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Fondazione Edmund Mach
Fondazione Edmund Mach
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Bio-logging

We promote the development of advanced bio-logging and remote sensing devices for studying animal ecology (e.g. GPS sensors for radio-telemetry or proximity, camera-traps), data management and analysis, and the customization of solutions for several applicative scenarios.

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Instruments

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GPS Radiocollars (Global Positioning System)

GPS radiocollars allow the automatized collection ad remote transmission of animal positional data, with high spatial accuracy and customable temporal resolution.

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Proximity Loggers

Proximity sensors detect contacts either between individuals or between an individual and a given point of interest, allowing the analysis of the duration of proximity events.

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Cameratraps

Cameratraps permit the automatic detection and remote transmission of daily and night pictures or videos, for the monitoring of sites of interest.

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Scale for Ungulates

The scale allows to automatically weight animals, and to associate the measurements with the individuals when these are provided with a specific RFID eartag.

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VHF radio (Very High Frequency)

This instrument detects radio signals on VHF (150-151 MHz) from radiocollars, thus allowing their localization when needed (e.g. GPS malfunctioning).

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Drop-off Releaser

This tool commands the remote drop-off of radiocollars, via communication on UHF frequencies, with optimal performance below 100-150 m from the target radiocollar.

Services

Production of maps of animal movement

Creation of maps of animal movement from GPS localizations, with customizable temporal scale, detection of clusters of use, and overlap with several GIS layers (e.g. road network, administrative boundaries).

Monitoring of sites of interest

Continuous monitoring of sites of interest (e.g. wildlife corridors across roads, feeding sites), by means of cameratraps and/or proximity loggers.

Analysis of intra or inter-specific interactions

Detection of intra- or interspecific relationships at sites of interest (e.g. feeding sites), by means of cameratraps and subsequent analysis of images via Artificial Intelligence software.

Retrieve of malfunctioning radiocollars

The service offers the possibility to retrieve broken collars (e.g. GPS malfunctioning), with the localization of the animal by means of VHF radio-telemetry and the subsequent detach of the collar via drop-off releaser.

Management and analysis of movement data

The service promotes the management of data collected by bio-sensors or remote sensing devices in ad-hoc databases (e.g. PostgreSQL), and the analysis of the data via dedicated statistical software (e.g. R software).

Deterring systems for wildlife

The service offers the development of customizable networks of sensors (WSN – Wireless Sensor Network) to protect resources of interest from wildlife (e.g. beehives), through the implementation of different deterrence sensors (e.g., acoustic).

Sampling Design for the collection of non-invasive samples

The service offers the development of ad-hoc sampling designs (e.g. linear transects) for the collection of non-invasive biological samples such as pellets, which can then be analyzed to assess diet content.

Estimates of ungulate density

The service offers the possibility to estimate ungulate density in sampling areas, through the application of different methodologies (e.g. cameratrap grid, distance sampling) and subsequent modelling.

Applications

Monitoring of hunted populations

The offered services allow the observation of the behavioral response of target and non-target species to hunting activity, with the possibility to optimize wildlife management strategies, e.g. via revision of culling plans.

Monitoring of wildlife roadkill sites

The proposed services allow the identification and monitoring of sites where wildlife-vehicle collisions are more frequent, promoting the development of measures to increment the safety of both car drivers and wildlife.

Monitoring and protection of herding activities

The services offered by the platform permit to develop solutions to protect rural activities (e.g. bee hiving), thus contributing to the mitigation of human-wildlife conflicts.

Monitoring of species of conservation relevance

The services of the platform allow the monitoring of movements and space use by species of conservation relevance (e.g. alpine ibex, large carnivores), thus promulgating the development of science-based strategies for conservation and management.