Real‐time alerts from AI‐enabled camera traps using the Iridium satellite network: A case‐study in Gabon, Central Africa

Efforts to preserve, protect and restore ecosystems are hindered by long delays between data collection and analysis. Threats to ecosystems can go undetected for years or decades as a result. Real-time data can help solve this issue but significant technical barriers exist. For example, automated camera traps are widely used for ecosystem monitoring but it is challenging to transmit images for real-time analysis where there is no reliable cellular or WiFi connectivity. We modified an off-the-shelf camera trap (Bushnell™) and customised existing open-source hardware to create a ‘smart’ camera trap system. Images captured by the camera trap are instantly labelled by an artificial intelligence model and an ‘alert’ containing the image label and other metadata is then delivered to the end-user within minutes over the Iridium satellite network. We present results from testing in the Netherlands, Europe, and from a pilot test in a closed-canopy forest in Gabon, Central Africa. All reference materials required to build the system are provided in open-source repositories. Results show the system can operate for a minimum of 3 months without intervention when capturing a median of 17.23 images per day. The median time-difference between image capture and receiving an alert was 7.35 min, though some outliers showed delays of 5-days or more when the system was incorrectly positioned and unable to connect to the Iridium network. We anticipate significant developments in this field and hope that the solutions presented here, and the lessons learned, can be used to inform future advances. New artificial intelligence models and the addition of other sensors such as microphones will expand the system's potential for other, real-time use cases including real-time biodiversity monitoring, wild resource management and detecting illegal human activities in protected areas

Investigations of reinforced concrete members strengthened by laminatesunder explosive loading. Part 3, Experimental results for reinforced concrete beams and columns

W pracy przedstawiono wyniki badań doświadczalnych płyt żelbetowych. Badania przeprowadzono dla elementów żelbetowych, zwykłych bez dodatkowego wzmocnienia oraz dla elementów wzmocnionych wysokowytrzymałościowymi powłokowymi laminatami z włókien aramidowych, szklanych i węglowych. Zasadniczą częścią pracy jest prezentacja wyników badań, na które składają się schematy mechanizmów zniszczenia oraz trwałe przemieszczenia płyt.The results of experimental investigations of reinforced concrete plates were introduced in the present part of the paper. Investigations were carried out for two kinds of reinforced concrete elements, i.e., plain elements without additional strengthening and for elements strengthened by high-strength coating laminates made from aramide, glass, and carbon fibres. The schemes of failure mechanisms and the permanent displacements of plates were presented as the principal results of the investigations. It was stated in the result of investigations, that reinforced concrete structural elements strengthened by high-strength laminates show, under the explosive loading enlargement the carrying capacity, decrease in displacements, the limitation of the destruction areas of the concrete, enlarged ability to absorption of the energy. The respective parameters of effort and deformation depend on the kind of material strengthening and the configuration of the strengthening. It was confirmed that the application of coating strengthening generates the new effects of local type in reinforced concrete elements, namely swelling the concrete under laminate, the thread and superficial separation of the laminate, in this on the whole surface, the tearing the laminate and, first of all, decrease in the range of the failure of the element and elimination of the spread of the damaged fragments of the concrete

Investigations of reinforced concrete elements strengthened by laminates under explosive loading. Part 1, Description of investigation programme and investigations of structural materials

W pracy przedstawiono motywację podjęcia oraz koncepcję realizacji zamierzenia badawczego. W pierwszej części pracy przedstawiono opis programu badań doświadczalnych elementów żelbetowych. Badania przeprowadzono dla trzech rodzajów elementów żelbetowych zwykłych bez dodatkowego wzmocnienia oraz dla elementów wzmocnionych wysokowytrzymałościowymi powłokowymi laminatami z włókien aramidowych, szklanych i węglowych. Opisano stanowiska do badania elementów obciążonych wybuchowo. Przedstawiono charakterystykę oddziaływania wybuchu na badane elementy wraz z metodą szacowania obciążenia wybuchowego. Zaprezentowano wyniki badań materiałów konstrukcyjnych: betonu, stali zbrojeniowej i laminatów wykorzystanych do wykonania belek, słupów i płyt żelbetowych będących przedmiotem badań w pracy.The justification of undertaking and a conception of realization of the investigations of reinforced concrete elements under the explosive load were presented in the paper. The description of the experimental investigations programme of reinforced concrete elements was introduced in the present part of the paper. The investigative stands and the method of the investigations in which impulsive loading was generated by the explosive material were described. The characteristics of influence of explosion on investigative elements were introduced and the method of estimation of the loading values on the considered elements was given. The results of the investigations of the structural materials of which studied reinforced concrete elements were made were introduced in the present part of the paper. Investigations concerned to the concrete, reinforcing steel, and laminates from aramide, glass, and carbon fibres

Investigations of reinforced concrete members strengthened by laminates under explosive loading. Part 2, Experimental results for reinforced concrete beams and columns

W pracy przedstawiono wyniki badań doświadczalnych belek i słupów żelbetowych. Badania przeprowadzono dla elementów żelbetowych zwykłych bez dodatkowego wzmocnienia oraz dla elementów wzmocnionych wysokowytrzymałościowymi powłokowymi laminatami z włókien aramidowych, szklanych i węglowych. Zasadniczym celem pracy jest prezentacja wyników badań, na które składają się schematy mechanizmów zniszczenia oraz podstawowe parametry reakcji dynamicznej badanych elementów.The results of the experimental investigations of reinforced concrete beams were introduced in the present part of the paper. Investigations were carried out for two kinds of reinforced concrete elements, i.e. plain elements without the additional strengthening and for elements strengthened by high-strength coating laminates made from aramide, glass and carbon fibres. Principal aim of the paper is introduction of the results of the investigations, i.e., the schemes of the failure mechanisms, change in the time of the support force, displacements and acceleration parameters