Developing Tools to Track Vocalizing Marine Mammals with Long Baseline Hydrophone Arrays

The scope of this project is to use acoustic data from long-baseline arrays of hydrophones to detect, locate, and track marine mammals based on their vocalization. Specifically, the project aims to assess methods and develop automated tracking algorithms that provide accurate results for individual signals, and a maximum of flexibility regarding the channel, array, and signal characteristics. In cooperation with our industry partners — WWF-Canada, the Gitga’at First Nation, and the North Coast Cetacean Society — we will use the results to analyze the detailed movement pattern for a broad range of vocalizing marine mammals and their interdependency with human activities, such as ship traffic. The work will be conducted for the culturally, ecologically, and economically important marine environment around Gil Island in northern British Columbia and will make use of the sophisticated hydrophone array installed in Squally Channel. At this point, efficient, widely applicable tools for automated transient signal tracking do not exist for civilian long baseline hydrophone arrays, despite the high demand from industry, research, and government. The applications for such tracking tools range from facilitating port security to studies of marine habitat usage, or tracking species at risk.

Faculty Supervisor:

Aaron Gulliver

Student:

Benjamin Hendricks

Partner:

World Wildlife Fund

Discipline:

Engineering - computer / electrical

Sector:

Environmental industry

University:

University of Victoria