Post 905: February 3rd, 2022. Field researchers have the important task of taking count of various animal species, but sometimes it can be difficult telling individuals apart from one another. Some at-risk species may have radio collars, but hefty devices like that might not work on all animals. Or for those that are more common, it doesn't make financial sense to tag each one. Thankfully some, like zebras, already have unique markings plastered all over that make them easily identifiable. . Each zebra has its own set of stripes that are as unique as our fingerprints - making it the perfect way to tell one from another. You may not be able to look at two sets of stripes on your own and be able to tell the difference, but by using a recognition program, you can. Developers at the University of Illinois-Chicago and Princeton University developed what they call StripeSpotter back in 2011, which helps researchers in the field identify zebras. The algorithm takes pictures of the animals and calculates the curves, thickness, and space between stripes and compares it with others in its database. And the best part: the lightweight application is open source, meaning that researchers everywhere only need a digital camera and a basic laptop to run the recognition software! . . Read more about the tech: https://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2011-04/barcode-scanner-zebras-helps-biologists-track-individual-animals/ . Graphic shows a barcode. The factoid reads: "Researchers can identify individual zebras by scanning their stripes like a barcode." . . #stripespotter #conservation #animalconservation #animalresearch #zebra #zebraconservation #conservationtech #pixelplanet #pixelplanettoday #pixelart #planetfacts #artivism #climatedesign