Electro-Optical Approach for Airborne Marine Mammal Surveys and Density Estimations

Abstract

Observing marine mammal distribution and determining population densities is a complex problem that has been ongoing for many decades. Modern approaches use a varying combination of sophisticated acoustic monitoring and highly trained visual observers from both ships and aircraft. New electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) camera systems with automatic detection algorithms offer the option to do quantitative airborne surveys safely and quickly. This paper discusses an airborne EO/IR modular system used to observe marine mammals, make density measurements and eventually be used to quantify animal behaviors.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2011
Accession Number
ADA585667

Entities

People

  • Cynthia D. Boucher
  • Donald R. Statter
  • Jon S. Schoonmaker
  • Vincent M. Contarino
  • Yuliya Podobna

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Air Platforms
  • Biomedical
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Sensors
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Airborne
  • Aircrafts
  • Algorithms
  • Animals
  • Antisubmarine Warfare
  • Detection
  • Detectors
  • Engineering
  • Global Positioning Systems
  • Graphics Processing Unit
  • Image Processing
  • Long-Wavelength Infrared Radiation
  • Marine Mammals
  • Measurement
  • Navy
  • Observers
  • Optical Detection

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Marine Mammal Biology
  • Systems Analysis and Design
  • Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Autonomous Capabilities and Mission Reconnaissance.