The Satellite-Linked Data Acquisition and Photogrammetry System (SLiDAP): Assessment of seasonal and individual Steller sea lion body condition and population trends.

Summary | Background | Concept | Objectives | Hypotheses | Update | Literature

The SLiDAP project has two components, the technical development component and the research component.

The SLiDAP Technical Development Project

This portion of the project has been completed. The goal of the SLiDAP technical development project was the design and implementation of a local area imaging network for polar regions that is remotely accessible via satellite high-speed data link. The SLiDAP network is described in:

Plankis, B., M. Horning, N. Ponto and L. Brown. 2007. Designing a dependable and fault-tolerant semiautonomous distributed cotrol data collection network with opportunistic hierarchy. IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering. 32(2): 400-407. 

The primary purpose of this imaging network is the performance of close-range 3-D photogrammetry for the remote determination of accurate spatial dimensions. By incorporating 3-D photogrammetry into the imaging system, we are transforming remote, close-range imaging from a simple observational tool into a sophisticated quantitative tool for the accurate assessment of biological and physical systems in extreme environments. In a novel approach, we are using remote 3-D photogrammetry to significantly increase temporal resolution and numerical accuracy of remote census operations.  This will determine the age structure within pinniped rookeries through measurements of animals' length and use photogrammetric volume determinations as estimators of body mass. The 3-D photogrammetric techniques have been validated by our laboratories as described in:

 Waite, J., W. Schrader, J. Mellish and M. Horning. 2007. Three-dimensional photogrammetry as a tool for estimating morphometrics and body mass of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus). Canadian Journal of Fiheries & Aquatic Sciences. 64: 296-303.

The SLiDAP Research Project

We are refining the photogrammetric remote estimation of body mass and condition of Steller sea lions using wild animals temporarily held at the Alaska Sea Life Center. We will install remote SLiDAP systems at multiple locations in Alaska and along the Pacific Northwest coast. We will use these SLiDAP systems to collect detailed, year-round census data. We will estimate by 3-D photogrammetry the body mass and condition trends at monitoring locations, both cross-sectional and longitudinal, throughout the year. This project is led by the Pinniped Ecology Applied Research Laboratory, in cooperation with the National Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMML) and the Alaska Sea Life Center (ASLC), bringing together leading academic research and marine resource management laboratories, as well as the industry leaders in telemetry and photogrammetry. Our development and research efforts are designed to enhance basic biological research as well as marine ecosystem management.

The SLiDAP Project has received support from:

The National Science Foundation
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service
The Alaska SeaLife Center

This research is carried out under NMFS Permit numbers 881-1668 and 1034-1887.