Kitware Secures $1.1M DOE Contract to Advance AI-Powered Bat Detection for Wildlife Conservation
This project aims to mitigate wind turbine impacts on bats using automated echolocation monitoring technology.
Clifton Park, N.Y. (December 18, 2024) – Kitware, a leader in leveraging AI for environmental science, has been awarded a $1.1 million, two-year Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. The “Bat Detection and Species Determination Around Wind Turbines using AI” project aims to address the environmental impacts of wind energy development on bat populations.
There is a critical need to mitigate risks to resident and migratory bat species, which face increased threats from the expansion of wind energy. By refining passive acoustic monitoring—a cost-effective method to track bat activity—Kitware will tackle challenges such as improving data quality, developing high-performing AI models, and creating user-friendly tools for species identification.
“Wind energy expansion is crucial for achieving sustainable energy goals, but it also poses significant challenges for wildlife conservation,” said Matt Dawkins, Project Lead at Kitware. “Through this project, we are leveraging AI and open source technology to deliver innovative solutions for bat monitoring. These tools will help balance renewable energy development with ecological responsibility.”
Kitware’s team includes subcontractors from the National Renewal Energy Lab (NREL) and United States Forest Services (USFS), and collaborators from the North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat) of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Their system will integrate advanced open source technologies to automate the detection and identification of bat species based on their echolocation calls. It will enable users to curate datasets, discover patterns through clustering, and predict species using AI models. Additionally, the platform will feature web-based visualizations of acoustic data and model outputs, offering researchers a seamless way to explore and validate their findings collaboratively.
The project is expected to set new standards for bat monitoring technology while advancing the environmentally sustainable development of wind energy in the United States.
Contact Kitware for more information about this project and technology.
This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, SC-1, under Award Number DE-SC0023788. This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof.
About Kitware
Kitware delivers innovation to its customers. As a software research and development company, Kitware solves the world’s most complex scientific challenges using custom software solutions built on open source technology. In addition to custom software development, the company also offers technical support and training services to anyone using its open source tools. Since its founding in 1998, Kitware has developed a reputation for its unparalleled technical expertise and excellent customer service. The company is proud to be 100% employee-owned. For additional information, visit kitware.com or follow them on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.