Addressing environmental and atmospheric challenges for capturing high-precision thermal infrared data in the field of astro-ecology

Using thermal infrared detectors mounted on drones, and applying techniques from astrophysics, we hope to support the field of conservation ecology by creating an automated pipeline for the detection and identification of certain endangered species and poachers from thermal infrared data. We test pa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inarXiv.org
Main Authors Burke, Claire, Rashman, Maisie F, McAree, Owen, Hambrecht, Leonard, Longmore, Steve N, Piel, Alex K, Wich, Serge A
Format Paper
LanguageEnglish
Published Ithaca Cornell University Library, arXiv.org 06.07.2018
Subjects
Astrophysics
Automation
Ecology
Endangered species
Infrared detectors
Spacecraft
Terrain
Wildlife conservation
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Summary:Using thermal infrared detectors mounted on drones, and applying techniques from astrophysics, we hope to support the field of conservation ecology by creating an automated pipeline for the detection and identification of certain endangered species and poachers from thermal infrared data. We test part of our system by attempting to detect simulated poachers in the field. Whilst we find that we can detect humans hiding in the field in some types of terrain, we also find several environmental factors that prevent accurate detection, such as ambient heat from the ground, absorption of infrared emission by the atmosphere, obscuring vegetation and spurious sources from the terrain. We discuss the effect of these issues, and potential solutions which will be required for our future vision for a fully automated drone-based global conservation monitoring system.
ISSN:2331-8422