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Review of Satellite Remote Sensing and Unoccupied Aircraft Systems for Counting Wildlife on Land

Publication ,  Journal Article
Attard, MRG; Phillips, RA; Bowler, E; Clarke, PJ; Cubaynes, H; Johnston, DW; Fretwell, PT
Published in: Remote Sensing
February 1, 2024

Although many medium-to-large terrestrial vertebrates are still counted by ground or aerial surveys, remote-sensing technologies and image analysis have developed rapidly in recent decades, offering improved accuracy and repeatability, lower costs, speed, expanded spatial coverage and increased potential for public involvement. This review provides an introduction for wildlife biologists and managers relatively new to the field on how to implement remote-sensing techniques (satellite and unoccupied aircraft systems) for counting large vertebrates on land, including marine predators that return to land to breed, haul out or roost, to encourage wider application of these technological solutions. We outline the entire process, including the selection of the most appropriate technology, indicative costs, procedures for image acquisition and processing, observer training and annotation, automation, and citizen science campaigns. The review considers both the potential and the challenges associated with different approaches to remote surveys of vertebrates and outlines promising avenues for future research and method development.

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Published In

Remote Sensing

DOI

EISSN

2072-4292

Publication Date

February 1, 2024

Volume

16

Issue

4

Related Subject Headings

  • 4013 Geomatic engineering
  • 3709 Physical geography and environmental geoscience
  • 3701 Atmospheric sciences
  • 0909 Geomatic Engineering
  • 0406 Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience
  • 0203 Classical Physics
 

Citation

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Attard, M. R. G., Phillips, R. A., Bowler, E., Clarke, P. J., Cubaynes, H., Johnston, D. W., & Fretwell, P. T. (2024). Review of Satellite Remote Sensing and Unoccupied Aircraft Systems for Counting Wildlife on Land. Remote Sensing, 16(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16040627
Attard, M. R. G., R. A. Phillips, E. Bowler, P. J. Clarke, H. Cubaynes, D. W. Johnston, and P. T. Fretwell. “Review of Satellite Remote Sensing and Unoccupied Aircraft Systems for Counting Wildlife on Land.” Remote Sensing 16, no. 4 (February 1, 2024). https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16040627.
Attard MRG, Phillips RA, Bowler E, Clarke PJ, Cubaynes H, Johnston DW, et al. Review of Satellite Remote Sensing and Unoccupied Aircraft Systems for Counting Wildlife on Land. Remote Sensing. 2024 Feb 1;16(4).
Attard, M. R. G., et al. “Review of Satellite Remote Sensing and Unoccupied Aircraft Systems for Counting Wildlife on Land.” Remote Sensing, vol. 16, no. 4, Feb. 2024. Scopus, doi:10.3390/rs16040627.
Attard MRG, Phillips RA, Bowler E, Clarke PJ, Cubaynes H, Johnston DW, Fretwell PT. Review of Satellite Remote Sensing and Unoccupied Aircraft Systems for Counting Wildlife on Land. Remote Sensing. 2024 Feb 1;16(4).

Published In

Remote Sensing

DOI

EISSN

2072-4292

Publication Date

February 1, 2024

Volume

16

Issue

4

Related Subject Headings

  • 4013 Geomatic engineering
  • 3709 Physical geography and environmental geoscience
  • 3701 Atmospheric sciences
  • 0909 Geomatic Engineering
  • 0406 Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience
  • 0203 Classical Physics