AI-Powered App Combating Illegal Deforestation in Romania: Verify, Detect, and Protect Our Forests

This Omdena Local Chapter Challenge runs for 8 weeks and is a unique experience to try and grow your skills in a collaborative and safe environment with a diverse mix of people from all over the world. 

You will work on solving a local problem, initiated by Romania Chapter

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.

The goals

• 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.

Why join? The uniqueness of Omdena Local Chapter Challenges

Omdena Local Chapter Challenges are not a competition or hackathon but a real-world project that will grow your experience to a new level. A unique learning experience with the potential to make an impact through the outcome of the project. You will go through an entire data science project lifecycle. This covers problem scoping, data collection, and preparation, as well as modeling for deployment. And the best part is that you will join the global and collaborative community of Omdena with tons of benefits to accelerate your career.

Read more on how Omdena´s Local Chapters work