Setting The Standard For Aerial Wildlife Data Collection And Analysis
With our extensive expertise in aerial data collection, our team focuses on answering the specific scientific questions at hand to meet project requirements as efficiently as possible. OAR success stems from the specialized team of pilots and field experts who ensure expediency of the project workflow from experimental design to survey implementation. This approach benefits our clients by saving time, effort, and money while providing high-quality, defensible data products. We pride ourselves on obtaining excellence in natural resource data acquisition within project scope, on time, and within established budgets.
Abundance Surveys
Our abundance surveys, including classifications, provide critical insights into wildlife populations by accurately counting and categorizing species within specific areas. These surveys enable effective management and conservation strategies by delivering detailed data on population sizes, migration patterns, and habitat use. By leveraging advanced aerial imaging technology, we ensure precise and reliable results, helping clients make informed decisions to support sustainable wildlife management and conservation efforts.
Wildlife survey insights can include:
• Geographic population census
• Classification
• Migration monitoring
• Neonate detection and monitoring
• Mark and recapture
• Winter habitat concentrations
* Survey protocols are species and habitat-specific
AVIAN SURVEYS
OAR pioneered the use of aerial infrared imaging (AIR) detection surveys and population censuses for numerous avian upland game species, including, but not limited to the Greater Sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). These methods provide the most accurate, most defensible, and least invasive population data for this species of great concern across 6 states within the Great Basin and counting.
NEONATE DETECTION AND MONITORING
OAR combines telemetry and individual identification in a sophisticated symphony of remote sensing to detect and monitor newborn wildlife. Our advanced techniques enable us to locate individual collared females, confirm their reproductive status, and determine if they have given birth. We provide precise location data directly to field personnel, ensuring timely and effective monitoring. This comprehensive approach can inform a population’s recruitment rates and give managers tools to enhance proactive management strategies.
GAME SURVEYS
Whether it is winter concentrations, migration tracking, or census of geographically distinct populations, OAR has developed customized survey protocols for over 28 species and counting in virtually every habitat type in North America. OAR’s wildlife professionals have designed specific survey protocols for many of North America’s iconic and economically important species, including deer, bison, bighorn sheep, elk, pronghorn, prairie grouse moose and bears.
Our Team of Pilots and Sensor Operators Sets Us Apart From the Competition.
Our crew members are not just trained professionals; they’re experts at the aerial acquisition of natural resource data. Our Sensor Operators are, first and foremost, wildlife professionals with degrees in wildlife sciences including biology, ecology, management, and data sciences; with extensive knowledge in wildlife ecology, morphology, and behavior. This knowledge is tantamount to success and is a base-line requirement for all of our aerial sensor operators. Our pilots are not just commercially rated pilots, they are career aviation professionals with extensive experience in mountainous and back country flying. Each of our pilots undergoes extensive in-house specialty training to seamlessly blend their piloting skills with remote sensing applications not found anywhere else. This unique blend of expertise in both aviation and environmental sciences ensures the highest level of accuracy and insight in our data collection. This combination of superior technology and unparalleled human expertise makes OAR the premier choice for effective wildlife intelligence and analysis.
Advanced Aerial Surveillance Technology
Our P-68 series aircraft are equipped with state-of-the-art sensors such as the L3/Harris MX-10 and the FLIR 380 HDc multispectral gimbals. These advanced technologies provide high-resolution, multi-sensor data that enhances accuracy and depth of analysis. This equipment enables detailed mapping, real-time monitoring, and comprehensive data collection, ensuring you receive the most reliable and actionable insights for your wildlife management needs.
CAPABILITIES:
ADVANCED REMOTE SENSING
Advanced Remote Sensing
OAR utilizes state-of-the-art multi-sensor imaging systems mounted on light, fixed-wing aircraft specifically designed for aerial survey operations. Our multi-sensor systems include multi-spectral sensors; high definition electro-optical (E0); Low-light video cameras; and laser range finders in each turret. Our Infrared (IR) system operates at mid-wave (3 – 5 pm) detection with 640 x 512-pixel resolution.
Our high-resolution EO (daylight, 2560 x 1440 pixels) camera as well as a low-light (640 x .0 pixel) camera feature continuous zoom capability from 36.3o down to 1.5o fields of view. All our sensors feature video recording capability, and our sensor operators can instantaneously toggle between EO and IR with the flip of a switch.
AUGMENTED REALITY AND MULTISPECTRAL IMAGING
Augmented Reality And Multispectral Imaging
Our high-resolution EO (daylight, 2560 x 1440 pixels) camera as well as a low-light (640 x .0 pixel) camera Along with our integrated camera and laser system, we also employ an Augmented Reality System (ARS) computer to allow our operators to capture video of precise locations, providing extremely accurate camera area coverage. The ability to georeferenced waypoints is extremely helpful because it prevents double-counting when we survey large groups of wildlife, as each individual bird can be marked with a waypoint. Polygons can also be placed around groups of animals to aid in counting and classification. The ARS enables our team to perform all these functions while in the air. Finally, when the Laser Range Finder is fired at a target on the ground, the ARS automatically generates a waypoint and geographic coordinates for the target accurate to 1-meter on the surface of the earth. Together, our in-flight imaging and computing capabilities create the highest quality and most capable wildlife detection and classification system available today. continuous zoom capability from 36.3o down to 1.5o fields of view. All our sensors feature video recording capability, and our sensor operators can instantaneously toggle between EO and IR with the flip of a switch.
AERIAL TELEMETRY
Aerial Telemetry
OAR has a proven track record of over 15 years in tracking wildlife using reliable telemetry methods. Our expertise spans a diverse range of species, including deer, elk, bears, and wolves, as well as birds such as grouse, ravens, and murrelets, and even beavers. By leveraging our extensive experience and tried-and-true techniques, we provide precise tracking data that enhances understanding of wildlife population dynamics, movement, and habitat use.
SENSORS:
FLIR 380 HDc MULTISPECTRAL GIMBAL
FLIR 380 HDc
The FLIR 380 HDc is an advanced, internally stabilized gimbal-mounted multispectral imaging system, ideal for aerial wildlife surveys. Its high-definition sensors and superior stabilization technology make it a critical tool for capturing precise, detailed data while minimizing wildlife disturbance.
Benefits for Aerial Wildlife Surveys:
- High-Definition Imaging: Captures detailed, high-resolution images crucial for wildlife monitoring.
- Digital Image Blending: Combines infrared and optical imagery for maximum detail, enhancing data quality.
- Multi-Spectral Sensors: Provides comprehensive data across various spectral bands, improving analysis accuracy.
- Powerful Zoom Capability: allows for detection and identification of species from extreme distances, allowing observation of natural behaviors of target species.
L3/HARRIS MX-10
L3Harris MX-10
The L3Harris MX-10 is a highly advanced, gyro-stabilized multispectral imaging system designed for demanding environments. It is particularly beneficial for aerial wildlife surveys due to its superior image stability and high-resolution capabilities, which ensure minimal disturbance to wildlife and accurate data collection from a distance.
Benefits for Aerial Wildlife Surveys:
- Long-Distance Zoom: Allows for detailed observation without disturbing wildlife.
- High Resolution: Provides clear, detailed images essential for accurate wildlife monitoring and analysis.
- Stability: Ensures smooth, stable imagery even in challenging conditions, enhancing data accuracy.
