Intel // Drone Pioneers
Climate research remains one of the most underfunded fields of study. If we want to stay ahead of climate change, scientists need better tools, and they need them now.
We partnered with researchers around the world and equipped them with the industrial grade Intel Falcon 8+ drone, rethinking how field research could be done. With it, teams gathered data faster, more safely, and from places that were previously difficult or dangerous to reach.
Researchers tracked polar bears to better understand the impact of climate change and strengthen conservation efforts. They mapped sections of the Great Wall of China to support reconstruction work. They even collected whale blow samples to assess ocean health, helping protect both marine life and the ecosystems we depend on.
One Show
Red Pencil x1 (China)
Bronze Pencil x2
Fast Company's World Changing Ideas
Finalist
Webby Awards
Nomination x1
Honoree x1
Above the Arctic
Svalbard sits on the front lines of climate change and is home to one of the world’s largest polar bear populations. As the environment shifts rapidly, the terrain has become more unpredictable and more difficult for researchers to navigate safely.
So we brought drone technology to the Arctic, tracking polar bears from above and gathering accurate population data without disturbing them. Better tools lead to better research. And better research helps us understand not only how to protect polar bears, but what a changing climate means for all of us.
We partnered with The New York Times to create an interactive multimedia story that documented the expedition and the science behind it.
Read the full story here
The Long Form
The Great Wall
Stretching across 15 provinces, 404 counties, and more than 20,000 kilometers, the Great Wall is one of the world’s most iconic landmarks. But after two millennia of natural erosion and human damage, many sections are at risk.
In collaboration with partners in China and a team of preservation experts, Intel used artificial intelligence and drone technology to survey and digitally model the remote Jiankou section. The goal was simple: document it with precision and help protect it for generations to come.
Below the Surface
Every second breath we take is tied to the ocean. Yet today, marine ecosystems face mounting threats. To protect them, we first have to understand what is putting them at risk.
That is why we partnered with Parley for the Oceans and a team of marine biologists to use AI and drone technology to gather critical data from one of the ocean’s most important species, the whale. By studying whale health, researchers can better understand the condition of the waters they inhabit and the broader ecosystem we all depend on.
The Long Form
Created at Intel's Agency Inside with:
Demian Kendall (copywriter)
Shachar Aylon (associate creative director)
Katie McCarthy (creative director)
Teresa Herd (executive creative director)