Development of an animal behavior monitoring system using artificial intelligence and computer vision

• Grant number: 24/14693-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2024
• End date: October 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Ecology of Domestic Animals and Ethology
• Principal Investigator: Adriano Rogério Bruno Tech
• Grantee: Giulia Russo do Nascimento
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZEA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Pirassununga , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Monitoring animal behavior in zoos is essential to ensure animal welfare and optimize their management conditions. Traditional manual observation methods are limited by subjectivity and high operational costs. This study proposes the development of an automated monitoring system using artificial intelligence (AI) and computer vision to analyze videos of animal behavior more accurately and efficiently. Using advanced AI algorithms and image processing techniques, a system capable of identifying and recording specific behaviors of several animal species in zoos will be developed. The system will be trained with a large dataset of previously annotated videos to recognize behavioral patterns. The system will be validated by comparing the automated results with manual observations by experts provided by the zoo. Automated analysis tends to significantly reduce the time required for monitoring and provide more consistent data that is less subject to human error. The application of AI and computer vision in monitoring animal behavior in zoos tends to be more effective, offering a more accurate and cost-effective alternative to traditional methods. This system has the potential to significantly improve animal welfare and the quality of behavioral data, as well as contribute to advances in scientific research and zoo management.