The AI-powered app, developed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) for the federal government, helps biosecurity officials identify brown marmorated stink bugs before they can enter the environment with the help of artificial intelligence (AI)
An AI-powered app has been developed by researchers from Australia’s national science agency to keep invasive stink bugs out of the country.
The AI-powered app, developed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) for the federal government, helps biosecurity officials identify brown marmorated stink bugs before they can enter the environment with the help of artificial intelligence (AI).
The AI-powered app is currently in trial by the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE) at quarantine stations.
Alexander Schmidt-Lebuhn, a CSIRO taxonomist, said AI used the CSIRO’s insect database to identify the stink bug.
“We’re taking detailed digital images of the stink bugs in our insect collection, including using a 3D imaging system to take photographs from many angles”, he said in a statement.
“Using a smartphone camera to zoom in or out and look at the bug from different angles, the AI-powered app identifies the species and shows how likely it is to be correct”.
“The AI-powered app also has species profiles with example images and species information. Users can record a photo of the bug, its identification and the geographic coordinates and local time to help build out the database and inform biosecurity responses”.
The country has approximately 600 named stink bug species but the invasive brown marmorated stink bug could threaten more than 300 native plant species if it enters the country in addition to apples, stone fruit, hazelnuts and grain crops.
It commonly breeds in well-lit areas such as car plants and can be spread by hibernating in vehicles awaiting export.
“This app will help our biosecurity officers tell invasive species apart from our own native species, a uniquely Australian solution to a unique Australian challenge”, Larry Marshall, chief executive of the CSIRO, said.
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