Wireless tech tunes into capture county birdsong
The Green Box project will use wireless technologies and AI to gather real-time data on Shropshire’s bird populations
The River Severn Partnership Advanced Wireless Innovation Region (RSPAWIR) is working with Harper Adams University and a wide range of local environmental bodies and private landowners to expand a pioneering initiative that allows wireless sensors to monitor bird diversity across Shropshire.
The Green Box Project has been successfully operating at Harper Adams for 6 months and will now be extended across 20 sites throughout Shropshire. The initiative will demonstrate the effectiveness of advanced wireless technology and AI in species observation. By deploying smart sensors throughout the county, researchers will collect real-time data on bird populations, contributing to a comprehensive biodiversity report.
David Vasmer, Shropshire Council cabinet member with responsibility for the environment, said:-
“This initiative represents a significant step forward in how we observe and understand our natural environment. The integration of wireless technology in nature allows for continuous, non-intrusive monitoring of bird species, offering insights that were previously more labour intensive to obtain.”
The Shropshire Ornithological Society, which is hosting one of the sensors at its Venus Pool reserve near Shrewsbury and is helping to launch the project, recognised the ecological value of such surveys.
Claire Mulvey, for the Society, said:-
“Ornithological surveys are vital for tracking changes in bird populations, which are often early indicators of broader environmental shifts. The Green Box Project not only enhances our ability to monitor these changes but also fosters community engagement in conservation efforts. We look forward to seeing the detailed results.”
The type of data collected could help support conservation planning, inform policy decisions, and contribute to national biodiversity databases.
The data will be available in real time and distilled by Harper Adams University into an open access report.
Dr Joseph Mhango, senior lecturer in applied data science, added: –
“We have been really impressed with the quality and accuracy of the data that has been generated during our small trial. It’s given us the confidence to expand the scope of the study to a much wider area and we look forward to publishing the results and explaining the technology to local people.”
Notes: The RSPAWIR, managed by Shropshire Council, has been awarded £4m of funding from the Department of Science, Industry and Technology, to support the growth of wireless innovation and technology in some of its key economic sectors.
The Partnership comprises the eight English and Welsh councils that cover the River Severn catchment area including Shropshire Council, and is one of 10 UK Innovation Regions to gain funding.
The RSPAWIR focuses on accelerating the adoption of advanced wireless enabled technologies across three sectors which have particularly strong roots in the River Severn catchment area:-
Water management
Agri-tech
Public sector
