BuzzCam: An Automated Acoustic Monitoring System for Bees
A low-cost, long-term, and scalable platform for monitoring bee populations.
Project Overview
The BuzzCam is an open-source, low-power sensing platform specifically engineered for non-invasive, long-term monitoring of endangered and invasive bee populations. Unlike traditional passive loggers, BuzzCam features an "AI-ready" architecture utilizing the Analog Devices MAX78000 microcontroller to perform real-time, on-device classification of bee species via their unique acoustic flight "buzz" signatures. Designed for extreme autonomy in remote field sites like Patagonia, the system integrates a high-fidelity stereo microphone array and a suite of environmental sensors (temperature, humidity, and pressure) to correlate pollinator activity with microclimatic conditions. The platform is supported by a solar-powered energy harvesting system and a custom iOS application that allows researchers to annotate sightings in real-time, facilitating the creation of high-quality labeled datasets for conservation.
Full Thesis Document: Download PDF
Published Dataset: High-Res Acoustic and Environmental Data to Monitor Bombus dahlbomii Amid Invasive Species, Habitat Loss — We applied passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) as a non-invasive alternative to conventional monitoring techniques to collect a comprehensive dataset of the soundscape of Puerto Blest, Argentina, focusing on bumblebee bioacoustics and environmental variables. Our dataset, collected using custom stereo acoustic recorders, includes audio, temperature, humidity, and gas concentration data from twelve locations over six days, covering different weather conditions. Annotations marking native and invasive bee segments provide insights into the ecology of B. dahlbomii and its interactions with invasive species, Bombus terrestris. This dataset facilitates the development of machine learning models for monitoring Bombus populations, crucial for conservation efforts.
Exploded View
Deployment in Patagonia
Queen Bombus Dahlbomii
Audio Comparison
To compare the audio quality, the BuzzCam and a commercial AudioMoth recorder were placed side-by-side. The following recordings were captured simultaneously, with the gain matched between both devices.
BuzzCam Recording
AudioMoth Recording
iOS Application
BuzzCam's iOS application is a specialized field tool designed to interface with BuzzCam units via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to facilitate real-time monitoring and data annotation for bee conservation. Its primary capability is enabling researchers to create high-quality labeled datasets by immediately tagging observed bee activity as "Native" (B. dahlbomii) or "Invasive" (B. terrestris), which records a precise timestamp directly onto the BuzzCam's continuous audio and environmental data streams. This application is highly useful because it replaces traditional, asynchronous manual methods—such as matching paper observations to recorded audio—thereby ensuring perfect temporal alignment between visual sightings and captured sensor data, which is essential for training accurate on-device machine learning models. Additionally, the app allows users to observe real-time sensing metrics and reconfigure device settings, such as sample rates and bit resolution, directly in the field.