AI and drones will be used to map vegetation cover and monitor climate impacts with greater precision.
Abu Dhabi: The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has announced the expansion of its desert vegetation classification project to new areas across the emirate this year, as part of efforts to enhance the sustainability of natural resources and strengthen environmental monitoring using advanced technologies.
The project employs artificial intelligence and unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) to analyse and classify vegetation cover with high precision. It integrates spectral signatures with advanced scientific indicators, enabling experts to monitor changes in natural habitats and better understand ecosystem responses to factors such as grazing and climate change. The initiative provides accurate data to support environmental planning and informed decision-making.
EAD said the expansion builds on its long-term efforts to monitor vegetation cover over extended periods, helping assess the impact of climate change and human activities, including overgrazing and off-road vehicle use in desert areas, and their effects on habitat sustainability.
Advanced technologies
The project aligns with the agency’s broader strategy of integrating advanced technologies into environmental management. EAD has previously introduced several initiatives using artificial intelligence and drones for soil monitoring, detecting environmental changes, and restoring habitats.
These efforts have contributed to building a comprehensive and high-precision environmental database, enabling more advanced vegetation analysis and improving the efficiency of monitoring processes.
Environmental impact
The agency said that adopting modern technologies has significantly improved the efficiency of fieldwork, enabling access to areas that are difficult to reach using traditional methods while reducing the environmental impact of surveys. This approach has also led to a 90% reduction in operational and administrative costs, as well as a significant decrease in the time required to complete studies compared with conventional methods.
Specialised EAD teams have used artificial intelligence and drones to survey large areas of terrestrial habitats, collecting and analysing detailed data on key biological indicators of native plant species. This has helped assess vegetation health and identify major influencing factors, whether natural or linked to human activity.
Earlier phases of the project also included photographic documentation of wildlife distribution and analysis of species interactions with vegetation cover, contributing to a deeper scientific understanding of desert ecosystems and their dynamics.
Smart platform
As part of its digital transformation, EAD has developed an integrated geospatial database platform that enables real-time reporting and precise analysis, enhancing environmental data management. The agency has also tested the use of drones to disperse native plant seeds in selected areas, aiming to study natural regeneration rates based on rainfall and soil quality, with annual monitoring to assess germination success.
EAD said the project represents a major step forward in environmental practices, strengthening its capacity to protect biodiversity and support data-driven conservation in line with the emirate’s vision for a sustainable future.
