Satellites, Mathematics and Drones - fighting poachers in Africa and Asia

Tom Snitch leads a team at the University of Maryland's Institute for Advanced Computer Studies that has created the world's most sophisticated anti-poaching program utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Since May 2013, the team has been flying night UAV missions to combat rhino and elephant poaches in Southern Africa. Using high resolution satellite imagery and exquisite algorithms, they are devising strategic deployment plans for rangers as well as customized flight plans for UAVs. The good news is that they are catching poachers—and in areas where they are flying the UAVs, poaching stops.