The Nature Conservancy has applied geospatial AI and an environmental digital twin to guide the restoration and protection of Caribbean coral and its precious biodiversity.<\/p>\r\n
Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n The Caribbean, a tapestry of island nations and developing economies, relies heavily on coral ecosystems. Corals in this region and worldwide are under duress, and now scientists are using an AI-powered 3D model\u2014an environmental digital twin\u2014to protect this vital resource.<\/p>\r\n Vibrant reefs, teeming with exotic marine life, are the main draw for a $50 billion Caribbean tourism industry. These rich, delicate habitats also provide food security for the region\u2019s 43 million people. Symbiotic mangroves protect roads, farms, marinas, and hotels against the battering of tropical storms strengthened each year by rising ocean surface temperatures.<\/p>\r\n Since the 1950s, coverage of living coral has been cut in half. At least 63 percent of associated biodiversity has also declined. But corals have shown surprising resilience<\/a>, especially when governments and industry leaders embrace sustainable development measures.<\/p>\r\n \u201cConservation isn\u2019t an easy task,\u201d said Steve Schill, a geospatial data scientist with 23 years of working in the Caribbean. \u201cIt\u2019s a very complex problem, and it has a lot to do with people and changing behaviors.\u201d<\/p>\r\n For Schill, who leads science operations in the Caribbean for The Nature Conservancy (TNC), solving the problem starts with a complete map. He and his team\u2014 Valerie Pietsch McNulty, Catherin Cattafesta, and Denise Perez\u2014have built an environmental digital twin that shows a detailed, data-rich picture of every reef ecosystem dotting the sea. It combines geographic information system (GIS) technology and remote sensing\u2014data gathered from sensors, satellites, drones, aircraft, and underwater cameras\u2014 to zoom in to intricate details of reefs, mangroves, and seagrasses.<\/p>\r\n It also zooms out to reveal the deep interconnectedness of shallow water ecosystems. The goal is to map in detail where these ecosystems are, understand their condition, and monitor changes over time. This insight is crucial for effective adaptive management.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Digital twins\u2014virtual representations of complex systems\u2014are common in manufacturing, utilities, airports, and cities to gain a holistic understanding of many moving parts.<\/p>\r\n Conservationists have also embraced environmental digital twins to focus on urgent issues, such as ecosystem restoration and the eradication of invasive species. Built with GIS, these twins capture critical environmental data and create a working model of natural communities and ecosystems to monitor health and find balance. Coupled with environmental sensors and AI, the digital twin accelerates understanding of natural processes.<\/p>\r\n The Caribbean digital twin created by TNC captures over 200,000 km2<\/sup> of shallow-water habitats across the entire region. Imagine a mosaic of 35,000 satellite images that each capture a 150 km2<\/sup> block of land or sea. Scientists use the digital twin to measure the health of carbon-capturing mangroves and seagrasses. This data provides a time stamp to monitor changes in the future.<\/p>"},{"acf_fc_layout":"gallery","gallery_images":[760372,760382,760412,760472]},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" Images from Planet Labs, a San Francisco-based earth imaging company, give conservationists a highly granular view of shallow-water habitats up to 30 meters below the surface. Daily optical images are transmitted by a constellation of shoebox-sized Dove satellites. New Tanager satellites have hyperspectral cameras with hundreds of bands\u2014useful for advanced detailed monitoring of greenhouse gases, vegetation health, and plant and animal species.<\/p>\r\n Developing a cloud-free mosaic of thousands of satellite images took over a year. Each scene had to be searched in a vast archive. The best scenes were cloud free and included calm waters, low sun glint, and consistent light levels needed for accurate spectral analysis. These scenes were standardized for brightness and contrast using advanced color correction techniques based on AI-powered image analysis.<\/p>\r\n The result is thousands of miles of ecosystems captured in vivid detail and rich with data. For the first time, stakeholders can have a consistent regional map of coastal habitats. They use the data to zoom in and identify health indicators like water clarity, mangrove density, coral structure, and the presence of algae and other organisms. Applications track exactly where mangroves are dying and where they're thriving\u2014and help managers decide what to do next.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Satellites and AI have expanded their capabilities, but marine conservationists prefer to strap on their scuba gear for precise monitoring. In remote sensing, you need to couple and calibrate the imagery with field data.<\/p>\r\n \u201cThis allows you to produce a map with higher accuracy and gives you confidence in your results,\u201d Schill explained. \u201cThose are the two ingredients for creating a good map\u2014an optimal image and lots of field data.\u201d<\/p>\r\n TNC conducts extensive field operations, often in partnership with local groups. Drone flights provide a closer look at patterns picked up by satellites. GPS-equipped underwater cameras help document aquatic habitats affected by bleaching. Field data is georeferenced with GIS and layered onto satellite basemaps.<\/p>\r\n Having field data and satellite images in the same view enriches the analysis. Coral dispersal patterns can be modeled across hundreds of miles. Problem areas can be highlighted\u2014when bleaching events may result in coral reef loss, or a hurricane may damage a mangrove forest. Geospatial AI models, trained on ArcGIS spatial data, predict how human activities can lead to different outcomes as patterns on the map.<\/p>\r\n \u201cOne of the challenges is having countries look beyond their own borders and consider regional connections that are important to maintain,\u201d Schill said. \u201cMarine species don\u2019t care about country borders, and require collaborative regional protection.\u201d<\/p>"},{"acf_fc_layout":"gallery","gallery_images":[760452,760422,760442,760432]},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" Conservationists work at various scales mapping and analyzing ecological processes. For example, coral outplanting\u2014where temperature-resilient corals are grown in a nursery and replanted on the reef\u2014uses data collected at multiple scales to identify the best places where coral is likelier to survive. TNC scientists can detect changes in coral at the millimeter level, using in-water stereo photos for detailed 3D models of research plots.<\/p>\r\n Drones\u2014flown 60 meters above the water\u2014are also used to map coral colonies at the centimeter level, scanning larger areas for live and bleached corals. Aircraft mounted with special sensors can be used to fly higher and map national-scale features at submeter accuracy. Satellites are used to map features at the regional scale at coarser resolutions.<\/p>\r\n \u201cOne scale is not more important than the other,\u201d Schill explains, \u201cTo understand the big picture of what is going on, you need information at many scales to fully track ecological processes.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n In many underresourced countries, conservation efforts often take a back seat to more immediate needs and limited resources. New and innovative financing mechanisms are opening fresh revenue streams for implementing conservation actions.<\/p>\r\n For example, Barbados has recently unlocked conservation funding through TNC\u2019s Nature Bonds<\/a>, a customized debt-restructuring program to finance a nation\u2019s ambitious conservation goals.\u00a0 Barbados has committed to protecting 30 percent of its marine space and will be receiving $50 million to support management of these areas over the next 15 years.<\/p>\r\n Efforts to better manage the oceans and reduce conflicts in marine areas are being made through marine spatial planning. This approach is becoming more common around the world. Science is central to deciding where to set up new marine protected areas. It helps countries meet their 30x30 biodiversity goals under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. \u201cWe\u2019re working with countries to move the needle on ocean protection,\u201d Schill said. \u201cWe need to speed up ocean protection using the best science to find the most important areas, while considering the needs of different industries.\u201d<\/p>\r\n Since conservation decisions are largely based on data, sharing data is a critical component in achieving region-wide conservation goals. \u201cWe\u2019ve created a lot of data over the years, and we\u2019re using Esri technology to be able to search and provide that data to the world,\u201d Schill said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \t
An Environmental Digital Twin: Where Water Meets Land<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n
Micro- and Macroviews: Where Field Data Meets Aerial Imagery<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n
A Shared Source of Truth Accelerates Conservation for Island Nations<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n