_The Biophone_
Understanding the environment through sound
What you’re seeing is an animated soundscape of a recording from Dartmoor, England. We display sound in this form to show the different visual signatures each environmental sound can make – these can be used by experts (and now, AI) to identify species and assess biodiversity. There’s a lot of information packed into sound if you know what you’re looking at. Click here to find out more details about the process
What Is The Biophone?
The Biophone is a sound recorder, designed to be left in the field for weeks on end. It Collects the sounds of local animals, including birds, small and large mammals, insects, frogs, etc. As many sounds are unique to each species, we analyse the sound files and work out what’s there in a cheap and standardised way.
You can see our latest iteration of the device on the left. We’re continually improving our design, both in terms of hardware and software, to make a complete “bioacoustics” pipeline – built for ease of use and accuracy.
The BIOPHONE PIPELINE
We deploy our recorders and begin collecting sound data. This can feature animal calls/movement, plant metabolism, and weather.
We analyze the sound data using statistical methods and machine learning to gain insight into overall biodiversity and species occurrence. This analysis helps us get a snapshot and/or track long-term trends of biodiversity and establish the current state and trajectory of a local environment. We provide an authenticated certificate of assessment and further advice based on the analysis.
As we continually improve our process, the data we collect is used to build an archive that re-trains our machine-learning algorithms and adds greater functionality to our software and hardware. Join us in our mission to protect the environment and become part of our global community recording the Earth’s sounds.
At Wild Connect, we offer a unique and affordable environmental monitoring service through our Biophone pipeline. Our approach is designed to be robust, easy to use, and adaptable to a wide range of applications. Whether you need to track biodiversity in a local area or want to conduct a large-scale monitoring project, we can provide a bespoke solution that meets your needs. We work closely with local personnel and communities to ensure the success of our projects and the preservation of natural habitats.