Introduction:
Hi Everyone! After posting in my first blog “Deciphering Animal Communication using AI”, I’ve been determined to find more uses of how we could use AI to try to protect and learn more about the species and habitats on the Earth. The more that we develop as a species, the more people try to jump at the opportunity of using new technologies, and this might be at the expense of the Earth and the natural resources that we already have. The Amazon Rainforest is known as being an abundant ecosystem that is within the Earth, but it is being damaged by various factors, and one of the main ones would be deforestation. Microsoft is taking measures using technology to save the parts of the rainforest that we still have.
Source: https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/jaguar-the-amazing-amazon-big-cat
What is damaging the Amazon Rainforest?
Source: https://earth.org/amazon-rainforest-endangered-species/
Most people are aware of the deforestation that takes place in the Amazon Rainforest, but because it is a place that isn’t very habited by humans, the damage is ignored. Lai states, “Aside from supporting such a rich biodiversity, the Amazon is also the world’s largest rainforest, playing a crucial role in helping absorb and store carbon dioxide amid increases in global carbon emissions”. Despite the fact that we are geographically distant from the Amazon Rainforest, we still experience the benefits that it offers. Additionally, there are so many species that survive and thrive in the Amazon Rainforest, and they are losing their habitats. Lai states, “rampant deforestation and increasing wildfire events exacerbated by climate change are destroying more natural habitats every day, threatening the survival of many important and rare species “. We all enjoy the documentaries featuring these amazing animals, but we have to think about how they are suffering, and even unknown species have an importance in the food chain.
Microsoft’s use of AI to help the Amazon Rainforest
Source: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/ai/ai-for-earth-imazon
After researching about how AI would relate to the Amazon Rainforest, I came across Imazon. According to Microsoft, “Imazon uses artificial intelligence and Microsoft Azure services to prototype deforestation risk and prevent future losses of the Amazon rainforest”. I was excited to see that a major tech company, like Microsoft, would find such a relevant cause to focus on and trying to improve. There are so many components that went into this from Microsoft and here are some of them. Firstly, the text states, “Imazon, together with Fundo Vale and Microsoft are integrating an existing rainforest deforestation risk model algorithm using Azure. With a more robust image processing forest model, PrevisIA can identify unofficial roads, one of the leading indicators of future deforestation, stimulating future scenarios to stop rainforest loss events, like forest fires, before they happen”. It was interesting to see how Microsoft determined something, like “unofficial roads”, and connected it to helping prevent not only deforestation, but also as a way to manage certain situations, such as the forest fires. The fact that Microsoft is also working with “an existing rainforest deforestation risk model algorithm” shows that this is a cause that is being improved and is something that can be upgraded as the newer technologies that Microsoft has comes out.
The Impact
Source: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/ai/ai-for-earth-imazon
The picture above shows how the technology works, and a diagram of the components. The results that came from using PrevisIA were amazing to read about. The website states, “The resulting output is visualized in an interactive map, highlighting the high-risk areas. This information is then used to support decision making for safeguarding the rainforest”. I wanted to understand the reach that a new technology like this could have when it came to the Amazon Rainforest, because it would be really difficult to be able to monitor every part of the rainforest at all times, but I liked how they mentioned how this technology could be used as a plan. Even if all parts of the rainforest aren’t incorporated in the places that would be considered “high-risk areas”, I think the strategy that will be used to prevent deforestation in those locations can also be implemented in other areas where there are different risk levels. Also, based on the results of what happened when the “high-risk areas” were observed and how the precautions affected those locations can show the people involved in this project what was successful, and maybe even whether or not this could be something that could be used in either other rainforests around the world, or other habitats.
Conclusion:
After learning more about how Microsoft is using AI to try to help preserve the Amazon Rainforest, it has been nice to know that there are more ways and ideas that we can now try to test out because of how technologies, such as Imazon, are trying to improve the Earth. I hope that this project succeeds and is able to have some form of continuation, because bringing the Amazon Rainforest back to a good state after dealing with lots of deforestation is definitely going to be something that will take a long time to accomplish. I’m interested to see how the impact over time, and which regions of the Amazon the technology has expanded to, and whether or not this is technology can be used in other parts of the world.
Thanks,
Jhanvi Desai
Hey Jhanvi! I thought your blog post this week was fascinating! I love nature and the animals that inhabit it. It’s really devasting to see the deforestation of the Amazon Rainforest as it supplies a large amount of oxygen to the Earth, vast ecosystems, endangered species and much more. It’s great to see companies are using AI to help with the ongoing issues of deforestation to restore the rainforest back to somewhat of its former self.
Super cool idea! (I hope we haven’t mentioned this story in class, but I heard it a while ago as well) There was a story a while ago where a company called “Rainforest Connection” where they took old cell phones and repurposed them to make a network of phones that tracked logging companies through the phone’s mics. They were set up on trees and alerted officials if they heard anything that was out of the ordinary audibly. This is somewhat of the same concept as your blog which can create great impacts for the future of our forests and ecosystems, especially in secluded places like the amazon! Great post.
Hi Jhanvi! I loved your point on the potential of modernizing the rainforest model because that is what digital innovation is all about. Also, I believe if successful, this model can go to a global scale. However, I am curious if the Brazilian government would actually implement policy changes to safeguarding on behalf of these findings.
Hey, great post! This was really eye-opening for me to realize that massive companies are working hard behind the scenes to give back to the community and environment. I had no idea that Microsoft was taking initiatives to leverage their AI technology to prevent deforestation but it is a neat concept and makes me wonder what other large companies are engaging in on the side. Another aspect of this is the publicity- I am curious why this isn’t talked about more. It seems like a huge initiative that could have a positive impact on countries around the world, so I wonder why there isn’t more buzz about the findings from it. Might be a niche market where those affected know about it, but I think the general public would be interested in this/find helpful takeaways from it! Great post- loved reading about this!
I love stories like this. Sensors are getting so much cheaper and computing power so much more centralized (I.e. cloud) that a lot of the large scale monitoring programs are possible. Will be interesting to see how this technology is increasingly used for the good and the bad, but I do like the environmental impacts. The Agribusienss industry, for example, is hugely digitized to optimize yield while using minimal resources.
Hey Jhanvi! This is such an awesome blog. I find it very interesting that using AI technology could possibly help protect the ecosystem! Hopefully this will be pushed out more because the only thing that is coming out of this is the concept of making the earth a better place for humans and animals.
Hi Jhanvi! This is a such a cool topic to write about, and I enjoyed reading your post! I did not know that this much technology is used in preserving the rainforest, and I am hopeful in seeing how progressive it is in the future. The Amazon rainforest is much more vital for our world to thrive than most people realize. The more data we can get about the rainforest’s conditions the better we can take care of it!
Hi Jhanvi! I really enjoyed your post! It’s really interesting (and nice) to hear that Microsoft is stepping in with helping the deforestation occurring in the Amazon rainforest. I don’t think that people truly realize how deforestation can affect us even though we are very, very far away, but it’s nice to hear that a big-name company is putting a bit of their corporate selves to the side to help out. Hopefully, Microsoft’s use for AI can continue to improve and help other parts of the world that need help as well. Furthermore, this would look great for their environmental/sustainability reputation 🙂
Hello Jhanvi! I really enjoyed getting to learn more about how AI is making an impact in nature. I have read many things about the deforestation in the Amazon rainforest and always wondered if there would ever been a solution to this problem. It will be interesting to see how AI makes an impact in our world and all the great things that can change through the use of new technology.
Hi Jhanvi, this was a really amazing topic to write about! I agree that it is crucial for us to help preserve the Amazon rainforest as much as possible, and it was awesome to learn how Microsoft is working to do so through artificial intelligence. I had no idea that the “unofficial roads” had such an impact on the Amazon rainforest. I will be interested in keeping up with how AI is helping preserve the rainforest over the years. Overall, great blog post!!
hey Jhanvi,
I loved this topic, in fact, I was reading up on how Microsoft plans to use its AI in various types of initiatives. Using AI for positive actions such as environmental upkeep is just the beginning, soon I believe that they’ll be able to help other regions of the world. Deforestation is major in other places such as Nigeria and Ghana, will Microsoft expand over to those countries?