AI Spots Crocs in Queensland Waterways

0:00It's March 26. This is Adelaide News Today, AI, Powered Stories from Your City. Researchers in North Queensland are testing a new artificial intelligence system designed to spot crocodiles in local waterways. The prototype, built by the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science, and Innovation, and James Cook University, relies on a camera mounted on a movable trailer. It scans live stream footage in real time to detect the animals. Over the next year, teams will run three week long field trials to check its performance. Officials are selecting test sites based on crocodile traffic to gather solid data. The department has funded the project with $359,000 since January 2025 and supply thousands of training videos. Experts behind the work aim for at least 70% accuracy, though challenges like water glare, floating debris, and changing light could trip. It up. They stress it adds an extra monitoring layer, but won't replace basic

1:00safety rules for people in the area. Trial results will guide upgrades, and success might expand the tech to busy spots like boat ramps and marinas. Pairing it with underwater tools such as Sonar is also on the table as part of wider crocodile management efforts. This innovation shows promise for boosting safety without fully handing over to machines, keeping humans in the loop for reliable