Innovasea has introduced HydroAI, which combines high-resolution video cameras with AI-powered, cloud-based software to provide real-time fish counts and species identification in and around hydropower plants.
There are seven HydroAI systems installed across three Nova Scotia Power sites, and another Nova Scotia Power site installation is planned for fall 2024. A study regarding HydroAI’s success in the field has been published in the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Marine Science, according to a release.
The HydroAI cameras integrate with existing fish passage infrastructure to capture images of fish around the clock. The AI-powered software uses machine learning to autonomously count and identify fish, providing valuable data about fish that are onsite, upstream and downstream of a hydro plant. With this data, operators can react more quickly to dynamic conditions and make better operational decisions to ensure that fish pass safely through dam infrastructure, Innovasea said.
The data is delivered to the cloud in real-time to facilitate data sharing and transparency between hydro dam operations and regulatory authorities.
“HydroAI … solves key problems hydropower plants face every day,” said Innovasea Chief Executive Officer David Kelly. “With HydroAI, dam operators save valuable personnel time and get comprehensive, accurate data on fish activity, which enables them to improve environmental mitigation, comply with environmental regulations and potentially decrease unnecessary plant shutdowns.”
In addition to hydropower, the technology has applications for tidal power and nuclear plants, Innovasea said.
Innovasea developed the technology behind HydroAI when it led a project called OceanAware under the auspices of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, which supports, develops and commercializes profitable and sustainable solutions for monitoring fish health, fish movement and ocean environments. Innovasea then launched the HydroAware project, a $10.5 million research and development initiative that aims to improve aquatic animal research in dynamic water environments — the types of locations ideal for hydropower and tidal power.
