The MowHawk at Vakbeurs Openbare Ruimte

The latest version of the MowHawk was displayed on an automatically controlled rotor. Exactly as the system now runs in the field. This attracted many spectators. For several stakeholders of roadside mowing, it was an interesting newcomer to the show. The MowHawk brings the roadside to the office by turning roadside mowers into data collectors that is automatically analyzed and processed into GIS layers for operations and policy making. This is technically enabled by Artificial Intelligence, which is a promising tool for a sustainable environment.

This system is an important link for the future of nature-inclusive public space management. It's 4 workers in 1 system: a co-pilot for the driver, a GIS worker, management worker and researcher who go along with the existing mowing, without requiring additional planning or budget. This harnesses all the potential that roadsides have to offer for insect populations, biomass processing, addressing invasive exotics or litter, ecological potential and streamlined operations.

This new thinking of upgrading existing movements in public space to data collection appealed. Many professionals in this field recognized that the work and expectations are becoming increasingly complex, given that an increasing number of aspects must be taken into account. Think biodiversity, circularity, sustainability and efficiency. Artificial Intelligence supports humans with insights to make the right decisions for a sustainable future: people, planet, profit.