Technologies that can save “Mother Earth”
Our human tendency toward innovation and ingenuity , coupled with our advancing technology ,is helping to
come up with solutions for saving some of the other species on earth from becoming endangered , or even
extinct . From low-tech ideas used in novel ways , to altogether new technology used in place of older versions ,
there‘s a wide variety of concepts for using science and tech and gadgetry to preserve endangered species .
1. Better Mapping and Visualization:
Google earth has proven itself to be other than just a way to make maps or get directions, it‘s becoming a real
tool for the conversation and preservation of species and habitats. New species have been discovered by
scientists browsing the globe and endangered species and their vital habitats are being protected by
organization using this powerful software as a mapping and visualization tool to illustrate the threats to their
survival.
2. Smart Collars for Endangered Species:
We‘ve got smart phones and meters and smart grids , and biologists will have a new ―smart collars‖ that use
GPS and accelerometer technology to track not only a wild animal‘s location but also how it is moving, when it is
hunting , what it is hunting- in other words , these collars can tell us its every move. Researchers hope that by
knowing exactly what certain species of animals are up to , they can understand them much more
thoroughly- and possibly even predict behavior and reduce human-animal conflicts , revolutionizing the way we
interact with and manage wildlife.
3. Remote Control Photography and Video:
For learning about the needs and risks of endangered species , getting up close and recording the details of
wildlife in their natural habitat can be essential – and problematic , due to the difficulty of getting clear access
without exposing our own presence . But thanks to ideas like the Beetle Cam , observing some kinds of animals
is getting easier. Conservation photographer Will Burrard-Lucas has created a high-tech solution to help
get him amazing images that would otherwise be impossible .
4. Remote Monitoring of Wildlife Sounds:
Researchers have created a new computer technology that can listen to multiple bird sounds at one time, and
identify which species are present and how they may be changing , due habitat loss or climate change . This
system could provide an automated approach to monitoring bird species , instead of having a field researcher
doing direct observation . The researchers believe the technology can work not only birds , but for many forest
sounds , including species like insects and frogs , and perhaps even marine mammals.