Mapping the Unknown Ocean
Harnessing AI to unlock thousands of hours of seafloor imagery and map vulnerable marine ecosystems of the deep Atlantic. Transforming marine conservation through cutting-edge Vision Transformers and machine learning.
The Deep Ocean Crisis
The deep sea represents 70% of our planet’s surface area and remains largely unexplored. Yet we are increasingly using, and so impacting on this biome.
Certain ecosystems within this vast realm are considered highly vulnerable to human activities, so called Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VME). Limited knowledge of where VME are found manifests in stifled and poor decision-making.
Currently, we protect seafloor areas where we have physically observed VME to occur. Meanwhile, we actively license activities in areas for which we have no observations.
Modern AI Meets Marine Science
We're using Vision Transformers trained with self-supervised learning to rapidly and accurately extract biodiversity data from an archive of over 4,000 camera platform deployments across the Atlantic Basin.
Vision Transformers
Biodiversity Mapping
Transforming Ocean Conservation
Real-World Results
Our preliminary research applying these methods in UK and Ireland waters identified the extent and distribution of cold-water coral reefs in these nations’ waters, supporting a bottom trawling ban to protect these valuable habitats.
- Reveal new sites of VME in the deep Atlantic
- Guide designation of Marine Protected Areas
- Provide evidence for environmental impact assessments
- Support regulation of deep-sea mining and fishing activities
- Enable sustainable ocean management
- Improve conservation status of deep-sea biodiversity
By involving parties responsible for governing the use of marine space in developing the AI tools and maps, we will facilitate translation of outputs into tangible improvements in conservation policy and action.
Leading Experts in AI & Marine Science
World-class researchers combining deep-sea ecology expertise with cutting-edge artificial intelligence to unlock the secrets of the Atlantic Ocean floor.
Professor Kerry Howell
Dr. David Moffat
Dr Ana Hilario
Jaime Davies
Professor Tim W Nattkemper
Dr Rebecca Ross
Luz Rodriguez-Vargas
Daniel Jones
Dr Dan Clewley
Dr Tom Mansfield
Dr Benjamin O’Driscoll
Dr Louise Allcock
Chloe Game
Dr. Martin Zurowietz
Heidi Kristina Meyer
Dr Nils Piechaud
Our Partners
Partnering with leading institutions across the Atlantic Basin and a UN Ocean Decade programme to achieve transformative impact.
Bezos Earth Fund AI for Climate and Nature Grand Challenge
DeepVision is a proud recipient of seed funding from the Bezos Earth Fund's AI for Climate and Nature Grand Challenge, a global initiative exploring how modern artificial intelligence can multiply the impact of climate and nature conservation efforts.
