Authors
Emmanuel de Margerie, Manon Simonneau, Jean-Pierre Caudal, Cecilia Houdelier, Sophie Lumineau
Publication date
2015/8/1
Journal
The Journal of Experimental Biology
Volume
218
Issue
16
Pages
2496-2504
Publisher
The Company of Biologists
Description
We describe a method for tracking the path of animals in the field, based on stereo videography and aiming-angle measurements, combined in a single, rotational device. In open environments, this technique has the potential to extract multiple 3D positions per second, with a spatial uncertainty of <1 m (rms) within 300 m of the observer, and <0.1 m (rms) within 100 m of the observer, in all directions. The tracking device is transportable and operated by a single observer, and does not involve any animal tagging. As a video of the moving animal is recorded, track data can easily be completed with behavioural data. We present a prototype device based on accessible components that achieves about 70% of the theoretical maximal range. We show examples of bird ground and flight tracks, and discuss the strengths and limits of the method, compared with existing fine-scale (e.g. fixed-camera stereo …
Total citations
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Scholar articles
E de Margerie, M Simonneau, JP Caudal, C Houdelier… - The Journal of Experimental Biology, 2015