Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/R014884/1
Novel low-cost methods for marine mammal and environmental monitoring
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor P Berggren, Newcastle University, Sch of Natural & Environmental Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor PM James, Newcastle University, Sch of Engineering
- Co-Investigator:
- Mr JA Neasham, Newcastle University, Sch of Engineering
- Grant held at:
- Newcastle University, Sch of Natural & Environmental Sciences
- Science Area:
- Marine
- Overall Classification:
- Unknown
- ENRIs:
- Biodiversity
- Natural Resource Management
- Science Topics:
- Conservation Ecology
- Population Ecology
- Environmental assessment
- Spatial Planning
- Survey & Monitoring
- Abstract:
- The UK is rapidly entering a phase where the majority of its energy comes from renewable resources. However, to maintain this push towards green energy providers will need to find more sites to generate power. In recent years there have been moves towards using offshore wind generation instead of onshore wind farms. Whilst offshore wind has many advantages there is potential impact on marine wildlife that needs to be considered. New applications for offshore windfarm sites require a thorough Environmental Impact Assessment and the offshore environment makes it hard to accurately assess current marine populations, making this a time-consuming and costly operation. In this research we propose to develop a real-time acoustic monitoring platform that will enable operators to assess a site for marine mammal activity at a fraction of the current cost and effort and moreover, produce better and more accurate results. This will be done by deploying large numbers of novel low cost, low power underwater wireless sensor devices (NanoPAMs) which detect the sounds that marine mammals make to navigate, hunt and communicate. The data from each NanoPAM is transmitted using acoustic signals over distances up to 10 km to a surface buoy. Since the animals may be able to hear these acoustic signals, the NanoPAMs transmit very low energy acoustic signals which blend into the background noise and are also smart enough to wait until animals have left the area before transmitting so as not to influence behaviour. The surface buoy then uses radio to send the received data back to shore where it can be visualised and analysed. On shore, the data collected can be turned into an understanding of the current activity of marine mammals and also to monitor the ongoing impact of offshore windfarm developments. In future, the system could be rapidly deployed in multiple locations to help select sites that would minimise the impact on our marine wildlife.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/R014884/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Innovation
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Innovation - IMA
This grant award has a total value of £353,486
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| DI - Other Costs | Indirect - Indirect Costs | DA - Investigators | DA - Estate Costs | DI - Staff | DI - T&S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £61,205 | £106,815 | £17,257 | £32,672 | £131,494 | £4,043 |
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