Executive summary

Context

Superlinear, a Belgian AI consultancy, collaborated with SBA, Botlink and the Monarch Joint Venture, by developing an object detection AI model for a conservation technology platform named POLLi. This international project aimed to counter the endangerment of pollinators, particularly the monarch butterfly, which is crucial for the ecosystem.

Goal of the project

The project's primary goal was to develop a technology platform to streamline the process of locating and counting milkweed, a plant vital for monarch butterfly reproduction.

Solution

The AI model Superlinear developed identifies milkweed stems on drone images, allowing POLLi to process the habitat images collected automatically and count the milkweed stems in each image.

Case study

The challenge

The challenge faced by the Monarch Joint Venture was multifaceted. The conservation of the monarch butterfly, a key pollinator species, was primarily critical due to its diminishing population. Central to this conservation effort was monitoring milkweed plants, which are essential for monarch reproduction.

Understanding the monarch challenge

The traditional monitoring methods involve manually counting milkweed plants, which is costly, time-consuming, and labor-intensive. These methods required specialized training, producing subjective results through different interpretations of the physical observations.

The project's scale, spanning from Mexico to Canada, demanded a solution for efficient and accurate coverage over vast areas.

“The complexity of tracking monarch butterflies across a continent was daunting. We needed a solution that was efficient, scalable, and accurate.”

Greg Emerick, CEO SBA

The briefing

Greg Emerick, CEO at SBA, driven by a passion for technology and innovation, sought a partner with technical expertise and shared corporate ethics. After exploring several options, SBA found a perfect fit with Superlinear.

Aligning values and vision

Superlinear's in-depth understanding of the problem before proposing a solution resonated with SBA's philosophy. "Finding a partner like Superlinear, who not only had the technical expertise but also shared our vision for environmental stewardship, was crucial," states Greg Emerick, CEO of SBA.

The alignment between Superlinear’s technical team and SBA's business objectives was key in forging this partnership.

The work

The work initiated by Superlinear and its partners was systematic and data-driven. The first step involved critically analyzing existing data. This data, primarily aerial images, was initially annotated by non-experts, leading to inconsistencies.

A Collaborative and Innovative Approach

Superlinear, in collaboration with the Monarch Joint Venture (MJV), undertook a process of re-labeling and correcting this data. Victor Hutse, Solution Lead at Superlinear, highlights the collaborative nature of the work: “It was a fusion of expertise. Our team at Superlinear brought advanced AI skills, while MJV contributed invaluable ecological knowledge. This synergy was key to developing an effective solution.”

The Model - A Technical Look 

Our solution revolves around a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) object detection model designed to recognize milkweed stems in drone-captured images. We meticulously compared the model's predictions with on-site field counts conducted along designated transects to ensure optimal performance. The result is a highly proficient model, accurately identifying milkweed stems and achieving an impressive mean Average Precision (mAP) score of 0.918—a performance level comparable to that of a human domain expert.

Impact

“Our AI model can accurately and consistently identify milkweed stems with a performance level comparable to that of a human domain expert, saving time and costs. More importantly, employees with advanced skills and training can focus on higher-value tasks to improve their insights while still capturing stem counts.”

Victor Hutse, Solution Lead Superlinear

POLLi's goal is to map North America's milkweed and add 1.8 billion stems, crucial for Monarch reproduction. Superlinear’s AI model is key, accurately identifying milkweed and guiding informed decisions for researchers and policymakers.

The future

The potential applications of POLLi extend beyond the initial project. The success of POLLi in efficiently monitoring and managing milkweed populations opens avenues for its application in other conservation efforts.

Harnessing Technology for Broader Environmental Goals

This form of object detection can be adapted to monitor different species of flora and fauna. “What started as a project to save monarch butterflies has the potential to transform how we approach conservation globally. POLLi is a testament to technology being harnessed for the greater good,” reflects Greg Emerick. Furthermore, the underlying technology of POLLi holds promise for various industries concerned with habitat management and reporting, demonstrating their contribution to sustainability and better management practices.

Superlinear's ongoing AI contribution to POLLi exemplifies how technological innovation, aligned with conservation goals, can lead to transformative environmental management and sustainability practices.

“What started as a project to save monarch butterflies has the potential to transform how we approach conservation globally. POLLi is a testament to technology being harnessed for the greater good.”

Greg Emerick, CEO SBA