# ReefCloud Updates

{% updates format="full" %}
{% update date="2026-05-06" tags="public-dashboard" %}

## Minor improvements

<details>

<summary>Improved</summary>

* 'Learn more' information pop-up text for benthic monitoring indicators and environmental pressure layers can now be copied.
* Button added to left panel of screen which includes all 'learn more' information for Public Summary Dashboard data.

</details>
{% endupdate %}

{% update date="2026-04-27" tags="reefcloud-portal" %}

## New feature added - Desktop upload tool

The Desktop Upload Tool enables uploading of Surveys and Imagery into ReefCloud in a faster more efficient way, providing a streamlined workflow for batch uploading large datasets directly from your local machine, including PEARL drive.

Find the <kbd>Desktop Upload Tool</kbd> in the top right of the Surveys page with the ReefCloud Portal, next to Create Survey and Bulk Import buttons.

{% hint style="warning" %}
This tool is currently available only to **AIMS users** with an AIMS email address (ending in @aims.gov.au) as part of initial testing and feedback. Access will be broadened to all ReefCloud users in a future release.
{% endhint %}

<details>

<summary>Improved</summary>

* Improved Image and Point tagging by updating the Tagging Dialog to require users to explicitly select a custom tag when typing in the custom tag search input, preventing accidental form submission without a valid tag selection. This update also includes several small usability enhancements to make the tagging workflow clearer and more robust.

</details>
{% endupdate %}

{% update date="2026-04-24" tags="community-dashboard" %}

## New feature added - Reference photos

<details>

<summary>Feature Added</summary>

* Added automated, reference imagery from ReefCloud projects and BRUVs to the Community Dashboard at site and local region levels, with captions.

</details>
{% endupdate %}

{% update date="2026-04-21" tags="reefcloud-portal,public-dashboard" %}

## Minor improvements

<details>

<summary>Feature Added</summary>

* Sorting feature added to Filters in Classifier allowing sorting by ascending order of 'Machine Classification'. Set to sort by Image ID followed by Point ID by default.&#x20;

</details>

<details>

<summary>Improved</summary>

* Improved user experience and functionality for tagging of images and points.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Fixed</summary>

* Cyclone routes are now processed and stored as full, original tracks. Previously, only route segments intersecting tiers with 4MW impact were included in the Public Summary Dashboard data visualisations.

</details>
{% endupdate %}

{% update date="2026-03-25" tags="reefcloud-portal" %}

## Minor features added & bug fixed

Minor updates to the ReefCloud Portal.

<details>

<summary>Features Added</summary>

* New users now see a mailing list sign‑up form on first visit to the Welcome page when signing into the ReefCloud Portal.
* Added ability to copy shareable Image Library URLs with filters applied when viewing individual images.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Fixed</summary>

* Fixed an issue where annotation tooltips displayed incorrectly in Classifier full image/hybrid view when disabled in marker settings.
* Fixed issue in the Classifier where typing letter 'q' into text inputs in the filter bar enables QC mode.

</details>
{% endupdate %}

{% update date="2026-03-04" tags="reefcloud-portal,community-dashboard" %}

## Minor improvements & bug fixes

Minor updates to the ReefCloud Portal.

<details>

<summary>Improved</summary>

* For Community Dashboard linked projects, the 'Community Dashboard Region Management' page now allows for latitude and longitude coordinate entry and editing.
* Improved text for user guidance within pages.
* Implemented 'point walking' into the QC mode of the Classifier to optimise the speed of performing QC checks.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Fixed</summary>

* Fixed column sorting functionality in tables.

</details>
{% endupdate %}

{% update date="2026-02-18" tags="reefcloud-portal" %}

## New Feature-vector Model Deployment

We’ve updated the ReefCloud feature‑vector generation process, now live across the platform.&#x20;

{% hint style="info" %}
A feature‑vector model is basically a translator between your image and the ML system, pulling out important visual information and turning it into a neat list of numbers the model can understand.
{% endhint %}

#### What's changed?

This update was primarily a security and infrastructure upgrade, designed to make our feature-vector generation more stable, efficient, and cost-effective behind the scenes.

It also brings significant speed improvements when generating feature-vectors for new images. The same tasks previously taking up to an hour are now typically completed in a minute!

To ensure everything remained consistent, we ran extensive testing to confirm that these new feature-vectors **do not change the classification results in a meaningful way**. The analysis showed that **existing classifiers behave the same**, with no negative impact on model outputs.

{% hint style="info" %}
Find the detailed analysis report on the ReefCloud feature vector model update [here](https://reefcloud.github.io/resources/Vignette_feature_vector_extraction_report.html)
{% endhint %}

#### What to expect?

* **Same classification outcomes:** No noticeable changes to accuracy or class separation - your results should look the same as before.
* **More secure & efficient systems:** Improved backend reliability, reduced compute costs, and a smoother long-term upgrade path.
* **Only new images use the updated feature-vectors:** Previously-processed images keep their old feature-vectors and newly uploaded images will use the updated system automatically.

#### Do I need to do anything?

No action is required.

The updated feature-vector system is fully deployed, and all existing projects continue to work exactly as before. There is **no impact on your historical analyses**, and **no changes are needed on your side**.&#x20;

If you have questions or need support, please reach out at **<support@reefcloud.ai>**.

Thanks for being part of ReefCloud!
{% endupdate %}

{% update date="2026-02-11" tags="reefcloud-portal" %}

## Minor update

Minor update to improve consistency of styling and functionality of current features.

<details>

<summary>Improved</summary>

* Added 'Images' and 'Surveys' columns to Projects page
* Improved speed of annotations in Classifier
* All 'Site' and 'Benthic Category' lists now text searchable fields with drop-down lists to optimise finding what you need when you need it
* Improved performance of ML Report creation

</details>

<details>

<summary>Fixed</summary>

* Bug fixes to the Classifier
* Refined consistency of styling and language

</details>
{% endupdate %}

{% update date="2026-01-12" tags="reefcloud-portal" %}

## The first release of 2026!

Classifier user interface refresh and data export improvements.

### Classifier & Image Library

* Improved layout to both the Classifier & Image library
  * Filter panel now on left
  * Filter selections now visible top of screen
  * Buttons reorganised
  * Enhanced visibility of the number of points selected
* Pagination of images and patches at bottom of Classifier and Image Library pages (e.g., Image 1 / 9697 | 1-50 of 9697 images)

<p align="center"><a href="https://docs.reefcloud.ai/train-and-validate-ai/train-automated-image-analysis" class="button secondary" data-icon="cloud">Read the documentation</a></p>

<div align="left" data-with-frame="true"><figure><img src="/files/CfVfCQXQIg5QUkwwz0rh" alt="" width="563"><figcaption><p>A fresh new look for the ReefCloud Classifier!</p></figcaption></figure></div>

### Train vs Test points in exports

* Point classification export file now contains a new column <kbd>model\_data</kbd> indicating if points were used to 'test' or 'train' the ML model

### Filter exports for Country Region, Local Region and Reef Name

* More user choice in filtering capabilities when exporting data to make it easier to find the information needed (especially for large projects)

<div align="center" data-with-frame="true"><figure><img src="/files/e3cmW5w6MgoJtaThWGDl" alt="" width="294"><figcaption><p>Three new fields to export data</p></figcaption></figure></div>

<details>

<summary>Improved</summary>

* Annotation tool tips can now be toggled on/off

<figure><img src="/files/InRu39qZWG8zfXnZzyvx" alt="" width="375"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

* Panning speed (in hybrid full/points view) sped up to 0.2 seconds
* Option for cancelling image uploads
* Increased speed of the Classifier
* Site page table columns now all sortable
* Ongoing improvements in feature vector creation

</details>

<details>

<summary>Fixed</summary>

* Bug fixes to the Classifier

</details>
{% endupdate %}

{% update date="2025-11-12" tags="reefcloud-portal" %}

## November update

Classifier improvements to enhance user experience.

### User guided selection of images to annotate

* Choose to filter for all (default), every 5th or every 10th image to annotate in the Classifier, spreading your annotations more evenly across surveys and your project to optimally train the model.

<p align="center"><a href="https://docs.reefcloud.ai/train-and-validate-ai/train-automated-image-analysis#filters" class="button secondary" data-icon="cloud">Read the documentation</a></p>

### Image quality enhancement

* Enhance image quality while in the Classifier
* Can be toggled on/off
* A presentation-level feature, independent of the ML model

<p align="center"><a href="https://docs.reefcloud.ai/train-and-validate-ai/train-automated-image-analysis#image-and-point-enhancement" class="button secondary" data-icon="cloud">Read the documentation</a></p>

<div data-with-frame="true"><figure><img src="/files/lgXA3riTCdV8FpOu69GJ" alt=""><figcaption><p>Before and after image enhancement in the ReefCloud Classifier.</p></figcaption></figure></div>

<details>

<summary>Improved</summary>

* Improved speed of results returned while in the Image Library
* Ongoing maintenance to improve efficiency of results returned to users

</details>

<details>

<summary>Fixed</summary>

* Functionality of drop down lists within Image Library resolved
* Human and Machine label drop down lists now type-to-search and selectable in the Classifier

</details>
{% endupdate %}
{% endupdates %}


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