I-Game 2 - Development of an Integrated Telemetry System for Game Management in Matters of Traffic Security, Protection Forest and Private Forest Based on Navigation, Communication, Remote Sensing and GIS Methods – Phase 2

Current wildlife telemetry systems by means of bearing transmitters have the disadvantage to disturb the animal’s behaviour and to be time-consuming. Newly developed systems based on GPS and GSM technology actually have a relatively low data rate due to a restricted energy supply.

Therefore, a telemetry system based on GPS and GSM technology has been developed which allows a generally higher data rate due to additional energy generation on the animal. Furthermore, it enables the flexible adjustment of the data rate to external conditions such as weather and actual whereabouts of the animal. A camera mounted on the telemetry collar provides additional significant information on the animal’s behaviour.

An initial feasibility study has shown that in principle the proposed long-term wildlife monitoring system is practicable. The second phase of the project was dedicated to the detailed specification and configuration of the telemetry system up to a beta-test.

User requirements concerning the features of the telemetry collar as well as the GIS analysis of the acquired data were transformed to technical user specifications in order to integrate appropriate hardware and software components.

Extensive testing comprised the energy consumption of each single hardware component, as it is a crucial factor of the telemetry system. Especially the necessary settings for the GPS device were investigated in detail with a series of start-up tests. Energy application of flexible solar panels mounted on the telemetry collar has been determined in a fence test. Based on the outcome of these analyses the final system layout was established. Three telemetry collars were manufactured and mounted on red deer for a long-term beta test.

Concurrently, a GIS system was designed in order to analyse the data acquired as well as to visualise the results achieved. It is realised in a web GIS application which may be operated in any internet browser with appropriate access information.

Innovative aspects, like power supply by solar panels and fuzzy or interactive adjusting of the system present a major improvement to common telemetry systems and thus meet the requirements of the users.

Coordinator

JOANNEUM RESEARCH Forschungsgesellschaft mbH, DIGITAL - Institute for Information and Communication Technologies, Remote Sensing and Geoinformation - Prof. Mathias Schardt

Partners

Wildökologische Waldwirtschaftliche Naturräumliche, Planung & Beratung - Martin Forstner

JOANNEUM RESEARCH Forschungsgesellschaft mbH, DIGITAL - Institute for Information and Communication Technologies, Remote Sensing and Geoinformation
Wastiangasse 6
A-8010 Graz
Prof. Mathias Schardt
Tel.: +43 (316) 876 1754
Fax: +43 (316) 876 1720
E-mail: mathias.schardt@joanneum.at
Web: www.joanneum.at