Artificial intelligence based image analysis to address the risk from marine harmful algal blooms
The project will look at how high resolution phytoplankton image data generated by Imaging Flow CytoBots can be used to provide early warnings of harmful algal blooms (HAB) and how data generated can aid in the interpretation of influence of environmental drivers on HAB developments.
The project will address four challenges:
1) Achieving the 1st routine UK IFCB operation
2) Neural network based IFCB image classification to discriminate and enumerate different phytoplankton species
3) Development of an online dashboard https://ifcb-data.sams.ac.uk/ to produce new methods to display HAB data for easy interpretation by stakeholders
4) Application of data analysis approaches to improve risk assessment and ecological understanding
The project will utilise various artificial intelligence based modelling approaches to study the relationship between environmental factors and phytoplankton abundance. It is hoped that these machine learning models may be more capable of representing the complex factors that promote HAB formation than deterministic approaches.
Start date: August 2022
Supervisors
Prof Keith Davidson - SAMS
Funder
A collaboration between SAMS, the Shetland-UHI, Marine Scotland Science and the University of Edinburgh with funding from Scottish Government and the Data Lab.
University
University of the Highlands and Islands
Teaching experience
I have worked as a Lecturer in Computing and Digital Media at Moray College UHI for thirteen years, specialising in software development, web technologies and computer game design.
Employment
2009 - 2022 - Lecturer - Moray College UHI
2014 - 2017 - Qualification Development Team - Unit Writer/Assessment Writer – Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA)
2004 - 2006 - Product Manager - Plantech Ltd.
Higher Education
2022 - BA Creative Writing in the Highlands and Islands, UHI
2011 - TQFE Teaching Qualification in Further Education, University of Dundee
2004 - MSc Internet Technologies, University of Luton
2002 - MA Philosophy, University of Sussex
2000 - BA (Hons) - 1st Philosophy, University of Sussex