Cetus: AI for Monitoring Whale Populations from Space

Public sector Canada

IRCAI Global Top 100 International Research Centre on Artificial Intelligence (2025) 'IRCAI Global Top 100'. Available at: https://ircai.org/global-top-100-outstanding-projects/results/ (Accessed March 2025).

Cetus uses high-res satellite imagery to automate and improve large-scale monitoring of migratory patterns of marine mammals and tries to understand how these interact with seasonal changes and climate change impacts. By processing satellite images, Cetus efficiently identifies mid-sized cetaceans and provides annotated data, enabling informed decision-making for conservation and research efforts.

Monitoring and Control

AI tools in this category are used for enhancing transparency, access to information, compliance monitoring, and ensuring regulatory adherence. These applications help in real-time monitoring of various public sector activities and services.

Resource Planning

These tools assist in the efficient allocation and management of resources, such as workforce, budgets, and infrastructure. They help optimize the use of public resources and improve operational efficiency.

SDG 9 Industry, innovation and infrastructure

SDG 10 Reduced inequalities

SDG 13 Climate action

SDG 14 Life below water

#automate Streamline the detection process by automating the analysis of satellite images, reducing the need for manual intervention and enhancing data processing efficiency.

#detect Identify marine mammals in very high-resolution satellite imagery, allowing for efficient monitoring across vast oceanic areas.

#visualize Present annotated data and insights clearly, helping stakeholders easily interpret the findings and make informed decisions on migratory patterns, seasonal changes, and climate change impacts.

Website

Developed by: Private Sector, Public Sector
Deployment Type: Cloud-Based AI Service & API
Community Moderation: Does not require community manager
Difficulty Level: Requires developer
License: Proprietary

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