Jonathan Carlson, a Master Student at Chalmers University of Technology, has been awarded the Bert-Inge Hogsved Prize for Best Entrepreneurship for his innovative method of mapping birds and bats. Driven by his passion for nature, he has developed an AI analysis that helps environmental consultants, developers, and authorities in Sweden and Denmark protect endangered species in construction projects such as wind farms and solar parks.
“According to the World Economic Forum, half of the world's GDP is at risk due to the biodiversity crisis. The need for new innovations to address this issue has never been greater. Our technology enables the rapid and efficient identification of protected bat and bird species, which is crucial when developing solar and wind farms where red-listed species may be affected,” says Jonathan Carlson, Master Student at Complex Adaptive Systems, Msc.
AI analysis saving endangered species – new technology for species inventory
Jonathan founded the company BioSonic together with his brother Josef Carlson. Today, they are a leading player in species inventory in the Nordic region, using bioacoustic sound analysis to identify bats and birds. In 2024, their technology was used in some of Sweden's first projects for biodiversity credits, and demand for their solution is growing rapidly among environmental consultants, authorities, and developers in Sweden and Denmark.
From sound to insight – how AI technology protects nature
By placing microphones in nature, sound data is collected without disturbing wildlife. The sounds are analyzed by BioSonic's proprietary AI model, which automatically identifies the bird and bat species present in the area. This technology significantly reduces the time experts currently spend manually analyzing sound. With BioSonic's solution, it is possible to quickly and accurately identify protected species, facilitating crucial decision-making for biodiversity conservation while enabling sustainable infrastructure development.
“We streamline species inventory and contribute to protecting endangered species in the development of solar and wind power, as well as other vital infrastructure. It is incredibly rewarding that our work is being recognized with this award,” says Jonathan.
The world’s leading bioacoustic sound analysis for bats
Jonathan highlights that BioSonic's technology is particularly valuable for identifying bat species, an area where traditional sound analysis has been challenging. Previously, experts had to spend significant time manually filtering out sounds from sources such as grasshoppers and rain. BioSonic’s innovation now makes it possible to identify Nordic bat species with an accuracy of 96.3 per cent, saving time and allowing experts to focus on more difficult-to-identify bat species and conservation measures to protect their habitats.
“Our bioacoustic sound analysis is now the world’s leading technology for identifying sounds from Nordic bats,” says Jonathan.
About the prize
- The Bert-Inge Hogsved Prize for Best Entrepreneurship was established in 2011 by Bert-Inge Hogsved, a technical physicist and founder of the Hogia Group. The prize is awarded annually by the Forum for Engineering Physics at Chalmers University of Technology to students in Engineering Physics, Engineering Mathematics, or Chemical Engineering with Physics, to encourage entrepreneurial
- More information about BioSonic and their innovation can be found at BioSonic's webpage.