Enhancing Wildlife Detection Using Thermal Imaging Drones: Designing the Flight Path
Thermal imaging drones have transformed wildlife monitoring by facilitating the efficient and noninvasive monitoring of animal populations across large areas. In this study, an optimized flight path design was developed for monitoring wildlife on Guleopdo Island, South Korea using the DJI Mavic 3T d...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Drones |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-446X/9/1/52 |
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| author | Byungwoo Chang Byungmook Hwang Wontaek Lim Hankyu Kim Wanmo Kang Yong-Su Park Dongwook W. Ko |
| author_facet | Byungwoo Chang Byungmook Hwang Wontaek Lim Hankyu Kim Wanmo Kang Yong-Su Park Dongwook W. Ko |
| author_sort | Byungwoo Chang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Thermal imaging drones have transformed wildlife monitoring by facilitating the efficient and noninvasive monitoring of animal populations across large areas. In this study, an optimized flight path design was developed for monitoring wildlife on Guleopdo Island, South Korea using the DJI Mavic 3T drone equipped with a thermal camera. We employed a strata-based sampling technique to reclassify topographical and land cover information, creating an optimal survey plan. Using sampling strata, key waypoints were derived, on the basis of which nine flight paths were designed to cover ~50% of the study area. The results demonstrated that an optimized flight path improved the accuracy of detecting Formosan sika deer (<i>Cervus nippon taiouanus</i>). Population estimates indicated at least 128 Formosan sika deer, with higher detection efficiency observed during cloudy weather. Customizing flight paths based on the habitat characteristics proved crucial for efficient monitoring. This study highlights the potential of thermal imaging drones for accurately estimating wildlife populations and supporting conservation efforts. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6e7352433fda45ea8164d48c9653d8e9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2504-446X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Drones |
| spelling | doaj-art-6e7352433fda45ea8164d48c9653d8e92025-01-24T13:29:48ZengMDPI AGDrones2504-446X2025-01-01915210.3390/drones9010052Enhancing Wildlife Detection Using Thermal Imaging Drones: Designing the Flight PathByungwoo Chang0Byungmook Hwang1Wontaek Lim2Hankyu Kim3Wanmo Kang4Yong-Su Park5Dongwook W. Ko6Department of Forest Resources, Kookmin University, 77, Jeongneung-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02707, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Forest Resources, Kookmin University, 77, Jeongneung-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02707, Republic of KoreaIndustry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, Kookmin University, 77, Jeongneung-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02707, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Biology, Kyung Hee University, Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Forest, Environment, and Systems, Kookmin University, 77, Jeongneung-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02707, Republic of KoreaRestoration Data Team, National Institute of Ecology, 23, Gowol-gil, Yeongyang-eup, Yeongyang-gun 36531, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Forest, Environment, and Systems, Kookmin University, 77, Jeongneung-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02707, Republic of KoreaThermal imaging drones have transformed wildlife monitoring by facilitating the efficient and noninvasive monitoring of animal populations across large areas. In this study, an optimized flight path design was developed for monitoring wildlife on Guleopdo Island, South Korea using the DJI Mavic 3T drone equipped with a thermal camera. We employed a strata-based sampling technique to reclassify topographical and land cover information, creating an optimal survey plan. Using sampling strata, key waypoints were derived, on the basis of which nine flight paths were designed to cover ~50% of the study area. The results demonstrated that an optimized flight path improved the accuracy of detecting Formosan sika deer (<i>Cervus nippon taiouanus</i>). Population estimates indicated at least 128 Formosan sika deer, with higher detection efficiency observed during cloudy weather. Customizing flight paths based on the habitat characteristics proved crucial for efficient monitoring. This study highlights the potential of thermal imaging drones for accurately estimating wildlife populations and supporting conservation efforts.https://www.mdpi.com/2504-446X/9/1/52wildlife monitoringwildlife managementthermal sensorsunmanned aerial vehiclesampling strata |
| spellingShingle | Byungwoo Chang Byungmook Hwang Wontaek Lim Hankyu Kim Wanmo Kang Yong-Su Park Dongwook W. Ko Enhancing Wildlife Detection Using Thermal Imaging Drones: Designing the Flight Path Drones wildlife monitoring wildlife management thermal sensors unmanned aerial vehicle sampling strata |
| title | Enhancing Wildlife Detection Using Thermal Imaging Drones: Designing the Flight Path |
| title_full | Enhancing Wildlife Detection Using Thermal Imaging Drones: Designing the Flight Path |
| title_fullStr | Enhancing Wildlife Detection Using Thermal Imaging Drones: Designing the Flight Path |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhancing Wildlife Detection Using Thermal Imaging Drones: Designing the Flight Path |
| title_short | Enhancing Wildlife Detection Using Thermal Imaging Drones: Designing the Flight Path |
| title_sort | enhancing wildlife detection using thermal imaging drones designing the flight path |
| topic | wildlife monitoring wildlife management thermal sensors unmanned aerial vehicle sampling strata |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-446X/9/1/52 |
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