Australian authorities have resorted to artificial intelligence in the face of an intrusive pest that is economically and environmentally devastating, I developed an app that can help the public identify harmful insects and report their locations. This is to build a national database and support the protection of Australian biosecurity.
Global interest in AI and its capabilities is growing daily, but, For this technology to achieve its potential and meaning, It should be reflected in people’s daily lives by making it easier, better and safer.
In Australia, It is one of the leading countries around the world in the field of artificial intelligence, Biosecurity is increasingly threatened, Farmers suffer because of agricultural pests, The most prominent of which are the “stinking bug” insects (Stink Bug). Australia’s maritime borders of more than 60,000 kilometres are ideal gateways for pests and alien organisms. Especially in light of the nature of the commercial system. The origin of this brown insect dates back to China, With the increase in its exports in the mid-nineties, It has spread to several countries around the world. It is one of the invasive species that can eliminate more than 300 species of plants such as apples, hard stone fruits, hazelnuts and grains. These insects breed in large groups in good lighting conditions such as car factories, During pregnancy, the female goes into hibernation in dark places and wakes up months later in another country where cars have been exported. Because of its nature, may invade new territories in the absence of natural enemies capable of controlling their censuses, It may cause significant environmental damage, They are very similar to other insect species, This makes them difficult to identify.
Because this phenomenon has become a unique Australian challenge, It therefore requires a unique Australian solution. therefore The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Environment has commissioned the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CI Cyrro) to research solutions and provided research support. C-Cyrro used artificial intelligence, machine learning and cloud autonomy to design an app that might help keep stinking bugs away.
The new application is based on a prototype that Microsoft helped to finance, Its mechanism of action is to monitor harmful grass flower seeds, Artificial intelligence is used to identify stinking bug species from thousands of samples found in Si Chero labs. which were collected from inside and outside the country. In Australia alone, 600 registered species of this insect live, In addition to several thousand species that are not yet classified. These species have been chosen by names associated with the smell of pheromones and the chemicals they use to communicate with each other.
Over the years, These samples formed a database that gradually expanded. In order to create a reference base on which to build application algorithms, Experts take detailed digital photos of their stinking bugs, They also use three-dimensional imaging technology to obtain shots from multiple angles.
Using a smartphone camera, The user can take a picture of the insect and upload it to the application, which determines its type by reference to its database, It includes insect species profiles with examples of images and information related to each insect. The application software also allows zooming in or out of the image and viewing the insect from different angles, Users can also attach geographical coordinates and local time to the image of the insect, And then report on its type to help build the database and support the mission of biosecurity officials.
The research team hopes to expand its efforts in two different directions, Where he looks to add artificial intelligence models for other types of organisms that threaten the ecological balance, Meanwhile, The aim of this project is to engage, educate and give the public a role in addressing the challenges and endeavors to maintain biosecurity, The latter plays a pivotal role in containing risks. It is what has made the prevalence of pests and diseases in Australia one of the lowest in the world. It is essential for the establishment of whole industries such as the export of crops, which is worth $51 billion, It also serves the tourism sector with a value of $ 50 billion, It includes environmental assets worth more than $5.7 trillion, It creates more than 1.6 million jobs. For this vital role, The authorities shall apply special measures for its protection, Especially given its position as an island nation, Border authorities inspect millions of postal parcels, shipping containers, flora, animals and passengers. X-ray machines, quarantine and monitoring programs and others are used. Currently, This new application is subject to tests by the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Environment at ports and airports to determine its effectiveness and monitor the challenges it may face.
This application will help biosecurity workers distinguish and separate alien species from native species of the country. For the Executive Team, This experiment provided an example of the most important practical applications of an insect-ridden database. The collaborative partnership has also proven to be a successful way to transform modern technologies into real solutions to major challenges.
More broadly, The investment in research and exploration of new ways to identify and contain risks, Global sharing of information, resources and innovations, All contribute to the protection of the country’s biosecurity, Preserving societal culture and values.
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