Welcome to LIFE SMART IAS
Smart Systems for Monitoring & Trapping Invasive Alien Species
About the Project
LIFE SMART IAS is a European initiative that builds upon the success of it’s predecessor project LIFE MICA, to develop and scale an innovative, integrated approach to detect, monitor, and control invasive alien species (IAS), particularly coypu and muskrat. By combining smart life traps, ddPCR eDNA analysis, and a cloud-based dashboard and mobile apps, the project empowers stakeholders and authorities across Europe to coordinate effective action against those and other IAS.
LIFE SMART IAS combines advanced environmental monitoring with real-time data processing and automated, AI-driven trapping systems to combat invasive alien species more effectively and efficiently. Here’s how:
Smart Life Traps:
Our custom-designed automated traps use machine learning and vision and remote connectivity, to detect animal presence, spring the trap and alert operators such as trappers in real-time. This significantly reduces manual labor and improves animal welfare by shortening capture-to-retrieval times and minimise unwanted bycatch.
Cloud-Based Dashboard and mobile apps:
We consolidate all inputs — ddPCR eDNA analysis, trap activity, user feedback — into a central cloud platform. This allows environmental agencies, field workers, and researchers to monitor populations, track trends, and coordinate actions across regions in real time.
Mobile apps not only facilitate the access to the system in-the-field, but also support maintenance and other tasks related to traps.
Stakeholder Engagement Tools:
Through tailored, user-friendly apps and dashboards, citizens, landowners, and authorities can contribute sightings, receive alerts, and report activity. This increases data collection coverage and builds a cooperative network of IAS awareness and control.