Adam Baker, PhD, research entomologist at Davey Tree, and Greg Emerick, founder of POLLi, were able to present the findings of the study the teams had been working on over the course of the last year, and the corresponding published article

Davey Tree, Kent State, and POLLi, an article titled, Comparing Machine Learning Using UAVs to Ground Survey Methods to Quantify Milkweed Stem Density and Habitat Characteristics in ROWs, was recently published.

Greg Emerick, POLLi founder, had the privilege of presenting at SXSW on March 13. The presentation, Saving Monarchs With Machine Learning and Computer Vision, explored how machine learning aids in identifying milkweed and invasive species, supporting precise conservation efforts across millions of acres.

POLLi was on the road recently presenting at both the North Dakota Weed Control Conference (NDWCA) in Bismarck, ND, and the South Dakota Weed and Pest Conference in historic Deadwood, SD.

Polli’s founder, Greg Emerick, will presenting at SXSW in Austin, Texas in 2026. “Monarch butterflies are experiencing severe declines, but AI-powered computer vision offers new hope for their conservation.

We’re excited to share that POLLi’s Habitat Index keeps getting smarter. The latest update boosts overall accuracy by 13% and improves performance by up to 27% across various vegetation types.

Polli, Freefly, and Sony are working in conjunction to drive innovation in conservation efforts, particularly for Monarch butterfly protection. Freefly's high-performance Astro drone is equipped with Sony's ultra-high-resolution ILX-LR1 camera. This hardware synergy provides the foundational tool for Polli, whose technology uses AI to quickly and efficiently analyze the captured images, identifying and mapping crucial milkweed habitats at scale to protect the butterflies.

Polli was featured in T&D World magazine for its innovative role in utility vegetation management, particularly in the context of conservation. The publication highlighted Polli's technology—which often involves the use of drones to monitor and map pollinator habitats, such as milkweed for Monarch butterflies, within utility Rights-of-Way (ROWs). This feature underscores how Polli is helping electric utilities integrate environmental stewardship and biodiversity into their operational best practices.

We are proud to announce the release of the POLLi software platform. POLLi is a unique and groundbreaking product designed to streamline the identification and quantification of common milkweed through the seamless integration of data collection and analysis.