Whale Localization & Avoidance

Overview
Large vessels pose a significant mortality risk to whales, many species of which are already under threat. Current prevention methods, including 24/7 on deck lookouts, do not provide adequate warning to prevent deadly collisions.

Our solution is to approach the issue systematically. We propose to detect whale groups and their probable future course before ships are in their vicinity, and to warn vessels well in advance of a risk of collision.

Localization
A distributed team of Spiri Mu are equipped with hydrophone packs and on-board intelligence. They’re deployed from shore and from vessels to listen for whale vocalizations. These are conveyed to Spiri servers for analysis to triangulate the whales.

Prediction
Through simulation, supervised machine learning, and inference based on historical records and behaviour, we develop and apply predictive models to make an informed guess as to where the whales are likely to travel.

Avoidance
This prediction is used to inform the relevant authorities and vessel operators. It also provides them with lower risk alternatives to their planned course, decreasing the probability of a collision.

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