Cambridge Researchers Map UK Hedgehog Habitats With 20 Petabytes of AI Data
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 18
Cambridge Researchers Map UK Hedgehog Habitats With 20 Petabytes of AI Data
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 18
University of Cambridge researchers are using the AI system Tessera and satellite imagery to pinpoint UK hedgehog habitats and identify where those landscapes are disappearing.
20 petabytes of training data—about 10 billion standard photos—help the tool map features down to individual hedgerows and predict suitable habitat even when cloud cover obscures the ground.
The maps are intended to show how housing development and other environmental changes affect hedgehogs' ability to find food, mates and safe routes, alongside GPS-tracker data from tagged animals.
Hedgehog numbers in the UK were estimated in a 2022 report to have fallen by up to 75% in rural areas since 2000, and the species is listed as Near Threatened.
More than 100 research groups already use the open-source system, reflecting a wider push to apply AI to conservation despite concerns about the technology's energy demands.
Is the AI saving Britain's hedgehogs worsening the climate crisis that threatens them?
As AI maps exact hedgehog habitats, how will it stop developers from destroying them?
Beyond hedgehogs, what global crisis is this powerful, open-source AI being aimed at next?
Mapping 850,000+ Hedgehog Habitats: How AI and Satellite Data Are Transforming UK Wildlife Conservation
Overview
The Cambridge Hedgehog Mapping Project is a groundbreaking conservation initiative that uses advanced artificial intelligence and satellite technology to map hedgehog habitats across the UK. By leveraging the open-source Tessera model, researchers can analyze vast amounts of satellite data to identify where hedgehogs thrive and understand the environmental factors crucial for their survival. This innovative approach marks a new era for conservation, offering a detailed and scalable way to monitor wildlife and guide efforts to protect vulnerable species. The project demonstrates how technology can transform our understanding and protection of nature.