BatDetect2: Making Wildlife Monitoring Accessible for Biodiversity Net Gain
Introduction
As we've explored in our previous articles, the UK's Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) framework currently focuses exclusively on habitat metrics, creating a critical verification gap. Without monitoring the wildlife these habitats are meant to support, we can't truly verify whether habitat improvements translate to actual biodiversity gains.
Enter BatDetect2 – an innovative open-source bat monitoring system based on prior research developed by the University College London that's making wildlife monitoring accessible and affordable for BNG projects of all sizes. This technology is transforming how we approach bat surveys, providing continuous data rather than occasional snapshots.
Why Bat Monitoring Matters for BNG
Bats make excellent indicator species for biodiversity health. As insectivores at the top of complex food webs, their presence (or absence) tells us a great deal about overall ecosystem functioning. For BNG projects, understanding how bats use a site before, during, and after development provides crucial evidence of whether habitat enhancements are actually delivering biodiversity benefits.
However, traditional bat surveys face significant limitations:
Typically provide only brief snapshots (a few nights per year)
Are highly weather-dependent
Require specialist ecologists for both fieldwork and analysis
Are expensive to conduct regularly over the 30-year BNG timeframe
BatDetect2 addresses these challenges by enabling continuous, automated monitoring at a fraction of the cost.
How BatDetect2 Works
BatDetect2 combines weather-resistant hardware with sophisticated machine-learning software to create an affordable bat monitoring system that anyone can deploy. The device automatically records bat calls, identifies species, and provides activity data that can be used to verify biodiversity outcomes.
Key capabilities include:
24/7 Monitoring: Captures bat activity throughout the night, every night
Automated Species Identification: Uses advanced algorithms to classify UK bat species
Weather-Resistant Design: Operates reliably in British weather conditions
Remote Data Access: Optional connectivity for checking results without site visits
Low Maintenance: Designed for long-term deployment with minimal intervention
Proven Accuracy
For wildlife monitoring to be useful for BNG purposes, accuracy is essential. BatDetect2 has been extensively tested against traditional survey methods with impressive results:
Detects 94.6% of bat passes compared to commercial detectors
Achieves 92.3% accuracy in identifying common bat species
Often identifies species missed by traditional snapshot surveys
Has been validated across six habitat types
These validation studies have led Natural England to recognize the system as suitable for preliminary bat surveys, BNG monitoring, and construction impact assessment.
Real-World Applications for BNG Projects
BatDetect2 is already being used across a range of development projects to support BNG implementation:
Pre-Development Baseline Studies
Establishing comprehensive activity patterns before work begins
Identifying key flight corridors and foraging areas
Understanding seasonal patterns of site use
Construction Phase Monitoring
Providing early warning of unexpected disturbance impacts
Documenting compliance with planning conditions
Enabling adaptive management of construction activities
Post-Development Verification
Comparing bat activity before and after development
Assessing the effectiveness of mitigation measures
Tracking long-term recovery and enhancement trends
One Somerset housing development (featured in our next article) used BatDetect2 to demonstrate a 14% increase in bat activity following habitat enhancements – providing concrete evidence that their BNG commitments were delivering real biodiversity benefits.
Conclusion: Transforming BNG Through Accessible Monitoring
BatDetect2 represents a fundamental shift in how we approach wildlife monitoring for BNG projects. Making continuous bat surveys affordable and accessible enables developers and ecologists to verify that habitat enhancements actually translate to biodiversity benefits – closing the critical verification gap in the current BNG framework.
As BNG implementation matures across England, technologies like BatDetect2 will become increasingly important tools for ensuring that developments deliver meaningful, verifiable biodiversity gains. The question is not whether wildlife monitoring will become part of BNG best practice but how quickly the transition from occasional surveys to continuous monitoring will occur.
In our next article, we'll examine a case study demonstrating how BatDetect2 was successfully implemented in a Somerset housing development, providing practical insights into the benefits and outcomes of this approach.
References
Bat Conservation Trust. (2023). Technology for Bat Monitoring: Good Practice Guidelines. https://www.bats.org.uk
Natural England. (2023). "Technical Information Note 021: Automated Bat Monitoring Systems." https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. (2024). Biodiversity Net Gain: Statutory Guidance for Development. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/biodiversity-net-gain
Connected Environments Lab, UCL. (2022). "Shazam for Bats Project." https://connected-environments.org/portfolio/shazamforbats/
