Scientists at the University of Milan-Bicocca are employing a natural method to test soil pollution by observing the behavior of earth pigs, the only crustaceans to have colonized the mainland. These ancient creatures exhibit gregarious behavior which changes when exposed to contaminated soil. The researchers aim to create an intelligent prototype that integrates piglet behavior with artificial intelligence tools to differentiate between healthy and polluted soil.
The project manager, Lorenzo Federico, explains that monitoring soil contamination is crucial in fighting its effects. By studying how the behavior of earth pigs changes in response to polluted soil, they can determine the level of contamination present. The team aims to develop a rapid, cost-effective, and non-invasive technique for monitoring soil pollution through the observation of earth pig behavior.
The researchers plan to use an infrared micro-camera combined with a Plexiglas arena to monitor the aggregation state of piglets in contaminated soil. This approach will allow them to quantify behavioral changes quickly and accurately. The goal is to create a prototype that uses automatic analysis procedures to quantify these changes, reducing the time required for soil quality assessment.
To finance the development of this prototype, a crowdfunding campaign has been launched on Ideaginger.it. The project “Many Little Pigs!” has been selected by A2A for co-financing and aims to raise 10,000 euros. Supporters of this project will have the opportunity to contribute and may even receive rewards such as having their own soil analyzed for contamination levels. This innovative research represents a unique approach towards assessing soil pollution that combines biology, ecology and artificial intelligence technologies.
