Sahaj Software collaborates with Citizens of Great Barrier Reef to develop technology and software infrastructure for the Great Reef Census, a groundbreaking citizen science initiative to protect the threatened Great Barrier Reef.
In a significant collaboration, Sahaj Software, a multinational artisanal technology services company, has joined forces with Citizens of Great Barrier Reef, a people-powered conservation organization. The partnership aims to develop the necessary technology and software infrastructure to enable the Great Reef Census, one of the world’s largest marine citizen science initiatives.
The initiative seeks to address critical data gaps about the Great Barrier Reef, the largest marine ecosystem on the planet, and mobilize citizens and technology partners to collaborate and provide valuable data to scientists and reef managers.
The Great Barrier Reef, stretching over 2000 km and housing a quarter of the world’s marine species, is a global treasure facing numerous threats such as climate change, pollution, and other environmental factors. To tackle the urgent need for comprehensive data, Citizens of Great Barrier Reef launched the Great Reef Census campaign on April 13, 2023.
This campaign aims to analyze images of the reef with the help of tens of thousands of citizen scientists or virtual volunteers. The success of the campaign relies on mobilizing citizens and technology partners to harness the collective efforts of those passionate about protecting the reef.
Prior to the Great Reef Census, only a mere 5% of the Great Barrier Reef was regularly surveyed, resulting in significant data gaps as the reef undergoes changes year after year. The Census has already collected survey data from 15% of the reefs across the wider Great Barrier Reef.
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To streamline the analysis, interface, and data extraction for the Great Reef Census, Sahaj Software stepped in as a partner, providing software and data engineering expertise. This collaboration enabled the development of the engineering and data platform, including the launch of the new analysis platform at greatreefcensus.org.
This platform allows citizen scientists to contribute more data to marine scientists regarding coral types and cover across the reef. The platform also incorporates deep learning (AI) capabilities from Dell Technologies. India currently ranks third in terms of citizen scientists contributing to the analysis platform, following the USA and Australia.
Sahaj Software’s expertise in platform and data engineering plays a crucial role in creating a trusted ecosystem of partners and citizens. By leveraging an intelligent platform that augments and amplifies human contributions, Sahaj’s technology solution engages citizens while providing valuable intelligence to the scientific and conservation community.
This collaboration empowers citizen scientists to play a vital role in protecting and revitalizing the Great Barrier Reef.
Expressing his thoughts on the partnership, Andy Ridley, CEO of Citizens of Great Barrier Reef, emphasized the significance of taking action to protect the reef and commended Sahaj Software for their role in rationalizing the process and utilizing technology effectively. He stressed the urgency of creating conservation solutions and highlighted that the actions taken today will shape the future of the Great Barrier Reef.
Anand Iyengar, Managing Director of Sahaj Software, underscored the critical mission of protecting the Great Barrier Reef and expressed the company’s commitment to utilizing their software engineering expertise for the conservation of this vital coral ecosystem.
He hopes that their partnership with Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef inspires others to join in safeguarding the planet’s biodiversity for future generations.
Akash Agrawal, Co-Founder and CEO of Sahaj Software, highlighted their dedication to making a difference with software and participating in initiatives that have a lasting impact on the world. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to be part of this monumental initiative and contribute to the protection of the Great Barrier Reef through technology.
Agrawal recognized the instrumental role played by Citizens GBR in driving the initiative and raising awareness about the importance of protecting the reef.
As the Great Barrier Reef faces an existential threat, immediate action is imperative. The partnership between Sahaj Software and Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef is a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation.
It is expected that this collaboration will inspire others to join the fight to preserve our planet.
Sahaj Software in a statment said that it is proud to have applied its engineering expertise to this monumental journey alongside Citizens of Great Barrier Reef. Together, they are working towards the common goal of conserving the Great Barrier Reef and creating a better future for all.
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