While there is no doubt that Corona has shaken the world order environmental issues are among the major problems of the 21st century. However, technological innovations are not only helping us better understand these problems but AI-based technologies can help us fight them.

AI for Earth

When the Paris Agreement completed its two years, the world’s business and civic leaders including Microsoft got together in Paris to discuss important issues such as Climate Change. The Microsoft delegation announced that they will broaden their AI for Earth program and part with $50 million to work for protecting the planet.

AI is more effective when it comes to putting in work for monitoring, modelling and managing the earth’s natural systems. AI with its features and capabilities can be a real game-changer. To solve these problems we first need to understand them. Data can tell us about the health of our planet and the condition of our air, water, soil and wildlife.

What the experts can do is train AI to get data from sensors on the ground, in the air or even in space in a format that both humans and computers can understand. AI can make understanding the world systems much faster. It will enable us to understand how our planet is changing on a global scale. We can then later use this information to take impactful steps for fighting the issues.

There are custom software development companies that have expertise in AI, such as Fortyseven software professionals. Forty-seven teams can do predictive analysis, handle real-time data, automate processes and develop IoT. Whatever kind of custom solution that you need for your problem they’ll be able to deliver.

The guest author of this post, Hanna Schnaider, who is an expert in this field has put together this informative article for us. Let’s dive into it.

AI for Global Emissions

The International Energy Agency (IEA) reveals that the 75 million metric tons of emissions produced from the oil and gas used worldwide is enough to give electricity to the whole of Africa twice a year. The IEA also says that these emissions can be reduced by 75% using the current technologies.

The transformative potential of AI can be seen in its utility in Norway. This company in Norway produces renewable energy. They use AI and Cloud to better capture and analyze the energy at the electrical grid and to act on the intelligence collected across it.  The company can adjust its production of energy to meet the changing demands. AI has successfully reduced the need for new and expensive projects as it improves the existing infrastructure. AI has helped them build a reliable and effective grid. This has encouraged the people and the country to move towards an electricity-based future.

AI for Waste Management

When technology such as the Internet of Things (IoT) is introduced in waste management practices waste segregation and collection would become way easier. A company in San Francisco has created a system that uses garbage cans with sensors and a video camera. They let the company know whenever the garbage is full so that it can be emptied on time.

The high-resolution picture of the garbage can be viewed whenever the person in charge wants to through his/her mobile phone. These smart dumpsters are also equipped with GPS. So, their movement and location can also be monitored. This data is then collected and interpreted by the IoT cloud-based platform. The garbage collectors can view the dumpsters in various areas and only collect the full ones. This will help them save time and fuel. A similar system is also used in Finland.

AI for Electrical Efficiency

AI has also shown promise in building better infrastructure and improving electrical efficiency. JTC, a company in Singapore, uses AI and Cloud-based technologies to centralize its operations. This company is responsible for the industrial infrastructure of the country. It monitors, analyzes and optimizes 39 of its buildings through AI.

The technology helps them identify and correct faults in the building before they cause breakdown. This reduces the energy cost by 15%. According to a study, about 40% of the energy is consumed in buildings in the US. If this consumption is brought down even by 15%, it would translate to a 6% reduction in global energy consumption. Isn’t that amazing? With time as AI improves, we can aim even higher.

AI in Space

A new satellite called MethaneSAT has been built and will be sent to space shortly. If you know about methane then you can probably guess what the purpose of this satellite might be. If not then we are here to tell you. It will be sent to space for mapping and measuring methane with great precision almost everywhere on the planet. It will allow us to see methane in places where it is difficult to track.

What’s even better is that this data will be available to everyone freely. This will help countries and governments to identify problems, create reduction opportunities and monitor progress over time.

AI in Agriculture

Farming is very challenging, especially in countries like Australia due to the varying climate, dry conditions and expensive labour and import costs. A Tasmanian-based company has built sensors, apps and analytics to produce accurate and real-time weather data.

This will help the farmers make smart decisions and regulate the use of water. This company is also working on making ML (machine learning) driven aquaculture. The technology has already reduced the harvest closures due to rain by 30%. AI can be used to analyze soil and reduce adverse environmental conditions.

AI for Birds

There are AI-driven platforms such as iNaturalist and eBirds. They collect data from various sources on bird species that are encountered. This will help in tracking their population and monitoring their migration pattern. These AI-based technologies have helped identify and protect various freshwater and marine ecosystems.

Final Words

We must take urgent action to address the environmental issues. Most of these problems are the products of the previous industrial revolution. Now we must use the current technology to not only move forward but also clean up the bad products of the past to create a better future. Because technology is like a double-edged sword. If it is capable of doing damage to the environment it can also undo it.