Laser-loaded robot dogs, AI bird tracker conduct environmental checks

Hong Kong’s Environmental Protection Department (EPD) is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics to enhance the accuracy, efficiency, and transparency of environmental impact assessments amid the city’s rapid urban expansion. At Hong Kong Wetland Park, two AI-powered systems have been deployed: one for bird detection using image recognition and acoustic monitoring capable of identifying over 500 species with more than 90% accuracy, and another employing lidar sensors mounted on robotic dogs to conduct detailed tree surveys. These technologies enable continuous, comprehensive monitoring of wildlife and vegetation, significantly reducing the time required for field research while improving data precision. The bird monitoring system uses AI-equipped rotating cameras and sound recognition to track species including ecologically important birds like the black-faced spoonbill and Chinese pond heron, even during poor weather or nighttime. Meanwhile, the lidar-based robotic dogs create three-dimensional models of trees by measuring their location, height, and crown width, a method Hong Kong is among the first to systematically apply in environmental assessments. Officials plan