news

The computer program identifies miconia in aerial photographs using visual cues such as leaf size and shape (see miconia plants circled based on the computer identification). Each plant is linked to GPS coordinates giving crews a location so they can then remove the plant. — Spatial Data and Visualization Lab photo

For healthy reefs, productive watersheds, resource managers are turning to AI

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing the way we work–not just for chatbots in customer service or conjuring fake images. AI excels at repetitive and redundant tasks; it can increase workflow efficiency and speed up data analysis. These types of tasks are not limited to office work; even the work of protecting natural resources from invasive …

For healthy reefs, productive watersheds, resource managers are turning to AI Read More »

International summit addresses urgent water challenges

To address pressing water-related issues affecting Hawaiʻi and beyond, the Hydrological Sciences Summit, hosted by the Water Resources Research Center (WRRC), kicked off at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa campus on February 15. The event brought together approximately 30 participants from North America and Hawaiʻi, both in person and via Zoom. “Hawaiʻi is facing a myriad of water problems from flooding to drought,” …

International summit addresses urgent water challenges Read More »

Giant sea salt aerosols play major role in Hawaii’s coastal clouds, rain

View image credit & caption Research News Giant sea salt aerosols play major role in Hawaii’s coastal clouds, rain Particles scatter light, act as starting point for cloud formation and initiate or limit rainfall January 25, 2024 Despite their tiny sizes, aerosols — such as sea salt, dust and ash — play a significant role …

Giant sea salt aerosols play major role in Hawaii’s coastal clouds, rain Read More »

UH Hilo field work creates new map to help visitors to veterans cemetery

Visitors to the East Hawaiʻi Veterans Cemetery No.1 grounds in Hilo have a new map to assist them in locating gravesites thanks to a map created by student geographers from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. The team used drones, hands-on fieldwork and extensive geographic information system (GIS) programming to create the map. The online map gives viewers an overhead view of …

UH Hilo field work creates new map to help visitors to veterans cemetery Read More »

Lahaina coastline post fire and rain

Heavy Rain Washed Fire-Related Contaminants Into The Ocean Off Lahaina. How Bad Is It?

A massive brown plume has scientists worried despite protective measures aimed at preventing toxic runoff. A group of scientists raced into the ocean off Lahaina on Wednesday morning to quickly gather samples from a massive brown plume that surrounded the fire-scorched West Maui town. Wearing waders, gloves and respirators, they filled buckets and test tubes …

Heavy Rain Washed Fire-Related Contaminants Into The Ocean Off Lahaina. How Bad Is It? Read More »

SAGE visualization presentation dashboard

Top prize goes to grad students for their drought data tool

Two University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa students, Cherryle Heu and Roderick “RJ” Tabalba, have clinched the grand prize in the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Michael H. Freilich Data Visualization Competition. Their user-friendly data visualization tool is aiding Hawaiʻi ranchers in navigating the challenges of drought. Heu, a master’s student in the Department of Natural Resource and Environmental Management and Tabalba a PhD student in the Information and Computer Sciences …

Top prize goes to grad students for their drought data tool Read More »

rod feral pig

Feral cattle, pigs exacerbate spread of Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death on Hawaiʻi Island

A team of researchers from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo and UH Mānoa are leading the charge to explore the relationship between hooved animals and the spread of Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD). Maps of hard hit districts on Hawaiʻi Island were recently released online from a collaborative study involving community, county, state and federal experts and show the destructive role animals such as cattle and pigs …

Feral cattle, pigs exacerbate spread of Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death on Hawaiʻi Island Read More »

Hawaii Should Use Artificial Intelligence To Improve Fire Forecasts, Researchers Say

The ability to provide enhanced risk assessments now exists, but it needs help getting off the ground. University of Hawaii researchers are pushing to kickstart the second phase of a years long project to help the state better forecast wildfires by using artificial intelligence. Researchers say they have developed the technology needed to boost risk …

Hawaii Should Use Artificial Intelligence To Improve Fire Forecasts, Researchers Say Read More »

Map of relationality concepts in the context of microbiome research with Indigenous peoples. Labels around the exterior of the circle indicate the key relationships between entities embedded in human microbiome research. Within the circle, obligations that guide research ethics are featured for each relational pairing. Credit: Bader, et al., 2023.

New study shows need for inclusive approach to Indigenous microbiome research

Research on the trillions of microorganisms that make up a person’s or ecosystem’s microbiome can lead to medical breakthroughs to treat diseases like inflammatory bowel syndrome and diabetes and discoveries that transform conservation efforts. According to a study published in Nature Microbiology and co-authored by a University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa associate professor, microbiome samples from Indigenous …

New study shows need for inclusive approach to Indigenous microbiome research Read More »