Mtg ANN: Using computer vision AI to help protect the worlds rarest dolphin

[dn]

Wed 16 Aug 2023, 1800~20:30 NZST (0600~0830 UTC, late-Tue in US)
Details and RSVP at https://www.meetup.com/nzpug-auckland/events/295091858/


Teaching a computer to see. How computer vision is helping to protect 
the world’s rarest dolphin and how you can train your own model.

Tane van der Boon will talk about the MAUI63 project, and then lead us 
through how to train and utilise a custom computer vision object 
detector. Essentially allowing our software to be able to see.

MAUI63 was given its name because when the venture began, there were 
only 63 Māui dolphins left in existence. Using drone technology and AI 
to collect and process visual data, the founders took action to collect 
data to help save the world’s rarest dolphin from extinction and 
influence future marine conservation efforts.

The MAUI63 team uses a customised drone to find and track the movement 
of dolphins, and enables individual dolphins to be identified through 
their fin markings. The information collected can then be used to inform 
better data driven decisions on how best to protect them.

Later, Tane will lead us through a smaller task to build our own image 
recognizer. (more details in due course...)


The Auckland Branch of the New Zealand Python Users' Group meet twice 
monthly. You're very welcome to attend online or in-person (as 
available). Meeting location-details or URL will be sent to those who RSVP.

We are a healthy mix of Python users. Students, academics, hobbyists, 
industry professionals, and many completely new to Python.

The "room" opens at 1800 (local time) with an opportunity to network 
with colleagues. Everything should be wrapped up by 2030.

We are always keen to hear suggestions for meeting-topics, and to meet 
with folk who'd like to present or lead - eg a brief lightning talk, a 
practical coaching-session, a full lecture... Help is available if 
you've never done such a thing before!

We follow the NZPUG Code of Conduct (https://python.nz/code-of-conduct) 
to create an inclusive and friendly environment.

We express thanks to, and encourage you to investigate, our sponsors: 
Catalyst Cloud, New Zealand Open Source Society, JetBrains, and IceHouse 
Ventures.

-- 
Regards =dn

-- 
Regards,
=dn