Garbage Vulnerable Sites (GVPs), locations where illegal dumping occurs, are a significant concern in developing countries like India. These neglected areas pose environmental risks, contributing to heightened pollution levels, water contamination, and the spread of disease. Traditional approaches, such as manual inspections, are time-consuming, costly, and ineffective when it comes to searching unmarked waste dumps.
To combat this issue, a team from the Manav Rachna University student branch, in collaboration with Lakshya – A Society for Social and Environmental Development, created a system that uses drones and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to detect unidentified garbage dumps in real time and estimate the volume of garbage present.
The system uses four main technologies: drone technology, AI and Machine Learning, GPS mapping tools, and a cloud platform. The drones, equipped with high-resolution cameras and GPS data, follow pre-programmed flight paths to capture aerial images of target areas. The images are stored on a cloud server and the trained AI model analyzes the image for garbage piles. Using GPS technology, the precise locations of identified garbage dumps are recorded and stored. This enables authorities to readily pinpoint the locations.
This innovative technology offers local authorities a more efficient approach to identify, manage, and eliminate illegal dumping sites. Recovering garbage vulnerable points (GVPs) is crucial for ecosystem preservation and building a sustainable future.
This project was made possible by $6,390.00 in funding from EPICS in IEEE.