Overview:
A yet2 client is looking for state-of-the-art whale detection and monitoring technologies that can provide real-time information on the location and behaviour of whales across a wide area.
Primary focus of the TechNeed is on large baleen whales (low-frequency cetaceans) but there is interest in toothed whales (high-frequency cetaceans).
Background:
Companies operating in the offshore environment generally try to minimize any adverse environmental impact from their operations, which includes eliminating or minimizing anthropogenic underwater noise disturbance to sea life. In order to ensure that whales in particular, are not impacted, it is important to know when and what they are doing in the vicinity, or soon to enter the vicinity of operations. Improved technologies for their detection and monitoring are being sought for remote, offshore environments and technologies providing real-time data, reasonable cost (installation and ongoing operations), high detection rates and other factors.
Solutions will:
- Detect presence of nearby whales (range, depth) across a wide area (5-10 km radii and beyond if proven)
- Information must be available in ‘real-time’ or ‘near to’ (within 10s of minutes)
- Be able to work in very remote locations, unmanned
- Potential to identify whale species and behaviour
- Not wholly dependent on vocalisation by whales as the only method of detection
Possible Solution Areas:
- Acoustic monitoring
- Visual monitoring
- Infra-red thermal monitoring
- Drones
- ROV
- Radar
- Satellite
- AI data analysis
- Prediction / modelling
Desired outcome of the solution:
Looking for partners to develop the solution. Short-, medium- and long-term partners considered.
Related Tech Needs:
- Seeking: Scent Detection of Invasive Dreissenid Mussel Veligers
- Seeking: Debris Mitigation and Removal for Dams
- Seeking: Software for Real-time Geo-referencing of Aerial Video
