This experiment is part of the AI for Interspecies Communication Challenge Grant. Browse more projects

Studying Orca-human wildlife cooperation through improving data coordination protocols for interspecies interaction.

By Chris Harris
Backed by Alessandro Mazzi
Zoes.is
Gibraltar
EcologyGrant: AI for Interspecies Communication
$100
Raised of $10,000 Goal
1%
Ended on 11/01/23
Campaign Ended
  • $100
    pledged
  • 1%
    funded
  • Finished
    on 11/01/23

About This Project

To advance a delicate conservation situation involving endangered killer whales interacting harmfully with ships in the strait of Gibraltar, we will develop an improved protocol and platform for reporting and responding to these interactions.

Through a pilot study combining these behavioural observations with acoustic field recording, we make available a novel dataset for analysis, and design a shared data strategy for continuous, inter-species, communication, conservation, and cooperation.

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What is the context of this research?

A critically endangered subpopulation of Orca, have captivated our attention by learning to repeatedly destroy ships’ rudders. Skippers caught in this wildlife interaction are recommended to ‘lay low’. This is ineffective, and some take to violent retaliation to prevent damage. Little is known about why Orcas have learned this behavior and how to stop them safely. Orcas are particularly sensitive to and affected by anthropogenic noise, they are vocally complex. Existing acoustic datasets are available but lack useful behavioral context here. Cetacean cooperation does exist in history, so combining research into the rich sonicality and sociality of this human-orca behavior could lead us from conflict-to-coexistence, evidence-informed social ocean policy for conservation.

What is the significance of this project?

Each summer since 2020 during the Orcas migration to feed on Tuna in the Strait of Gibraltar, many boats are damaged needing extensive and expensive repairs due to targeted interaction from Orcas. If this continues people will increasingly resort to aggressive, illegal defensive actions towards a ICUN red list critically endangered species.

Improving our understanding of the interactions and the ability to mitigate harm to conserve cetaceans through peer reviewed behavioural ecology questionnaires, citizen science contributions via advancements in social coordination tools for quick iteration on protocols of interaction & data collection, to inform targeted acoustic studies in cetacean vocalisations, anthropogenic noise, combined with earthling behavioural science.

What are the goals of the project?

We seek to design an improved Orca-Human interaction questionnaire based on research and consultation, then use that to gather more empirical data through the development and deployment of a publicly available, real-time web application, for both reporting and coordination. Organising a data alliance for cooperating citizens and scientists to download anonymous data for analysis.

With improved behavioural data and context we design and conduct a pilot field study on a chartered boat with a hydrophone to record Orca acoustic data in context, using these results to develop a dataset strategy for the further collection of data between acoustic ecology and behavioural ecology. We will produce a creative event for disseminating scientific communication and engendering reporting advocacy.

Budget

This budget Is the minimum needed to collect data in order to design a further development strategy for collaborative data gathering out on the field.

This budget will pay for production, expenses, and reward other contributors and experts for various components of this computationally assisted interspecies interaction design.

Endorsed by

I had the experience of collaborating with Chris on an R&D project we funded at Sovereign Nature Initiative, where he crafted an AI-driven app for bird bioacoustic recording in Amsterdam. Chris's expertise was pivotal, blending managerial skills with technical prowess and creativity. The tool wasn’t merely functional; it allowed for immersive citizen participation to important ecological goals. I wholeheartedly endorse Chris for turning a challenging vision into a powerful, real-world tool that can foster long-term human-wildlife coexistence.
Alessandro Mazzi
Alessandro Mazzi
Head of Partnerships & Field Research
Stichting Sovereign Nature Initiative

Project Timeline

This project sets a conservative official start date of the the first of November. Contributors, participants, and interested earthlings will be able to keep upto date as the project progresses through design, feedback, development and testing.

Although data collection in the north of Spain may start as soon as the interface and survey is ready, this project is especially situated seasonally due to Orca movements.

The final release will include a facilitated online gathering.

Oct 02, 2023

Project Launched

Nov 01, 2023

Design of improved survey with experts and stakeholders for incident reporting  

Dec 31, 2023

Development of web interface for dataset contribution and public download.

Feb 29, 2024

Distribution of survey tools, public advocacy and support 

Jun 01, 2024

Summer Season of data collection starts

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Meet the Team

Chris Harris
Chris Harris
Creative-Ecological Producer

Team Bio

Chris is greatfully supported by a network of artists, scientists, engineers and other interdisciplinary activists who care both for physical corporeality and locale technology. A growing biotope for earthling interaction design for the ecological commons.


Chris Harris

Born along the strait of Gibraltar, home to many cetaceans and other coastal earthling life and culture.

Graduated from A.I. in 2011 after practicing human-computer-interaction design, biomimicry, natural language processing, computer vision, and general computer science. Working after in a radio-systems engineering lab designing mesh systems for first responders, working in full-stack web software and embedded systems engineering. Consulting for various projects in software and product engineering.

In the last few years of R&D in product, production, and praxis, I produced projects in ecosystem service design, distributed scientific collaboration, acoustic ecology interaction, designs in digital animism, and other creative provocations in interspecies communication.

I invest in a shared practice of learning and collaborating with domain experts and dream collaborators.

I free-dive regularly here in the strait of Gib, and love observing, inhabiting, exploring the undersea flora and fauna.

Lab Notes

Nothing posted yet.

Project Backers

  • 1Backers
  • 1%Funded
  • $100Total Donations
  • $100.00Average Donation