Madrid deploys AI acoustic sensors to monitor urban biodiversity

The Madrid City Council has deployed a network of 15 AI-powered acoustic sensors to monitor urban biodiversity in real time. The devices are distributed between Madrid Río, with seven sensors, and the Valdebebas-Felipe VI forest park, which hosts eight sensors.

These sensors use algorithms to identify the songs of various bird species and the ultrasonic calls of bats without recording or storing the audio data. This approach allows for the monitoring of 126 species of birds and bats while maintaining privacy. The project aims to compare biodiversity levels between two distinct environments: a highly frequented urban area and a more natural zone with significantly fewer visitors. The collected data, including species information and climatic variables, will be integrated into a digital twin utilizing generative artificial intelligence for data management.