Thermal Cameras and AI to the Rescue! – Firstpost

Singapore has long been known for its prowess in dealing with urban challenges, but its latest battle is something straight out of a science fiction movie. With cutting-edge tools like infrared cameras and AI-powered sensors, the island nation has taken the fight against rats to a whole new level. It’s not just pest control—it’s a full-blown high-tech war between humans and rodents, and Singapore seems to be winning.

High-tech arsenal

According to Strait Times report, as part of its ongoing efforts to control the rat population, Singapore’s National Environment Agency has rolled out an impressive array of advanced technologies. Leading the way are thermal cameras that can detect rats by sensing the heat they emit. The cameras, being tested in locations such as Buffalo Road and Telok Ayer Street, track the movements of rats, revealing the routes the rodents take to access food sources. The results? a 50 percent drop in the number of rat burrows detected in 2024 compared with 2023, thanks in part to these high-tech gadgets.

Passive infrared cameras have also played a significant role. These smaller, battery-powered devices are placed in hard-to-reach places, such as drains and suspended ceilings, where rats often hide. Triggered by movement, they provide surveillance in areas that are less accessible to humans, ensuring that no rat goes unnoticed.

How to Outsmart Rats

It’s not just the technology that’s fascinating, it’s how the rats are caught off guard. In a scene reminiscent of a sci-fi movie, thermal cameras glow red when a warm-blooded animal like a rat is nearby, turning Singapore’s streets into battlegrounds. Authorities can now visualise not only where the rats are hiding, but also how they move around the city. This real-time data is shared with stakeholders such as councils and food operators, who can then cull the rodents and prevent their return.

In just four months of trials, thermal cameras have provided crucial information, allowing authorities to pinpoint rat infestations with surgical precision. It’s a high-tech game of hide-and-seek, and the rats are losing.

Science Behind Success

Behind the shiny gadgets lies a solid strategy. Key to Singapore’s success is its ability to combine technology with strong law enforcement and public cooperation. Thermal cameras and infrared sensors do more than catch rats—they help experts understand the patterns behind invasions. By mapping rat activity across time and space, the NEA can deploy resources more efficiently, focusing efforts where they’re needed most.

This high-tech approach is supported by rigorous enforcement against poor waste management, a major contributor to rat infestations. In the first half of 2024 alone, some 380 enforcement actions were taken against facilities with rat-related neglect, further tightening control over potential food sources for the rodents.

Victory is near, but the war is not over

Although Singapore’s technological innovations have led to a significant reduction in the rat population, authorities warn against complacency. A single lapse in waste management or public vigilance could lead to a resurgence. Rats are known for their rapid reproductive cycles, so maintaining strict control measures is crucial.

According to mothership.sgSenior Parliamentary Secretary Baey Yam Keng warned against complacency, saying a single oversight could lead to a relapse, as rats reproduce very quickly. The fight may tip in Singapore’s favour, but as in any war, constant vigilance is key to ultimate victory.