Innovative Drone Service for Safeguarding Forests
1st project objective is to identify existing, state-of-the-art, drone-based solutions that could be used for environmental monitoring. We will primarily focus on identifying optimal technical drone solutions, sensing technology, analytical solutions, algorithms and AI models, as well as risks and added values associated with the use of drones for environmental monitoring.
2nd project objective is to develop a holistic methodology for environmental crime detection with focus on illegal logging and waste dumping.
3rd project objective is to create a functioning prototype of the drone-based solution, using identified solutions and developed methodology.
4th project objective is to upgrade the solution from the prototype stage to the minimal viable product stage and put the drone-based solution on the market.
Challenges and how they will be addressed
The 1st challenge that this project will tackle is the impact of environmental crime on the biodiversity loss, disruptions in the ecological balance, soil degradation and other ecological damage. With our drone-based solution, we will increase the detection of environmental crime cases, as well as provide a preventive function that will deter potential eco-criminals.
The 2nd challenge that this project will tackle is the financial damage caused by environmental crime in rural communities. Environmental crime causes both direct and indirect damage to various stakeholders. For example, illegal logging causes a direct financial damage to the forest owners and tax authorities, while illegal waste dumping carries significant costs of cleanup for landowners. By reducing the number of eco-crime cases, we will also save significant amounts of money for various stakeholders.
The 3rd challenge that this project will tackle is the lack of eco-crime prevention experts in rural communities. Using service business model, we will reduce the need for local experts and specialists. As the drone-based solution will be able to cover large areas quickly, this will also reduce the need for teams of ground operators. This will also reduce the overall cost of eco-crime prevention activities for the final customer.
The 4th challenge that this project will tackle is the lack of technological and logistics infrastructure in rural communities. As most environmental crime cases occur in remote, hard-to-access areas, our drone-based solution will provide an efficient solution that can effectively monitor vast and remote areas, without the need to access the area on the ground.
Expected outcomes
1
The 1st expected outcome is the developed prototype of the drone-based solution for monitoring and detecting environmental crime – namely illegal waste dumping and illegal logging. The prototype will be accompanied with the methodology for the detection monitoring of environmental crime.
2
The 2nd expected outcome is a fully developed pay-per-use service, ready for market launch. The service will include drone operation, data analysis, compliance consulting and the implementation of environmental crime prevention methodology into practice. In the following three years we expect to posses a fleet of 5 fully equipped drones, cover 200.000 hectares and reduce the illegal activities in the monitored areas by 80%.
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