Doctoral student Wendy Zeller Zigaitis and Associate Professor of Geography Anthony Robinson are tackling the global threat of poaching by enhancing the use of technology in wildlife conservation. They emphasize the challenge of integrating vast geospatial data from drones and other sources to thwart poaching effectively.
Despite advancements in surveillance tech, such as drones, cameras, and satellite imagery, the sheer volume of data and lack of integration impede anti-poaching efforts. They advocate for synthesizing both tech-generated and human-collected data, like ranger logs, to create a comprehensive understanding of movement patterns in protected areas.
Zeller Zigaitis suggests future work should concentrate on creating standardized tools that can work across various systems and even international boundaries, essential for tracking poachers who do not adhere to park limits. These tools aim to direct anti-poaching resources more effectively, potentially addressing broader environmental crimes beyond poaching.