Massawippi Blue Biologist Sabrina Leclercq and Director Laurence Langevin, Robonotic Co-founders Veronica Romero and David Caron, and Massawippi Blue Biologist Charles Plaisir. Photo by William Crooks
A revolutionary collaboration for aquatic biodiversity protection in Massawippi Lake
By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
Bleu Massawippi has announced July 3 an innovative collaboration with Robonotic, aiming to utilize artificial intelligence and an underwater robot to detect and control invasive exotic species in Massawippi Lake, such as zebra mussels. This initiative marks a significant step in protecting aquatic biodiversity, according to a same day release.
Founded in February 2023, Robonotic has selected Bleu Massawippi as a beta client, transforming Massawippi Lake into a proof-of-concept site for their innovative robotic technologies. The project benefits from the collaboration of various academic and financial partners.
The zebra mussel detection model developed at Massawippi Lake will be tested at Lake Témiscouata, which exhibits similar symptoms. Ultimately, the goal is to apply this technology to all vulnerable water bodies in Quebec.
Robonotic integrates robotics and artificial intelligence to create an underwater robot capable of detecting and controlling invasive aquatic species. The project aims to develop tools to control the early spread of zebra mussels in new basins due to increasing climate change. The team combines their passion for artificial intelligence, robotics, and high technology to offer an innovative automated solution.
Bleu Massawippi is dedicated to preserving and enhancing the ecosystems of Massawippi Lake and its watershed. Through constant monitoring of threats to water quality and the promotion of best practices based on scientific data, the organization raises awareness among users, municipalities, and government bodies. With its capacity for citizen mobilization, Bleu Massawippi works towards the sustainable protection of the lake, contributing to local quality of life.
Université du Québec à Rimouski (UQAR) – ISMER Institute, represented by Réjean Tremblay, provides valuable support to the project, reinforcing its scientific expertise. Université de Sherbrooke (UdeS), represented by François Grondin, actively contributes to technological development. The MITACS Organization provides crucial financial support for the development of the artificial intelligence detection model.
Press conference
The announcement was made at a sunlit press conference by the picturesque Massawippi Lake on Massawippi Beach in Ayer’s Cliff. Lawrence Langevin, Director of Bleu Massawippi, opened the event with gratitude and a sense of purpose.
“Thank you for joining us on this beautiful, sunny day. The idyllic setting we’re in today not only showcases the natural beauty of our region but also symbolizes our commitment to preserving our environment and natural resources,” Langevin began. “We’ve chosen this location to highlight the importance of our announcement and to inspire everyone to protect our environment.”
Langevin emphasized the organization’s dedication to staying at the forefront of environmental conservation. “Today, we are excited to announce our partnership with Robonotic. At Massawippi Blue, we prioritize innovation and collaboration with inspiring, dynamic individuals who are dedicated to finding immediate solutions to environmental changes and invasive species.”
David Caron, Co-founder of Robonotic, shared the mission and progress of their collaborative project. “Our goal is to create an artificial predator to detect and collect zebra mussels in affected lakes. We’re leveraging existing industrial robots and integrating artificial intelligence to enhance detection and collection processes. This project began at Lake Témiscouata in 2022, where the appearance of zebra mussels deeply affected us.”
Caron expressed personal and professional motivation behind the project. “My family has lived by Lake Témiscouata for five generations, and its protection is close to my heart. The discovery of zebra mussels there was shocking. We consulted with local authorities, biologists, and eventually, Bleu Massawippi, to develop our approach.”
Veronica Romero, another Co-founder of Robonotic, outlined the broader vision for their technology. “We are actively working on a technological solution that will benefit organizations like Bleu Massawippi and various governmental bodies. Our ultimate goal is to control invasive species that threaten our lakes and water sources.”
Langevin stressed the importance of prevention and collaboration. “Prevention, such as boat cleaning, remains crucial. Our solution aims to assist human efforts and facilitate the fight against zebra mussels. The detection model we are developing can be exported to other lakes, helping to address various invasive species early on.”
In conclusion, Caron expressed optimism about the future of their partnership. “Our dream is to extend this technology to vulnerable lakes across Quebec and beyond. The AI will eventually detect other invasive species, helping us act early and effectively. Thank you all for being here today and for supporting our mission to protect our precious water resources.”
More from Langevin
The Record interviewed Langevin on the scene after the conference concluded.
According to Langevin, the invasion of zebra mussels in Canadian lakes has become an increasing concern for environmental authorities. For the past three years, Bleu Massawippi’s efforts to control the zebra mussel population have intensified, with significant manpower and resources dedicated to mitigating the impact of these invasive species.
“We have been physically removing zebra mussels from the lake for the last three years,” stated Langevin. “It’s a tedious job, but right now, it’s the most effective method we have to control the population.”
The cost and logistics of these efforts are considerable. “We have to employ scientific divers, which is very expensive,” Langevin explained. “But given the concentration of mussels in certain areas of the lake, this approach remains the most effective.”
Zebra mussels were first detected in the lake in December 2021. Since then, monitoring and removal efforts have been ongoing. However, environmental factors have complicated data collection. “Last year, due to heavy rains and flooding, the data we collected was not representative of usual conditions,” Langevin noted. “This year is crucial as we need as much data as possible to understand the growth rate and spread of the population.”
Despite the challenges, there is cautious optimism. “We’re hoping that this year, the population will be smaller than expected,” said Langevin. “This would give us more time to remove them.”
Looking ahead, collaboration with various environmental bodies is a key strategy. “We work closely with the Ministry of Environment and conduct yearly inventories of indigenous water mussels,” Langevin said. “Additionally, we monitor the fish populations in the lake.”
New partnerships and technologies are also on the horizon. “We’re… exploring new methods for zebra mussel removal,” Langevin revealed. “We’re also looking into sustainable ways to dispose of the biomass we collect.”
The fight against zebra mussels is ongoing, but with continued efforts and cooperation, there is hope for controlling their impact on Canadian lakes. “We are committed to working with other lake protection associations and sharing our data and strategies,” Langevin affirmed. “Together, we can make a difference.”
More from Romero
Romero also let The Record in on more details in an interview on Massawippi Beach’s sandy shore. Robonotic, led by Romero and her team, aims to deploy AI-enhanced robots for this critical environmental task.
“We are not creating a new robot; we will be purchasing one that suits our needs,” Romero explained. “Our main focus is on implementing the AI component to detect zebra mussels, which is not an easy task.”
Zebra mussels, named for their distinctive striped shells, often hide at the bottom of lakes, making them difficult to spot. The AI technology will assist in identifying these mussels, determining their age, and differentiating between juvenile and mature mussels. “The AI model will help in detecting zebra mussels and provide important information about their age, which is crucial for managing their spread,” Romero noted.
Training the AI involves an extensive process of image recognition. “It’s like training the AI to distinguish between cats and dogs. We need hundreds of thousands of pictures, both with and without zebra mussels, to ensure accuracy,” Romero explained.
To validate the AI’s effectiveness, human oversight is essential. “This summer, our team is taking numerous pictures to train the model. A human eye will confirm the presence or absence of zebra mussels to ensure the AI’s accuracy,” she said.
The ultimate goal is to have autonomous robots scanning the lakes. “Our dream is to have a team of robots working together like bees, detecting and possibly removing invasive species,” Romero shared. “This is why we refer to them as artificial predators.”
Collaboration with other entities is also on the horizon. “We might work with different organizations because underwater operations present unique challenges. For example, Wi-Fi and GPS signals don’t pass through water, so we need alternative communication methods,” Romero mentioned.
The project reflects a broader vision of using technology to improve environmental conservation. “We believe that by working together with various organizations, we can create a better world,” Romero said.