Biodiversity datasets are growing rapidly, making it challenging for scientists to review and analyze them manually. Researchers have developed the INQUIRE project, a query system that uses artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to efficiently search through large image collections.
This article discusses a research project called “INQUIRE” that aims to develop a query system for retrieving images from large collections of biodiversity data. Here are the main points:
Background:
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Biodiversity datasets are growing rapidly, making it difficult for scientists to review and analyze them manually.
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The researchers aim to address this challenge by developing a query system that can efficiently search through large image collections.
INQUIRE Project:
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The INQUIRE project is a text-to-image retrieval benchmark that allows users to filter searches by species, enabling quicker discovery of relevant results.
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The system uses artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) algorithms to analyze the images and provide accurate results.
Key Findings:
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Some vision models are already precise enough to aid wildlife scientists with retrieving some images, but many tasks are still too difficult for even the largest, best-performing models.
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The INQUIRE system has shown promising results in uncovering secondary data, which is critical for fundamental science and real-world impacts in ecology and conservation.
Future Work:
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The researchers plan to improve the re-ranking system by augmenting current models to provide better results.
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They will also work with iNaturalist to develop a query system that can help scientists and other curious minds find the images they actually want to see.
Related Research:
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Other related research projects mentioned in the article include:
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Advancing urban tree monitoring with AI-powered digital twins
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CSAIL’s Sara Beery, Marzyeh Ghassemi, and Yoon Kim earn AI2050 Early Career Fellowships
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People Involved:
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Edward Vendrow (lead author)
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Sara Beery (co-author)
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Omiros Pantazis (co-author)
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Alexander Shepard (iNaturalist software engineer)
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Gabriel Brostow (University College London professor)
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Kate Jones (University College London professor)
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Oisin Mac Aodha (University of Edinburgh associate professor)
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Grant Van Horn (University of Massachusetts at Amherst Assistant Professor)
Support:
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The project was supported by various organizations, including:
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Generative AI Laboratory at the University of Edinburgh
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U.S. National Science Foundation/Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Global Center on AI and Biodiversity Change
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Royal Society Research Grant
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Biome Health Project funded by the World Wildlife Fund United Kingdom
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