About This Project

Coral Collective uses AI-powered monitoring to support coral reef conservation. Our platform analyzes coral color and identifies species to assign health scores, processing data efficiently at scale. We hypothesize that the AI system will detect coral bleaching through color analysis, offering faster and more scalable assessments than manual methods. By engaging communities, we aim to enhance data collection, empower local stewardship, and support broader reef conservation efforts.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

Coral reefs are vital ecosystems that support marine life and protect coastlines, yet they are rapidly degrading due to climate change, pollution, and overfishing. Coral bleaching, driven by rising sea temperatures, is a major factor in reef decline in Hawai'i. In Hawai‘i, coral reefs hold cultural, environmental, and economic significance, but scientists warn that the up to 70-90% of the world's reefs could disappear within 20 years. Traditional monitoring methods are costly and resource-intensive.

This project was inspired by my work as a coral gardener with Kuleana Coral, where I saw the challenges of manual monitoring. AI offers the potential to automate ecosystem analysis, making coral monitoring more efficient and empowering communities to address conservation challenges.

What is the significance of this project?

This project began with our Founder Annalee's work as a diver with Kuleana Coral, a nonprofit focused on coral reef conservation in Hawai‘i. Kuleana Coral fosters kuleana, or responsibility, through clean-ups and workshops that inspire care for the reefs and the ecosystems they support.

During her dives, Annalee saw the urgent need for scalable, efficient solutions to monitor and protect coral health. She helped develop AI-powered technology to automate coral assessments, making monitoring faster, more accurate, and accessible. Purple Mai‘a’s Build for Good AI Hackathon, where it won first place, showcasing its potential. Rooted in Hawaiian values, this technology fosters stewardship, strengthens community ties, and offers a scalable model for global conservation efforts.

What are the goals of the project?

The Coral Collective project aims to create an AI-powered coral health monitoring platform to engage local communities in conservation and develop a model that is replicable for global reef protection. The platform uses machine learning to automate coral assessments, making monitoring faster, cost-effective, and scalable. Through community workshops and training, we are empowering Hawai'i residents and those who visit Hawai'i to participate in contributing data, fostering a sense of stewardship. Longer term, we aim to establish a blueprint that conservationists worldwide can incorporate into their initiatives for protecting vulnerable reefs.