Development and Calibration of Remote Infrared Thermography of Homeotherm Animals

在马库斯·霍宁博士的指导下，向加尔维斯顿的德克萨斯农工大学授予了一笔赠款，以部分支持卫星数据获取和摄影测量系统的开发。SLiDAP远程成像网络使用通过卫星数据链路传输的数字静止图像，重建单个动物及其群体的虚拟3D模型。开发SLiDAP系统是为了解决对偏远极地地区许多濒临灭绝的海豹和海狮物种的认识上的重大空白。具体地说，关于Steller海狮身体状况和健康的全年趋势的信息对于检验食物丰度或质量下降可能与大量商业捕捞有关的说法是至关重要的，这可能是导致这种濒危物种衰落的原因之一。在这笔新资金下，红外相机将被集成到SLiDAP系统中。红外摄像机将允许用户远程收集单个海狮的准确温度测量结果。红外图像将用于将动物普查工作扩展到弱光条件下，并诊断个别海狮的健康状况。将红外成像整合到现有的SLiDAP系统中，将大大加强测试密集捕捞对日益减少的海洋哺乳动物物种可能产生的影响的努力。为了将红外相机集成到SLiDAP系统中，该系统的几个软件和硬件元素将进行广泛的修改。控制成像系统并允许远程操作的软件将进行调整，以适应新的相机类型。由于目前的设计对红外成像所必需的热辐射不透明，因此玻璃视窗将进行修改，以实现准确的温度测量。该视窗允许相机在相当极端的环境中收集图像。目前的除冰系统是由德克萨斯农工大学海洋工程技术系的本科生开发的，该系统的修改也将由本科生进行。与此同时，乔-安·梅利什博士和她的学生将校准阿拉斯加海洋生物中心保存的海狮个体的红外信号与海狮皮肤下储存的体脂含量之间的关系。这一校准将使人们能够准确估计海狮全年身体状况的变化。除便利收集阿拉斯加快速变化的生态系统中许多动物物种生物学的重要数据外，SLIDAP远程数据收集网络还将开放许多无法进入的区域进行长期科学观测，这些观测目前无法通过其他方式进行。远程温度测量的集成将大大增强SLiDAP网络收集动物及其环境的准确测量的能力。正在计划为SLiDAP网络开发一个基于网络的多用户共享访问控制界面。通过这个接口，SLiDAP资源可以被不同地点的许多不同机构共享。

A grant has been awarded to Texas A&M University at Galveston under the direction of Dr. Markus Horning for partial support of the development the Satellite-linked Data Acquisition and Photogrammetry (SLiDAP) system. The SLiDAP remote imaging network uses digital still pictures transmitted through a satellite data link, to reconstruct virtual 3D models of individual animals and their colonies. The development of the SLiDAP system was initiated to address significant gaps in the knowledge about many declining species of seals and sea lions in remote, polar regions. Specifically, information on year round trends in body condition and health of the Steller sea lion is vital to test the suggestion that a reduction in food abundance or quality, possibly related to extensive commercial fishing, may be contributing to the decline of this endangered species. Under this new funding, infrared cameras will be integrated into the SLiDAP system. Infrared cameras will allow users to remotely collect accurate temperature measurements on individual sea lions. The infrared images will be used to extend animal census operations into low light conditions, and to diagnose the health status of individual sea lions. The integration of infrared imaging into the existing SLiDAP system will be a substantial enhancement of the efforts to test the possible effects intense fishing on a declining marine mammal species. To integrate infrared cameras into the SLiDAP system, several software and hardware elements of the system will be extensively modified. The software that controls the imaging system and allows for remote operations will be adapted to accommodate the new camera type. The glass viewport that allows pictures to be collected by cameras protected from a fairly extreme environment, will be modified to permit accurate temperature measurements, since the current design is not transparent to heat radiation essential to infrared imaging. The current ice removal system was developed by undergraduate students with Texas A&M University's Marine Engineering Technology department, and the revision of the system will also be carried out by undergraduate engineering students. Simultaneously, Dr. Jo-Ann Mellish and her student will calibrate the relationship between infrared signatures of individual sea lions held at the Alaska Sea Life Center, and the extent of body fat stored by the sea lions under their skin. This calibration will permit an accurate estimation of changes in the sea lions' body condition throughout the year. The SLIDAP remote data collection network will open many inaccessible regions for long-term scientific observations that currently cannot be performed by other means, in addition to facilitating the collection of vital data on the biology of many animals species in a rapidly changing Alaskan ecosystem. The integration of remote temperature measurements will be a significant enhancement of the ability of the SLiDAP network to collect accurate measurements from animals and their environment. The development of a web-based multi-user shared access control interface for the SLiDAP network is being planned. Through this interface, the SLiDAP resource can be shared by many different institutions in different locations.