Next generation of wildlife tracking using light-weight, 3D printed, waterproof tags.
Advanced animal tracking devices that couple cutting-edge technologies with our increasing need for ecological data will be critical tools for managing and conserving species under future land use and climate conditions. In addition to optimizing the size of telemetry units for use on small or sensitive species, new paradigms for collecting, storing and transmitting data on animal movements and their environments are needed. The USGS and NASA are collaborating on a Next Generation Wildlife Tracking project to address these requirements; the project is developing low-cost, modular hardware based on the latest microelectronics technology and custom software that will provide broad species applicability while allowing scientists to tailor tag implementations to their unique needs. The project initially developed a tag architecture and prototype with satellite communications capability using the commercial Globalstar service, aimed at the needs of researchers studying migratory birds. A subsequent project phase developed a terrestrial architecture, together with a flexible base station design and prototype tags, to enable investigation of wildlife social interactions.
In the present project phase, we are maturing the tag designs for field deployment, and exploring the unique capabilities of hybrid architectures that use both types of tags. The NASA-designed tags offer unique features and open configurability, to allow easy experimentation and tuning of the device software to optimize performance. We envision future tags as platforms for a range of sensors, that will enable researchers to develop new insights into the environments inhabited by wildlife. Read more in the latest NASA press release.
Next generation of wildlife tracking using light-weight, 3D printed, waterproof tags.
Advanced animal tracking devices that couple cutting-edge technologies with our increasing need for ecological data will be critical tools for managing and conserving species under future land use and climate conditions. In addition to optimizing the size of telemetry units for use on small or sensitive species, new paradigms for collecting, storing and transmitting data on animal movements and their environments are needed. The USGS and NASA are collaborating on a Next Generation Wildlife Tracking project to address these requirements; the project is developing low-cost, modular hardware based on the latest microelectronics technology and custom software that will provide broad species applicability while allowing scientists to tailor tag implementations to their unique needs. The project initially developed a tag architecture and prototype with satellite communications capability using the commercial Globalstar service, aimed at the needs of researchers studying migratory birds. A subsequent project phase developed a terrestrial architecture, together with a flexible base station design and prototype tags, to enable investigation of wildlife social interactions.
In the present project phase, we are maturing the tag designs for field deployment, and exploring the unique capabilities of hybrid architectures that use both types of tags. The NASA-designed tags offer unique features and open configurability, to allow easy experimentation and tuning of the device software to optimize performance. We envision future tags as platforms for a range of sensors, that will enable researchers to develop new insights into the environments inhabited by wildlife. Read more in the latest NASA press release.