A bespoke low‐cost system for radio tracking animals using multi‐rotor and fixed‐wing unmanned aerial vehicles

Roberts, Benjamin Philip; Neal, Mark; Snooke, Neal; Labrosse, Frédéric; Curteis, Tristan; Fraser, Malcolm

doi:10.1111/2041-210x.13464

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 10 publications

(13 reference statements)

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“…Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs; drones) have facilitated the emergence of aerial-based approaches to studying animal movements. The concept of low-cost UAV-based radio tracking has been proven on livestock ( Roberts et al, 2020 ), as has the use of aerial imagery to detect animals ( Sarwar et al, 2021 , Sant'Ana et al, 2022 ). Aside from tracking applications, the more conventional use of UAV-derived imagery in vegetation analysis has recently progressed from simple broad habitat classifications, to using high-resolution imagery for the identification of specific plant species ( Lu and He, 2017 , Gallmann et al, 2022 ).…”

Section: Grazing Pressurementioning

confidence: 99%

Animal board invited review: Grassland-based livestock farming and biodiversity

Fraser¹,

Vallin²,

Roberts³

2022

animal

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Section: Grazing Pressurementioning

confidence: 99%

Animal board invited review: Grassland-based livestock farming and biodiversity

Fraser¹,

Vallin²,

Roberts³

2022

animal

Self Cite

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“…Applications for unmanned aerial systems (UASs) in wildlife research are increasing, particularly considering their benefit for effective monitoring and managing of species of conservation importance in areas and countries with budgetary limitations (Bevan et al, 2018; Ezat, Fritsch, & Downs, 2018; Hahn et al, 2017; Linchant, Lisein, Semeki, Lejeune, & Vermeulen, 2015; Roberts et al, 2020). Population censuses are utilized by conservation area managers as an overarching indication of species and ecosystem health (Dice, 1938; Lancia, Kendall, Pollock, & Nichols, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of low‐cost consumer‐grade UAVs for conducting comprehensive high‐frequency population censuses of hippopotamus populations

Fritsch

Downs

2020

Conservat Sci and Prac

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The hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibious (hereafter referred to as hippo) is classified as vulnerable according to the IUCN Red data list. They play a significant role in aquatic systems as allochthonous nutrient providers, and as facilitators and competitors in grasslands. Traditional census methodologies for hippo are difficult and costly to repeat. Previous research has been conducted on the use of unmanned aerial systems (UASs) to conduct hippo population estimates; however, findings either needed justification through additional field testing or used high-cost UASs that may be unaffordable for management authorities in developing countries in Africa. Therefore, using a low-cost, consumer-grade, DJI Phantom 3 Advanced multi-rotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), 47 surveys were conducted of the hippo population at Ndumo Game Reserve (NGR), South Africa, between August 2016 and July 2017. In addition, comparisons were drawn between the results of and the logistical requirements and costs of the respective helicopter and UAV surveys conducted on the same day of the same hippo population. The use of a consumer-grade UAV permitted frequent, accurate, and comparatively lowcost surveys to identify temporal changes in the number of hippos present in NGR and at different locations within NGR. Hippos are a data deficient species, particularly in remote developing countries. UAVs surveys of hippo will allow accurate, highly repeatable, and comparatively low-cost data collection for management of hippos and the ecosystems within which they occur.

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Localizing Japanese toads in a mountainous terrain using drone-based radiotelemetry

Yamato

Tanaka²,

Ichikawa

et al. 2023

Drone Syst. Appl.

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Monitoring the movement of small animals is a fundamental aspect of ecological studies as well as spatially explicit conservation and management. However, this remains a challenging task especially in mountainous terrains. Although drone-based radiotelemetry (DRT) is employed to localize animals, its application in mountainous terrains is limited by the collision risks associated with undulating terrains as well as the obstruction of signals by dense vegetation and steep slopes. We addressed these challenges by generating fine-scale three-dimensional maps and moving vertically mounted directional antennas in a double grid pattern, scanning both in longitudinal and latitudinal grids. This new DRT system was helpful in localizing four adult Japanese toads ( Bufo japonicus) living in hiding places typical of mountainous terrains. All toads were located within 1–60 days of being released. Transmitter signals were detected within two consecutive flights (three flights in one case). Instances of transmitter detection were significantly biased when the drone was facing either direction of the double-grid path, indicating that the double-grid pattern had reduced detection failure. The absolute localization error ( n = 48) of 22.4 ± 21.0 m (44.8 ± 42% of the transmitter-to-receiver distance) was lower than that reported in a previous study conducted in a similar mountainous terrain.

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A bespoke low‐cost system for radio tracking animals using multi‐rotor and fixed‐wing unmanned aerial vehicles

Cited by 3 publications

References 10 publications

Animal board invited review: Grassland-based livestock farming and biodiversity

Animal board invited review: Grassland-based livestock farming and biodiversity

Evaluation of low‐cost consumer‐grade UAVs for conducting comprehensive high‐frequency population censuses of hippopotamus populations

Localizing Japanese toads in a mountainous terrain using drone-based radiotelemetry

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