Case Study - AI for peatland restoration
UKRI backed AI solutions for peatland restoration
Summary
New Gradient's team developed state-of-the-art AI for peatland erosion mapping and, with Innovate UK grant funding and in collaboration with Caledonian Climate, is expanding this technology to enable automated peatland restoration planning.
Innovative Machine Learning Solutions for Environmental Conservation
Peatland erosion is a significant contributor to carbon emissions, accounting for 3.5% of the UK's total emissions. The restoration of peatlands requires extensive mapping of erosion features by experts and detailed restoration planning. This process is costly and time-consuming, often not completed until projects are already underway. As a result, initial cost projections for restoration projects are frequently inaccurate. Moreover, the labor-intensive nature of erosion mapping means projects are not consistently monitored, leading to uncertainty when landowners claim carbon credits after extended periods.
New Gradient's AI-driven approach to peatland erosion mapping and restoration planning represents a significant leap forward in environmental conservation technology. By making the process faster, more cost-effective, and more accurate, we're enabling more frequent monitoring and better-planned restoration projects. This not only contributes to more effective carbon emission reduction but also increases investor confidence and insurability in the peatland restoration space. Our success in securing substantial grant funding further validates the potential of our technology to make a meaningful impact in addressing climate change through improved peatland management.
The cost-effectiveness of our approach allows for annual verification of restoration efforts, as opposed to the current 5-year or 10-year intervals. This provides greater certainty to landowners and investors about the ongoing health of their restored peatlands.
Building on this success, we have secured a UKRI grant in collaboration with Caledonian Climate to extend our solution to peatland restoration planning. This funding, totaling over £250,000, will support the development of an AI system that can generate restoration plans based on our erosion maps. This advancement will enable sites and landowners to estimate restoration costs more accurately before project initiation, while also reducing reliance on costly expert time for restoration mapping.
New Gradient has developed a state-of-the-art deep neural network utilizing modern transformer architectures to map peatland erosion features. This AI system processes 3D depth maps along with aerial and drone imagery to produce comprehensive erosion maps. Our solution significantly reduces the cost and time required for erosion feature mapping, enabling more accurate quantification of erosion features and better understanding of carbon restoration potential. This project showcases how our custom AI development can revolutionize environmental conservation efforts.
