, which existing AI software was able to identify accurately. Globally, AI software to classify animal species from photographs is still in development.<\/p>\n

Network Rail says the AI work will support its sustainability strategy, which outlines significant changes to the way it manages its land in order to strike a better balance between running a safe, reliable railway and helping nature thrive.<\/p>\n

Dr Neil Strong, Network Rail\u2019s biodiversity strategy manager, said: \u201cWith 52,000 hectares of land to manage and seven million people living close to our railway, monitoring, maintaining and improving the biodiversity of our land effectively is a monumental and vital task, which requires forward-thinking solutions.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe partnership with UKCEH and Keen AI has shown that using AI can be a safer, quicker, more cost-effective and more comprehensive way of monitoring land surrounding the railway and we\u2019re excited to see how this technology can be developed further to help us realise our ultimate goal of achieving a biodiversity net gain by 2035.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other safe and innovative ways in which UKCEH is helping Network Rail to measure lineside biodiversity include using high-resolution imagery from satellites and aircraft to produce a detailed national map of all lineside habitats. UKCEH scientists then analysed records of species in similar habitats in each region to predict what animals and plants are likely to be present there.<\/p>\n

Following its work with UKCEH in measuring biodiversity, Network Rail has been shortlisted in the Green Corridor category of the UIC International Sustainable Railway Awards 2022, the winner of which is to be announced on 1 June.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Sign up to the E&T News e-mail<\/a> to get great stories like this delivered to your inbox every day.<\/p>\n

Adblock test<\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n

Published at Fri, 27 May 2022 18:52:24 +0000<\/p>\n

U.S. Army Artificial Intelligence Unit Relocates in Pittsburgh – Government Technology<\/a><\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n


\n
\n <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n\n

U.S. Army Artificial Intelligence Unit Relocates in Pittsburgh<\/title><meta name=\"description\" content=\"An Army artificial intelligence unit is moving into about 13,000 square feet of space leased by Pittsburgh\u2019s Carnegie Mellon University at Bakery Office Two, according to real estate sources.\"><link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.govtech.com\/products\/u-s-army-artificial-intelligence-unit-relocates-in-pittsburgh\"><meta name=\"brightspot.contentId\" content=\"00000181-0591-db4e-a9f1-679b51f90000\"><link rel=\"apple-touch-icon\" sizes=\"180x180\" href=\"\/apple-touch-icon.png\"><link rel=\"icon\" type=\"image\/png\" href=\"\/favicon-32x32.png\"><link rel=\"icon\" type=\"image\/png\" href=\"\/favicon-16x16.png\"><link rel=\"amphtml\" href=\"https:\/\/www.govtech.com\/products\/u-s-army-artificial-intelligence-unit-relocates-in-pittsburgh?_amp=true\">\n<p> <meta name=\"brightspot.cached\" content=\"false\"><\/p>\n<p> <!-- Tiny Rich Text Editor --><\/p>\n<p> <!--This is needed for custom elements to function in browsers that\n support them natively but that are using es6 code transpiled to es5.\n This will cause a non-fatal error to show up in the IE11 console.\n It can be safely ignored. https:\/\/github.com\/webcomponents\/webcomponentsjs\/issues\/749 --><\/p>\n<p><!-- Start of HubSpot Embed Code --><\/p>\n<p><!-- End of HubSpot Embed Code --><\/p>\n<p><\/head><body class=\"Page-body\" data-header-style=\"tall-to-short\" data-header-hat=\"true\" data-billboard=\"true\" data-take-over=\"true\" id=\"readabilityBody\"><br \/>\n <!-- Putting icons here, so we don't have to include in a bunch of -body hbs's --><\/p>\n<div class=\"BrowserCompatibility\" data-dialogue data-show-on-internet-explorer data-show-dialogue>\n<div class=\"BrowserCompatibility-container\">\n<div class=\"BrowserCompatibility-body\" readability=\"32\">\n<h2 class=\"BrowserCompatibility-title\">\n IE 11 Not Supported<br \/>\n <\/h2>\n<div class=\"BrowserCompatibility-text RichTextBody\" readability=\"34\">\n<p>For optimal browsing, we recommend Chrome, Firefox or Safari browsers.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- Microsite Header --><\/p>\n<div class=\"Page-content\">\n<div class=\"ArticlePage-lede\">\n<div class=\"ArticlePage-lede-content\">\n<div class=\"Page-breadcrumbs\">\n<p> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.govtech.com\/products\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">Emerging Tech<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"Page-twoColumn\">\n <main class=\"Page-main\" data-module data-padding=\"none\"><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"Page-subHeadline\">An Army artificial intelligence unit is moving into about 13,000 square feet of space leased by Pittsburgh\u2019s Carnegie Mellon University at Bakery Office Two, according to real estate sources.<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ArticlePage-actions-wrapper\" readability=\"20.322580645161\">\n<div class=\"Page-byline\" readability=\"33\">\n<p>May 27, 2022 \u2022 <\/p>\n<p>\n <!-- one off byline --><span class=\"ArticlePage-oneOffAuthors-author\">Mark Belko, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette<\/span>\n <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"Page-lead\">\n<figure class=\"Figure\">\n<picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"840\" height=\"438\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/erepublic.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/46fe046\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/930x485+0+68\/resize\/840x438!\/format\/webp\/quality\/90\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ferepublic-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F60%2Fdb%2Ff5534a57c4805936b0481ece5a69%2Fshutterstock-768013051.jpg 1x, https:\/\/erepublic.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/98fb077\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/930x485+0+68\/resize\/1680x876!\/format\/webp\/quality\/90\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ferepublic-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F60%2Fdb%2Ff5534a57c4805936b0481ece5a69%2Fshutterstock-768013051.jpg 2x\"><source width=\"840\" height=\"438\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/erepublic.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/aad2570\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/930x485+0+68\/resize\/840x438!\/quality\/90\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ferepublic-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F60%2Fdb%2Ff5534a57c4805936b0481ece5a69%2Fshutterstock-768013051.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image lazyload\" alt=\"Artificial Intelligence\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/erepublic.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/aad2570\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/930x485+0+68\/resize\/840x438!\/quality\/90\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ferepublic-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F60%2Fdb%2Ff5534a57c4805936b0481ece5a69%2Fshutterstock-768013051.jpg 1x, https:\/\/erepublic.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/c92731e\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/930x485+0+68\/resize\/1680x876!\/quality\/90\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ferepublic-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F60%2Fdb%2Ff5534a57c4805936b0481ece5a69%2Fshutterstock-768013051.jpg 2x\" width=\"840\" height=\"438\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" data-src=\"https:\/\/erepublic.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/aad2570\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/930x485+0+68\/resize\/840x438!\/quality\/90\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ferepublic-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F60%2Fdb%2Ff5534a57c4805936b0481ece5a69%2Fshutterstock-768013051.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 840px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 840\/438;\"><\/p>\n<\/picture>\n<div class=\"Figure-content\">\n<p>Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class readability=\"10.5\">\n<div class=\"Page-articleBody RichTextBody\" readability=\"41\">\n<p> (TNS) \u2014 The U.S. Army is joining the ranks of Bakery Square.<\/p>\n<p>An Army artificial intelligence unit is moving into about 13,000 square feet of space leased by Carnegie Mellon University at Bakery Office Two, according to real estate sources.<\/p>\n<p>The move represents an expansion for the unit, believed to be affiliated with the Army’s Artificial Intelligence Integration Center.<br \/><body><\/body><\/p>\n<p><span data-bsp-pv=\"4f8e492c-6f2f-390e-bc61-f176d3a37ab9\"><\/span><span data-bsp-pv=\"00000181-0591-db4e-a9f1-679b51f90000\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/main><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/body><br \/>It had been operating out of a much smaller space at the National Robotics Engineering Center in the Strip District. The center is part of CMU’s Robotics Institute.<\/p>\n<p>“CMU’s research portfolio continues to grow, and we have recently subleased additional space at Bakery Square to support collaborative research with our partners, particularly in the area of artificial intelligence,” the university said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>“Some of our current partners are from across the Department of Defense, including organizations associated with the U.S. Army as well as CMU’s Software Engineering Institute, which also leases space at Bakery Square.”<br \/><body><\/body><\/p>\n<p>The move is expected to bring about 100 people to the Bakery Square complex, which borders Larimer and Shadyside. CMU apparently got the space from UPMC, which subleased a vacant suite to the university.<\/p>\n<p>Jeremy Kronman, a CBRE vice chairman who leases office space at Bakery Square but who wasn’t involved in the Army deal, said the move and expansion show the strength of the city’s university sector in attracting business \u2014 or in this case, the military.<\/p>\n<p>” Pittsburgh’s university sector continues to attract best-in-class companies and U.S. government organizations to take advantage of the incredibly smart pool of talent our city generates,” he said.<\/p>\n<p>Bakery Square is probably most well-known as the Pittsburgh headquarters of Google. But the gigantic search engine company isn’t the only tech-oriented firm to put down roots at the complex.<\/p>\n<p>Sheetz, the Altoona-based convenience store chain, is putting the finishing touches on a 20,000-square-foot tech office that will house its information technology, data and innovation departments at Bakery Office Four.<\/p>\n<p>Walnut Capital, the developer behind Bakery Square, bought the two-story office building from Matthews International in 2019. The Sheetz space was an outgrowth of an innovation and technology hub the company has at Bakery Office Two.<\/p>\n<p>Other companies located within the Bakery Square complex include Philips Sleep and Respiratory Care Group, which moved its headquarters into the East End from Murrysville.<\/p>\n<p>Others with a presence at Bakery Square include UPMC Enterprises and the University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.<\/p>\n<p>Mr. Kronman believes the Army and companies like Philips are making the move to what he calls the university sector \u2014 Oakland and the East End \u2014 from the suburbs or other parts of the city to be closer to the student talent pool.<\/p>\n<p>“The Strip is great for robotics, but when you want software and that kind of firepower, you want to be near the universities,” he said.<\/p>\n<p>The Army isn’t the only one looking to expand into the East End.<\/p>\n<p>Apple is believed to be considering about 60,000 to 70,000 square feet of space in the Assembly, the former Model T Ford plant in Bloomfield that has been converted into a biotech hub.<\/p>\n<p>The iPhone maker currently has its Pittsburgh headquarters in the Strip. It’s unclear whether Apple’s interest in the Assembly is tied to an expansion, a relocation, or both.<\/p>\n<p>Language learning startup Duolingo, meanwhile, is nearly doubling its local footprint by taking up to 38,000 square feet in Liberty East, the LG Realty Advisors development in East Liberty that also will be the new East End location for Whole Foods Market.<\/p>\n<p>The demand for space in the Oakland-East End corridor is borne out by the asking rent. At $37.50 a square foot in the first quarter, the rate was the highest in the region, according to the Jones Lang LaSalle real estate firm. Space at Bakery Square itself is leasing for as high as $45 a square foot.<\/p>\n<p><i>\u00a9 2022 the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Distributed by <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tribunecontentagency.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-cms-ai=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Tribune Content Agency, LLC.<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n<p> <!-- Contributors --><\/p>\n<aside class=\"Page-aside\">\n<\/aside>\n<p><bsp-news-letter class=\"Newsletter\" data-count=\"60\" readability=\"0.85714285714286\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"Newsletter-container\" readability=\"6\">\n<p>\n Never miss a story with the GovTech Today newsletter.\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/bsp-news-letter><\/p>\n<p> <bsp-mobile-ad class=\"GoogleDfpMobileAd\" data-count><br \/>\n <button class=\"GoogleDfpMobileAd-close\" data-close><br \/>\n <svg><use xlink:href=\"#close-x\" \/><\/svg><br \/>\n <\/button><\/p>\n<p> <\/bsp-mobile-ad><\/p>\n<ps-take-over class=\"TakeOver\" data-timer=\"15\" data-setcookieday=\"15\">\n<\/ps-take-over>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/blockads.fivefilters.org\">Adblock test<\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n<p>Published at Fri, 27 May 2022 18:10:13 +0000<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>AI image analysis helps track biodiversity by railway lines | E&T Magazine Trials in using…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2336,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6369","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/techclot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/4G1jb9.jpg?fit=500%2C325&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3orZX-1EJ","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/techclot.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6369","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/techclot.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/techclot.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techclot.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techclot.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6369"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/techclot.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6369\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techclot.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2336"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/techclot.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6369"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techclot.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6369"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techclot.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6369"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}