Forests, the green lungs of our country, are now protected with cutting-edge technology. As part of a project implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, thousands of AI-powered camera traps are monitoring our forests 24/7. So, what exactly does this system do, and how does it protect our forests? Let’s take a look at the details together.
How do AI-powered camera traps work?
A total of 2,800 smart camera traps, placed in critical locations throughout Turkey, act like digital watchdogs. These cameras are much more than ordinary security cameras. Thanks to their advanced artificial intelligence, they can instantly analyze movement around them.
- People: Instantly detect people trespassing in the forest or exhibiting suspicious behavior.
- Vehicles: Record suspicious vehicles entering the area and their license plates.
- Construction Equipment: Identifies construction equipment used in activities such as illegal logging.
- Crime Tools: Can identify tools like chainsaws that could be used in illegal activities.
- Animals: Provide significant support for wildlife monitoring and conservation efforts.
Artificial intelligence distinguishes between these elements and only generates an alarm in suspicious situations. For example, it can instantly distinguish between a family out for a walk in the woods and a truck engaged in illegal logging. This way, teams are not distracted by unnecessary alarms and can directly target the target.
Instant intervention against criminals
The system doesn’t stop when it detects a suspicious situation. For example, if it detects the sound or sight of a chainsaw, or if it detects an unlicensed truck loaded with wood passing through the forest, it sends an alert to the relevant forest protection teams within seconds. This alert is transmitted along with the location of the incident and the detected element (person, vehicle, etc.).
So what does this mean? It’s now much easier to instantly identify forest crimes and catch them red-handed. According to officials, this technology has enabled immediate intervention and has largely prevented incidents such as illegal logging and smuggling. Thanks to these smart eyes, our forests are much safer from both the risk of fire and malicious actors.
