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DOC Habitat annotator and classifier

New Zealand's delicate reef ecosystems need careful protection, and analysing marine imaging data is key to this effort. To support this, TAIAO has teamed up with the Department of Conservation (DOC) to create an innovative online image annotation platform. This tool simplifies the complex process of analysing deep-sea photos and videos, making it faster and more collaborative.Designed with DOC’s input, the platform streamlines workflows, boosts productivity, and makes managing large video lib...

Aotearoa Species Classifier

The Aotearoa Species Classifier is the first comprehensive New Zealand-specific species classifier through Artificial Intelligence (AI).Trained using a data set of over 1.2 million expert-annotated images, the AI tool is able to identify thousands of Aotearoa’s plants, animals, and fungi.The programme recognises unique features in photos of species large and small, from Hector’s dolphins to striated ants, and returns the scientific name, common names, and other related classifications.When d...

Forest Flows Monitoring

Clean, fresh water is essential for life. As land-use intensification and climate change place growing pressure on water resources, it is vital that we manage water use sustainably. Planted forests can be managed to provide beneficial water outcomes, given adequate science information. However, forest hydrology science in New Zealand is hopelessly out of date. Forest Flows - creating water-resilient landscapes $13.7 million proposal was successfully funded through the 2019 NZ MBIE Ende...

Flood Prediction Tool

The flood prediction tool is a new artificial intelligence system being designed by the University of Waikato to predict the impact of future flooding events in the Coromandel region.Being developed as part of the TAIAO project, it will be one of only a handful of systems in operation in New Zealand using artificial intelligence (AI) machine learning to predict floods and the effects of flooding.Although not the first of its kind, the key point of difference is the multiple data sources the syst...

Highlights from the Environmental Data Science and AI Summit

On Monday, 19 August TAIAO hosted its first-ever Environmental Data Science and AI Summit at Victoria University of Wellington. Speakers from some of Aotearoa New Zealand’s top research institutes came together with academics to discuss how data science and AI can seek a deeper understanding of our environment....

Environmental Data Science and AI Summit

Join us at Victoria University of Wellington on 19 August 2024 (Monday) for an engaging day filled with talks, workshops, and networking opportunities centered on the intersection of environmental studies and data science in New Zealand. This summit is ideal for scientists, government officials, students, and community members who are passionate about conservation challenges and seeking a deeper understanding of our environment.Our speakers include leading experts from academ...

Hackathon 2024

We’re delighted to be supporting the AI Hackathon 2024 in Waikato and Canterbury on 8 and 9 August 2024. Registrations are now open! Join us at the University of Waikato or the University of Canterbury for the AI Hackathon 2024, solve real-world problems and help make a difference....

TAIAO Newsletter: 2023 Wrapped

Closing out 2023, changes to Aotearoa New Zealand’s climate were more apparent than ever, with major weather events shaking the country, such as the Northland flash flooding and Cyclone Gabrielle. Such events show the importance of using data to make better predictions, and the importance of working together to learn from these to move forward.A whakatauki (Māori proverb) comes to mind: Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua – I walk backwards into the future with my eyes fixed on my past. It r...

TAIAO Workshop 2023 - Recordings

The TAIAO Workshop 2023 took place a month ago (time really does fly!), and we want to express our heartfelt appreciation to all those who attended and presented at this year's TAIAO project workshop.Our TAIAO project has been going strong for three years, and now we're excited to embark on our fourth year, enriched by the invaluable input and feedback we received during the workshop. It was truly rewarding to connect with members of our community, igniting fresh opportunities for collaboration ...

TAIAO Newsletter - Upcoming Events

As an initiative supported by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), TAIAO is committed to promoting and facilitating the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and data science in New Zealand's environmental sector.We are excited to keep you informed about the latest advancements in this field, and to share stories of successful implementation of these technologies.In this newsletter, you will find information on:Hackathon Festival - Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 AugustTAIAO ...

TAIAO Workshop 2023

Join the TAIAO Workshop: Celebrating 50 Years of Computing at UoW (AI Month)Prepare for an extraordinary event as we invite you to the highly anticipated TAIAO Workshop, in celebration of 50 years of Computing at the University of Waikato. Join us in August, during the AI Month, at the vibrant Tauranga Campus for an unforgettable gathering. Immerse yourself in the forefront of data science developments, with a special focus on cutting-edge environmental-driven use cases.Mark your calendar with t...

New Computer Model for Early Detection of Biosecurity Threats

Paul Benden, a master's student at the University of Canterbury, is currently six months into developing a computer model that can identify biosecurity threats before they become a wider issue.The work, funded by Biological Heritage National Science Challenge, uses regular photo updates to create a digital twin of the tree. The computer programme compares the digital twin to the regular photos it receives and alerts the handler if the tree is not growing healthily.For instance, if urban trees in...

Award-winning probabilistic framework sets new accuracy standard

The Data Science and Advanced Analytics conference recognised TAIAO researcher and AI and Data Science Associate Professor Yun Sing Koh, Ben Halstead and her team of researchers for their study on existing probabilistic framework methods and the creation of a new method.As the world generates an unprecedented amount of data, the need for accurate and efficient machine learning systems have become extremely important – including probabilistic frameworks (PFs) which predict future possibilities ...

Protecting New Zealand’s coasts and communities

As the world grapples with the concerning effects of rising sea levels, Aotearoa New Zealand is taking proactive steps to address the unique vulnerabilities of its coastal areas and protect the wellbeing of its communities.Sea level rise is being fuelled by melting ice in polar areas and in alpine glaciers, which is combined with expansion of the ocean caused by a temperature increase. While the sea level is rising around Aotearoa New Zealand, whether coastal communities are at risk depends on i...

Welcome to the TAIAO newsletter

TAIAO, funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), is a programme that seeks to support New Zealand researchers and practitioners who are working to preserve our country's unique environment.Through the newsletter, we will be sharing stories of successful implementation of AI and automation, as well as updates on funding and networking opportunities and upcoming events.In this newsletter, you will find information on:TAIAO as a game changer for Aotearoa New Zealand...

A year in review

We’ve been able to host workshops and national events, propose exciting new research and bring environmental and data researchers together to share and collaborate on their work.With Christmas just around the corner, we wanted to take this opportunity to share some of our highlights from 2022.Artificial intelligence used to predict the impacts of future flooding eventsEarlier this year, we were able to support the development of an artificial intelligence (AI) tool capable of predicting the im...

Wildlife identification App launched

A group of New Zealand researchers have developed the first comprehensive New Zealand-specific species classifier through Artificial Intelligence (AI).Members of the TAIAO project at the Universities of Waikato and Canterbury used a data set of over 1.2 million expert-annotated images to train AI to identify Aotearoa’s plants, animals, and fungi.The programme recognises unique features in photos of species large and small, from Hector’s dolphins to striated ants, and returns the scientific n...

Algal Bloom Detection using a Machine Learning Approach

University of Auckland computer science PhD student Olivier (Oli) Graffeuille has developed a novel machine learning algorithm which can lead to precise estimates from satellite imagery on the quantity and nature of the algae.“Currently algae is usually measured by taking one or two samples and analysing them in a lab. This often isn’t truly representative of the extent of the problem, and it’s costly and slow,’ Graffeuille says.“With remote sensing using satellite imagery, we can esti...

Artificial intelligence used to predict the impacts of future flooding events

It is being developed as part of the TAIAO project and will be one of only a handful of systems in operation in New Zealand using artificial intelligence (AI) machine learning to predict floods and the effects of flooding.Senior researcher at the University of Waikato AI Institute and senior regional hazard advisor at Waikato Regional Council, Dr Phil Mourot says the idea for the project first came about after the Queen’s Birthday weekend flooding in the Coromandel in 2020.“Currently, there ...