Cargo ships are the number one killer of whales. Can AI reroute them to prevent collisions?

Key Concepts

• North Atlantic Right Whale: A critically endangered whale species facing extinction primarily due to ship collisions.
• Underwater Gliders: Autonomous robots used for oceanographic data collection, powered by buoyancy changes and capable of long-duration deployments.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) / Machine Learning (ML): Technologies used to analyze vast datasets, identify patterns, and make predictions.
• Whale Strike: The collision of a vessel with a whale, often resulting in severe injury or death to the whale and potential damage to the vessel.
• Slow Zones: Designated areas where vessels are required to reduce speed to minimize the risk of whale strikes.
• Buoyancy: The ability of an object to float in a fluid (water or air).
• Oceanographic Data: Measurements of physical and chemical properties of the ocean, such as temperature, salinity, and currents.
• Predictive Modeling: Using data and algorithms to forecast future events or conditions.
• Coexistence: The concept of humans and wildlife sharing the same environment without causing harm.
• Sustainable Shipping: Practices aimed at minimizing the environmental impact of maritime transport.

Rucker University's Oceanographic Research and AI Integration

This section details the research efforts at Rucker University focused on understanding and protecting marine life, particularly the North Atlantic right whale, through advanced technology.

Underwater Glider Technology

• Purpose: Rucker University utilizes underwater robots, known as gliders, to collect extensive data from the ocean. These gliders are crucial for understanding the dynamic and complex ocean environment.
• Operational Mechanism:
  • Gliders are designed for long-term deployments, operating autonomously for months or even years.
  • They are powered by changes in buoyancy. At the surface, they ingest seawater, increasing their weight to sink.
  • As they descend, they use wings to glide, converting vertical motion into forward propulsion.
  • Near the ocean floor, they expel seawater, becoming lighter and rising to the surface.
  • Energy is primarily used at these buoyancy adjustment points; gliding is a coasting motion, similar to cycling downhill.
• Data Collection and Transmission:
  • Gliders are equipped with sensors to measure ocean physics (e.g., water temperature, salinity).
  • They also possess acoustic sensors to listen for whale calls.
  • The gliders "call" researchers via text message, providing near real-time data collected since their last communication. This allows for immediate access to information, rather than waiting for physical retrieval.
• Scale of Deployment: Josh Kohut, dean of research at Rucker School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, mentions that Rucker and similar research groups globally have deployed over 700 gliders in the last 25 years, generating a vast amount of oceanographic data.

AI and Machine Learning for Whale Conservation

• Role of AI: Aziz and his research group develop machine learning and AI solutions to address environmental challenges, including making sense of the massive datasets collected by gliders.
• Objective: The primary goal is to develop models that can predict the locations of marine mammals, specifically the North Atlantic right whale, and to devise strategies for mitigating the risks of encountering them.
• Partnership: Josh and Aziz collaborate to save the North Atlantic right whales while ensuring the continued efficiency of global shipping routes.
• Data Analysis Process:
  • Glider data, including whale vocalizations and oceanographic conditions, is provided to Aziz's team.
  • AI models are used to identify which oceanographic variables are relevant to whale presence and behavior.
• Predictive Mapping:
  • The ultimate vision is to create predictive maps that highlight areas of high whale risk.
  • For example, if whales are observed to favor areas where water temperature changes rapidly over a short distance, the AI can identify such "transition zones" on maps, indicating potential whale habitats.
• Balancing Conservation and Commerce:
  • A key driver is to find ways for humans and whales to coexist, enabling essential offshore activities to continue.
  • AI integration allows for more strategic mitigation efforts. Instead of broad "slow down everywhere" advisories, AI can pinpoint specific high-risk areas.
  • Aziz argues that an AI-powered approach is beneficial for shipping companies, as knowing high-risk areas in advance allows for proactive avoidance, saving time and resources.
• Predictive Horizon: A critical question for Aziz is the temporal range of these predictions: can AI predict whale locations for tomorrow, next month, or even the next season? This is crucial for effective planning.
• Precision in Mitigation: The aim is to avoid being overly prescriptive (missing whales that need protection) or too broad (protecting areas that don't pose a risk), thus optimizing conservation efforts.

Shipping Industry Perspective and Challenges

This section explores the practical implications of whale conservation measures for the shipping industry and the potential role of AI in addressing these challenges.

Current Mitigation Measures and Their Costs

• Mandatory and Voluntary Slow Zones: Existing regulations require ships to reduce speed in certain areas to avoid whale strikes.
• Speed Reduction: Vessels are often mandated to slow down to approximately 10 knots (about 11.5 miles per hour).
• Economic Impact:
  • James Hotalan, executive vice president of Costco Shipping Lines, North America, acknowledges that slowing down incurs costs.
  • On Pacific routes, this can result in a loss of 3-5% of travel time.
  • The potential annual cost for commercial shipping vessels to slow down for right whales is estimated to be up to $29 million, which could ultimately be passed on to consumers.
• Industry Commitment: Hotalan emphasizes that environmental protection is a serious, industry-wide initiative, not just a single company's effort.

The Need for Real-Time, Integrated Information

• Desire for Advanced Data: The shipping industry hopes for real-time information that integrates whale routes, ocean conditions, water temperature changes, and migration patterns.
• Value of Mapped Data: If this information can be mapped and implemented in real-time, it would be extremely valuable for navigation and risk management.

AI as a Solution for Coexistence

• Targeted Slow Zones: AI can enable the creation of smaller, more targeted slow zones, making mitigation efforts more efficient and less costly for shipping companies.
• Advance Planning: AI-powered predictions allow for advance planning, helping companies avoid high-risk areas proactively.
• Potential for Smooth Sailing: The integration of AI is seen as a critical tool for enabling both the survival of the right whale and the continued operation of shipping companies.

Indigenous Knowledge and Future Directions

This section touches upon the potential of incorporating traditional knowledge into modern conservation efforts and the broader implications of AI-driven ocean management.

Unlocking Ancient Wisdom

• Seeing the Ocean Like Whales: Josh Kohut suggests that understanding how whales perceive the ocean could be key to their protection.
• Indigenous Navigation: He highlights the immense knowledge held by indigenous communities in the Pacific regarding navigation using natural cues, predating GPS.
• Parallel Cues: The cues used by indigenous navigators for island-to-island travel might be similar to those whales use for their own movements.

AI as a "Road Map" for Conservation

• Predictive Highways: AI can potentially provide a "road map" of whale movements and high-risk areas.
• Oceanic "School Zones": The analogy of looking both ways before crossing a road is used to illustrate the need for caution. AI could help create "school zones" in the ocean, areas where traffic (ships) is alerted to slow down to protect vulnerable wildlife.

Conclusion: A Sustainable Future

• Urgency: With a critically low population of right whales, time is of the essence.
• Benefits of AI: More accurate ocean models, facilitated by AI, can lead to faster shipping, more affordable goods, and effective wildlife protection.
• Vision: The ultimate goal is to build a more sustainable world where shipping companies and marine life can coexist harmoniously, potentially leading to "smooth sailing" for all.