Marine researchers deployed artificial intelligence and underwater photogrammetry across four sites in the Maldives to monitor coral reef health. The Kanuhura Coral Census project completed surveys of over a thousand coral colonies in minutes, replacing traditional manual tape-measure methods.
The Kanuhura Coral Census Deployment in the Lhaviyani Atoll
Surrounding the island resort of Six Senses Kanuhura in the Maldives’ Lhaviyani Atoll, marine biologists are rethinking reef monitoring. Researchers from Newcastle University and University College London (UCL) partnered with the resort to develop the Kanuhura Coral Census, a project spanning four distinct sites in the region. Among them is Kanuhura Beru, located a short 15-minute boat ride from the resort.
Traditional marine surveys required divers to lay out tape measures and log observations on underwater slates before hand-entering the information back on land. Marine biologist James Cordery noted that those legacy methods were not only extremely chronophages—or time-consuming—but also highly susceptible to human error and observational bias.
Photogrammetry and AI Replace Underwater Slates
The new monitoring protocol relies heavily on underwater photogrammetry and artificial intelligence. During a typical survey, a diver swims methodically back and forth across a 10-by-10-metre grid holding a metal pole fitted with three GoPro cameras. The equipment captures thousands of overlapping photographs every half a second, which software then stitches together into a precise 3D digital model of the seabed.
The whole point is consistency. We’re trying to photograph the reef from exactly the same perspective each time.
James Cordery, marine biologist
Returning to the exact same plot months later allows researchers to measure structural shifts and track growth down to the millimeter. During one recent fieldwork session at Kanuhura Beru, the team documented 1,027 coral colonies in about 20 minutes—a task that would previously have demanded roughly seven hours of labour from multiple divers using manual slates.
Uncovering Hidden Ecosystems Beyond the Corals
The conservation focus extends past hard coral formations to include local seagrass meadows, which have historically faced human interference. Athif Mohamed, a turtle biologist and graduate of the Maldives National University’s first marine science cohort, explained that previous operators laid plastic sheeting across the seafloor to suffocate seagrass beds and present visitors with uninterrupted white sand lagoons.
Since taking over the property, Six Senses has removed nearly four tonnes of those plastic sheets to revive the local prairies. Green turtles consume about two kilograms of seagrass daily before retreating to the reefs to rest, linking the habitats directly. Biologists are now beginning to apply AI data-processing tools to catalog these underwater meadows alongside the coral colonies.
Global Context and Long-Term Protection Goals
The integration of advanced technology into marine preservation is expanding across international waters. Similar artificial intelligence initiatives for reef tracking have been adopted in New Caledonia, Réunion, and Vietnam to better understand and treat fragile marine habitats.
For the researchers working in the Lhaviyani Atoll, detailed digital mapping forms the baseline required for informed conservation decisions. By capturing high-resolution data on corals, seagrasses, and pelagic wildlife like reef sharks, manta rays, and whale sharks, the project aims to secure long-term protection for the region’s diverse ecosystems.