Is your primary work within fields of wildlife conservation, biology, of environmental science?*Wildlife conservationBiologyEnvironmental scienceIf you would like to share your specific field, please do so here.Which of the following best describes your role?*Field Scientist / ResearcherNaturalist / Environmental Advocate / Citizen ScientistAdvisor / Administrator / ConsultantWriter / Journalist / Science CommunicatorEducatorPhD Candidate / StudentIn what field of science is your work primarily focused?*BiogeographyBotanyEcologyEntomologyEthologyHerpetologyMammalogyOrinthologyPhytopathology My field would benefit greatly if there were more open datasets available for scientists to use for their research.Open data is freely available to everyone to use and republish as they wish, without restrictions from copyright, patents or other mechanisms of control.Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agreeIn my field, it would be ideal if the majority of field studies moved towards permanent stations with automatic data delivery to open datasets.Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agreeIn my field, the majority of field studies are so specialized they require the installation of a stand-alone or "campaign" system of environmental sensors.Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agreeIf technology was available and accessible, data collected from traditional field studies could be better leveraged to inform adjacent research in my field.Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agree The cost of obtaining, installing, and monitoring environmental sensors is high enough that it limits the number of field studies conducted in my field.Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agreeThe cost of monitoring and maintaining always-on, streaming, telemetered environmental sensors blocks researchers in my field from long-term field studies.Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agreeState-of-the-art, telemetered environmental sensors capable of streaming continuously are normally too costly for the narrow field studies of the majority of researchers in my field.Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agreeHow do you usually obtain the environmental sensors you use in your field research?I personally raise funds (grants, donors, sponsors) to buy new/used sensors for my research.My organization/institution raises the funds necessary.Rent sensors as needed.Borrow from other research projects.My institution already has all the sensors necessary for my research.Doesn't ApplyHow does your organization usually obtain the environmental sensors your field scientists use in their field research?The organization raises the funds necessary for sensors needed.The organization rents sensors as needed.The organization or our scientists borrow from other research projects.The organization or our scientists already owns all the sensors necessary for our research.Doesn't apply. Access open datasets and/or bycatch data expands the scope and scale of scientific research.Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agreeOpen datasets and/or bycatch data can act as a bridge that connects scientists to one another.Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agreeI have used data from open datasets and/or bycatch data in my own research.YesNoNot yet — but if it contributed to my research, I would.Our researchers have used data from open datasets and/or bycatch data in their research.YesNoNot yet — but if it contributed to their research, they would.Do you have additional comments about open datasets and/or bycatch data? We are studying the feasibility of installing and maintaining a comprehensive array of connected environmental sensors on the Galápagos Islands to serve as a data-collecting infrastructure for comprehensive environmental monitoring. The infrastructure would include: Fully automated, telemetered image, video, sound, soil, air, and water sensors continuously streaming research-grade data; a robust, open data platform managed by data scientists available to partner with field researchers; and software and apps for remote monitoring. While intended for the Galápagos, we intend for this project to be considered a model for other ecosystems around the world. As such, the following questions are applicable regardless of the geographic location of your field research. For the purposes of this survey, assume the sensors and data would be deployed, monitored, and maintained in such a way to meet/exceed rigorous scientific standards.A project described above could result in a larger pool of researchers designing and executing research related to the Galápagos.Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agreeThe project described above could expand research opportunities for scientists whose field of research is too narrow to garner the funding needed to support advanced technologies.Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agreeOther ecosystems around the world could benefit from a program like the one described.Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agreeResearchers would be interested in the long-term data derived from a project like the one described above.Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agreeDo you have any comments or questions about the project described above? For the purposes of this survey, AI technologies includes anything from smart devices able to learn over time to complex convolutional neural networks.Have you used AI technologies in your work?YesNoNot yet but am hoping to in the future.What type of AI is applicable to your research? Smart devices (connected devices able to operate interactively and autonomously) Image recognition/analysis technology Audio recognition/analysis technology Predictive analytics Pattern recognition technology Classification by machine learning Open source libraries Other What other AI technologies are applicable to your research?Does your organization use AI technologies in its conservation work?YesNoNot yet but we are hoping to in the future.What type of AI is applicable to your organization's research? Smart devices (connected devices able to operate interactively and autonomously) Image recognition/analysis technology Audio recognition/analysis technology Predictive analytics Pattern recognition technology Classification by machine learning Open source libraries Other What other AI technologies are applicable to your organization's research?Do you cover AI technologies in your writing about conservation biology?YesNoI do not yet but am hoping to in the future.What type of AI do you write about or are planning on writing about? Smart devices (connected devices able to operate interactively and autonomously) Image recognition/analysis technology Audio recognition/analysis technology Predictive analytics Pattern recognition technology Classification by machine learning Open source libraries Other What other AI technologies do you write about or hope to write about?Do you teach students about AI technologies?YesNoI do not yet but am hoping to in the future.What type of AI do you teach or would you like to teach? Smart devices (connected devices able to operate interactively and autonomously) Image recognition/analysis technology Audio recognition/analysis technology Predictive analytics Pattern recognition technology Classification by machine learning Open source libraries Other What other AI technologies?Are you studying AI-powered conservation technologies?YesNoNot currently but I am hoping to in the future.What type of AI are you studying? Smart devices (connected devices able to operate interactively and autonomously) Image recognition/analysis technology Audio recognition/analysis technology Predictive analytics Pattern recognition technology Classification by machine learning Open source libraries Other What other AI technologies are you studying/will you study? Please share your email to receive more information on this project.Your email address will not be shared with anyone, nor will it be used for any reason other than infrequent communication regarding this research project. Would you allow us to follow up with you, briefly, about this research project?YesNoDo you have any additional comments?
