INNOVATION
AI and satellites herald a new era for urban biodiversity
Gentian’s ability to assess the impact of green space solutions and the scope of new green spaces could make it a valuable tool for planners and policymakers in the West End, particularly when considering how to meet ambitious net- zero targets at both a Westminster and city-wide level.
Gentian’s machine learning and remote sensing technology identifies urban greening opportunities
U K startup Gentian is and big data. The company speeds up environmental analysis of land by using AI to derive insights from high-resolution satellite imagery. This analysis, which bringing habitat monitoring and ecological surveys into the age of deep learning is already available for developers, landowners, and municipalities, makes it easy to establish an ecological baseline for a particular location. It also gives organisations insight into how biodiversity changes over time. In a use case applicable to the West End, the technology can assess the number of green roofs in a given area and their impact on biodiversity. It can also identify the number of flat roofs that could be retrofitted with greenery, while also assessing whether rooftops could become energy-producing biosolar roofs without compromising on biodiversity. Crucially for businesses facing demands for greater transparency on nature-related issues, Gentian’s assessments are compatible with regulations such as the UK’s
biodiversity net gain (BNG) legislation and the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive. The technology can also support reporting against the Taskforce on Nature-Related Financial Disclosures framework – a market-led initiative providing guidance on how organisations should report on their nature-related dependencies, impacts, risks, and opportunities. Gentian’s technology is tried and tested, and the company has previously worked with well-known names including Grosvenor, Cadogan, and Barratt Developments. It is now working to expand its market reach and increase the capability of its technology by enhancing its algorithms and integrating more comprehensive data sources.
Gentian’s assessments are compatible with regulations such as the UK’s biodiversity net gain (BNG) legislation
Tools like Gentian’s help land and estate owners identify where to add greenery to both existing and new spaces. The company’s solution also provides monitoring agencies with the data they need to ensure long-term compliance with legislation, ensuring nature continues to be prioritised as cities and towns expand. For the West End, technologies like this can help to monitor biodiversity and identify and prioritise the most promising greening opportunities.
newwestend.com
25
Made with FlippingBook Digital Publishing Software