MADRID, December 23, 2024 – Microsoft has launched the Solar-Powered Acoustic and Remote Recording Observation Watch, known as SPARROW, an innovative tool powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) aimed at measuring and protecting Earth's biodiversity in remote areas.
The tech giant has acknowledged a "concerning decline in biodiversity" over the last 50 years, emphasizing that the best way for communities to restore and protect the natural world is by understanding data measurement processes.
As Microsoft stated, "You cannot improve what you cannot measure." The company highlighted that to protect endangered species and ensure long-term biodiversity, accurate information about the environment and its inhabitants is essential.
SPARROW aims to redefine data collection methods, utilizing solar energy and advanced sensors to gather information from environmental detectors, camera traps, and acoustic sensors. This data is processed using AI models based on PyTorch, running on energy-efficient GPUs, with the results transmitted via low Earth orbit satellites directly to the cloud, providing real-time, actionable insights regardless of researchers' locations.
Microsoft noted that SPARROW, developed by the AI for Good Lab, is akin to a network of satellites quietly observing and reporting on ecosystem health without causing disruption.
Thanks to solar power, these devices can operate for extended periods, minimizing their ecological footprint and potential environmental impact. Microsoft plans to deploy several SPARROW devices in rural areas across North and South America, including Colombia, as part of the Guacamaya Project. By the second quarter of 2025, the company aims to refine the solution and ensure its reliability, at which point all projects, designs, and code will be made publicly available.
By the end of 2025, Microsoft targets to have operational SPARROW devices on every continent, serving as key nodes in a global conservation network.