The video data for this project have been collected in a bay of the Red Sea since 2022. The dolphins featured in the videos are not held in captivity, they live freely in the bay.
We need your help to describe the behaviour of dolphins in video clips. This will help us build a library of dolphin behaviours.
Learn moreThis project uses underwater and aerial videos, analysed through four workflows.
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Two workflows are simple detection tasks that ask whether dolphins are present or absent: one underwater and one aerial. These help us identify when dolphins appear in the recordings.
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The other two workflows are detailed annotation tasks, shown after dolphin presence is confirmed. In these, volunteers describe dolphin behaviour and the context of the scene, again using underwater or aerial footage.
Underwater videos usually make dolphins easier to see, while aerial videos provide important information about the surrounding environment and human activity.
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Message from the researcher
Our research sits at the intersection of biology, acoustics, and AI. Thanks to citizen scientists, we’re bridging the gap between sound and meaning in dolphin communication.
Dolphin SpottingAbout Dolphin Spotting
Project Presentation: Understanding Dolphin Acoustic Communication
Dolphins communicate using a rich and complex repertoire of sounds, but understanding what these sounds mean requires knowing what the dolphins are doing at the same time.
This project aims to link dolphin acoustic signals with their behaviour and social context. To do this, we analyse underwater and aerial video recordings collected in a natural environment and build a reference library of behaviours, interactions, and environmental situations.
By carefully observing and classifying what you see in these videos, you help us add essential behavioural and contextual information to our acoustic recordings. These data are crucial for understanding how dolphins communicate, interact, and respond to their surroundings.
Your contributions directly support scientific research on dolphin communication and behaviour. Thank you for taking part in this project.
Sincerely,
German, Faadil, and Chiara
More information about our research team.