Botlink Releases Monarch Conservation Software Platform, POLLi
The POLLi software platform streamlines data collection for conservation organizations by utilizing drones, AI, and cloud computing
Fargo, ND, November 15, 2023: Botlink, in collaboration with Simple Business Automation (SBA), is proud to announce the release of the POLLi software platform. POLLi is a one-of-a-kind product that supports data collection and analysis by utilizing automated drone operations for image collection, machine-learning cloud computing for object detection, and in-depth online software for image analysis and reporting.
POLLi was developed in close collaboration with the Monarch Joint Venture (MJV), which facilitates a national partnership network of federal and state agencies, non-governmental organizations, businesses, and academic programs working together to protect monarchs and other pollinators. MJV pinpointed the necessity to enhance the efficiency and scalability of monarch habitat monitoring across the North American range due to the labor-intensive nature of manual field counts.
“Development of the POLLi software platform seems like the culmination of everything Botlink has developed in the past,” said Matt Sather, general manager of Botlink. “The team’s experience in developing drone flight software, robust cloud APIs for image processing, and frontend user interfaces for analyzing data, came together into a single product. A lot of long hours went into POLLi, and I think it’s something the entire team should be incredibly proud of”, continued Sather.
The POLLi Flight application was tested rigorously throughout the summer of 2023, flying for hundreds of hours while collecting thousands of photos. Thousands of images have passed through the POLLi cloud application, and the AI models have identified tens of thousands of individual milkweed plants across the Upper Midwest.
"My deep conviction that technology can catalyze positive change in the world inspired me to develop POLLi," said Greg Emerick, CEO of Simple Business Automation. "Through collaboration with technology leaders like the POLLi team and dedicated conservationist experts of MJV, we created a platform that empowers us all to become better stewards of our planet. POLLi captures and processes exponentially greater amounts of milkweed data than the manual efforts performed today, embodying my belief that when we harness innovation for the greater good, we can protect and preserve the natural world for future generations."
The heart of the POLLi platform is its algorithms. Developing the object detection capabilities to find common milkweed across large areas in a sea of different plants with high accuracy is a key differentiator of the product. This unique feature contributes to massive efficiencies that have never before been possible.
When asked to describe the effects of this new technology Wendy Caldwell, executive director of Monarch Joint Venture said: "This technology innovation extends its reach beyond the charismatic monarch butterfly. When seamlessly integrated into conservation research, it equips us with advanced tools to precisely assess habitat quality and distribution, enabling more strategic resource allocation for the protection of a diverse range of plants and animals. We're honored to be part of this pioneering effort to design innovative technology solutions for conservation."
Development of POLLi is ongoing, including new machine learning algorithms that will enable POLLi to identify new plant species in the near future, as well as other objects captured with drone photography.
About POLLi - POLLi is a conservation platform that brings your organization's natural resource data to life. POLLi enables users to survey and characterize biodiversity across large land areas accurately and quickly. Multiple sensor types typically mounted on drones collect data which are processed using artificial intelligence. For more information, visit: https://polligps.com/
About Botlink - Botlink was founded in Fargo, N.D., by military pilots and engineers intending to safely share the benefits of drones. Botlink is a drone software and hardware development company leading the LTE communication technology market. Botlink also provides automated drone control and safety features, allowing operators to remain safe and compliant with complex flight regulations. For more information, visit: https://botlink.com/
About Simple Business Automation – SBA was Founded in Waverly, M.N., after a 12-year history of working in technology development in remote sensing and new technology applications. Realizing the need to develop a platform specific to conservation needs, SBA has transformed the means and methods of designing and delivering technology to align conservation, sustainability, land management practices, and ESG reporting for business and habitat monitoring. For more information, visit: https://SimpleBusinessAutomation.com/
About Monarch Joint Venture –Since 2009, the MJV has convened partners from across the United States in a coordinated effort to advance national monarch and pollinator conservation goals. MJV implement science-based conservation actions through education, habitat creation, science, and partnership. In an effort to engage All Hands on Deck for monarch conservation, the MJV network welcomes broad participation from across sectors and across North America. For more information, visit: https://monarchjointventure.org/