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A groundbreaking approach to this challenge has emerged from researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS), led by Associate Professor L. Roman Carrasco and PhD student Timothy Yee Bing Lun from the Department of Biological Sciences. They have developed a deep learning method to analyse social media images taken within protected areas, aiming to map and understand human activity distribution.
Demarcating protected areas such as nature reserves and national parks is vital for preserving biodiversity and maintaining natural ecosystems. To ensure these areas are effectively managed, many countries have increasingly turned to nature-based tourism as a source of funding. This shift not only supports the upkeep of these protected spaces but also raises the importance of monitoring visitor movements to mitigate their ecological impacts on sensitive species.
The research team used publicly available images from a social media platform as a proxy to study human activities within these protected spaces. Their approach involved applying a deep learning image tagging model to automatically detect and categorise the activities depicted in these images. By sifting through 87,090 photos from 2,813 protected areas across 207 countries, the researchers demonstrated the effectiveness of combining social media data with advanced deep-learning techniques for gaining insights into visitor patterns.
This method offers a cost-effective and efficient alternative to traditional field surveys, which can be both time-consuming and expensive. The ability to leverage vast amounts of social media data allows for a broader and more detailed understanding of human activities within protected areas.
Mr Yee emphasised the significance of their study, stating, “While similar studies have been conducted, our research is likely the first to investigate human activities within protected areas on a global scale. It highlights how social media and deep learning can be powerful tools for addressing critical environmental issues on a much larger scale.”
The study revealed intriguing patterns in human activities across different protected areas. For instance, Southeast Asian protected areas were frequently depicted with images of animals and plants, while European sites showcased numerous historic landmarks. Additionally, the analysis found that protected areas within the same country exhibited similar types of activities, even if their physical environments differed.
Associate Professor Carrasco explained the potential impact of their findings, noting, “We hope that this technique can be adopted by conservation organisations to monitor land use patterns in nature reserves more effectively and economically. This would enable targeted conservation efforts and help safeguard ecosystems amidst growing visitor numbers.”
By integrating deep learning with social media data, this innovative approach provides valuable insights into how protected areas are used and how human activities can be managed to reduce their ecological footprint. It represents a significant advancement in the field of environmental monitoring, offering a scalable and impactful solution to some of the pressing challenges faced by conservationists today.
NUS is pioneering research into cutting-edge technologies to drive sustainability and combat climate change. Their innovative approaches aim to address critical environmental challenges and foster a more sustainable future.
OpenGov Asia reported that NUS researchers have made a breakthrough in green energy with a new battery-free system that harnesses ambient radiofrequency (RF) signals to power electronic devices. By developing nanoscale spin-rectifiers, they’ve created a prototype capable of efficiently converting weak RF signals into direct current (DC) voltage, potentially revolutionizing power sources for small devices and reducing environmental impact.
Such research work underscores the growing importance of leveraging modern technologies to address environmental issues. As nature-based tourism continues to expand, adopting such advanced methods will be crucial for ensuring that conservation and sustainability efforts remain effective and that protected areas can continue to thrive.
