Using computer vision AI to help protect the worlds rarest dolphin - In-Person

Teaching a computer to see. How computer vision is helping to protect the world’s rarest dolphin and how you can train your own model.

NB remote attendees, please register for virtual attendance.

Tane van der Boon will talk about the MAUI63 project, and then lead us through how to train and utilise a custom computer vision object detector. Essentially allowing our software to be able to see.

MAUI63 was given its name because when the venture began, there were only 63 Māui dolphins left in existence. Using drone technology and AI to collect and process visual data, the founders took action to collect data to help save the world’s rarest dolphin from extinction and influence future marine conservation efforts.

The MAUI63 team uses a customised drone to find and track the movement of dolphins, and enables individual dolphins to be identified through their fin markings. The information collected can then be used to inform better data driven decisions on how best to protect them.

Later, Tane will lead us through a smaller task to build our own image recognizer. (more details in due course...)

The Auckland Branch of the New Zealand Python Users' Group meet twice monthly. You're very welcome to attend online or in-person (as available). Meeting location-details or URL will be sent to those who RSVP.

We are a healthy mix of Python users. Students, academics, hobbyists, industry professionals, and many completely new to Python.

The "room" opens at 1800 (local time) with an opportunity to network with colleagues. Everything should be wrapped up by 8:30pm.

We are always keen to hear suggestions for meeting-topics, and to meet with folk who'd like to present or lead - eg a brief lightning talk, a practical coaching-session, a full lecture... Help is available if you've never done such a thing before!

We follow the NZPUG Code of Conduct to create an inclusive and friendly environment.

We express thanks to, and encourage you to investigate our sponsors: Catalyst Cloud, New Zealand Open Source Society, JetBrains, and IceHouse Ventures.

You are welcome to ask questions or share problems using the comments section (below).