Sharkeye: Real-Time Autonomous Personal Shark Alerting via Aerial Surveillance

Drones, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 4(2), P. 18 - 18

Published: May 4, 2020

While aerial shark spotting has been a standard practice for beach safety decades, new technologies offer enhanced opportunities, ranging from drones/unmanned vehicles (UAVs) that provide viewing capabilities, to apps beachgoers with up-to-date risk analysis before entering the water. This report describes Sharkeye platform, first-of-its-kind project demonstrate personal alerting in water and on land, leveraging innovative UAV image collection, cloud-hosted machine learning detection algorithms, reporting via smart wearables. To execute, our team developed novel algorithm trained based footage of real sharks rays collected at local beaches, hosted deployed cloud, integrated push alerts app run smartwatches. The was successfully trialed field Kiama, Australia, over 350 events recorded, followed by multiple smartwatches simultaneously both land water, capable detecting analogues, rays, surfers average conditions, all ~1 h training data total. Additional demonstrations showed potential system enable lifeguard-swimmer communication, ability create network demand platform. Our swimmers immediate information apps, empowering lifeguards/lifesavers prevent unwanted encounters wildlife it happens.

Language: Английский

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Fly with care: belugas show evasive responses to low altitude drone flights

Marine Mammal Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 39(3), P. 718 - 739

Published: Jan. 17, 2023

Abstract Drones have become an important research tool for studies of cetaceans, providing valuable insights into their ecology and behavior. However, drones are also recognized as a potential source disturbance to particularly when flown at low altitudes. In this study, we examined the impact on endangered St. Lawrence belugas ( Delphinapterus leucas ), reviewed drone cetaceans identify altitude thresholds linked disturbance. We repurposed footage free‐living taken various altitudes, speeds, angles‐of‐approach, noted animals' reactions. Evasive reactions occurred during 4.3% (22/511) focal group follows. Belugas were more likely display sudden dives low‐altitude flights, flights below 23 m. Sudden occur in larger groups especially common first approached group. recommend that researchers maintain lower limit 25 m drone‐assisted approach with caution. This recommendation is line our literature review, which indicates above 30 unlikely provoke among cetaceans.

Language: Английский

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A meta-analysis of disturbance caused by drones on nesting birds

Journal of Field Ornithology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 94(2)

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

The use of drones for monitoring nesting birds is rapidly increasing given their affordability and efficiency in bird detection quantification across habitats. Reports disturbance caused by on different species have been mixed, with no consensus the degree to which factors affect responses. Given lack systematic assessments from birds, we conducted a formal meta-analysis quantify multi-rotor particular focus effects altitude flights traits. Seventeen studies met our criteria inclusion analysis, extracted 31 effect sizes form log-odds ratio. Drones showed small (-1.54; 95% CI: -2.83, -0.26) overall, but heterogeneity was large. Drone > 50 m evidence birds. Conversely, at lower altitudes (≤ m) stronger effects, largest odds observed ground solitary non-ground nesters. Only colonial nesters regardless drone altitude. We conclude that can be an efficient safe means surveying if traits are considered survey protocols.

Language: Английский

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Fright or Flight? Behavioural Responses of Kangaroos to Drone-Based Monitoring

Drones, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 3(2), P. 41 - 41

Published: April 24, 2019

Drones are often considered an unobtrusive method of monitoring terrestrial wildlife; however research into whether drones disturb wildlife is in its early stages. This investigated the potential impacts drone on a large mammal, eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus), urban and peri-urban environments. We assessed response kangaroos to by analysing behaviour prior during deployments using linear modelling approach. also explored factors that influenced responses including altitude, site characteristics population dynamics demographics. showed elicit vigilance response, but rarely fled from drone. However, were most likely flee flown at altitude 30 m. study suggests key consideration for minimising disturbance mammals flights 60–100 m above ground level will minimise behavioural impacts. It highlights need more assess intrusion other surveys have accuracy data produced.

Language: Английский

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Responses of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops spp.) to small drones

Aquatic Conservation Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 31(3), P. 677 - 684

Published: Oct. 7, 2020

Abstract Recent advances in aerial drones offer new insights into the biology, ecology and behaviour of marine wildlife found on or near ocean’s surface. While opening up opportunities for enhanced monitoring, impacts drone sampling how it might influence interpretations animal are only just beginning to be understood. The capacity record bottlenose dolphin ( Tursiops spp.) was investigated, along with presence a small at varying altitudes influences behaviour. Over 3 years eight locations, 361 flights were completed between 5 60 m above ocean. Analyses showed that dolphins increasingly likely change decreasing altitude. A positive correlation also time spent hovering group probability recording behavioural response. Dolphin size influenced frequency an observed change, displaying size. Overall, although have potential impact coastal when flown low altitudes, they represent useful tool collecting ecological information owing their convenience, cost observe behaviours underwater. To maximize benefits minimize impacts, this study suggests should 30 dolphins.

Language: Английский

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