Local businesses need to adapt and innovate to keep up with the constantly changing world and build resilience into their business. Advance Rockhampton is teaming up with key players in the business innovation and AI industries to show how emerging technologies can help Rockhampton businesses thrive.
InfoFish Australia, a family business created in Rockhampton, have a long involvement in fisheries research using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and is dedicated to creating better fisheries through citizen science.
InfoFish Australia co-owner Stefan Sawynok said this month they are focusing on scanning the Fitzroy River using biometrics AI technology.
"Our intention is to develop a full picture of what is happening above and below the water by completing a three part survey," Mr Sawynok said.
"The traditional method of assessing and classifying the fish signals generated by a survey is by manual inspection, which limits most sampling to a small slice of river.
"Using AI technology we can assess a lot more signals which allows us to sample the whole body of water, using a survey technique we developed specifically for this purpose.
"Thus the power of AI is that we have gone from doing say a 1km x 1km square (250 acres) in a dam as a sample to this year doing over 150, 000 acres of surveying in total."
Rockhampton Region Mayor Tony Williams said this is a fabulous example of the benefits artificial intelligence can bring to our region.
"The work that InfoFish do to assist in identifying fish population is extremely valuable to the Rockhampton region," Mayor Williams said.
"The mapping of the Fitzroy River for biomass of barramundi and king threadfin will greatly assist us in understanding the health of these fish stocks."
Advance Rockhampton Executive Manager Greg Bowden said Council's Economic Development team are excited and ready to support local businesses in their innovation journey.
"Whilst change can be challenging, it also presents an opportunity for local businesses to find new and better ways to grow. Implementing digital technologies and business innovation will assist with change," Mr Bowden said.
