Sensors already equip a range of tools to enhance monitoring capacity for conservation. Some of the higher bandwidth technologies, like camera traps and acoustic monitoring systems, have been essential elements of the conservation toolkit for decades, and thus have enough users that we've created dedicated WILDLABS groups to address them. But a whole range of lower bandwidth sensors beyond these core technologies are being increasingly integrated into conservation monitoring systems, and offer rich new insights into the wildlife and ecosystems we're all working to protect. As with many technologies, cost and access have historically been challenges to the adoption of new sensors, but with low-cost and open-source solutions on the rise, we're excited to see what the future of this space holds.
Getting Started with Sensors:
- Watch Shah Selbe's Tech Tutors episode on scaling FieldKit, an open-source conservation sensor toolbox, from a project to a successful conservation tech product.
- Check out our Virtual Meetup about Low-Cost, Open-Source Solutions in conservation tech, including a talk by Alasdair Davies on the Arribada Initiative's work with thermal sensors in early warning systems.
- For a more in-depth introduction, watch the first video in our datalogger mini-series: Freaklabs: How do I get started with Arduino?
In this group, you'll meet others who are using and innovating diverse sensors in their work, discuss ways to make sensors more effective & accessible for conservationists, learn about what sensors are already helping us accomplish in the field, and have the opportunity to ask and answer questions. Join this group to get started!
Header image: Emma Vogel, University of Tromsø
- @Mauricio_Akmentins
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National Scientific and Technical Research Council of Argentina (CONICET)
Herpetologist and conservationist, focused on the conservation of the endemic and threatened amphibian species of NW Argentina.
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Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
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- @YvanSG
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Clemson University
Seabird ecologist at Clemson University, South Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. Co-chair of Caribbean Seabird Working Group.
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Prof at NC State University and Scientist at NC Museum of Natural Sciences
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I'm a Mechanical Engineer and I have been involved in test and measurement, IT maintenance consulting, database development, field installation, field maintenance, systems analysis, theater composition and an active synthesist. Currently engaged in conservation volunteer work
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- @tutgut5
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- @NevilleCLS
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CLS (Collecte Localisation Satellites)
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Cornell University
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Smart Parks
Founder of Smart Parks - www.smartparks.org / Founder of OpenCollar - https://opencollar.io
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- @tmcgrath
- | He / Him
Geographer, Program Manager, Engineering Manager
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Description | Activity | Replies | Groups | Updated |
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Although this article focuses on agriculture in Australia, a lot of the IoT principles that are being used can also possibly be used for... |
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Sensors | 5 years 1 month ago | |
Sounds great! |
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Sensors | 5 years 1 month ago | |
We've also put together a variation on the wireless datalogger. We've found it extremely useful for us in other projects, especially in developing countries without... |
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Sensors | 5 years 2 months ago | |
FYI: we included instructions in English: https://github.com/SensingClues/OpenEars |
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Sensors | 5 years 2 months ago | |
FYI, the open source camera trap part of this thread has moved here: https://www.wildlabs.net/community/thread/694 |
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Sensors | 5 years 2 months ago | |
The talk is really interesting and I agree that it's important to think about the bigger issues of the world and then use technology as just one of the tools to try and tackle... |
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Sensors | 5 years 2 months ago | |
Hi everyone. Excited to be part of this group especially since IoT can pretty much trace it's roots to wildlife monitoring. I've... |
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Sensors | 5 years 2 months ago | |
Will your startup be involved in sensor networks for conservation? I'm very interested. Currently we create sensor networks for developmental infrastructure and agriculture... |
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Sensors | 5 years 2 months ago | |
Hi everyone. I'm Akiba and I'm an engineer by trade specializing in wireless sensor networks and communications. I generally work with groups like World Bank on... |
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Sensors | 5 years 2 months ago | |
Subcutaneous pittags that also read temperature (frustratingly) read only a limited range of temperatures - however, I hear that can be... |
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Sensors | 5 years 3 months ago | |
Hi Ted, This is all very interesting. The solution you describe seems eminently doable and in fact quite cheap. So doable and cheap that it may behoove one to... |
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Sensors | 5 years 4 months ago | |
Yes, I agree it's a tough problem - i'm certainly stumped ;) but thanks so much for your reply and counter question - the goal is to find these gillnets and... |
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Sensors | 5 years 6 months ago |
3yr Postdoctoral Associate: Remote Sensing and Unoccupied Aircraft Systems
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Sulcata tortoise tracker options
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CERES TAG
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The battery challenge - how to reduce battery waste
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15 July 2022 10:09pm
So-called "Li-Ion AA" batteries are a potential alternative to NiMH for applications requiring AA form-factor batteries. These "batteries" contain internal power converter to go from Li-Ion cell voltage (3.7V) to AA standard 1.5 Volt. Based on lab (not field) experiments, they perform better than NiMH over temperature, and have a longer lifetime, though they are more expensive. I suspect they have the same (eventual) disposal issues.
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I report on capacities of EBL, Pownergy, and Tenavolts rechargeable Li-Ion AA batteries under trail camera load and temperature conditions.
Winterberry WildlifeTrail Camera Batteries: Internal AA-Cell Options - Winterberry Wildlife
Trail cameras need power. In this post, I cover primary and rechargeable trail camera batteries including capacities and a selection guide.
Winterberry Wildlife15 July 2022 10:16pm
On the topic of potential sources for harvested power, and in the category of "out there"... I have spent some considerable (likely too much) time exploring harvesting power from diurnal temperature variation using thermal reservoir(s) and thermo-electric generator(s). The physics is not too bad, but the engineering is a bear. Project currently on hold, but if someone is interested, happy to discuss.
Earth Species Project - Senior AI Research Scientist
15 July 2022 6:40pm
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A Triphibian Surveillance Vehicle
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Conservation Technology and the Supply Chain
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Join Seeed’s “IoT Into the Wild Contest for Sustainable Planet 2022” on Hackster to Get 100 Free Hardware and to Win $14,000+ in Prizes!!
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Join Seeed’s “IoT Into the Wild Contest for Sustainable Planet 2022” on Hackster to Get 100 Free Hardware and to Win $14,000+ in Prizes!!!
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Video: Delivering edge computing on Robinson Crusoe Island (Chile) to preserve biodiversity
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Nutrient sensors - affordable, user-friendly, effective - do they exist?
26 April 2022 12:49pm
6 May 2022 7:08pm
Hi Samantha,
This looks like a really interesting and beneficial project. Wishing you all the best with it.
Are you scouting for sensors that are archival and deployed / recovered over set period of time, or do you need telemetry / daily / hourly data to monitor change from tethered buoys etc? We are working on a similar solution with another partner, although not with microfuid-based sensors, but there are similar barriers regarding cost reduction and data collection.
Kind regards,
Alasdair
12 May 2022 3:43pm
It sounds like you're looking for multiparameter probes to deploy in the water to log in situ readings as part of the baseline you want to establish, and you might be deploying BRUVs, doing video transects, or taking soundscapes in addition, if I'm not too far off the mark.
The multiparameter probes will run you around USD10k each, kitted for let's say pH, conductivity, DO, turbidity, nitrate, and temperature. If you can rent these probes and the manpower to run them, that may be the best option if local expertise is lacking, as there are subtle gotchas. You might want to look into an automatic winched system which raises and lowers the probe, so you get readings throughout the whole water column. This may not be much more expensive than having 3 probes (at surface, bottom, and mid-depth). Other advantages include reduced biofouling (since the probe parks in air) and potentially reduced maintenance load due to this. But the disadvantages include fishers tying up to the system and boats colliding with it, and birds pooping on it, all of which have happened to me.
4 June 2022 7:55pm
What exact nutrients or parameters are you trying to measure?
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UCL East Light Fabrication Workshop Manager
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Join the Black Mammalogists Week Hackathon!
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Spotting primates w/ thermal scope
7 April 2021 1:33am
14 April 2021 2:02pm
Thanks, Carly. I did see this and didn't glean much from it, if I'm honest. Some more specifics on features, prices and tradeoffs when selecting a unit would've been welcome.
14 April 2021 8:42pm
Yeah, it did seem fairly general, but figured I'd throw it in.
I just actually came across this on Twitter - https://twitter.com/ElieDoesEcology/status/1380708784050331651?s=20. Perhaps worth shooting the authors of this paper an email on what tech they used/any advice?
4 April 2022 3:02pm
Iray PH35. like a DV . thermal camera. 640*328,35mm. could make videos. 2400 USD, china product, easy ship to Vietnam.
1km is the range to check monkeys, It is better to connect with your laptop or iPad when you are looking for wildlife, big screen for a good view.
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Opportunity: Graphic Designer
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Scale with data logger
7 January 2022 4:25pm
18 January 2022 1:23pm
Hi,
Can you clarify what you mean by "does not work"?
If I were to guess, I'd say the firmware temperature compensation tables for the load cell tops out at 40 deg C (104 deg F). Everything else should still function to 70 deg C, which is the most common and most lax rating for electronic components.
If this is the case, then the scale probably still retains precision (output is repeatable) even if it is inaccurate (output is wrong-ish), so it's possible to calibrate it. This could be as simple as tabulating the measured weights of standard weight samples at different temperatures, to adjust the output of your scale in post processing. Unfortunately this means you also need to log the temperature, and you'd want to store the scale at close to ambient temperature so it quickly equilibrates (a good idea regardless) when you need to use it.
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Choosing the right IoT connectivity solution
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ECG/heart rate & body temperature sensor
13 October 2021 4:43pm
15 October 2021 9:51am
Hi Guy,
Sparkfun carry an ECG module, but I don't know if this will work with sheep/goats. They've got lots of temperature sensors too, but I would look into something like MAX30205 if you need accuracy.
5 November 2021 6:28pm
Do you mean the sensor itself (that you're going make a tag out of) or a datalogger that records heart rate (sensor incoporated into a tag already)? Vectronic make some good terrestrial animal physiological sensors.
(trial) Habitat use within enclosure
5 November 2021 2:20pm
Proximity detection in koalas
12 August 2021 8:20am
24 October 2021 4:45pm
A great proximity system you've developed @LuciKirkpatrick ! Amazing! I am curious how you deal with having tags in receive mode long enough to ensure a contact is logged? What's the chances of a contact being missed because a transmission doesn't overlap with a receiver being on? It seems like not very often given the comparison with camera trap data!
Thanks so much for sharing and looking forward to reading more about the build.
Cheers,
Rob
4 November 2021 9:15am
Hi @Rob+Appleby , thanks for your kind words about our system! We ge around this by ensuring that the tag is in receive mode at least as long as the pause between two proximity transmissions. There is still the odd chance that some interference occurs or two or more transmissions collide, but generally it is pretty reliable.
4 November 2021 12:26pm
Hi @LuciKirkpatrick
Aha! A great strategy. I thought it might have been a 'wake on radio' solution, but the overlapping wait time is a really nice solution. Again, a great solution and looking forward to more build details etc., as they arrive.
All the best,
Rob
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Tech Tutors: How do I turn a conservation tech project into a product?
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Technical Difficulties: Expect the Unexpected
27 October 2021 12:00am
29 June 2022 8:47pm
Realizing I'm hopping onto this thread late, but I think one of the easiest ways to handle batteries is simply to work to minimize energy consumption--identify areas where we can improve deployment duration while generating comparable ecological knowledge. For example, in the case of the acoustic sensors I work with, can we reduce sample rates and still pick up our species of interest? Can we use a sparser duty cycle while still generating sufficient information to answer whatever our relevant questions are?