Fusing Artificial Intelligence and

Environmental Intelligence
New opportunities for environment, social welfare
and economic growth

MSc. Cristian Brito M

Environmental Problems (EP)

𝑬𝑷 = 𝒇(𝒑𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒚, 𝑰𝒈𝒏𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆, 𝒑𝒐𝒑𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒔𝒊𝒛𝒆, 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒖𝒎𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏)

World Population World Literacy

Source: United Nations

Fusing Artificial Intelligence and Environmental Intelligence MSc. Cristian Brito M

trabajocebrito@gmail.com
Environmental Problems (EP)

We have a lot of
information and data, but
little knowledge and
intelligence

Source: UN Environment

Fusing Artificial Intelligence and Environmental Intelligence MSc. Cristian Brito M

trabajocebrito@gmail.com
What is Intelligence?
Intelligence is the ability to learn about, to learn from, to understand about, and
interact with one’s environment. In other words intelligence is the faculty of
understanding

Source: adioma

Fusing Artificial Intelligence and Environmental Intelligence MSc. Cristian Brito M

trabajocebrito@gmail.com
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• AI is usually defined as the science of making computers do things that
require intelligence when done by humans.
• AI is the study of ideas that enable computers to be intelligent

Source: https://www.technologystories.org/ai-evolution/

Fusing Artificial Intelligence and Environmental Intelligence MSc. Cristian Brito M

trabajocebrito@gmail.com
Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Source: PwC research

Fusing Artificial Intelligence and Environmental Intelligence MSc. Cristian Brito M

trabajocebrito@gmail.com
Machine Learning
• “Machine learning is the science of getting computers to act without being
explicitly programmed.” – Stanford

• “Machine Learning at its most basic is the practice of using algorithms to parse
data, learn from it, and then make a determination or prediction about
something in the world.” – Nvidia

Fusing Artificial Intelligence and Environmental Intelligence MSc. Cristian Brito M

trabajocebrito@gmail.com
Machine Learning
Four ways Machine Learning Protects the Environment
1. Recognizing animals in wildlife video
2. Audio-based identification of birds
3. Fighting wildlife crime
4. Anticipating environmental threats

Automated animal identification performs at the same

96.6% accuracy level of human volunteers, saving
approximately 8.2 years of human labeling effort on a
3.2- million-image dataset

Source: Chiara Civardi

Fusing Artificial Intelligence and Environmental Intelligence MSc. Cristian Brito M

trabajocebrito@gmail.com
Intelligent Agents
An agent is anything that can be viewed as perceiving its environment through
sensors and acting upon the environment through effectors (Russell and Norvig)

Some examples
Humans Programs Robots

• Senses • Dataset • Sensors

• Body parts • Files • Cameras
• Perception • Math • Motors

Fusing Artificial Intelligence and Environmental Intelligence MSc. Cristian Brito M

trabajocebrito@gmail.com
AI Applications

the challenge is to deliver to AI systems,

environmental intelligence, so that they can
act in an environmentally responsible manner

Fusing Artificial Intelligence and Environmental Intelligence MSc. Cristian Brito M

trabajocebrito@gmail.com
Environmental Intelligence (EI)
EI approach aims to produce environmental knowledge that is timely, reliable, and
suitable for decision support at the local, state, and national levels. It includes:
• Observations.
• Modeling
• Data Integration.

EI Cycle

Source: Mathis et al, NOAA

Fusing Artificial Intelligence and Environmental Intelligence MSc. Cristian Brito M

trabajocebrito@gmail.com
Environmental Intelligence (EI)

Source: NOAA
Fusing Artificial Intelligence and Environmental Intelligence MSc. Cristian Brito M
trabajocebrito@gmail.com
AI + EI Opportunities

• Environmental Compliance
• Air Pollution
• Weather and Climate
• Disaster Preparedness
• Environmental Quality
• Food Security
• Fundamental Understanding of Arctic Systems
• Human Health
• Infrastructure and Operations
• Marine and Coastal Ecosystems and Processes
• Natural Resources
• Resilient Communities
• Sociocultural Services
• Terrestrial and Freshwater Ecosystems and Processes

Fusing Artificial Intelligence and Environmental Intelligence MSc. Cristian Brito M

trabajocebrito@gmail.com
AI and EI in real life

Using machine learning to detect

marine debris

Plastic Bottle Float Ball

Plastic Bottles Float detecting Styrofoam

Source: Sung, Hsin-Chen

Fusing Artificial Intelligence and Environmental Intelligence MSc. Cristian Brito M

trabajocebrito@gmail.com
AI and EI in real life
Using machine learning to accelerate ecological research

Source: Earthranger

Fusing Artificial Intelligence and Environmental Intelligence MSc. Cristian Brito M

trabajocebrito@gmail.com
AI and EI in real life

AI for Earth
Microsoft

Fusing Artificial Intelligence and Environmental Intelligence MSc. Cristian Brito M

trabajocebrito@gmail.com
AI and EI in real life

AI for Earth
Microsoft

Fusing Artificial Intelligence and Environmental Intelligence MSc. Cristian Brito M

trabajocebrito@gmail.com
AI and EI in real life

AI for Earth
Microsoft

Fusing Artificial Intelligence and Environmental Intelligence MSc. Cristian Brito M

trabajocebrito@gmail.com
My personal vision and research

High Quality Big and Small Data Artificial Intelligence Environmental Intelligence

5 years

Extracting reputable data from
environmental studies, remote
sensing and scrapping social media,
news and internet
These data fuel an AI system that
generates high frequency
objective and actionable
environmental insights to
protect environment
An environmental experts team
strenghthen the outcomes to
improve the process

robots and AI system capable of protecting the environment

through autonomous decisions
10 years

Fusing Artificial Intelligence and Environmental Intelligence MSc. Cristian Brito M

trabajocebrito@gmail.com