New AI system to monitor and protect coral reefs in real time

Researchers at the University of South Australia are developing a global real-time monitoring system to help combat the decline of coral reefs, primarily caused by bleaching due to global warming.

The project—published in the Electronics—in collaboration with researchers from Queensland and Victoria, will integrate remote sensing, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to provide real-time data on reef health.

A centralised dashboard will consolidate data from underwater videos, satellite imagery, and environmental readings to enable rapid analysis and intervention. Lead researcher Dr. Abdullahi Chowdhury explains that current reef monitoring models exist in isolation, making large-scale, real-time assessments difficult.

The new system will track bleaching severity, disease outbreaks, juvenile coral levels, and reef fish populations to improve conservation efforts. The technology will draw on data from leading marine research organisations, including NOAA and CSIRO, with the goal of providing predictive insights to mitigate reef damage.