Saving Monarchs With Machine Learning and Computer Vision
Summary
Monarch butterflies are experiencing severe declines, but AI-powered computer vision offers new hope for their conservation. This session explores how machine learning aids in identifying milkweed and invasive species, supporting precise conservation efforts across millions of acres. Learn how innovative image analysis is transforming vegetation management and habitat monitoring by combining technology and ecology to protect iconic pollinators, and why this approach is vital for maintaining biodiversity resilience.
- Format: Presentation
- Category: Presentation
- Event Type: panel
- Presented By: n/a
Contributors
- Greg Emerick
Raw Event JSON
Large nested arrays are compacted for page readability. Full payload remains in dataset files.
Open JSON payload
{
"id": "PP1162414",
"track": "Cities & Climate",
"focus_area": null,
"category": "Presentation",
"event_id": "PP1162414",
"event_type": "panel",
"format": "Presentation",
"genre": null,
"subgenre": null,
"name": "Saving Monarchs With Machine Learning and Computer Vision",
"presented_by": null,
"publish_at": "2025-11-03T16:30:00.000-06:00",
"reservable": true,
"reservable_id": "PP1162414",
"reserved": false,
"date": "2026-03-13",
"end_time": "2026-03-13T17:00:00.000-05:00",
"start_time": "2026-03-13T16:00:00.000-05:00",
"message": null,
"image": {
"alt_text": "Saving Monarchs With Machine Learning and Computer Vision",
"credit": "Monarch Joint Venure",
"url": "https://images.sxsw.com/TNwRO7AP0qTGSbY_QqpbDLlpwYU=/950x633/images.sxsw.com/187/f97ced2a-15f5-4a5e-e95f-d3fb6fffecfc/pp1162414"
},
"credentials": [
{
"name": "Platinum Badge",
"type": "platinum"
},
{
"name": "Innovation Badge",
"type": "innovation"
}
],
"contributors": [
{
"id": 77865,
"company": "POLLi",
"credential_types": [
"innovation"
],
"entity_id": 2238817,
"name": "Greg Emerick",
"speaker_types": [],
"title": "Founder",
"image": {
"alt_text": "Greg Emerick",
"credit": null,
"url": "https://images.sxsw.com/3mR5lpQNeSmrL6gfJwfjDyvVtzY=/600x600/images.sxsw.com/48/bb975abb-49c0-c653-5b5b-bdeedb8a0482/pcid-1622472"
},
"speaker_type": "Speaker",
"details": "Greg Emerick is the founder of POLLi, a platform that utilizes machine learning and drone imagery to monitor habitats, manage vegetation, and support biodiversity—including efforts to protect monarch butterflies along their migration corridor.",
"links": {},
"type": "person"
}
],
"venue": {
"accessible": false,
"age_policy": null,
"floor": "2",
"id": "V0406",
"indoor_outdoor": "INDOOR",
"name": "Room 201-202",
"parent_id": "V0403",
"parent_venue_name": "JW Marriott",
"venue_entry_info": null,
"formats": null,
"location": {
"address": "110 E 2nd St.",
"lat_lon": [
30.2645713,
-97.743198
],
"city": "Austin",
"postal_code": "78701",
"state": "TX",
"name": "JW Marriott"
},
"root": {
"accessible": null,
"age_policy": null,
"floor": null,
"id": "V0403",
"indoor_outdoor": null,
"name": "JW Marriott",
"parent_id": null,
"parent_venue_name": null,
"venue_entry_info": null,
"formats": null
},
"events": "[omitted 5 venue events]"
},
"description": "Monarch butterflies are experiencing severe declines, but AI-powered computer vision offers new hope for their conservation. This session explores how machine learning aids in identifying milkweed and invasive species, supporting precise conservation efforts across millions of acres. Learn how innovative image analysis is transforming vegetation management and habitat monitoring by combining technology and ecology to protect iconic pollinators, and why this approach is vital for maintaining biodiversity resilience.",
"experience_level": "Intermediate",
"accessibility": [],
"accessible_venue": false,
"add_bcl_url": false,
"add_slido": false,
"age_policy": null,
"american_sign_language": false,
"apple_url": null,
"audio_description": false,
"caption_url": null,
"closed_captioned": false,
"cpe_credit": false,
"has_subtitles": false,
"hash_tags": [],
"high_sensory_experience": false,
"live": false,
"long_description": "Monarch butterflies are experiencing severe declines, but AI-powered computer vision offers new hope for their conservation. This session explores how machine learning aids in identifying milkweed and invasive species, supporting precise conservation efforts across millions of acres. Learn how innovative image analysis is transforming vegetation management and habitat monitoring by combining technology and ecology to protect iconic pollinators, and why this approach is vital for maintaining biodiversity resilience.",
"meeting_url": null,
"meeting_url_live": false,
"mentorly_url": null,
"mobile_audio_url": null,
"open_captioned": false,
"playlist_tag": null,
"rebroadcast": false,
"recommended_ids": [],
"search_conversions": null,
"short_program": false,
"slido_url": null,
"sort": "SAVING MONARCHS WITH MACHINE LEARNING AND COMPUTER VISION",
"source": "Official",
"squad_up_url": null,
"stream_embed": null,
"stream_id": null,
"stream_url": null,
"strobe_warning": false,
"subdiscipline": null,
"summit": null,
"summit_display_name": null,
"tags": [],
"talent_attending": null,
"title_only": false,
"track_display_name": "Cities & Climate",
"trailer_id": null,
"trailer_url": null,
"video_on_demand": null,
"vimeo_id": null,
"vod": false,
"xr_project_type": null,
"youtube_id": null,
"related_sales_client": null
}