Building Tools for Conservation, with Conservationists

Open-source drones for ecosystem monitoring, threat forecasting, and community-led protection.

100+ Ecosystems Monitored
Open Source & Hardware
24/7 Persistent Surveillance

Protecting Precious Ecosystems

The drone has presented itself as a ubiquitous tool for transformative change, from taking aerial photos to delivering much needed supplies including medical supplies and food.

Wielding this tool, we can leverage high precision images in various light/electromagnetic spectrum to deduce patterns of interest in crops, the atmosphere, soil and water ecosystems. By so doing, we can identify threats to these precious ecosystems and safeguard them against degradation.

"We can identify threats to these precious ecosystems and safeguard them against degradation."

Threats Identified:

  • Deforestation
  • Poaching Activity
  • Habitat Fragmentation
  • Water Source Pollution

Persistent Monitoring & Threat Forecasting

We have come up with a simple to build and assemble aerial platform that can be used for persistent monitoring to ensure patterns are deduced early and that they can lead to forecasting future threats.

Upon capturing patterns of interest, data is stored in a retrieval system to build a data warehouse which will eventually be used to train neural networks/machine learning to deduce patterns and make forecasts.

1. Drone Capture

High-precision multispectral imaging

2. Data Storage

Secure data warehouse with retrieval system

3. ML Training

Neural networks for pattern recognition

4. Threat Forecast

Predictive analytics for early warning

Why Open Hardware & Software?

Using an open ecosystem will ensure continued evolution of the product through public participation and peer review, as well as ensure rollout of the solution to as many countries as possible. Our idea of the future is being able to forecast carbon sequestration and related issues threatening delicate ecosystems from climate change.

Public Participation & Peer Review

Continuous evolution through global collaboration and transparent development processes.

Global Rollout & Accessibility

Designed for deployment across diverse ecosystems and communities worldwide.

Carbon Sequestration Forecasting

Pioneering models to predict and monitor ecosystem carbon capture capabilities.

We cannot do it alone!

Join our community of conservationists, developers, and researchers building the future of ecological monitoring.

Solution Architecture

Technology Stack

The Open Drone Suite is built using the Java Programming Language, employs shell scripting as a joiner to various components, as shall be seen in the following documentation.

The image below shows the major components and how they relate to each other. Each technology used is shown alongside to be able to understand how the components interconnect.

Core Language: Java 17+
Integration: Bash Shell Scripting
Data Processing: Apache Spark
ML Framework: TensorFlow / PyTorch
Data Storage: PostgreSQL + TimescaleDB
Open Drone Core
FCU
Sensors
Pipeline

Transparent, Modular, and Reproducible by Design

Hover over components for details

Partner With Us

Conservation Organizations

Need monitoring solutions for your reserve or research project?

Request Consultation

Developers & Engineers

Contribute to our open-source stack on GitHub.

View Repository

Researchers & Academics

Access datasets or collaborate on forecasting models.

Explore Datasets

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