Bengaluru: BBMP, IISc-based startup join hands to survey city's stray dogs
Bengaluru civic agency Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has partnered with an Indian Institute of Science-based startup for a drone-based “survey” of stray dogs.
The survey in Bengaluru was started on July 11.
In addition to the field survey, the BBMP is taking the assistance of VayDyn, the startup at the Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Technology Park at the Indian Institute of Science, for this work.
“It is a pilot project to count the free roaming dogs in and around lakes of Bengaluru City using drone technology. The use of drones for canine survey is probably the first of its kind in India,” the BBMP said in a statement.
Also Read:Â SC notice to Kerala govt on plea to euthanise extremely dangerous stray dogs in Kannur
Initially, Hulimavu, Sarakki, Seegehalli and Yele Mallappa Shetty lakes were selected as a “proof of concept.”
The drones were able to capture the images of dogs and successfully identify using artificial intelligence.
The data from the drones’ survey will be analysed in the coming days and will be cross validated with the data collected by the conventional ground survey team, the BBMP said.
It also said if the data from the drone correlates with the ground team, all the safe and open flying spaces in the city will be surveyed with drones in the coming years, as it would be time saving and cost efficient in comparison with the conventional survey methods.
Also Read:Â Stray dogs kill 4-year-old boy on Hyderabad street
“During the pilot project, the team has identified some challenges in operating drones in urban airspaces with the airspace regulations and safety concerns, but is optimistic that with new indigenous technologies like autonomous drones and access to better onboard camera systems, such operations can be scaled up massively in urban airspaces for a broad range of applications such as disease surveillance, construction inspections, encroachments, disaster management etc., the statement said.
(With agency inputs)
