Open data collection program to aid conservation effort

The Whale and Vessel Safety Task Force (WAVS), an industry group looking for technological solutions to mitigate vessel strikes to the endangered North Atlantic right whale (NARW), is partnering with open-source software platform provider Viam to accelerate development of an open data collection program to aid the conservation effort.

Viam will work with other WAVS member companies and organisations to develop an open-source database that will collect data from participating vessels across multiple sectors and use types, according to a news release from WAVS. Currently, limited data is collected from mostly commercial shipping and fishing vessels required to use the automatic identification system (AIS).

“The data collected from this effort will serve as a much-needed accelerant and driving force to advance the agility and accuracy of AI in detecting large marine mammals,” the release reads.

One of the world’s most endangered whales, NARW is the subject of a proposed rule from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that would limit vessels 35ft and larger to a 10kt speed limit along much of the eastern seaboard of the United States.

“By leveraging advanced single-board computer technology developed by Viam, data from existing hardware such as navigation and communication systems, infrared and visual cameras can be efficiently captured from vessels,” the release continues.

The goal is to use the data to develop technology that will enhance situational awareness of whales and ultimately reduce vessel strikes.

“Viam’s open-source architecture allows organisations to crowdsource public and open data sets to inform AI, enabling much more collaboration and transparency,” says Eliot Horowitz, CEO and founder of Viam. “Through an innovative, collaborative, and data-centric approach, Viam and WAVS are committed to finding transformative ways to reduce the risk of vessel strikes on endangered species, protect marine life, and stimulate unprecedented innovation in maritime safety.”

In addition to Viam, three other organisations have signed on to WAVS, including Fathom Science LLC, a company founded and run by experts on the cutting edge of integrated data collection, analytics, and numerical modeling technology; Maritime Information Systems, which is actively expanding AIS transmission capacity along the Atlantic Coast with the intentions of disseminating NARW alerts and other management information to mariners; and Mitre, a not-for-profit technology and R&D company that connects and channels the power of government, academic, and industry partnerships to tackle complex national and global challenges. Mitre also serves as a consultant to NOAA.

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