The Ecology EXPO is a recognised annual event dedicated to advancing technology and innovation in the ecology sector. It’s a sought-after event for industry leaders and practitioners; of course, Thomson EC were in attendance to ensure any key learnings were reported to our expert team of ecologists. In this blog, our Associate Director, James Turner, recaps his experience and shares practical solutions for the ecology sector.
“What a pleasure it was to attend the Ecology EXPO. It is no exaggeration to say that, for me personally, the event was thoroughly morale-boosting.
To be shoulder to shoulder with so many friends and colleagues I have met and worked with over my 14-year stint in the consultancy world was simply brilliant. To witness and share in the endless enthusiasm, interest and dedication was something I haven’t witnessed anywhere else when relating purely to the ecology world.” – James Turner, Associate Director.
What were our key takeaways?
Latest technologies & survey methods
It was very informative to see the latest technologies in the sector, with various stands in the exhibition hall showcasing all manner of smart solutions to support existing survey methods for several species and habitats, as well as pioneering new methodologies that could be implemented across the industry.
From bespoke and eco-friendly alternatives to the usual mainstream suppliers of bat boxes, to innovative bioacoustic analysis technologies being proposed for insect surveys, thus avoiding the more invasive current methods of trap and release – something we at Thomson EC are very keen to learn more about to improve both our survey capabilities and also reduce stress on any animal we might be surveying.
Focus on developing ecology careers
This willingness to learn and improve segways into Thomson’s eagerness to provide the very best training to our staff with a focus on junior staff looking to expand their knowledge as quickly as possible in their first year or two with us.
It was brilliant to see some of the exhibition stands offering training opportunities for ecologists. For example, there were live newts on display for people to see – education in real-time. In my experience, the ecology industry is a fairly unique one, where people tend to get involved through their passion and love for the natural world, often funding their own training and volunteering with organisations to gain treasured experiences working within the industry. So, for there to be an event such as this one, with so many opportunities for people to engage, learn, progress, and share their experiences and skills, is simply priceless.
Use of GCN detection dogs in ecology
The GCN detection dogs at the event were a great sight. These highly trained animals have been a valuable string to ecologists’ bows over the past decade, allowing clients to progress their development plans when more traditional mitigation strategies can’t be applied on sites. Being around so many fellow ecologists viewing these demonstrations, it was fascinating to hear others’ experiences with detection dogs and gauge how many ecologists have yet to use this option in their work.
Technological efficiencies
The discussions around efficiencies that can be made through automation and technological improvements were extremely thought-provoking. There were discussions on the latest auto-ID software for species analysis, largely focused on bat species, but more emerging software is also addressing invertebrates and birdsong, which was very interesting to hear about.
Also, some of the auto-detection software that is now in play to support video analysis is a relief to see. This has the potential to reduce the hundreds of hours spent watching camera footage to merely a few minutes, thereby reducing costs to our clients and allowing us to take on more work elsewhere.
Our favourite talks… and why
We were fortunate enough to catch about three-quarters of all the talks at the two-day event, while at times it felt slightly bat-centric; there was a good range of other topics as well, it must be said.
We particularly enjoyed the talks by the Vincent Wildlife Trust covering the latest technology and methods involved in bat detection. Wildlife Acoustics also held a run-through of some of the latest industry-leading bat detectors, which was very interesting and thought-provoking. The potential for detectors to support bird surveys was particularly interesting; could we reduce the number of surveyors required and simply use detectors in the future?
At the very least, detectors should be used to support the in-person field surveys we undertake in this area, helping bolster the data on which we base our advice and mitigation. As already mentioned, the emerging auto-ID software now on the market could also be used here to help automate much more of the ‘traditional’ approaches to surveys.
There appears to be a massive incoming efficiency drive across the ecology sector thanks to the technologies and machine learning released in the last few years, and this area of bat/bird surveys is likely to be one of the most impacted types of survey.
Summary
In summary, the inspiration this kind of event offers people looking for their first job in the industry can’t be understated, as well as such a fantastic opportunity for budding ecologists to fill their boots with knowledge, as well as a few exhibition-stand freebies!
At present, while this show runs over two days, you can easily ‘complete’ everything there is to see within one day. This begs the question of how more could be included; perhaps more seminars or exhibitors, as already mentioned above, but perhaps also inclusion of debates over the more contentious issues of the ecology world, such as the incoming impacts of the Planning and Infrastructure bill on our world – will this render more traditional ecologists redundant and lead to unemployment in the future? Discussing these topics with industry leaders and representatives from our governing bodies would be a priceless experience.
As we move into the busy season, Thomson EC has shared these updates in the latest technology to deliver high-quality surveys. With the learnings we have taken away from the event, as well as the processes we already follow, we’re ready to provide accurate, efficient, and high-quality ecological services.
For more information on how Thomson EC can support you with your next project, please get in touch with our friendly team.
