TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Around 8 million tons of garbage flows into the ocean every year, posing a significant threat to the global environment.
To effectively detect marine waste in the sea, National Central University (NCU) has created a drone monitoring technology that can automatically identify the type of waste and track the source of the trash.
You will find plastic bottles, plastic bags, and all types of marine waste along the coastlines of Guanyin District in Taoyuan.
The NCU has developed an AI recognition technology that can detect marine waste, take high-resolution images, analyze the composition of the waste, monitor hot spots where debris gathers, and track the sources of marine litter.
The university has also set up an online platform on which you can upload photos they have taken of marine waste they have found.
According to data collected, plastics account for 60% of the floating garbage in the waters around Taiwan.
"You can know the type of garbage, its distribution range, and its quantity," said Tseng Kuo-hsin, an associate professor at the Center for Space and Remote Sensing Research, NCU.
"After you upload it, it can help you track and count the number of plastic bottles, fishing gear, or fishing float balls within a certain distance," he added.
The high-tech device on the river is the 2.5th generation version of the tool. It relies on a conveyor belt to transport the plastic waste to the garbage collection basket.
The school will continue to make advancements to pick up marine waste efficiently and effectively. With the upcoming third generation, it will be able to collect garbage with an automatic navigation system.
