The flight demonstration project with the Silver Fox will include instruments for observing and counting shallow subsurface features, surface features, living resources, and vessels. The Silver Fox UAS will use an Electro-Optical Infrared (EO/IR) Sensor to determine to what extent these operational needs could be met in future UAS flights. The demonstration will focus on the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of Upolu Point, on the Island of Hawaii, HI. The EO/IR system may also be assessed for its ability to conduct day and night fisheries surveillance and enforcement, and selected marine mammal surveys.
Table 1. Silver Fox Instrument Package
|
Operational Sensors |
Optical Camera System |
CCD Video camera |
Surveillance, monitoring and counting |
Electro-Optical Infrared sensor (EO/IR) |
Visible and infrared sensors with pointing capability |
Searching and observing |
Understanding that it would be impractical to attempt to address all the potential uses of this system in a demonstration project, the following subset of capabilities are proposed for the initial effort:
- documentation of number, location, and type of ships and boats at sea;
- assessment of detection limits for marine debris (e.g., minimum size of entanglement on a marine mammal);
- remote detection and counting of humpback whales on the ocean surface;
- mapping of shallow water habitats; and
- mapping of plumes at sea.
Humpback Observations:
All observations will be made from above 300m (1000 feet), except during takeoff and landing, or when fortuitous encounters occur during operations not focused on humpbacks. Flyovers will be conducted in areas know to contain humpback whales. Initial operations will involve determining the quality of observations of individuals (adults and calves) from these altitudes, and whether particular behaviors can be identified and monitored (e.g., holding position over a surface active group.) In order to locate whales offshore, shore-based observers with binoculars may report the general locations of whales in order to direct the aircraft.
If this pilot effort suggests that lower altitudes are required to make definitive observations of whales and behaviors, future efforts will be designed to conduct such evaluations. If the video observations prove satisfactory, the aircraft will be flown on transects in order to determine the conditions under which systematic surveys might be conducted. The aircraft will navigate calm, choppy, and wind-blown waters in order to begin to assess effectiveness under differing conditions. Although ground truthing may not be available, it should be possible to assess the uncertainty with which observations suggest whales and the extent to which behaviors can be distinguished. If possible, an operation using the IR camera should be conducted in order to evaluate the possibility of detecting warm blooded animals at the sea surface.
Vessels:
Overflights of areas with vessels will be made in order to determine how well the aircraft detects vessel number, size, and type from differing altitudes. Shore-based and/or boat-based observers will provide ground-truthing, if possible. Small boat harbors, if available, would provide a good opportunity to collect information that could be verified. The effectiveness of the IR camera in detecting vessels should also be evaluated.
Marine Debris:
If a small boat is available, it should be possible to secure a collection of marine debris in order to evaluate the systems ability to detect various types and sizes of debris. The boat would simply trail the debris very slowly, or sit idling, while the aircraft flies over at several altitudes. As part of the test, a series of trailing lines in decreasing densities would allow operators to judge how well entangled whales could be detected from the air.
Benthic Mapping:
We will attempt to delineate nearshore habitats from several altitudes and in differing weather (wind), sea state, and water clarity conditions. Snorkelers will provide ground-truthing, if safe and appropriate. Flyovers will be conducted first, and snorkelers will be sent to specific sites to determine habitat types and depths.
Plume Mapping:
Any plumes from discharges, blooms, convergence, or wind stress seen from the air or shore will be imaged. If a small boat is available, it will be sent to the plume to provide scale for measurements. Flyovers from different directions will be conducted in order to ascertain the best camera angles for detection.
Support Requirements:
Some of these evaluations would be best accomplished with the deployment of at least one support boat. In such cases, observations would be ground-truthed, with instructions sent from shore-based operators to vessel crews. The vessel would not need to venture out of sight of the shore crew. Shore-based crews may be deployed temporarily to high ground in order to spot whales, boats, and plumes, or to nearshore habitats to assess types and depths of habitats imaged by the aircraft. They will use hand held VHF radios or cell phones to communicate with aircraft operators and boat crews.
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