Development and Calibration of Remote Infrared Thermography of Homeotherm Animals

在Markus Horning博士的指导下，位于加尔维斯顿的德克萨斯农工大学获得了一笔拨款，用于部分支持卫星连接数据采集和摄影测量（SLiDAP）系统的开发。SLiDAP远程成像网络使用通过卫星数据链传输的数字静止图像，重建单个动物及其种群的虚拟3D模型。SLiDAP系统的开发是为了解决人们对偏远极地地区海豹和海狮物种数量下降的认识上的重大空白。具体地说，关于虎头海狮身体状况和健康的全年趋势的信息对于验证可能与广泛的商业捕鱼有关的食物丰度或质量的减少可能导致这一濒危物种数量下降的建议至关重要。根据这笔新资金，红外摄像机将集成到SLiDAP系统中。红外摄像机将允许用户远程收集单个海狮的精确温度测量值。红外图像将用于将动物普查工作扩展到弱光条件下，并诊断单个海狮的健康状况。将红外成像纳入现有的SLiDAP系统将大大加强测试密集捕鱼对日益减少的海洋哺乳动物物种可能产生的影响的努力。为了将红外摄像机集成到SLiDAP系统中，系统的几个软件和硬件元素将被广泛修改。控制成像系统和允许远程操作的软件将适应新的相机类型。由于目前的设计对红外成像所必需的热辐射不透明，因此将对玻璃视口进行修改，以允许精确的温度测量。目前的除冰系统是由德州农工大学海洋工程技术系的本科生开发的，该系统的修订也将由工程专业的本科生进行。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脂肪之间的关系。这种校正可以准确估计海狮全年身体状况的变化。SLIDAP远程数据收集网络将为目前无法通过其他方式进行的长期科学观测打开许多无法进入的区域，此外还有助于收集关于快速变化的阿拉斯加生态系统中许多动物物种的重要生物学数据。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精确测量数据的能力。正在计划为SLiDAP网络开发基于web的多用户共享访问控制接口。通过这个接口，SLiDAP资源可以由位于不同位置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.