UAVs and AI will help fight illegal logging on Lake Baikal

Artificial intelligence and unmanned aerial vehicles can improve the effectiveness of monitoring compliance with the ban on logging on Lake Baikal. This was announced on December 13 at the Urbantech Group of Companies.

Dmitry Novikov, the company's Director of Product Development, noted that there are already working digital solutions for wood export control. According to him, neural networks that analyze data from video surveillance cameras are able to automatically detect illegal shipments and provide inspectors with ready-made materials for response.

He also stressed that an integrated approach is needed for the Baikal region, including monitoring of hard-to-reach territories. Novikov explained to RIA Novosti that drones make it possible to quickly identify the initial stages of illegal logging and document the permitted sanitary preparations, which is especially important under the new law.

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Earlier, on December 11, it was reported that the State Duma adopted a law on maintaining the ban on continuous logging in the central ecological zone of the Baikal natural territory, with the exception of sanitary measures. The document also introduces restrictions on construction and business activities without state expertise. The list of permissible sanitary logging sites will be approved by the Government of the Russian Federation with the participation of a special commission and taking into account the conclusion of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

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