Initiative #224
Remote Observation of Watercraft on Roads
Listed in the registry Pilot Original language : English
About the initiative
Description of the initiative
The Aquatic Invasive Species Program is proposing to launch a pilot initiative aimed at addressing a critical knowledge gap in our understanding the spread of aquatic invasive species. Invasive species can attach to boats, trailers, and related equipment—a process commonly referred to as the "stowaway pathway"—which enables their unintentional spread across ecosystems when watercraft are transported between water bodies. The AIS Program is seeking to understand watercraft movement into Canada via international land border crossings. Currently, the extent of this "stowaway" pathway remains largely unquantified. To address this, the pilot will deploy remote camera systems at select border entry points to capture imagery of incoming vehicles. Leveraging machine learning, the system will automatically identify and flag images containing watercraft. This data-driven approach will provide actionable insights to inform strategic decisions on the timing and placement of watercraft inspection and decontamination resources. This initiative may represent a significant step toward enhancing our ability to proactively manage aquatic invasive species risks at key entry points.
AI family
- AI capability
- Species Identification and Biological Annotation
Bucket rationale
Uses AI to visually interpret and identify specific objects (watercraft) in environmental images.
Lifecycle
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Ideation
Stage status : Completed
June 1, 2025
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Assessment
Stage status : Completed
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Approved
Stage status : Completed
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Development
Stage status : Completed
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Pilot
Stage status : In progress
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Production
Stage status : Upcoming
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Archived
Stage status : Upcoming
Schedule for this initiative
- Completed
- In progress
- Planned
- Not applicable
- Today
- Ideation
A similar need?
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Contacts
- Requester
- Klein, David
- Sector contact
- Klein, David
- Subject matter expert
- Klein, David
Data and tools
- Region
- Ontario and Prairie
- Could this initiative be shared with the Treasury Board Secretariat?
- Yes
- Submitted on
- June 1, 2025
Primary users
- Departmental employees
Government priorities and declaration
Declared to TBS Recorded as transmitted to TBS; not editable here.
- Declared name of the AI system
- Remote Observation of Watercraft on Roads
- TBS registry identifier
- 2526-DFO-MPO-006
- Status declared to TBS
- Pilot
- Sent to TBS on
- October 10, 2025
- Purpose of the system, as declared
- The Aquatic Invasive Species Program is proposing to launch a pilot initiative aimed at addressing a critical knowledge gap in our understanding the spread of aquatic invasive species. Invasive species can attach to boats, trailers, and related equipment—a process commonly referred to as the "stowaway pathway"—which enables their unintentional spread across ecosystems when watercraft are transported between water bodies. The AIS Program is seeking to understand watercraft movement into Canada via international land border crossings. Currently, the extent of this "stowaway" pathway remains largely unquantified. To address this, the pilot will deploy remote camera systems at select border entry points to capture imagery of incoming vehicles. Leveraging machine learning, the system will automatically identify and flag images containing watercraft.