Map Out Game Reserves Using Aerial Photographs

An application to map out game reserves using aerial photography, intelligent image stitching and AI driven recognition focus.

The Dylpickles - Map Out Game Reserves Using Aerial Photographs - Project Description

Nature conservation and anti-poaching initiatives are a major focus area in our society. From movement sensing cameras, to tracking collars on animals, technology plays a major role in the conservation of endangered animals. While the small satellite industry is doing extremely well in terms of earth imaging in higher and higher spatial and temporal resolution, they can not be used to resolve anything less than 0.5m per pixel currently. High resolution aerial footage largely solves this issue but doesn’t have the same field of view of a satellite. In order to solve this problem, we plan on bridging this gap by taking multiple aerial images and using their identifiable features to overlay and join images into a detailed bigger picture. This will be optimised by either supervised or unsupervised image recognition machine learning techniques. This will allow for various analysis to be performed, such as snare and trap detection, localised water scarcity, changes in animal paths and tracking changes in vegetation health among others.

Drones allow for a more up to date set of images of a landscape, this allows much higher temporal resolution and can help mitigate many issues currently faced in conservation. A key mission in the project will be that of tracking changes in an area over time, so a large part of the project will be focused on optimising that core functionality.

Get Started

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Link to Recorded Demo

Link to Functional Requirements (SRS)

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1JoNQ91bSYn3ZS6-2M2n6RF7q9CQvFz-D?usp=sharing

Link to Project Board

https://github.com/COS301-SE-2022/Map-out-game-reserves-using-aerial-photographs/projects/1

Short Profile Description of Each Team Member

Ben Pietersen

Has an elective background in GIS and remote sensing as well as educational experience with multispectral and hyperspectral satellite image processing using ENVI and ESA’s SNAP software. Industry experience includes over a year of data analysis and statistics for an IT solutions company based in Rosebank. Knowledge relevant to the project includes satellite image mapping, processing, filtering and analysis.

Chiara Goncalves

Has a background in web development and an elective in computer graphics. Has experience working with Angular projects and database design and implementation. Trained in Java, C++, Python, and JavaScript. Skilled at designing creative solutions to problems. Knowledge of South African nature reserves and various habitats and biomes within the reserves.

Dylan Pietersen

Has an elective background in Software Development and Informatics. Well versed full-stack developer. Proficient with various programming languages such as C/C++, JavaScript, Java and Python. Proficient in various front-end JavaScript frameworks such as Angular, React and Ionic. Has project experience with the MEAN, MERN as well as the LAMP technology stacks. Creative individual with an interest in genuinely adding value back to the wildlife and conservation community.

Dylan Spies

Has a passion for Computer Software and Hardware for the past 6 and a half years and enjoys the problem solving aspect of programming. Is comfortable with Java, C/C++, Javascript, Python, and Assembly. Has had experience with the Angular framework and should be able to pick up any frameworks and languages with relative ease.Has elective background in Geology and an overall passion for animals and nature conservation.

Steven Schormann

Has a passion for problem solving and experience in full stack Software Development. Proficient in Java, C++, Javascript, python and capable of learning whatever might be required. Has an interest in machine learning with an elective in Artificial Intelligence.

Zoe Liebenberg

Has had experience working with drones. Has been working with computers and programming for the past 5 and a half years. Able to pick up coding languages quickly and easily. Has a passion for mathematics and problem solving. Handy in web development and interacting with databases. Extremely detail oriented and will ensure that every detail is planned towards the bigger picture.