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Protection decisions loom for endangered North Atlantic right whales

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Protection decisions loom for endangered North Atlantic right whales


North Atlantic right whale
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Pregnant North Atlantic right whales will soon begin the long swim from the frigid waters off New England’s shores to the warm calving grounds of Georgia’s coast.

By the time the endangered mammals start arriving in mid-November, the federal government may—or may not—have imposed a revised vessel speed rule meant to protect the mothers and their newborns from boat strikes.

Next month, the Biden administration is expected to give final consideration to a two-year-old proposal to expand a 10-knot speed limit for large vessels operating in the calving grounds on smaller boats 35 feet and longer. Yet as the White House readies to act, a congressional committee recently advanced legislation sponsored by U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, R-St. Simons Island, meant to halt the speed rule’s implementation.

The House Committee on Natural Resources approved House Resolution 8704 on Sept. 19, making it eligible for a vote before the full House. The legislation would block funding for implementation and enforcement of the speed rule through the end of 2030 and create a grant program to spur new technological developments to help boat captains spot whales and avoid collisions.

“There is technology that exists to track right whales, and we must implement it before endangering boaters’ and harbor pilots’ lives with unworkable speed restrictions. I urge a swift vote on the House floor so we can get these critical safeguards signed into law,” Carter said.

The resolution faces political challenges should it pass the House, at least through the end of 2024. Democrats broadly support the speed rule and the party holds majority control of the U.S. Senate, although that could change in the upcoming election. So could the presidency, as Democrat Joe Biden is not seeking reelection.

Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat, is locked in a tight race with the Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump.

Even if Democrats retain power, Carter’s objection to the vessel speed rule is being watched closely by whale advocates. Gib Brogan with Oceana, an environmental group focused on the world’s oceans, labeled efforts to delay the limit’s implementation as “legislative attacks” that could be “disastrous” for the right whales.

“Carter’s bill would pave the way toward extinction for this species,” Brogan said. “More needs to be done and needs to be done immediately. We can’t wait until 2031 to protect the whales from boat strikes.”

Protection vs. balance

Carter’s opposition is grounded in economic concerns. His district stretches the length of the Georgia coast, and his constituents include commercial fishermen and recreational boaters, some of whom would have to abide by the speed limit.

The loudest outcry against the vessel speed rule, though, has come from Georgia Ports Authority officials. The state-run entity operates the third-busiest port in the nation with marine terminals in Savannah and Brunswick. The facilities are economic engines, supporting 561,000 jobs and contributing $59 billion annually to the state’s gross domestic product, a 2022 study showed.

Authority leaders oppose the rule because of the effect it would have on the harbor pilots who bring cargo ships into the port. Those professionals are ferried to and from the freighters on boats that would be subject to the expanded speed rule.

This presents safety concerns—the pilots board the vessels on the open seas within the calving grounds. Pilot boats must typically reach speeds as high as 12 knots to perform the transfer of the captains to and from the cargo ships. The boarding process requires that pilot boats move in quickly beside the freighters, which in rough seas must travel at 8–10 knots to maintain steerage and limit the chance of injury to the pilots.

Should the speed limits be expanded, the pilots have told the ports authority they would refuse to work when seas are rough.

“Operating around the end of the channel at 10 knots or less is a dangerous thing,” said Trey Thompson, president of the Savannah Pilots Association. “You’d be like a cork bobbing around, especially in the wintertime.”

While proponents of the vessel speed rule say exceptions could be made for the pilots, the ports authority remains opposed to the limits. Authority Chief Operating Officer Jamie McCurry warned a House subcommittee of “unintended consequences” during a hearing in June and testified that it is “crucial to find a balanced approach” such as outlined in Carter’s legislation.

Facing extinction

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officials and environmental groups say the expanded speed rule should be put in place before the 2024–2025 calving season begins.

At the June House subcommittee hearing, Evan Howell, director of NOAA’s office of science and technology, testified that the whales’ extinction is imminent and that no technology developed under the House resolution’s grant program could be proved and adopted quickly enough to protect the whales from vessel strikes.

Vessel strikes are a threat to the whales, which can reach 50 feet in length, weigh as much as 70 tons and typically swim just below the ocean’s surface. Researchers estimate 15 right whales have died due to vessel strikes since 2017, with three documented deaths this year. About 360 North Atlantic right whales—and just 70 reproductively active females—remain on Earth.

“As we prepare to enter yet another calving season along Georgia’s coast, we cannot sit idly by as vessel strikes continue to injure and kill our whales at unsustainable levels, like what we saw in 2024,” said Catherine Ridley of One Hundred Miles, a Georgia-focused environmental group.

“Our elected leaders must rely on facts and the best available science now. NOAA’s proposed expansion of its 2008 rule is safe, effective—and urgently needed.”

2024 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Protection decisions loom for endangered North Atlantic right whales (2024, October 3)
retrieved 3 October 2024
from https://phys.org/news/2024-10-decisions-loom-endangered-north-atlantic.html

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Google is working on reasoning AI, chasing OpenAI’s efforts

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Google is working on reasoning AI, chasing OpenAI’s efforts


Google
Credit: cottonbro studio from Pexels

Google is working on artificial intelligence software that resembles the human ability to reason, similar to OpenAI’s o1, marking a new front in the rivalry between the tech giant and the fast-growing startup.

In recent months, multiple teams at Alphabet Inc.’s Google have been making progress on AI reasoning software, according to people with knowledge of the matter, who asked not to be identified because the information is private. Such software programs are more adept at solving multistep problems in fields such as math and computer programming.

AI researchers are pursuing reasoning models as they search for the next significant step forward in the technology. Like OpenAI, Google is trying to approximate human reasoning using a technique known as chain-of-thought prompting, according to two of the people.

In this technique, which Google pioneered, the software pauses for a matter of seconds before responding to a written prompt while, behind the scenes and invisible to the user, it considers a number of related prompts and then summarizes what appears to be the best response.

Google declined to comment on the effort.

Google and OpenAI have been locked in an intense fight for dominance in AI, particularly since the release of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, a popular chatbot that some investors worry will eventually obviate the need for Google search.

Google has taken various steps to regain its lead, including merging its premier research labs to form the Google DeepMind unit and fortifying relationships between researchers and product teams.

Yet the search giant continues to move more slowly when it comes to releasing AI products, pausing to consider ethical problems, the need to live up to the public’s expectations of trust in its brand, and the competing interests of multiple similar efforts in the vast organization.

Since OpenAI unveiled its o1 model, known internally as Strawberry, in mid-September, some in DeepMind have fretted that the company had fallen behind, according to another person with knowledge of the matter. But employees are no longer as concerned as they were following the launch of ChatGPT, now that Google has debuted some of its own work, the person said.

Despite the slower pace of Google’s product rollouts, it remains a formidable player, said Oren Etzioni, a veteran AI researcher who founded TrueMedia.org, a nonprofit dedicated to combating political disinformation.

“Technically it’s always been the case that Google’s capabilities were top notch. They were just more conservative in rolling things out,” Etzioni said. “It’s a marathon, and it’s anybody’s race to win.”

In July, Google showcased AlphaProof, which specializes in math reasoning, and AlphaGeometry 2, an updated version of a model focused on geometry that the company debuted earlier this year. The programs aced four of the six problems featured in the International Mathematical Olympiad, an annual competition in which students tackle topics such as algebra and geometry, Google said in a blog post.

At its developer conference in May, Google offered a glimpse of an AI assistant, Astra, which can use a phone’s camera to see the world around it and answer questions, such as telling a user where she had left her glasses. Google said some features of assistant may come to its flagship AI model, Gemini, toward the end of this year.

“Advanced mathematical reasoning is a critical capability for modern AI,” Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis wrote in a post on social network X in July.

2024 Bloomberg L.P. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Google is working on reasoning AI, chasing OpenAI’s efforts (2024, October 3)
retrieved 3 October 2024
from https://techxplore.com/news/2024-10-google-ai-openai-efforts.html

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Engineers teach a quadruped robot to climb standard ladders

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Engineers teach a quadruped robot to climb standard ladders


A quadruped robot that can easily climb a standard ladder
Composite image of a quadrupedal robot equipped with hooked end-effectors, ascending a ladder in 4 s with a reinforcement learning-based control policy. Ladder shown has parameters 90°incline, 1.8 m length, 0.3 m inter-rung spacing, 2.5 cm rung radius, and 1 m width. Credit: arXiv (2024). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2409.17731

A team of robotics engineers at ETH Zurich, Robotics Systems Lab, has modified an ANYbotics ANYMal quadruped robot to allow it to easily and effectively climb a standard ladder. The group has written a paper describing their efforts and results and has posted it on the arXiv preprint server.

For many years, manufacturers who have deployed robots in their facilities have noted that while robots have come a long way in replacing human laborers, one area where they fall short is climbing simple ladders. In response, engineers from several companies have attempted to give robots such an ability, almost all of which have been humanoid bipedal type robots.

Such robots are typically very slow and tentative and not very useful in a real-world environment. In this new effort, the research team has modified a standard working quadruped robot known as ANYMal in a way that allows it to very quickly and nimbly climb standard ladders.






The team noted that most robot “hands” or “paws” are not very conducive to ladder climbing. Humans, they note, form their hands into a hook and then grip each rung as they proceed upward. Therefore, the research team started by designing a custom paw with a hook-like gripping ability—one that allowed for clenching once a hook was made. They then used reinforcement learning to teach the robot how to use its hooks to climb a ladder.

To speed up the training, the researchers used a simulation where a privileged teacher–student approach was employed, where the teacher was given access to observational videos of simulated robots climbing ladders in a variety of environments and where problems were encountered, such as a jiggling ladder or a missed step. Such training allowed for learning robust climbing skills. Multiple student robots were then taught by allowing them to mimic the teacher.

Once they had a test robot thoroughly trained, the research team set it loose in a real-world environment where it was asked to climb a variety of ladders. The researchers found it to be successful approximately 90% of the time. They also found their modified robot greatly outperformed the same type of robot without the hooked feet.

The research team plans to continue their work with ladder climbing, hoping to add more features such as the ability to traverse ladders in unstructured environments without the need for motion capture equipment.

More information:
Dylan Vogel et al, Robust Ladder Climbing with a Quadrupedal Robot, arXiv (2024). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2409.17731

Journal information:
arXiv


© 2024 Science X Network

Citation:
Engineers teach a quadruped robot to climb standard ladders (2024, October 3)
retrieved 3 October 2024
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Miami-Dade study questions reliability of land surface temperature for heat risk assessment

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Miami-Dade study questions reliability of land surface temperature for heat risk assessment


Study reveals limits of using land surface temperature to explain heat hazards in Miami-Dade County
Mean Land Surface Temperature (LST °C) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) for Miami-Dade County (2013–2022). Credit: Powered by ESRI, data source: USGS

A study published in the journal PLOS Climate on October 2, 2024, examines the effectiveness of using land surface temperatures (LSTs) as proxies for surface air temperatures (SATs) in subtropical, seasonally wet regions.

Scientists at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, used satellite remote sensing data to explore how LST reflects human heat exposure in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The findings have important implications for urban heat adaptation strategies, raising questions about how well LST captures the full extent of outdoor heat exposure in this region and beyond.

Land surface temperature as a proxy for heat exposure

“LST data, gathered by satellite imaging, have long been used to estimate surface air temperature—the temperature people experience outdoors,” said Nkosi Muse, a Ph.D. candidate in the Abess Graduate Program in Environmental Science and Policy at the Rosenstiel School and the lead author of the study.

“LSTs are a key component of lower atmosphere processes and can be studied at high resolutions—important for understanding urban heat risks and informing adaptive strategies, especially as cities grow hotter due to climate change and urban development,” he notes.

The researchers indicate the accuracy of LST as a proxy can vary based on geographical and climatic factors. While widely studied in temperate zones, the relationship between LST and SAT in subtropical regions with high summer rainfall remains less explored.

This study, focused on Miami-Dade County, aimed to bridge this gap. Using Landsat 8 remote sensing data from 2013 to 2022, researchers compared LST readings with air temperature data from local weather stations to understand when and where LST is an effective proxy for SAT. Their findings revealed seasonal variations in the relationship between LST and SAT, underscoring the complexity of using LST data in subtropical, wet regions.

Seasonal patterns of LST and the urban heat island effect

The study found that LST data captured the spatial distribution of heat across the county, notably highlighting the presence of a surface urban heat island (SUHI) effect—where urban areas are hotter than surrounding rural areas. This effect was most pronounced during spring, with a mean SUHI intensity of 4.09°C, surprisingly higher than during the summer when it averaged 3.43°C.

Notably, LST peaked in May and June, contrary to the typical northern hemisphere pattern where summer months like July and August tend to see the highest temperatures.

In contrast, SAT in Miami-Dade County reached its highest levels in August, with the relationship between LST and SAT varying significantly by season. During winter, LST closely aligned with SAT, but this connection weakened during wetter fall months. In the summer months, there was no statistically significant relationship between LST and SAT.

Limitations of LST as a heat exposure measure

While LST remains a useful tool for identifying spatial heat patterns in urban areas, this study suggests its limitations as a proxy for the air temperatures people experience in subtropical, seasonally wet regions like Miami-Dade.

During the wet season, LST may underestimate the actual heat exposure residents face. The timing of LST data collection (11 AM ET/12 PM EST) might also play a role, as this snapshot does not capture the peak heat of the day, especially during humid, rainy months.

“These findings highlight the risks of relying solely on LST for urban heat adaptation strategies, especially in climates that do not follow temperate patterns,” said Amy Clement, a professor of atmospheric sciences at the Rosenstiel School and a co-author of the study.

“As cities around the world, particularly in subtropical and tropical regions, face increasing threats from heat waves and rising temperatures, these results emphasize the need for more precise measurements to accurately assess heat risks and inform responses,” she says.

Implications for urban planning and future research

The study’s findings have immediate relevance for urban planners and policymakers working on heat adaptation strategies in subtropical and tropical regions. As Miami-Dade County continues to develop new heat policy and the City of Miami unveils its first ever “Heat Season Plan,” these findings can be incorporated into further planning.

The findings suggest that relying on LST alone may lead to a misrepresentation of heat risks, particularly during the wet season, when air temperatures can be significantly higher than surface temperatures.

As urban areas face growing pressure to protect at-risk populations from extreme heat, this research points to the need for more sophisticated approaches to measuring and mitigating heat exposure in Miami-Dade.

Using LST data to identify neighborhoods most at risk from heat may overlook the intensity of heat exposure in some areas, particularly during the hottest months of the year. This could result in inadequate or misdirected heat adaptation strategies.

The study also opens avenues for future research, particularly in exploring how localized processes—such as vegetation, water bodies, or urban materials—affect surface energy balances and LST readings. Understanding these factors could improve the accuracy of LST as a tool for measuring heat exposure in diverse urban environments.

More information:
Nkosi Muse et al, Daytime land surface temperature and its limits as a proxy for surface air temperature in a subtropical, seasonally wet region, PLOS Climate (2024). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pclm.0000278

Citation:
Miami-Dade study questions reliability of land surface temperature for heat risk assessment (2024, October 3)
retrieved 3 October 2024
from https://phys.org/news/2024-10-miami-dade-reliability-surface-temperature.html

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part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.





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Australian retailers urged to step into the future with smart technologies for customers

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Australian retailers urged to step into the future with smart technologies for customers


Australian retailers urged to step into the future
Credit: Pexels

While self-service technologies in the Australian retail space were initially brought on to create convenience, the self-checkout counters have become the bane of many shoppers’ existence.

Researchers from Edith Cowan University (ECU) have found that for Australian retailers to create actual convenience for shoppers, corporations would need to make use of smart technologies instead. The research was published in Technovation in September.

“Most of Australia’s retail stores are not making use of the very advanced forms of smart technology but are relying on rudimentary self-service technologies like the self-checkout counters. These rudimentary technologies often require human intervention, which inconveniences shoppers and is counter-productive to the aim of a more convenient shopping experience,” ECU Professor of Marketing and Service Science, Professor Sanjit Roy said.

Professor Roy’s research has found that a number of technologies already exist that can make the shopping experience more enjoyable and convenient, including smart trolleys that potentially allow shoppers to bypass the long checkout lines, and smart mirrors that will allow shoppers to engage with virtual try-ons for clothing and make-up.

Internationally, retailers like 7-Eleven, H&M, Aldi and Amazon are already making use of smart technologies, including offering cashierless stores, app-based retailing, and fully automated shopping baskets and automated self-checkouts.

“Since 2016, Amazon has been offering a frictionless shopping experience to customers in the US through their Amazon Go stores. Customers scan a barcode as they enter a store, pick what they need off the shelves and walk out of the store.

“Smart technology, driven by Artificial Intelligence, monitors what the customers purchase and tracks the stock levels in store, and customers are then billed through their Amazon accounts,” Professor Roy added..

He noted that in addition to the novelty of the experience, smart technology also offered consumers the opportunity to personalize their shopping experience, add enjoyment to their day and could actually add to the quality of their life.

Professor Roy’s research investigated smart service value (SSV) in the retailing context, exploring the impact of smart technologies on customers engagement and trust.

“The findings from our research suggest that SSV significantly impacts the quality of life, suggesting that in-store smart service applications can contribute to customer well-being. We are hoping that the findings from this research could help retailers to strategically position smart service technologies in their stores, based on customer perceived SSV.”

While the benefit of smart technology is obvious, Professor Roy said there is likely to be a cost associated with the use of this type of technology.

“In addition to the capital outlay from the retailers, SSV costs from a customer perspective would include privacy and security risks, perceived effort, and performance risk. It is ultimately up to the retailers to adopt favorably perceived in-store smart service applications and avoid those that may lower customer‘s quality of life.”

More information:
Sanjit K. Roy et al, Smart service value: Conceptualization, scale development, and validation in the retailing context, Technovation (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.technovation.2024.103097

Citation:
Australian retailers urged to step into the future with smart technologies for customers (2024, October 3)
retrieved 3 October 2024
from https://techxplore.com/news/2024-10-australian-retailers-urged-future-smart.html

This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no
part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.





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