AI-Powered App Combating Illegal Deforestation in Romania: Verify, Detect, and Protect Our Forests
Challenge Background
Introducing a project aimed at tackling the critical issue of illegal deforestation in Romania. The country faces significant environmental challenges, with an estimated annual loss of 6 billion dollars and the alarming disappearance of 3 hectares of forests per hour due to illicit logging. To address this, we propose a user-friendly mobile application leveraging advanced AI technologies and the SUMAL records. This app empowers citizens to report and verify timber transports while estimating wood volume through cutting-edge algorithms. It's not just about technology; it's a practical step towards sustainable forestry and collective environmental responsibility. Join us in our mission to safeguard Romania's ecosystems and combat illegal logging for a greener, more sustainable future.
The Problem
Deforestation in Romania is an alarming and rapidly escalating issue, posing a significant threat to the nation's environment, economy, and overall well-being. The statistics are striking: an estimated average loss of 3 hectares of forests every hour, resulting in a substantial annual economic setback of approximately 6 billion dollars, equivalent to a significant 2% of the country's GDP. What's even more concerning is that only 1% of illegal deforestation wood transport gets currently caught.
Goal of the Project
- Combat Illegal Deforestation: The primary goal is to actively contribute to the reduction of illegal deforestation in Romania by providing a tool that enables citizens to report and verify timber transports.
- Facilitate Law Enforcement: Assist law enforcement agencies by providing real-time, actionable data on potentially illegal timber transports, aiding in more effective monitoring and enforcement efforts.
- Develop Advanced AI Algorithms: Design and implement cutting-edge AI algorithms for license plate detection, wood volume estimation, log diameter measurement, and depth estimation. Strive for accuracy and efficiency to ensure reliable results.
- Enhance Environmental Conservation: Contribute to the preservation of Romania's rich forest ecosystems by curbing illegal deforestation. The project seeks to create awareness and actively engage authorities in enforcing regulations, fostering a more sustainable and responsible approach to forestry management.
Project Timeline
Define the project scope and objectives. Research the problem of deforestation in Romania. Assemble the project team and assign roles. Set up the development environment.
Research and select an appropriate license plate detection API. Develop data preprocessing and cleaning pipelines tailored for license plate-related data. Integrate the chosen API into the project, ensuring seamless functionality.
Thoroughly analyze the structure and content of the SUMAL website to identify key elements related to license plate information. Utilize the Selenium library to set up a robust web scraper capable of navigating through the SUMAL website. Implement logic within the web scraper to extract relevant information and documents associated with detected license plates.
Begin developing the wood volume estimation algorithm. Define the specifications and requirements for the algorithm. Set up the groundwork for implementing the YOLO algorithm for log diameter estimation. Analyze the HAWKwood dataset.
Implement the YOLO algorithm for log diameter estimation. Begin fine-tuning the YOLO model. Monitor the progress and performance of the YOLO algorithm. Evaluate and optimize the YOLO model.
Develop the depth estimation model for wood length. Define the model architecture and requirements. Start training the depth estimation model. Implement feature engineering for reference length by detecting the license plate bounding box and dimensions
Dedicate significant time to model training, evaluation, and optimization. Ensure that both the volume and depth estimation models are performing optimally. Fine-tune model hyperparameters. Evaluate all the models, integrate them together, and estimate the volume using the defined formula. Optimize the models for efficiency. Deploy the models in a REST API for easy access.
Integrate the trained models with the UI/UX. Conduct end-to-end testing and verification. Address any issues and ensure a smooth integration. Review and refine the user interface for a seamless user experience. Structure the entire system for user-friendly interaction.
What you'll learn
AI and Machine Learning Expertise, Project Management and Collaboration, Web Scraping Techniques, Data Wrangling, Computer Vision, Developing a REST API, Integrating all into UI/UX.
First Omdena Local Chapter Project?
Beginner-friendly, but also welcomes experts
Education-focused
Duration: 4 to 8 weeks
Open-source
Your Benefits
Address a significant real-world problem with your skills
Build your project portfolio
Access paid projects (as an Omdena Top Talent)
Get hired at top organizations
Requirements
Good English
Suitable for AI/ Data Science beginners but also more senior collaborators
Learning mindset
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