News Update

First-ever detailed map of global coral completed

• ByStartupStory     |    September 11, 2021

The first-ever, high-resolution spatial and thematic detailed mapping of all the world’s tropical, shallow coral reefs is completed by researchers, utilizing more than two million Planet images, ground data collected from around the world, and advanced machine learning techniques. They relied on a network of hundreds of field contributors who gave them local information about reefs so that they could program their satellites and software to focus on the right areas. The map is part of the Allen Coral Atlas, an open-access, user-friendly coral reef monitoring platform. The results are available for free at allencoralatlas.org.
The Allen Coral Atlas, named after late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, will act as a reference for reef conservation, marine planning, and coral science as researchers try to save these fragile ecosystems that are being lost to climate change.

The maps, which include areas up to 50 feet (15 meters) deep, are being used to inform policy decisions about marine protected areas, spatial planning for infrastructures such as docks and seawalls, and upcoming coral restoration projects
The new mapping platform, which includes a bleaching detection tool, which tracks coral bleaching events in near-real-time, provides an unprecedented overview of the trends and changes in global coral reef health.
The map gives users the ability to see detailed information about local reefs, including different types of submarine structures like sand, rocks, seagrass, and coral.
In recent decades, Coral reefs, which hold the largest amount of marine biodiversity out of any oceanic ecosystem, have been faced with a myriad of complex threats, ranging from climate change and invasive species to nutrient pollution and degradation. Monitoring these key ecosystems for signs of vulnerability and resilience can help scientists, regulators, and business operators understand how to protect these vital sources of life.
The project began in 2017 by Allen’s company, Vulcan Inc., working with Ruth Gates, a Hawaii researcher.
While the completion of the mapping platform is an achievement in itself, the scientists behind the platform say they hope the new resource will spur action to improve coral reef protection.

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