Advancing understanding of seabird collision risk using AI
Existing technologies have fallen short in documenting three dimensional flight tracks of seabirds near wind turbines, as shown by the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) seabird study.
Short facts
- Aberdeen Bay, Scotland
- Seabirds
- Trialling camera and AI based system to track seabirds in close vicinity of wind turbines and document collisions.
- 2023–2025
Final Report of the seabird study
Accurate, objective evidence on close-range behaviour is crucial for reliably predicting collision risks for new wind farms.
To address this gap, a collaborative project was initiated with the Norwegian start-up Spoor AI to trial innovative technology that combines video cameras with Artificial Intelligence (AI). The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) provided scientific validation, and a panel of key stakeholder experts was established to ensure high-quality outcomes.
The results showed significant potential for the technology and opportunities for further improvement. Following this trial, additional data were collected, and 19 months of video material were analysed to document seabird collision numbers at one of the Aberdeen wind farm turbines. No collisions were observed. This finding was corroborated by collision risk calculations based on observed seabird activity, which estimated that far fewer than one collision would have been expected during this time period.
Report of the scientific support to the trial of Spoor AI at the EOWDC
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See also
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Projects funded by Bra Miljöval
When Vattenfall sells ‘Good Environmental Choice’ electricity, it funds aquatic biodiversity efforts.