Biodiversity mapping company Gentian has launched an automated early habitat mapping and site screening tool.
Five years in development, True Sight can assess the baseline biodiversity of a site in minutes compared with manual early site scoping, which can take half a day or more.
The AI tool uses high-resolution imagery to generate detailed habitat maps, and classifies habitat types down to individual trees, ponds, and scrub patches. It also generates biodiversity unit scores to help with biodiversity net gain (BNG) compliance.
Assessments can inform development decisions, and whether and where further detailed work by ecologists needs to be undertaken.
Ecologists are facing growing demand due to increasing environmental legislation. Gentian hopes its True Sight can help prevent bottlenecks in baseline assessment and reduce the risk of delayed projects.
Gentian CEO Daniel White said: “Our solution cuts through complexity, enabling users to assess biodiversity in minutes rather than weeks, and at a fraction of the usual cost.”
