Scientists count elephants from space with satellites and computer smarts – CNET [CNET]

People like to talk about landmarks that can be “seen from space,” from the pyramids to the Great Wall of China. But what about something much smaller, like elephants? They can be spotted, too, with the help of satellites and an algorithm trained to look for them.

A team led by researchers with the University of Oxford and the University of Bath in the UK developed a method for counting African elephants using imagery from Maxar satellites, opening up a new way to monitor vulnerable and endangered animals.

“For the first time, scientists have successfully used satellite cameras coupled with deep learning to count animals in complex geographical landscapes,” said the University of Bath in a statement Tuesday.

The satellite images could offer an effective alternative to surveillance done by humans in aircraft, which can be an expensive and challenging way of counting elephants. 

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