Drones and Thermal Tech in Action

If you've been following our blog, you might remember a previous post introducing Angela, who is working on thermal imaging technology to monitor seals in the Ythan Estuary.

Recently, she ran another trial on the beach, continuing her efforts to optimize the deployment setup. During this trial, we teamed up to assist her with the calibration process. Angela's thermal imaging is effective at detecting seals when they're hauled out, but due to the seals gathering closely together, distinguishing individual seals becomes a challenge.

In the images above, the left one shows a smaller, tightly packed group, while the right shows a larger, more dispersed group. (Thermal image credit: Angela Amlin)

To help with this, my drone images provided a count of individuals and a clearer view of the haulout's density and shape. She hopes to use this data to help calibrate the heat images in her camera. During Angela's visit, the seals were cooperative, forming two distinct groups: a smaller group of 136 seals, which gathered closer to the camera, and a larger group of 599 seals, which spread out further along the shoreline.

Above photo shows the two seal groups from the drone perspective. The drone photos were taken under licensed research usage as permitted by NatureScot. (Aerial image credit Claire Stainfield)

This collaboration between drone and thermal imaging technologies is showing promising potential for enhancing seal monitoring techniques. With each trial, we're gaining valuable insights that could lead to a better understanding of the colony of grey seals at the Ythan. As we continue refining our approach, we’re optimistic that this work may contribute to improved technological advancements of monitoring for grey seal haul-outs.

Find out more about Angela's research on the dedicated project page "Studying Seals with Static Sensors".

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