Astro-ecology: joint efforts to solve issues of nature protection
April 05, 2018 | 12:43 |2586
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At the annual meeting of the European Astronomical Society in Liverpool, researchers from the Liverpool University named after John Moores - ecologist Serge Vick and astronomer Steve Longmore - presented a system developed by them that uses astronomical methods of studying stars to monitor endangered species of animals. At the moment, for the assessment of the number of endangered species, nature advocates simply consider the animals themselves or the traces left by them. But this method of monitoring is ineffective, as it gives inaccurate data. Ecologist Serge Vick decided to find a solution to this problem and suggested using thermal imaging infrared cameras installed on drones. As the author of the idea notes, the system can significantly increase the accuracy of monitoring endangered species and thereby help to protect them: "Reliable data on what happens to animals is the basis of all efforts to protect nature."Arslan KEMALOV
The scientist tested his project at the Chester Zoo and in the Park Knowles Safari in England. The cameras were able to identify the animals by detecting the heat emanating from them, despite the trees and other obstacles. But this project had one problem: the cameras could not recognize the endangered species from a long distance. Vic needed a system that could recognize certain species, according to the characteristic heat that they emit.
In this he was helped by scientists from a completely different field. Astronomers Steve Longmore and Claire Burke said that astronomy uses certain algorithms that study the heat emitted by stars to determine their size and age. On the basis of this method, it is possible to create a program for the recognition of different species of animals by the heat they generate.
Each species of animals with infrared radiation has its own unique characteristics of warm and cold places on the body. "When we look at animals in infrared radiation, we can see the heat of their bodies, and this heat is glowing on the record. The glow is very similar to the way stars and galaxies in space are shining. Therefore, we can apply methods that have been used in astronomy for decades to automatically recognize and measure this glow," notes astronomer Claire Burke.
Also, the system will be able to notify about the health of animals. In case the animal is injured, the wound site will glow brighter than the rest of the body. Different indicators can also be observed in sick animals.
As Burke notes: "The real advantage of all this is that when you know the number of animals, their location and their health, it becomes much easier to create a plan to protect them."
