New uses for old cell phones: saving rainforests-Smartphone, illegal logging, climate change-IT news New uses for old cell phones: save the rainforests

At present, the world is facing the problem of e-waste, as well as climate warms. If the electronic waste (waste Smartphone form) while avoiding rain forests by illegal logging, also can be used to combat climate change, which will undoubtedly serve a good thing.

This is indeed the Kickstarter project plan, it sought a $ 100,000 through all the methods of financing in the near future, to recycled Android smartphones into solar monitoring station, these stations can detect the noise of chainsaw in real time, and then through the GSM sending SMS alerts to local authorities, so that it can act immediately, the perpetrators of illegal logging.

The startup company called Rainforest Connection, headquartered in the United States in San Francisco, the company this project was carried out in collaboration with the Zoological Society of London. If a fund-raising target, their plans this year will be able to provide protection for between 200 and 300 km of forest equipment deployed to Africa and Brazil rainforest canopy.

If the end beyond the goal, their goal is to deploy to the device within a larger area, while adding additional features, such as a mobile phone user can hear voices from the region around the rain forest through the application of real time.

Every solar-powered anti-harvesting equipment (installed in the canopy, illegal loggers on the ground so as not to be discovered) are captured within a 1 km radius of the voice. In addition to capturing a chainsaw a unique signal, it also can confirm that the gunshot sound of whining and animals, so that the device can also be used to combat poaching.

Rainforest Connection previously in 2013 in West Sumatra tested the system, but also has been in negotiations with Governments and non-governmental organizations, but then the company believes all the road is raised will be enough device deploys to the field's fastest step.

Of course, most Kickstarter supporters he will not receive the Rainforest Connection devices, but the company will provide a variety of different price creative rewards, including t-shirt-style dress, raising the chain visibility of contributions, has the right to name a name acres of protected rain forest, visit a portal to monitor the specified range of data and voice. If you really want to have one such device, can also be purchased directly, but sells for up to $ 600.

At the technical level, every Rainforest Connection equipment includes a recycling of smartphones, smartphones using depth-customized version of the Android operating system, specifically optimized for power efficiency, resource management, and audio. In addition to the modification of solar panel arrays, which can be run under the forest canopy shades.

"Such devices take advantage of highly sensitive microphones, giving priority to capture the area around the voice. A network open source software compressed sound files to the cloud server for analysis. In just a few seconds, the audio data will be analyzed, and then any frequency sound plaintive sound of chainsaws, guns, animals and other related sounds can activate the system and eventually sends SMS alerts to local law enforcement. ”

Rainforest Connection than camera trap, using audio system monitors a protected rainforest area has an advantage, which covered a wider. Satellite imagery is generally only used to display images after deforestation, rather than providing a real time system, which local authorities are involved in illegal logging activities in time.

In addition, Rainforest Connection also pointed out that, even if the action taken by the authorities after receiving the text message alerts, the system can also be filmed in chronological logging of all, so as to use them as evidence of accused the authorities of inaction.

In terms of connections, system using GSM reminder text messages sent to local authorities, but also in the "minimum" function within the coverage areas. Rainforest Connection said in the company's tests, the GSM coverage in the rainforest area of "bigger astonishing", especially those who are most likely to suffer from illegal logging threaten the region.