Spy out to Protect: Sensing Devices for Wildlife Virtual Fencing

Rita Anastácio,Sérgio Cardoso,Mário Jorge Pereira

doi:10.4236/oje.2018.83013

Abstract

To avoid wildlife-human conflict several solutions are used, like electrical fences, the most expensive solution. Nowadays, technology enables alternative and cheaper approaches for conservation projects. A technological device was developed to detect elephants, moving on their habitat, and predict and react by avoiding confrontation with man. The devices were tested in field experiments, and proved to be efficient in capturing floor vibration, and air-sound signals. Collected data also enabled the estimation of the vibration-source by calculus (using triangulation), revealing the importance of the methodology for real-time location and tracking of high mass animals (e.g. elephants). Building up a mesh of devices, separated 25 m from each other, is estimated as possible to monitor and identify different animals (by discriminating patterns) in an area, like a virtual fencing system. Though the devices may be effective for animal behaviour research, or even animal communication analysis, or other Biology field, other applications outside Biology are possible for them, like monitoring of: rock-falling, micro seismic railway, infrastructures, and people movements.

Highlights

The purpose for using a vibration sensor is related with its specifications and application
Seismologists classify seismic events by its magnitude [11] and energy signals from a typical seismic event can be captured by classical geophones, but microseismic events (M < 0 - 2), which result from weak natural tectonic motions or are induced by man-made changes on the surface of the earth [12], can be captured by other type of technologies, not so expensive
The field trials conducted with these prototype sensors shown that we can locate the vibration source with an error below 5%

Summary

Introduction

The purpose for using a vibration sensor is related with its specifications and application. For example, are generally used as ground sensors in seismic studies [1] [2] [3] [4], and can be used to detect elephant. Liang and Lin (2013) [9] in their paper about ground vibrations generated by the impact of rocks upon the ground, refer that microphones, seismometers, geophones, accelerometers, hydrophones and fiber-optic sensors are viable technologies to detect ground-vibrations. Ground-vibrations can be produced by a walking being, or by an earthquake, or by rocks free falling from a cliff. Seismologists classify seismic events by its magnitude [11] and energy signals from a typical seismic event can be captured by classical geophones, but microseismic events (M < 0 - 2), which result from weak natural tectonic motions or are induced by man-made changes on the surface of the earth [12], can be captured by other type of technologies, not so expensive

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