VIVOTEK is actively advancing its commitment to corporate social responsibility by focusing on ecological restoration projects in Taiwan. This marks the fifth year of the company’s “Safety Map” sustainability initiative. Notably, this year extends beyond urban environments to the natural landscape of Zhonggua River in Nantou, Taiwan.
Collaborating with the National Chung Hsing University’s (NCHU) University Social Responsibility (USR) team and AI agriculture partner DATAYOO, VIVOTEK initiated the "Zhonggua River Ecological Restoration Safety Map" project.
Integrating technology with nature conservation
The project involves deploying VIVOTEK’s security solutions to monitor wildlife, capturing rare footage of the endangered crab-eating mongoose. Employees participated in removing invasive species, restoring native flora, and creating ecological ponds, thereby expanding their focus from human safety to environmental protection.
“VIVOTEK partnered with the NCHU’s USR team to transform our original commitment to care and social safety into active conservation of the river ecosystem and wildlife,” said Alex Liao, President of VIVOTEK.
The impact of restoration strategies
The Zhonggua River faced ecological disruptions after a 2004 typhoon led to the construction of flood control walls
The Zhonggua River faced ecological disruptions after a 2004 typhoon led to the construction of flood control walls. In 2018, a subtraction approach was advocated by Professors Chiou-Rong Sheue and Peter Chesson from NCHU to dismantle these structures and allow the river to reclaim its banks.
This strategy culminated in Taiwan’s first community-initiated river restoration, with ongoing ecological monitoring and maintenance led by NCHU’s USR team and supported technologically by VIVOTEK.
Hands-on participation and environmental stewardship
Under the guidance of the USR team, VIVOTEK employees engaged in constructive activities to revitalise the ecosystem, such as creating new habitats for local species and removing invasive plants.
They introduced native plant species to stabilise and enhance the riverbanks. “Being able to personally contribute to ecological restoration and give back to nature is a source of pride as a VIVOTEKer,” stated Ben, a dedicated engineer involved in the initiative.
Data-driven restoration efforts
VIVOTEK used the FarmiSpace PRO monitoring favour and AI crop analysis plan to provide the NCHU team
VIVOTEK, alongside DATAYOO, used the FarmiSpace PRO monitoring service and AI crop analysis system to provide the NCHU team with critical data for their restoration work. This scientific approach aids in establishing a framework for effective natural habitat restoration and underscores the role of technology as a conservation tool.
Allen Hsieh, VIVOTEK’s Spokesperson, highlighted, “We will continue to promote cross-industry collaboration, using our security expertise as a foundation to amplify social impact and create more inclusive safety values.”
Collaborative success in ecological restoration
The initiatives have resulted in rapid ecological benefits, as newly constructed ponds by VIVOTEK staff have attracted various species, demonstrating the success of the project. Chiou-Rong Sheue affirmed that the involvement of VIVOTEK in ecological restoration sets a benchmark for industry and academia collaboration, emphasising that these efforts have fostered harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.
Through its strategic use of security technology, VIVOTEK continues to champion environmental stewardship, redefining safety to include not only protection but also the nurturing and shared responsibility of natural habitats.
VIVOTEK, the pioneering security solution provider, actively integrates corporate social responsibility into its operations. This year marks the fifth “Safety Map” corporate sustainability event. For the first time, the team extended its efforts beyond urban communities to the natural environment of Zhonggua River in Guoxing Township, Nantou, Taiwan.
Collaborating with the National Chung Hsing University’s (NCHU) University Social Responsibility (USR) team on “Environmental Resilience and Sustainability” and the precision AI agriculture partner DATAYOO, the team launched the “Zhonggua River Ecological Restoration Safety Map” project.
VIVOTEK deployed its security solutions to monitor the ecosystem, successfully capturing rare footage of the endangered crab-eating mongoose in its natural habitat. Employees also helped remove invasive species, restore native plants, and construct ecological ponds, embedding sustainability into the company’s core security expertise – extending protection from human safety to habitats and biodiversity.
“Returning land to the river:” Reviving the ecosystem
After a typhoon in 2004, Zhonggua River’s banks were fortified with high walls and riverbed structures for flood control, which disrupted the ecosystem. Over time, cracks formed, foundations eroded, and exposed steel reinforced the risk. In 2018, Professors Chiou-Rong Sheue and Peter Chesson from NCHU’s Department of Life Sciences began living by the river and advocated a subtraction approach: dismantling walls to “return the land to the river,” balancing flood control with conservation.
This effort culminated in 2023 with Taiwan’s first community-initiated river restoration project. Today, the USR team led by Professor Hsu continues ecological monitoring and habitat maintenance, while VIVOTEK contributes technology and manpower through the “Safety Map” initiative, jointly safeguarding the reborn river.
Security technology supports restoration through action and care
“VIVOTEK uses ‘Concern for Others’ Cares’ as a brand catalyst. During the 2010 Chile mining disaster, our cameras were deployed deep inside the mine to monitor the vital signs of trapped miners, transmitting real-time footage to rescue teams and contributing to the miraculous rescue efforts. In Parks Victoria, Australia, we applied AI solutions to observe seal habitats in Port Phillip Bay, monitoring potential threats such as fishing lines and ropes."
"VIVOTEK partnered with the NCHU’s USR team to transform our original commitment to care and social safety into active conservation of the river ecosystem and wildlife, turning technology into a bridge for harmonious coexistence between humans and nature,” said Alex Liao, President of VIVOTEK.
Building safe habitats, restoring nature’s vitality
Under the guidance of the NCHU’s USR team, VIVOTEK employees observed aquatic insects, native plants, and changes in the river ecosystem, gaining insight into the impact of removing cement embankments on local wildlife. To accelerate ecological restoration, they split into teams to construct ecological ponds and build new homes for the Ayers’ tree frogs using bamboo tubes.
At the same time, invasive plant species such as Mimosa pudica, fragrant orchids, and elephant grass were removed, while native species including reed orchids, wild peonies, honeysuckles, purple bead trees, Taiwan mountain laurels, and orange osmanthus were replanted to stabilise the soil and restore riparian vegetation.
“Being able to personally contribute to ecological restoration and give back to nature is a source of pride as a VIVOTEKer,” shared Ben, an engineer who has participated in the Safety Map event for five consecutive years.
Leveraging big data monitoring to deepen corporate impact
“The Safety Map event has extended from neighbourhoods, care facilities, schools, and historic settlements to Zhonggua River, engaging hundreds of employees in inspecting sites and proposing safety solutions. Through these efforts, we have expanded the definition of ‘safety’ from simply protecting people to also safeguarding wildlife and habitats, revealing the multidimensional nature of security."
"Moving forward, we will continue to promote cross-industry collaboration, using our security expertise as a foundation to amplify social impact and create more inclusive safety values and practices,” said Allen Hsieh, VIVOTEK’s Spokesperson and Director of the CorpComm & Sustainability Office.
This year, VIVOTEK further leveraged the expertise of DATAYOO, using its FarmiSpace PRO monitoring service and AI crop monitoring system to analyse various crop indices derived from satellite spectral data. These insights provide the NCHU’s USR team with a scientific basis for their ecological research at Zhonggua River, enabling a data-driven approach to natural habitat restoration and making technology a powerful tool for conservation.
Industry and academia join forces to set a benchmark
“VIVOTEK Proactively proposed initiatives and involving company employees in hands-on participation are the most powerful ways to implement ecological restoration. Through VIVOTEK’s security expertise, volunteer engagement, and AI-driven long-term ecological monitoring, we have accelerated the restoration of Zhonggua River’s ecosystem, allowing more people to witness the harmony between humans and nature,” said Chiou-Rong Sheue.
The habitat restoration efforts have already shown tangible results, with the ecological ponds built by VIVOTEK employees quickly attracting creatures such as pond frogs, dragonflies, water striders, and damselflies.
VIVOTEK has emerged as a key driver of environmental restoration through its security technology, demonstrating that safety is not only about protection but also stewardship and shared responsibility, and continues to foster a Safety Map where humans and nature coexist.
