using planet labs imagery to track caribou: a pilot study
abstract
using satellite imagery from an earth imaging company called planet labs, this
study aimed to see whether woodland caribou (rangifer tarandus caribou) could be
tracked through a disturbance path left by migrating herds. to examine the efficacy of
this procedure, evaluations were based upon whether this process could be equally or
more efficient/effective in terms of tracking and costs than telemetry collaring methods.
for comparison, the ontario ministry of natural resources and forestry caribou collar
telemetry data was obtained from the natural heritage information center. this data
was compared with satellite imagery from planet lab’s 5-meter resolution rapideye
satellites. to accomplish this, imagery for four areas was obtained for prior to the
caribou’s arrival and for the timestamped arrival of the caribou. change detections were
run on these four areas that all conclusively resulted in not being able to track caribou
through disturbance patterns using the rapideye 5m resolution imagery. although the
caribou could not be tracked with the 5m resolution future research could examine the
concept with 3m or 80cm resolution imagery from planet if newer telemetry data ever
becomes available.
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