ReefCloud is a digital platform developed by the Australian Institute of Marine Science to support coral reef monitoring, data analysis, and knowledge sharing at scale. It enables scientists, reef managers, and practitioners to upload reef imagery, apply automated analysis, and work collaboratively using standardised, comparable data across regions and organisations.
Built in response to the growing volume of reef imagery collected worldwide, ReefCloud helps address one of the biggest challenges in coral reef science: turning large image datasets into timely, usable information. By streamlining data processing and analysis workflows, the platform supports more efficient monitoring while maintaining scientific rigour and transparency.
ReefCloud is designed to be practical and accessible. Users can upload survey images from a wide range of monitoring programs and field methods, apply automated benthic analysis, and generate consistent outputs suitable for reporting, research, and long‑term change detection. This reduces manual processing time and enables teams to focus on interpretation, decision‑making, and management actions rather than data handling.
ReefCloud is actively used by monitoring programs, research institutions, and conservation partners across the world. Its approach and impact have been recognised internationally, including being named the overall winner of the 2022 Asia‑Pacific Spatial Excellence Awards for Environment and Sustainability, and receiving an honourable mention in the AI and Data category at the 2022 Fast Company World Changing Ideas Awards, where it was also a finalist in both the Nature and Water categories. It underpins applied reef management, long‑term monitoring, and peer‑reviewed scientific research, and continues to evolve through partnerships with the global coral reef community.
ReefCloud was developed by the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) in collaboration with:
- Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC)
- Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Fiji
- International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI)
- University of the South Pacific
- Queensland University of Technology
- C2O Pacific
-
Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD)
- Vietnam Institute of Oceanography
-
The Locally Managed Marine Area Network (LMMA)
with in-kind support from Accenture and the Allen Coral Atlas.
