This experiment aims to address this issue by exploring how cities like Amsterdam can become biodiversity hubs instead of biodiversity sinks. Current methods of monitoring insect populations are labor-intensive and insufficient in scale to tackle this global crisis. Our project proposes a technological solution to collect and analyze insect data to enhance our understanding of insect biodiversity.
Cities as Biodiversity Hubs
Cities worldwide increasingly aspire to become biodiversity hubs. But a central question remains: how can they measure the impact of their interventions? Understanding which urban projects genuinely support biodiversity is crucial for creating sustainable urban environments. One way of measuring biodiversity is to use insect quantity and diversity as a proxy. In Sensing Garden, we are developing camera-based sensors and using computer vision models to detect and classify insects. Insights from this research will inform urban planning and biodiversity conservation strategies. While traditional insect monitoring systems are often labor-intensive and time-consuming, emerging technologies offer hope for more efficient solutions.
“By bringing together a multidisciplinary, multi-institutional and international team of researchers, and testing our technologies in different countries and ecosystems, we intend to help Amsterdam’s efforts to monitor and improve its urban biodiversity.”
Fábio Duarte
Research Scientist
Edge AI in Biodiversity Research
Technological advancements are revolutionizing conservation and biodiversity research. Recent progress in this field has opened new possibilities for monitoring and analyzing insect populations. As a team of computer scientists, entomologists, urban planners, industrial designers, and mathematicians, we are designing new devices to collect visual data in diverse urban settings, and are leveraging edge AI to have data processed directly on the hardware device, significantly reducing the amount of information that needs to be sent to the cloud. Only essential detections and classifications are transmitted for further analysis, making the system more efficient and scalable. This approach not only saves resources but also enables real-time monitoring, which is crucial for further enhancing our understanding of insect biodiversity in cities.
“This research is interesting not only from a technological perspective, in terms of deploying cutting-edge technologies in the real world, but also because of the insights we gain into insect responses in urban areas such as Amsterdam. This could inform key developments in urban ecology over the coming years.”
Åse Håtveit
Research Fellow
Insects in a Changing Climate – AMS as Living Lab
Understanding the impact of environmental factors on insects remains a gap in current research—and changes in insect populations are a critical sign of broader biodiversity transformations. AMS will serve as a valuable testbed for collecting environmental data alongside insect activity and population counts. This is particularly crucial during extreme weather events, such as heavy rainfall, droughts, or heatwaves, when insect behavior and survival may be dramatically affected. By understanding how insects respond to these challenges, cities can better adapt their strategies to support both human and non-human residents. Ultimately, this knowledge will help make urban areas more resilient and livable for all species sharing the city environment.
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