Slashdot Mirror
In Brazil, Trees To Call For Help If Illegally Felled
Damien1972 writes "The Brazilian government has begun fixing trees in the Amazon rainforest with a wireless device, known as Invisible Tracck, which will allow trees to contact authorities once they are felled and moved. Here's how it works: Brazilian authorities fix the Invisible Tracck onto a tree. An illegal logger cuts down the tree and puts it onto a truck for removal, unaware that they are carrying a tracking device. Once Invisible Tracck comes within 20 miles (32 kilometers) of a cellular network it will 'wake up' and alert authorities."
Fell Alert! (0:30)
When the foot seeks the place of the head, the line is crossed. Know your place. Keep your place. Be a shoe.
so when a tree falls in the forest we will know if it makes a sound.
I got to the chocolate box before you, that's why the hard ones have teeth marks.
http://www.wnd.com/2012/12/how-to-for-emp-weapon-stunningly-accessible/
Why do they need to be recharged in a year? Simply checking orientation with a microcontroller in deep sleep the rest of the time shouldn't take that much power.
So many bad jokes in my head. They are clogging my brain so much I can't get them out...
Why is Snark Required?
Elegant solution to a complex and difficult situation, made possible by technological advance. This is progress (and what slashdot is all about)
...and gets his hundred bucks to ignore it.
-jcr
The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
well, it's better than "First Post!"
Ripe for plenty of gags...
Humour aside, this is a good use of technology, and much needed. I've seen what happens when deforestation is left un-policed (it doesn't take long for a developing nation to clear one, given the amount of money that it can generate). Seeing what's left of the 'Amazon of the southern hemisphere' as they call it in Borneo, was very sad. Less than 2% is left, and you can imagine the natural habit that's also gone. Not to mention the global impact on climate. The next 30 years will be a challenging time imho - unfortunately, the required action will no doubt after things have really gone downhill, as is usual when government and regulation is involved (e.g. someone has to die before safety regulations are improved).
Based on the weakness of the signal strength and the low cost of GPS jamming equipment (>$69 for something that actually works) how secure is this solution? Beyond that would there be significant electronic signature to detect such devices considering the lack of background interference? Is there such thing as a long distance metal detector? Not knocking progress, just interested.
Brazil has to make up its mind, are the trees a natural resource, or national treasure? Trees are not immortal, they get old and die. Controlled harvesting can support the population and the forest. It's over two million square miles, does all of it have to remain pristine?
Clearly you have not watched practically every cop/law TV show ever made.
Clearly, you have been watching to much TV based on (a misinterpretation of) US law enforcement. What happens when the Big Guy has the ethics of the Zetas? 20 years in prison for a stinkin' tree is nothing compared to what they'll do to you if you talk.
And its not much better in the USA (of course, your intestines don't end up hanging out). But corporations don't go to prison. They live forever. And they never forget.
Have gnu, will travel.
It's over two million square miles, does all of it have to remain pristine?
It's not an all-or-nothing question, but rather how much needs to remain pristine, and which areas in particular are the ones whose health are vital to the ecosystem?
I don't think anyone has argued that the entire Amazon can be or will be preserved indefinitely. But presumably the areas marked as off-limits to logging are so marked because they are the ones that are important to preserve, and it is those areas in particular where illegal logging needs to be stopped.
I don't care if it's 90,000 hectares. That lake was not my doing.
If a tree is felled in the forrest, and no one is at the office to hear it, does it still call for help?
Anti-logging activists used to drive railroad spikes into trees - they were invisible enough to destroy the large, expensive blades in many lumber mills, I suspect a cellular beacon would be much smaller. Then again I imagine metal detectors are quite effective against either threat.
--- Most topics have many sides worth arguing, allow me to take one opposite you.