Lian Pin Koh: A drone's-eye view of conservation

譯者: Regina Chu 審譯者: Li Li

When we think of Nepal,

當我們想到尼泊爾

we tend to think of the snow-capped mountains

我們很容易想到積雪蓋頂的

of the Himalayas,

喜馬拉雅山脈

the crystal-clear still waters of its alpine lakes,

清澈如水晶的平靜高山湖水

or the huge expanse of its grasslands.

或是綿延不盡的大草原

What some of us may not realize

我們可能沒有意識到的是

is that in the Himalayan foothills,

在喜馬拉雅山腳

where the climate is much warmer

氣候更溫暖

and the landscape much greener,

景色更青翠的地方

there lives a great diversity of wildlife,

住著種類繁多的野生動物

including the one-horned rhinoceros,

包括印度犀牛

the Asian elephant

亞洲象

and the Bengal tiger.

及孟加拉虎

But unfortunately, these animals

但不幸的是，這些動物

are under constant threat from poachers

不斷受到盜獵者威脅

who hunt and kill them for their body parts.

這些人獵殺這些動物 只為了他們的身體的某部分

To stop the killing of these animals,

為了要停止殺戮這些動物

battalions of soldiers and rangers

一隊隊的軍人及管理員

are sent to protect Nepal's national parks,

被送去保護尼泊爾的國家公園

but that is not an easy task,

但那不是件輕鬆的工作

because these soldiers have to patrol

因為這些軍人必須巡守

thousands of hectares of forests on foot

數千公頃的森林，或徒步

or elephant backs.

或騎乘大象

It is also risky for these soldiers

對這些軍人而言

when they get into gunfights with poachers,

當他們與盜獵者槍戰時風險也很高

and therefore Nepal is always looking

因此尼泊爾總是在找

for new ways to help with protecting the forests

新的方法來幫助保護森林

and wildlife.

及野生動物

Well recently, Nepal acquired a new tool

最近，尼泊爾取得一種新的工具

in the fight against wildlife crime,

來對抗打擊野生動物犯罪

and these are drones,

而這些工具就是無人駕駛飛機

or more specifically, conservation drones.

或更精確地說，保育型無人機

For about a year now, my colleagues and I

大約有一年了，我的同事及我

have been building drones for Nepal

為尼泊爾打造數架無人機

and training the park protection personnel

並訓練公園保護人員

on the use of these drones.

如何使用這些無人機

Not only does a drone give you

無人機不僅給你

a bird's-eye view of the landscape,

地形的鳥瞰圖

but it also allows you to capture detailed,

同時也讓你拍攝詳細

high-resolution images of objects on the ground.

高解析度的地面物體圖像

This, for example, is a pair of rhinoceros

這個，舉例來說，是一對犀牛

taking a cooling bath on a hot summer day

在炎夏的某天

in the lowlands of Nepal.

在尼泊爾的低地泡冷水澡

Now we believe that drones have

現在我們相信無人機

tremendous potential,

有非常大的潛力

not only for combating wildlife crime,

不只能對抗打擊野生動物犯罪

but also for monitoring the health

同時也能監測

of these wildlife populations.

這些野生動物族群的健康狀況

So what is a drone?

所以什麼是無人機？

Well, the kind of drone I'm talking about

嗯，我所說的這種無人機

is simply a model aircraft

是非常簡單的一種模型飛機

fitted with an autopilot system,

配備自動駕駛系統

and this autopilot unit contains a tiny computer,

而這套自動駕駛系統 包含一個小電腦

a GPS, a compass, a barometric altimeter

一個衛星導航系統，一個羅盤 一個氣壓高度計

and a few other sensors.

及幾個別種的偵測感應器

Now a drone like this

那麼像這樣的無人機

is meant to carry a useful payload,

還必須有一定程度的有效載荷

such as a video camera

譬如要能載一台攝影機

or a photographic camera.

或是一台相機

It also requires a software that allows the user

它也需要一套軟體讓使用者

to program a mission,

設計任務程式

to tell the drone where to go.

告訴這架無人機飛到哪

Now people I talk to are often surprised

現在聽到我解說的人通常都很驚訝

when they hear that these are the only

當他們聽到只要

four components that make a conservation drone,

這四個組成分 就能組成一架保育無人機

but they are even more surprised

但他們通常更驚訝於

when I tell them how affordable these components are.

當我告訴他們這些組成份有多平價

The facts is, a conservation drone

事實是一架保育型無人機

doesn't cost very much more than

不會比

a good laptop computer

一台好的筆電

or a decent pair of binoculars.

或一組像樣的雙筒望遠鏡貴多少

So now that you've built your own conservation drone,

所以現在你已經造了一架 自己的保育型無人機

you probably want to go fly it,

你大概會想去駕駛它

but how does one fly a drone?

但要怎麼駕駛一架無人機？

Well, actually, you don't,

嗯，其實你不需要

because the drone flies itself.

因為這架無人機能自己飛

All you have to do is to program a mission

你所要做的就是設計一個任務

to tell the drone where to fly.

告訴無人機飛去哪

But you simply do that by clicking on

但你只需要點擊

a few way points on the Google Maps interface

Google 地圖介面上的幾個航點

using the open-source software.

以開放原始碼軟體來做

Those missions could be as simple

這些任務可以簡單到

as just a few way points,

僅由幾個航點組成

or they could be slightly longer and more complicated,

或也可以稍微長一點更複雜一點

to fly along a river system.

譬如沿著一條河系飛

Sometimes, we fly the drone in a lawnmower-type pattern

有時候我們以割草機模式飛無人機

and take pictures of that area,

並且拍攝那片區域的相片

and those pictures can be processed

而這些相片可再處理

to produce a map of that forest.

以製作那片森林的地圖

Other researchers might want to fly the drone

其它的研究員或許想讓無人機

along the boundaries of a forest

沿著一片森林的邊際飛

to watch out for poachers or people

以觀察注意盜獵者或其他

who might be trying to enter the forest illegally.

想試著非法進入這片森林的人

Now whatever your mission is,

現在不管你的任務是什麼

once you've programmed it,

一但你寫好程式

you simply upload it to the autopilot system,

你就只要上傳到那套自動飛航系統

bring your drone to the field,

把你的無人機運到田野

and launch it simply by tossing it in the air.

然後就把它丟到空中啟動它

And often we'll go about this mission

而且我們常常會

taking pictures or videos along the way,

在任務中拍照或拍影片

and usually at that point,

所以在啟動之後

we will go grab ourselves a cup of coffee,

我們會去給自己拿杯咖啡

sit back, and relax for the next few minutes,

坐下來，休息個幾分鐘

although some of us sit back and panic for the next few minutes

雖然有些人會在坐下後 恐慌個幾分鐘

worrying that the drone will not return.

擔心這無人機飛不回來

Usually it does, and when it does,

通常它都會飛回來，而且當它飛回來時

it even lands automatically.

它甚至還能自動降落

So what can we do with a conservation drone?

所以我們能拿一架 保育型無人機做什麼用？

Well, when we built our first prototype drone,

嗯，當我們造出第一架原型無人機時

our main objective was to fly it over

我們的主要目標是要能飛越

a remote rainforest in North Sumatra, Indonesia,

印尼北蘇門答臘一片偏遠的雨林

to look for the nest of a species of great ape

去找一種巨猿物種的巢穴

known as the orangutan.

稱為紅毛猩猩

The reason we wanted to do that was because

我們想要做這個的原因是

we needed to know how many individuals

我們必須知道有多少

of this species are still left in that forest.

這種物種的個體還留在那片森林裡

Now the traditional method of surveying

那麼傳統的方法

for orangutans is to walk the forest on foot

調查紅毛猩猩，都是徒步走在森林裡

carrying heavy equipment

背着笨重的器材

and to use a pair of binoculars to look up in the treetops

並用雙筒望遠鏡在樹梢尋找

where you might find an orangutan or its nest.

你很可能在樹梢找到一隻猩猩或其巢穴

Now as you can imagine,

你可以想像的到

that is a very time-consuming, labor-intensive,

那是個非常費時費力

and costly process,

又昂貴的方法

so we were hoping that drones

所以我們其實是希望無人機

could significantly reduce the cost of surveying

能顯著的減少其成本

for orangutan populations in Indonesia

於調查在印尼的紅毛猩猩

and elsewhere in Southeast Asia.

及東南亞其他地方的數量

So we were very excited when we captured

所以我們非常激動，當我們

our first pair of orangutan nests on camera.

以攝影機拍到我們第一對紅毛猩猩巢穴

And this is it; this is the first ever picture

就是這個；這就是有史以來第一張相片

of orangutan nests taken with a drone.

以無人機拍到的紅毛猩猩巢穴

Since then we have taken pictures

從那時起我們又拍了

of dozens of these nests

數打的這種巢穴的照片

from around various parts of Southeast Asia,

是從東南亞不同區域拍的

and we're now working with computer scientists

現在我們與電腦科學家合作

to develop algorithms that can automatically count

寫程式以自動計算

the number of nests from the thousands

巢穴的數量，從成千上萬

of photos we've collected so far.

我們收集到的照片中計算

But nests are not the only objects

但巢穴並不是唯一

these drones can detect.

無人機能偵測到的物體

This is a wild orangutan

這是隻野生紅毛猩猩

happily feeding on top of a palm tree,

在一棵棕櫚樹上餵奶

seemingly oblivious to our drone that was flying overhead,

幾乎無視我們的無人機從頭上飛過

not once but several times.

不止一次，很多次

We've also taken pictures of other animals

我們還拍了其它動物的相片

including forest buffalos in Gabon,

包括加彭國的非洲紅水牛

elephants, and even turtle nests.

大象甚至是烏龜巢

But besides taking pictures of just the animals themselves,

但除了拍攝動物本身的相片

we also take pictures of the habitats these animals live in,

我們還拍了這些動物的棲地

because we want to keep track

因為我們想追蹤

of the health of these habitats.

這些棲地的健康狀況

Sometimes, we zoom out a little

有時候我們縮小鏡頭一點點

and look at other things that might be happening

看看其他還有可能發生

in the landscape.

在這片大地上的事

This is an oil palm plantation in Sumatra.

這是一座位於蘇門答臘上的油棕樹園

Now oil palm is a major driver of deforestation

現在油棕樹是森林砍伐的主要元兇

in that part of the world,

在世界的那塊區域

so we wanted to use this new drone technology

所以我們想要使用 這種新的無人機技術

to keep track of the spread of these plantations

以追蹤這種農園

in Southeast Asia.

在東南亞的傳播速度

But drones could also be used to keep track of

但無人機也能拿來追蹤

illegal logging activities.

非法伐木活動

This is a recently logged forest,

這是最近才被砍伐的森林

again in Sumatra.

還是在蘇門答臘

You could even still see the processed

你甚至還能看見處理過的

wooden planks left on the ground.

木板留在地上

But perhaps the most exciting part

但或許最令人興奮的部分

about taking pictures from the air is

與空拍有關的是

we could later stitch these pictures together

我們可以在之後把這些照片接起來

using special software to create a map

用特別的軟體來製造一幅地圖

of the entire landscape, and this map

是整個地面景觀的，而這張地圖

gives us crucial information

給我們重要的資訊

for monitoring land use change,

來監測土地使用的變遷

to let us know where and when plantations might be expanding,

讓我們知道在何處何時農園可能擴張

where forests might be contracting,

哪裡的森林可能因此縮小

or where fires might be breaking out.

或哪裡可能有火燒森林的情況

Aerial images could also be processed

空拍圖也能被再處理

to produce three-dimensional

以製造三度空間

computer models of forests.

電腦模擬的森林

Now these models are not just visually appealing,

現在這些模擬不只是視覺好看而已

but they are also geometrically accurate,

他們在幾何上也很正確

which means researchers can now measure

也就是說研究員現在能測量

the distance between trees,

樹與樹間的距離

calculate surface area, the volume of vegetation,

計算表面積，植被的體積

and so on, all of which are important information

等等，所有這些都是重要的資料

for monitoring the health of these forests.

用以監測這些森林的健康狀態

Recently, we've also begun experimenting

最近，我們也開始實驗

with thermal imaging cameras.

使用熱像儀

Now these cameras can detect

現在這些攝像機能偵測

heat-emitting objects from the ground,

在地面放熱的物體

and therefore they are very useful for detecting poachers or their campfires at night.

因此這些相機對偵測盜獵者 或是他們夜間生的營火非常有用

So I've told you quite a lot about

所以我已經告訴你不少關於

what conservation drones are,

什麼是保育型無人機

how you might operate one of these drones,

你可以如何操作一架這種無人機

and what a drone could do for you.

及無人機能為你做些什麼

I will now tell you where conservation drones

我現在還要告訴你保育型無人機

are being used around the world.

可在全世界的那裡被使用

We built our first prototype drones in Switzerland.

我們在瑞士造了第一批無人機的原型機

We brought a few of these to Indonesia

我們拿了幾個到印尼

for the first few test flights.

來做首次的幾個試飛

Since then, we've been building drones

從那時起，我們又造了無人機

for our collaborators from around the world,

給我們在全世界的合作單位

and these include fellow biologists

而這些單位包括了幾位資深生物學家

and partners from major conservation organizations.

及主要保育機構的幾位合夥人

Perhaps the best and most rewarding part

或許最棒及最有成就感的部分

about working with these collaborators

在與這些合作者共事之處

is the feedback they give us

就是他們給予我們的回饋意見

on how to improve our drones.

該如何改善我們的無人機

Building drones for us is

對我們而言造無人機是

a constant work in progress.

持續不斷的工作

We are constantly trying to improve them in terms of

我們不斷地嘗試改善它們，無論在

their range, their ruggedness,

它們的航程，它們的耐用性

and the amount of payload they can carry.

及它們能承載的有效載荷量都有

We also work with collaborators

我們也與合作者共事

to discover new ways of using these drones.

開發新方法使用這些無人機

For example, camera traps are a common tool

舉個例，相機陷阱是常見的工具

used by biologists to take pictures of shy animals

被生物學家拿來捕捉害羞的動物

hiding in the forests,

藏在森林裡的照片

but these are motion-activated cameras,

但這些是以動作感應觸發快門的相機

so they snap a picture every time an animal

所以每次一有動物穿越路徑

crosses their path.

就會拍下一張照片

But the problem with camera traps

但相機陷阱的問題

is that the researcher has to go back to the forest

是研究員必須每隔一段時間

every so often to retrieve those images,

就回到森林拿回相片

and that takes a lot of time,

而這很費時

especially if there are dozens

特別是如果有上打

or hundreds of these cameras placed in the forest.

或上百的這種相機放在森林裡

Now a drone could be designed to perform the task

現在一架無人機可以設計來做這個工作

much more efficiently.

效率就好多了

This drone, carrying a special sensor,

這種無人機，載著一個特別的感應器

could be flown over the forest

可以飛越森林

and remotely download these images

且遙控下載這些相片

from wi-fi–enabled cameras.

從可以無線上網的相機傳送

Radio collars are another tool

無線電追蹤項圈是另一種

that's commonly used by biologists.

常被生物學家使用的工具

Now these collars are put onto animals.

那麼這些項圈被套在動物上

They transmit a radio signal which allows

它們傳輸一種無線電信號

the researcher to track the movements of these animals across the landscape.

讓研究者追蹤這些動物在大地上的移動

But the traditional way of tracking animals

但這種傳統的追蹤動物法

is pretty ridiculous,

還挺好笑的

because it requires the researcher to be walking

因為這需要研究員在

on the ground carrying a huge and cumbersome radio antenna,

地上走來走去背着一個 巨大又笨重的無線電天線

not unlike those old TV antennae we used to have

就像我們以前用的那些 老式的電視天線一樣

on our rooftops. Some of us still do.

架在屋頂上那種。我們中間應該還有人用

A drone could be used to do the same job

一架無人機可以拿來做同樣的事

much more efficiently.

還更有效率

Why not equip a drone

為什麼不在一架無人機上

with a scanning radio receiver,

裝上掃描無線電接收器

fly that over the forest canopy

飛越整片林冠

in a certain pattern

以特別的飛行模式

which would allow the user or the operator

能讓使用者或操縱者

to triangulate the location

以三角測量法遙控測出

of these radio-collared animals remotely

這些帶著無線電項圈的動物

without having to step foot in the forest.

而無需實際進入森林

A third and perhaps most exciting way

第三種也可能是最令人振奮的

of using these drones

無人機使用方法

is to fly them to a really remote,

就是把它們飛到一個真正偏僻

never-explored-before rainforest

從未被人探險過的雨林

somewhere hidden in the tropics,

那些藏在熱帶地區的秘境

and parachute down a tiny spy microphone

然後以降落傘降下一個 很小的間諜麥克風

that would allow us to eavesdrop on the calls

能讓我們竊聽

of mammals, birds, amphibians,

哺乳動物、鳥類及兩棲類的叫聲

the Yeti, the Sasquatch, Bigfoot, whatever.

還有雪怪、野人、大腳怪，什麼都可以

That would give us biologists

那將給我們這些生物學者

a pretty good idea of what animals

一個起碼的概念有什麼動物

might be living in those forests.

可能住在那些森林裡

And finally, I would like to show you

而最後，我想給各位看

the latest version of our conservation drone.

我們最新款的保育型無人機

The MAJA drone has a wingspan

這款 MAJA 無人機有

of about two meters.

大約兩公尺的翼展

It weighs only about two kilograms,

重量僅約兩公斤

but it can carry half its weight.

但它可以承載其一半重量

It is a fully autonomous system.

它是全自治系統

During its mission, it can even transmit

在任務中，它可以傳輸

a live video feed back to a ground station laptop,

現場直播的影像回去地面站的筆電

which allows the user

這樣能讓使用者

to see what the drone is seeing in real time.

即時看到無人機所看到的東西

It carries a variety of sensors,

它也攜帶各式感應器

and the photo quality of some of these sensors

而其中一些感應器的相片畫質

can be as high as one to two centimeters per pixel.

可高達每像素一至二公分

This drone can stay in the air for 40 to 60 minutes,

這個無人機可以 在空中飛行 40 到 60 分鐘

which gives it a range of up to 50 kilometers.

這可使航程達到 50 公里

That is quite sufficient for most

這對大部分

of our conservation applications.

保育行動都很夠用

Now, conservation drones began as

那麼，保育型無人機從

a crazy idea from two biologists

兩個生物學家的瘋狂點子開始

who are just deeply passionate about this technology.

他們只是深深熱愛著這項科技

And we believe, strongly believe,

而我們相信，強烈地相信

that drones can and will be a game changer

無人機可以，並將成為 改變遊戲規則的器具

for conservation research and applications.

以用在保育研究及應用上

We've had our fair share of skeptics and critics

我們已經得到太多的懷疑及批評

who thought that we were just fooling around with toy planes.

他們認為我們只是 把弄著玩具飛機鬼混

And in a way, they are right.

從某種程度上看，他們是對的

I mean, let's be honest,

我的意思是，說實話

drones are the ultimate toys for boys.

無人機的確是男孩們的終極玩具

But at the same time, we've also gotten to know

但同時我們也必須瞭解

many wonderful colleagues and collaborators

許多優秀的同事及合作者

who share our vision

與我們同享願景

and see the potential of conservation drones.

並看到保育型無人機的潛能

To us, it is obvious that conservation biologists

對我們而言，毫無疑問地，生態保育學家

and practitioners should make full use

及從事這行的人都應該充分利用

of every available tool, including drones,

手邊可用的每一項工具，包括無人機

in our fight to save the last remaining forests

在我們拯救這星球上最後僅存的森林

and wildlife of this planet.

及野生動物的奮鬥中

Thank you.

謝謝

(Applause)

（掌聲）