PhD
PhD by Research
Our PhD by research programme is based on independent study, guided by your assigned supervisors and support system. It typically [...]
Tridimeter Bat Location Apparatus
Research Project Overview
This research contributes to the understanding of echolocating bats, which serve as vital indicators of environmental health. In recent years, global bat populations have been in serious decline especially in Gibraltar.
Bats play a crucial role in our ecosystems by controlling insect populations and facilitating pollination processes. By advancing bat detection technology to accurately track their movements in the dark, this research study enhances knowledge and aims to equip ecologists with a better tool to monitor bat behaviour and habitats, thereby supporting conservation efforts.
Understanding how bats interact with their environments can inform strategies to preserve their populations and the ecosystems they inhabit, ultimately contributing to biodiversity and ecological stability.
Project Team
Project lead: Mr Rob Chandler
Supervisors: Dr Darren Fa (Primary Supervisor) and Prof Mauro Taiuti (Secondary Supervisor, University of Genoa)
Funding
- HM Government of Gibraltar
- Friends of Gibraltar Heritage Society (FOGHS)
Significance of the research
This PhD research is significant for three main reasons:
- Firstly, this experimental research contributes to the understanding of echolocating bats, which serve as vital bioindicators of the local environmental health.
- Secondly, a novel prototype bat location apparatus was devised to accurately track the high speed and often erratic bat trajectories in the dark. The logged 3D data set output is both small and efficient compared to the previous audio recording techniques.
- The third novel aspect was a high-speed real time data display to enable 3D bat trajectories to be plotted in near real time. Live location data enhances the user experience and reduces the post processing of massive audio files.
Real time 3D point cloud
Open Field Functional Tests
Research methods
The conventional method for detecting echolocating bats typically involves using a handheld bat detector to convert ultrasonic bat vocalizations (ranging from 15 kHz to over 100 kHz) into the human audio range (below 20 kHz). No bat location information is provided unless an array of sensors are employed.
This research included the novel development of an omni-directional bat location device known as a ‘Tridimeter’ that was capable of tracking bat movements in three dimensions. The Tridimeter apparatus was able to determine the Azimuth, Elevation and Distance to an ultrasonic sound source in near real time using a novel a microphone array and a fast geometric processing algorithm.
This experimental research was performed in three important phases. The initial laboratory investigations used an automated rotating table to develop the near real time data processing algorithm with a 360° field of view. Different microphone array geometries were then functionally tested in open field conditions to verify the lab results and findings.
The final Tridimeter system configuration and sensor geometry was then used in the field recording bats emerging from their roost at sunset.
The main aim was to create a more portable, low-power, faster, cheaper, and user-friendly apparatus compared to existing bespoke devices. This approach promises to advance the current methodologies used in bat detection and give ecologists a useful field tool to monitor their local environment.
Lab Testing with rotating table
Project Collaborators
This research project was funded by the HM Government of Gibraltar. A bursary from the Friends of Gibraltar Heritage Society (FOGHS) was also awarded to assist in attending UK bat conferences and access to the IEEE online library at Leeds University.
Relevance to the wider community
Raising awareness about the importance of bats in a local community is important and biodiversity is both a global and local issue.
Small bats devour over 2000 mosquitos per nights keeping insect populations under control. Recent warnings about the increase in mosquito born infections spreading from Africa are a real issue in Gibraltar.
LED street lighting may save energy but inadvertently no longer attract insects due to the reduced light spectrum. This reduces the insect feeding opportunities for bats.
By demonstrating innovative methods for tracking wildlife, the research can inspire similar studies on other species, fostering a greater understanding of ecological interplay and the health of various environments. This has the potential to enhance community engagement in environmental stewardship and conservation practices
Tridimeter Marine Configuration ( Future Work)
Pathways to impact
The implications of this research extend beyond the study of bats and in the future may include, insects, birds or even cetaceans such as dolphins in the sea. Collaboration with conservation organisations and researchers can facilitate the implementation of this technology in real-world scenarios, ultimately leading to improved wildlife management practices and more effective biodiversity conservation efforts.
Automated audio recordings with microphone arrays with AI species recognition are starting to become more available to ecologists. In the future this research adds near real time sound location to the very rich environmental audio data mix.
Swapping array microphones in air with hydrophones in water research would also greatly enhance the sound detection range. The Tridimeter monitoring technique may also be capable of detecting and 3D tracking cetaceans under the water.
The further development of the high-speed location algorithm devised during this research also has other possible applications in the electromagnetic spectrum in passive radar systems and drone detection.
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