The top 4 technologies revolutionising biodiversity monitoring

As the planet grapples with the crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, the need for robust and effective biodiversity net gain (BNG) strategies has never been more urgent. For BNG mandates to succeed, it is essential to first understand the type, location, and ecological value of the habitats present on a chosen site. This foundational knowledge is key to ensuring that development projects can leave biodiversity in a better state than before.

However, the scale of this challenge is immense. Tracking, measuring, reporting and improving biodiversity across the vast landscapes of the UK demands resources and expertise that are currently in short supply. The scarcity of skilled ecologists, coupled with the narrow window of time we must bring meaningful change, threatens to undermine the ambitious legislation set out in the Environment Act 2021. To address this challenge, we must leverage cutting-edge technologies to bridge the skills gap and turn weeks of work into days.

In this article, we explore the top technologies transforming how we protect and improve our environment, working in tandem with ecologists to complement and enhance this vital work.

Remote Sensing

Remote sensing has emerged as a game-changer in biodiversity monitoring, offering a scalable solution to the complex task of habitat assessment. By utilising aircrafts and satellites, it enables the observation and monitoring of large and often inaccessible areas, delivering accurate data at an unprecedented scale.

There are several types of remote sensing:

1. Satellite Imagery

Satellite imagery captures high-resolution images of vast landscapes, creating accurate and frequently updated habitat maps. This is essential for dynamic habitats subject to change, such as those influenced by water levels or seasonal variations, as well as vast or inaccessible areas like reedbeds and woodlands.

With an estimated 150,000 BNG project applications anticipated annually, satellites can scan and analyse multiple sites simultaneously, significantly reducing the time and cost associated with on-the-ground assessments. They can also pre-screen areas before ecologists even step foot on the ground, creating preliminary habitat maps to assist developers in their site selection and identifying opportunities to optimise on-site BNG.

Moreover, satellite imagery ensures that every square metre of land is accounted for with precision, which is necessary for BNG compliance. This helps reduce errors, overlaps, and gaps, while still verified by an on the ground ecologist, thereby making surveys more focused and efficient. For example, satellites can flag high-value features, crucial for determining the net gain of a site, which an ecologist can then investigate further.

2. Aerial Imagery

Captured from planes and helicopters, aerial imagery typically offers a higher quality image than drones and satellites, with resolutions around 10cm compared to the usual 30cm of satellites. Our current BNG applications operate with a resolution that ranges from 5cm to 15cm, with very high positional accuracy, and we’re continually improving this. This level of detail is invaluable for creating historical datasets, allowing for the analysis of changes in land use, habitat loss, and recovery over time.

Artificial Intelligence

As the volume of data generated by remote sensing technologies continues to grow, the need for advanced analytical tools becomes increasingly apparent. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is at the forefront of this revolution, transforming raw data into actionable insights that can drive more effective biodiversity management.

3. Adaptive AI

AI complements remote sensing by processing and analysing the massive amounts of data generated, turning raw images into actionable insights.

AI can identify and classify different types of habitats with precision, distinguishing between various vegetation types, water bodies, and landforms. This capability is essential for creating accurate BNG habitat maps, as even small errors in classification can lead to significant discrepancies in biodiversity metrics and can affect the entire calculation of a site.

Habitats are fast changing and often unpredictable. AI continuously analyses satellite data, allowing for more accurate delineation of habitat boundaries – a task that can be challenging for on-the-ground surveys. Additionally, AI integrates multiple data layers, such as soil composition, topography, and existing biodiversity records to create an entire overview of a particular site. This proactive monitoring is essential for meeting BNG targets and supports nature recovery, helping to protect and nurture habitats and our environment for years to come.

4. AI-Driven Reporting Tools

The BNG legislation requires that any habitats created or enhanced for off-site biodiversity units must be managed for a 30-year period to achieve the target condition. AI-driven reporting tools offer automated and continuous monitoring capabilities, which are essential for tracking the dynamic and evolving nature of habitats over time. Unlike traditional methods that might require periodic manual surveys, AI tools can provide real-time updates.

This serves to harmonise and integrate data from multiple sources. In large-scale projects, data often comes from various streams and AI can bring all this disparate data together, aligning it into a cohesive and comprehensive report, creating a single point of truth. This unified approach ensures that everyone involved in the process, from developers to ecologists to local authorities, are working with the same information, reducing the risk of discrepancies and improving decision-making accuracy.

A Call to Action

Together these technologies are revolutionising BNG monitoring by providing the tools needed to accurately measure, monitor, and manage biodiversity at scale. By automating complex analytical tasks and providing real-time insights, AI empowers ecologists and developers to make more informed decisions that ultimately benefit both biodiversity and development objectives. As these tools continue to evolve, their impact on biodiversity monitoring will only continue to grow.

As the pressures of climate change and habitat loss continue to mount, the adoption of these cutting-edge tools will be essential for meeting the ambitious goals of the Environment Act 2021 and beyond.

By embracing remote sensing, AI, and other emerging technologies, we can transform the way we approach biodiversity net gain, ensuring that development projects do more than just mitigate harm – they actively contribute to the restoration and enhancement of our natural world. The future of biodiversity monitoring is not just about keeping pace with change; it’s about staying one step ahead, using technology to create a more sustainable and resilient environment for generations to come.

AiDash Biodiversity Net Gain Management System (BNGAI™), is one such end-to-end BNG management platform that uses satellite and AI to deliver accurate results, while saving stakeholders’ time and money. 

Click here for more information on how AiDash BNGAI can help you streamline and speed the BNG process in just 6 steps.

Shashin Mishra, VP of EMEA