Prime Highlights:
- KAUST researchers have developed a low-cost drone system to track camels, modernizing a traditional Arabian practice.
- The project combines traditional camel herding with modern tools, helping protect culture and support the economy.
Key Facts:
- Camels contribute over SR2 billion ($534 million) annually to Saudi Arabia’s economy through transport, food, and tourism.
- Herders face challenges as camels travel long distances, sometimes causing accidents or overgrazing, prompting KAUST to study larger herds for better tracking.
Background:
Researchers at KAUST have made a low-cost drone system to track camels, updating a traditional Arabian practice.
The system helps herders monitor camels and gives scientists information about their movements. Professor Basem Shihada’s team used drones and cameras to watch small herds in real time. Using machine learning, the system analyzed aerial footage to detect camels and reveal patterns in their daily movements.
According to KAUST scientist Chun Pong Lau, the findings were striking. “We discovered that camels do not wander randomly. Their migration patterns show clear, coordinated behavior, especially among older camels,” Lau said.
The study found that camels move long distances throughout the day but consistently return to their herder by sunset. The drones were kept at least 120 meters high to avoid disturbing the camels.
Camels have always been important in Arabian life, giving people transport, food, and a connection to the desert. They contribute over SR2 billion ($534 million) a year to Saudi Arabia’s economy. Herders face problems because camels travel far and can cause accidents or overgrazing.
The KAUST team will study bigger herds to track them more easily. The project mixes traditional herding with modern tools to protect culture and help the economy.
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