Spoor’s Bird Monitoring AI Software Takes Flight
▼ Summary
– Spoor is a startup that uses computer vision software to track and identify birds, helping to reduce wind turbines’ impact on bird populations.
– Its technology can detect birds within a 2.5-kilometer radius and is used by wind farms to plan locations and adjust turbine operations during migrations.
– The company has improved its AI model, doubling its detection range and achieving about 96% accuracy in bird identification.
– Spoor now operates across three continents, works with major energy companies, and is seeing interest from other industries like airports and mining.
– The startup recently raised an €8 million Series A round, anticipating growing demand as regulators increase scrutiny on wind farms’ environmental impact.
Spoor’s innovative bird monitoring software leverages advanced computer vision to help wind farms and other industries minimize their environmental impact on avian populations. Founded in 2021, the Norwegian startup has successfully validated its technology, which is now attracting significant demand from energy operators and beyond. The system utilizes standard high-resolution cameras to detect and identify birds within a radius of approximately 2.5 kilometers.
This data provides wind farm operators with critical insights for smarter site planning and operational adjustments. For instance, turbines can be slowed or temporarily halted during peak migration periods to prevent collisions. Co-founder and CEO Ask Helseth explained that the initial inspiration came from recognizing a major industry gap: despite strict environmental regulations, most monitoring relied on outdated, manual methods like personnel using binoculars.
Since its early development, Spoor has made substantial technological strides. Its detection range has expanded from one kilometer to 2.5 kilometers. More importantly, by continuously feeding data into its AI models, the company has boosted its bird identification accuracy to an impressive 96 percent. A dedicated in-house ornithologist helps train these models to recognize new and rare species, which is crucial as the company expands its deployments internationally.
The application of this technology is broadening. Spoor now collaborates with over twenty major energy companies across three continents. Interest is also growing from other sectors, including airports and aquaculture farms. A notable partnership with mining giant Rio Tinto involves adapting the technology to monitor bat populations. While the system can detect similarly sized objects like drones, which Helseth jokingly calls “plastic birds”, the company is currently focused on its core mission, though it acknowledges the potential for future applications.
To support its expansion, Spoor recently secured an €8 million Series A funding round. The investment was led by SET Ventures, with participation from Ørsted Ventures, Superorganism, and other strategic investors. Helseth anticipates that regulatory pressures will continue to drive demand for such solutions, citing examples like a French wind farm that was shut down and faced heavy fines due to its impact on local birds.
“Our fundamental goal is to foster coexistence between industry and nature,” stated Helseth. “We’ve begun this journey, but as a growing startup, we still have much to demonstrate. In the years ahead, we aim to firmly establish our leadership within the wind industry on a global scale. Concurrently, we plan to develop clear proof that this technology holds substantial value for challenges beyond our primary market.”
(Source: TechCrunch)
