Enhancing Ocean Conservation with SAS and Fathom Science
The importance of ocean conservation has been increasingly recognized in recent years. With the world’s oceans playing a vital role in regulating the climate, providing half of the oxygen we breathe, and serving as a source of food for billions of people, it is essential that we take proactive measures to protect these precious resources. Fathom Science, a North Carolina State University tech spin-off, is working to achieve this goal by developing innovative solutions to mitigate the impact of human activities on marine life.
Collaborating with SAS for Marine Conservation
Fathom Science has partnered with SAS, a global leader in data and AI, to enhance their ocean conservation efforts. By leveraging SAS’s expertise in data analysis and machine learning, Fathom Science aims to improve the accuracy of their whale location prediction models. This collaboration has led to the development of a heatmap projection, known as WhaleCast, which provides critical information to mariners on the likelihood of North Atlantic right whale activity along the East Coast.
- WhaleCast is a heatmap projection showing the likelihood of right whale activity along the East Coast, designed to be integrated with vessels’ existing on-board touch screens.
- This information enables mariners to gauge the likelihood of right whales’ presence and reduce speed in flagged areas to decrease the strike rate on these endangered whales.
The Importance of Machine Learning in Whale Location Prediction
The development of WhaleCast relies on the use of machine learning algorithms to analyze historical whale sightings and ocean data. Taylor Shropshire, Head of Marine Resiliency at Fathom Science, combined historical data with Fathom’s ocean model to create a more accurate whale location prediction model. This approach enabled the creation of WhaleCast, which provides critical information to mariners to avoid striking critically endangered North Atlantic right whales.
Validation of WhaleCast through SAS’s Data for Good Program
To validate WhaleCast, Shropshire sought the assistance of SAS’s Data for Good program. This program provides opportunities for individuals to use SAS software to explore machine learning models and drive social impact. Shropshire used SAS’s Data Maker to generate synthetic data with characteristics closely matching the original data for more effective validation.
- With nearly 500,000 data points, the volunteer was able to divide the data into groups to perform more robust training, validation, and testing for seven machine learning models.
- Using SAS Viya Workbench, a standalone programming environment, the volunteer was able to quickly program calculations and add the distance data to the models, further validating the accuracy of Fathom’s approach.
The Benefits of Working with SAS and Fathom Science
The collaboration between SAS and Fathom Science has several benefits. Firstly, it enables the development of more accurate whale location prediction models, which can inform conservation efforts and reduce the impact of human activities on marine life. Secondly, the use of machine learning algorithms can help to identify patterns and trends in whale behavior, providing valuable insights for conservationists.
| Accurate Whale Location Prediction Models | Machine Learning for Whale Behavior Analysis | Enhanced Conservation Efforts |
Expert Insights
Taylor Shropshire, Head of Marine Resiliency at Fathom Science, praised the collaboration with SAS, stating: “It was interesting to see SAS create multiple models very quickly. They were able to expand from a very simple model to complex neural network and machine learning-type models to show the benefits and the limitations of each.”
SAFETY NOTE
* **Avoiding North Atlantic Right Whales:** The collision of a ship with a North Atlantic right whale can have devastating consequences. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) estimates that a single collision can cost up to $1 million. * **Marine Conservation Efforts:** Fathom Science’s WhaleCast is designed to provide critical information to mariners on the likelihood of North Atlantic right whale activity along the East Coast. This information can help reduce the strike rate on these endangered whales.
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About Fathom Science
Fathom Science is a North Carolina State University tech spin-off that is building digital twins of the ocean. Their mission is to provide expert, tailored information on the marine environment to enable timely and reliable decision making, empowering transformative marine operations and conservation efforts. Learn more about Fathom Science’s innovative solutions to ocean conservation.
Take Action
If you’re interested in learning more about Fathom Science’s work on ocean conservation, visit their website or follow them on social media. Stay updated on the latest developments in ocean conservation and the impact of human activities on marine life.
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