Boreal Mammal Detection

Data on the presence and relative abundance of large ungulates within the northern boreal forest are currently collected using techniques such as pellet group surveys, winter track counts, visual helicopter surveys, and telemetry. The accuracy of population estimates from these surveys can vary greatly in time and space, due to factors such as the elusive nature of the animals and likelihood of detection (right place, right time). This project’s objective was to explore application of state-of-the art remote sensing technologies to wildlife surveying with the goal of developing hardware and processing technology capable of detecting and absolute (or near absolute) number of large mammals within a scanned area and to circulate this technology to the industry and the scientific community to advance the science of large mammal detection and population dynamics. An Open Innovation competition through Nine Sigma for novel mammal population survey technologies/techniques was conducted, with four developers chosen to move to proof of concept phase.

(1) Polaris Sensor Technologies Inc. used large mammals at the Milwaukee County Zoo to test a combination of polarimetric, infrared, and multispectral sensors. They found that a polarization sensor alone is likely not useful for animal counts, but ratios of long wave infrared (LWIR) to mid wave infrared (MWIR) radiance may predict what area of an image contains an animal. Polaris recommended assembly of a dual band system and flying it under realistic conditions; (2) Environment Systems used an UAS with a full colour camera (RGB), boresighted with a thermal infrared (TIR) camera to gather data (video and images) of the target area. They had success identifying large mammals (92%), including distinguishing between elk, red deer and bison, in a range of challenging and remote conditions in Scotland; (3) Systems and Processes Engineering Corporation (SPEC) used SPEC Gen IV LADAR (laser detection and ranging). They reported a need to increase laser power to reliably see through heavy foliage from the flight altitude; (4) Vision Air Research used forward-looking infrared (FLIR), and successfully detected caribou in a trial flight. They suggested more testing and improvements should be made to the equipment and software.