Coral Reef Image Classification Data

The Community Coral Reef Image Classification Training Data offers a community-sourced repository of imagery and annotations specifically designed for machine learning applications. Hosted on an AWS S3 bucket, this valuable resource supports global initiatives focused on coral reef conservation. It provides a standardized, well-structured, and continually growing collection of data, making it readily available for researchers and developers worldwide. This centralized approach aims to overcome data fragmentation challenges often encountered in environmental monitoring.

This open dataset serves as a critical backend for image classification workflows, including those used by organizations like MERMAID, and actively facilitates contributions from partners such as CoralNet. Its primary goal is to foster collective ML model development and significantly accelerate collaboration across scientific, conservation, and machine learning communities. The data is free and openly accessible, promoting the creation of a common, evolving image classification model for coral reefs globally, which can lead to more consistent and accurate monitoring efforts.

Partner organizations contribute updates at their own cadence, with MERMAID updating its portion once per day, ensuring the dataset remains current and relevant. The repository centralizes and standardizes coral reef image data, allowing various entities to benefit from shared resources while maintaining their own data structures and policies for contributions. This collaborative framework is essential for advancing the understanding and protection of vital marine ecosystems.