AI in Southeast Asia: Green potential towards tracking plastic waste, forecasting extreme weather

ALL Ear ON Hear Wildlife

From scanners to trees, AI is likewise finding use in the abyss of some of Southeast Asia’s most old scenery.

Individuals Clara Hernblom and Johan Närvä from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences are conducting studies in the immaculate- and also more degraded- forests of Sabah on Malaysia’s Malay area.

They aim to better know the levels of biodiversity and wildlife action across various landscapes, including recovery websites. The results could provide insight into the effectiveness of coal credits, where businesses can mitigate their carbon footprints through the repair or survival of forests.

To know the habitat, they have placed dozens of audio devices throughout the surroundings that they are studying. Over 10- time periods, the products record the sounds of the animals, birds and reptiles living it.

Instead of physically having to listen to thousands of hours of recordings and trying to determine species and behaviours, the students may post their recordings to an Iot- backed program called Arbimon, which can provide analysis in a fraction of the time.

” It seems really appealing. This job would not be achievable without it. And going ahead, we will only get more species that we can recognize”. Mr Närvä said.

It is a process being exceedingly used around the area and the globe- the online tool is free for scientists and researchers to exposure.

Arbimon initially started as a sky- based program for keeping and analysing sound recordings at a college in Puerto Rico. Early uses included helping park rangers detect illegal task, like axe use in the forests of Palawan in the Philippines.

Its features are now much more powerful.

The technology uses routine matching and clustering to learn certain good names that are symptomatic of current species. It has the potential to give insight into what is happening in the woodland- in close- real time.

” For a scholar that has no access to technology, it may take on average 10 to 15 minutes to process one solitary recording”, said Mr Bourhan Yassin, the CEO of Rainforest Connection, which runs Arbimon. The non- gain company is dedicated to protecting threatened communities.

” But think about that and increase that over 100, 000 audio, which is not a bit for a dissertation or thesis. It would equate to anywhere around four and a half weeks to get a genuinely good set of alerts for a second types.

” With an Artificial type, you can do this in seconds. Actually, you can approach a million tapes in a matter of seconds, “he said.

Mr Yassin said Arbimon is helping to bridge a big difference between science and research and protection on the ground. He shared that two to three million tapes are uploaded every week to the program. Close to two billion assessments have been done so far in about 6, 000 jobs in about 120 different locations.

Despite the vast possible for eco- sounds to be used, mainly in rainforest- deep Malaysia and Indonesia, limitations remain around its use in Southeast Asia.

Mr Yassin admitted that governments are still wary about data collection, particularly in national parks, and the hosting of that data outside their own countries.

” The government regulations have n’t caught up yet, “he said”. In order for AI to be widely adopted in Southeast Asia, there has to be decentralisation and coming to terms with the fact that AI does n’t have to run entirely locally and cannot just be controlled entirely within the country.

” For these systems, especially systems like Arbimon, that are not serving just one country, they have to be global”.

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SOLS Energy drives Malaysia’s home solar adoption with innovative subscription model

  • eliminates first financial stress, reduces overall honest installation costs, and lowers the cost of installation.
  • Fixed tariff rate of RM0.46k Wh for next two decades, compelling economic value

A residential solar installation in progress.

Spearheading a paradigm shift towards lasting energy, biotech company, SOLS Energy, one of the world’s leading home renewable installers introduces its groundbreaking ‘ Home Solar Subscription Program’, a pioneering initiative in Malaysia’s renewable energy landscape. Petronas Ventures provided funding for SOLS Energy after it was founded in 2015.

This cutting-edge program makes a major step forward by giving homeowners a simplified and more available path to renewable energy like never before.

The Home Solar Subscription Program was established in Malaysia in an effort to alter the landscape of how people use solar energy, with the main objective being to encourage popular solar power adoption in Indonesian homes. By addressing fiscal constraints, the program covers the entire upfront investment, enabling householders to embrace renewable energy without having to bear initial costs.

One of the program’s main advantages is that subscribers do n’t have to pay any debt because they do n’t have to use credit cards or borrow money. Subscribers even receive a complimentary 20- time solar PV equipment warranty, providing peace of mind and dependability.

The” Home Solar Subscription Program” stands out from normal solar efforts by offering immediate payback times, mitigating the long waiting times normally associated with recovering initial purchases. Notably, participants benefit from a fixed tariff rate of US$ 0.09 ( RM0.46 ) per kilowatt- hour (k Wh ) for the next two decades, offering potential savings compared to the current national grid tariff of US$ 0.12 ( RM0.57 ) k Wh. This predetermined rate provides stability and predictability in energy costs, providing homeowners with a convincing economic justification for switching to solar power.

SOLS Energy drives Malaysia’s home solar adoption with innovative subscription model” Our commitment to empowering people on their path to sustainability and a brighter future is unwavering,” said Raj Ridvan Singh ( pic ), founder-CEO of SOLS Energy. ” That’s why we are revolutionizing the affordability and availability of solar energy for everyone,” he said. Through our Home Solar Subscription Plan, we’re breaking over barriers to renewable implementation. The transition to renewable energy is made simple by this program, giving householders a smooth transition. By embracing renewable energy, homeowners not only have complete control over their energy consumption, but they also have a significant impact on promoting good economic change. They will significantly reduce their carbon footprint while enabling generations to come with a cleaner, greener coming.

With a proven track record of installing solar power in the region of 14MW since 2016, SOLS Energy is in the top spot. 1 home renewable company in Malaysia with over 1, 800 house solar setups. The programme has resulted in annual electricity bill savings of US$ 2.84 million ( RM13.4 million ) for customers and carbon avoidance equivalent to planting 418, 500 trees.

SOLS Energy offers tailored setups with in-home technicians who can offer advice based on the needs of each household. With its emphasis on personalized service, SOLS Energy distinguishes itself from other companies and ensures that each buyer receives the best thermal solution possible.

By reducing rely on fossil fuels and reducing carbon footsteps, the Home Solar Subscription Program contributes to a more sustainable future. By encouraging the adoption of solar power, the program coincides with Malaysia’s ambitions of achieving a brighter and more responsible power ecosystem”, said Raj.

SOLS Energy, backed by Petronas, emerges as a leader in the realm of green energy options in Malaysia. With a determination to transitioning 285, 000 Indonesian households to clean energy, SOLS Energy remains steadfast in its alignment with Malaysia’s overall net- zero aspirations.

Notable accomplishments to date include providing electricity access to over 1,400 B40 Orang Asli families and empowering more than 600 members of the B40 indigenous group through its thermal club.

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New line to premier Swiss tech

New line to premier Swiss tech
As part of the 323.10 kilometer Den Chai- Chiang Rai- Chiang Khong twin track railway project, an arch bridge from Switzerland is constructed in tambon Pong Pa Wai in the Phrae district of Phrae province. SRT

The State Railway of Thailand’s ( SRT ) double-track railroad is being constructed between Den Chai district in Phrae and Chiang Khong district in Chiang Rai using the technology of arch culverts from Switzerland.

Ekkarat Sriarayanpong, mind of the SRT mayor’s office, said that for the first day in Thailand, the technology is being employed in construction of the first arch culvert in the 323.10- kilometre Den Chai- Chiang Rai- Chiang Khong dual- track railway project.

He claimed that the first for arch bridge is being constructed as part of the railway’s Den Chai- Ngao part in Tambon Pong Pa Wai in the Den Chai area.

The culvert’s installation is anticipated to be finished in two months, he said, and it will bend 33.5 meters long and increase 4.22 meters.

He claimed that the newly developed European technology will help reduce the cost of building bridge conduits by 20 to 25 % and lessen the site’s carbon footprint by reducing the amount of concrete used.

Rather, he said, precast fortified material knocks are produced in a shop before they are taken to the blog to be assembled.

With a full height of up to 4.2 meters from floor to ceiling, he claimed the culvert’s dome design also makes more space for vehicles when passing underneath the railroad.

At least 37 like bridge culverts may be built in this task, 21 in the first part of the rail, another eight in the next and at least eight others in the next section, he said.

The 103.7km first section ( Den Chai- Ngao ), which cost 26.6 billion baht to build, is 6.49 % complete, faster than initially planned.

The 132.3km, 26.89- billion- bass following area ( Ngao- Chiang Rai ) is 7.76 % perfect and even ahead of schedule.

The third and last 87.1km section ( Chiang Rai- Chiang Khong ), which was allocated a 19.38 billion baht budget, is 5.54 % complete and is also ahead of schedule, he said.

He said the new double- track railway, expected to be ready in 2028, will be faster for both passengers and moving merchandise.

He added that it will connect to Kunming, China’s and Laos.

More importantly, he said, this new double-track railway will allow goods from other landlocked nations in the Greater Mekong Sub-region to be transported through Thailand and then shipped to a third destination nation from the Laem Chabang seaport.

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Scientists grow ‘meaty’ rice hybrid food for protein kick

The rice is seeded with animal muscle and fat cellsYonsei University

Scientists have created a new type of hybrid food – a “meaty” rice that they say could offer an affordable and eco-friendly source of protein.

The porous grains are packed with beef muscle and fat cells, grown in the lab.

The rice was first coated in fish gelatine to help the beef cells latch on, and the grains were left in a petri dish to culture for up to 11 days.

The researchers say the food may serve as “relief for famine, military ration, or even space food” in the future.

It remains to be seen whether consumers would take to it if it gets to market.

The hybrid rice is apparently a bit firmer and brittler than regular rice, but packs more protein, Matter journal reports.

According to the team at Yonsei University in South Korea, it has 8% more protein and 7% more fat.

And, compared to regular beef, it has a smaller carbon footprint, since the production method eliminates the need to raise and farm lots of animals.

For every 100g (3.5oz) of protein produced, hybrid rice is estimated to release under 6.27kg (13.8lb) of carbon dioxide, while beef production releases eight times more at 49.89kg, they say.

Researcher Sohyeon Park explained: “We usually obtain the protein we need from livestock, but livestock production consumes a lot of resources and water and releases a lot of greenhouse gas.

“Imagine obtaining all the nutrients we need from cell-cultured protein rice.

“Rice already has a high nutrient level, but adding cells from livestock can further boost it.”

She said: “I didn’t expect the cells to grow so well in the rice. Now I see a world of possibilities for this grain-based hybrid food.”

‘People need convincing’

Rice appears to provide a scaffold or structure for the meat cells to grow in, and also gives them nutrients.

The team is not the first to explore lab-grown or cultivated meat products.

Since the first lab-grown burger was unveiled in London in 2013, dozens of companies around the world have joined the race to bring affordable cultivated meat to the market.

Singapore recently started selling the world’s first cultivated chicken product to customers.

Meanwhile, Italy has backed a bill to ban laboratory-produced meat in order to safeguard the country’s food traditions.

Critics point out there is nothing synthetic about lab-grown meat – it is made by growing natural cells.

Prof Neil Ward, an agri-food and climate specialist at the University of East Anglia, said this type of research holds promise for the development of healthier and more climate-friendly diets in future, but that some people needed convincing.

“While data on cost and climate impact look very positive, a critical test is around public appetite for these sorts of lab-developed foods,” he said.

“With lab-based alternative meats in general, the greatest potential is probably in replacing processed meats rather than prime cuts.”

Bridget Benelam from the British Nutrition Foundation said: “Developing a diet that supports health for both people and planet is a major challenge. This study demonstrates an innovative new approach that could contribute to the solution.”

But she added: “The findings represent a relatively small increase in the protein content of rice, which isn’t a high protein food. So further work would be needed if this technology were to be used as an alternative protein source to traditional animal products.

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The Somerset family travelling to Australia without flying

Theo Simon, Rosa and Shannon CogginsBuckle Up Dorothy

A family travelling to Australia without flying have reached Indonesia after a journey of three and a half months.

Shannon Coggins, Theo Simon and their daughter Rosa, 19, left East Pennard on 16 August to begin the 10,000-mile (16,000km) journey to Sydney.

They decided to stop flying in 2002 “because of its effect on the climate”.

The family is hoping to make it in time for Ms Coggins’ sister’s wedding on 28 December.

They have travelled through Kazakhstan, China, Laos, Thailand and Indonesia, and are now in Dili, East Timor’s capital, hoping to find a boat to cross the Timor Sea to Darwin, Australia.

From there they plan to take a bus to Sydney.

Theo Simon, Rosa and Shannon Coggins

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“My sister moved to Australia in 2007 and she’s getting married in New South Wales on 28 December,” Ms Coggins said.

“Although we live far apart, we’re very close because our mum died when we were young but I’ve never been to her home, or taken her son to school, or even met the man she’s marrying.

“I want us all to be there on her wedding day but I am also trying to do my bit to reduce my carbon footprint by trying not to fly.”

The family saved up for several years to pay for the trip, which has cost them much more than air tickets would have done.

‘A fabulous adventure’

In August, Ms Coggins left her job as administrator at the Avanti Park School in Frome and Mr Simon finished working at Songbird Naturals in Ditcheat.

They also had to turn down bookings for their band Seize The Day during their journey.

“Our band can’t play any gigs without us, but we hope to be back in June 2024 for the summer season,” Mr Simon said.

“All three of us have campaigned in different ways for action on climate change, so we decided our journey to Australia would have to be as low-carbon as practical.”

He added: “But we’re realistic. We know that people can’t necessarily find the time to do this, and unfortunately the world isn’t currently set up to make low-carbon travel easier than flying.

“But it has been a fabulous adventure so far, and we’ve still got our fingers crossed that the harbour master in Dili can help us find a boat.”

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