EarthRanger Operator
Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Integrated (EarthRanger) platform solution design
EarthRanger provides the platform for integration but the data sets and information to be integrated needed to be determined. Ol Pejeta therefore designed the platform solution, adapting it meet the conservancy’s needs – evaluating what information would be useful and how it could be integrated. This was partly based on what data was readily available as well as understanding the key factors in supporting critical operations. This included combining data from the field (animal, radio, vehicle tracking) to inform security and ecological monitoring efforts. Cameras that monitor wildlife corridors also provide alerts if vehicles, people, or animals pass by. The Conservancy also operates an integrated livestock and wildlife land management approach. Livestock bomas are mapped and if collared predators are close an alert is sent so teams can respond accordingly.
- Problem solving – focus on what the needs are and exploring how technology can support rather than being solution led
- Operational focus – grounded in conservation, understanding all areas of operations, important data, and user requirements to inform solution design.
- Supporting infrastructure & systems – source platforms (digital radio, vehicle monitoring, animal tracking) to be in place to enable integration.
- Skills and partnership – technical skills within the team deploying the solution and or partnership with an organisation that can help.
- Partnership is critical – delivering such a solution requires partnerships to be formed across different parties. The institution providing the platform, the user and deploying organization and solution providers of the different source data platforms. All these parties have to collaborate effectively to deliver a proper working solution.
- User training and buy in is key – the users of the solution have to be properly trained and involved in order to achieve buy in and proper utilization of the solution.