SLiDAP: The Satellite-Linked Data Acquisition and Photogrammetry System.

PROJECT UPDATES

February 2006
A new paper describing technical aspects of the SLiDAP remote imaging network has now been accepted for publication:

April 5th, 2005
Brian and Markus just returned from a service visit to the Seward SLiDAP installation. We expanded the system with further components. The system is continuing to operate as planned. Below, Brian is trying to listen to the camera shutter release of one station, and another one caught the moment...

This picture shows Brian as he is standing right in front of the viewport of one of the SLIDAP imaging stations. He has his right ear inclined towards the view port and is intently listening to be able to hear the sound of the camera shutter insider of the housing.

We will be giving the following presentation at the Biologging 2 conference, related to the SLiDAP and LHX projects:

January 10th, 2005
In December 2004 we completed the installation of the first Alaskan SLiDAP system at IMS and began remote operations. Even though further components will be added to this system in the near future, the system is operational, and has been up and running since December. Here are some images of this system:

This image shows three dual solar panel arrays on their mounting structures. Behind these arrays a large satellite communications dish can be seen. Due to the low elevation of the satellite over the horizon, the dish is almost vertical or pointing almost horizontal. Behind one of the solar panel sets two black boxes can be seen, measuring about 2 feet on each side. One box is sitting on the ground. It houses the battery and solar charge regulator. The second box is mounted at the top of a pole, and houses the actual imaging system components.

Above you can see elements of the first system set up in an ice covered parking lot of the IMS Seward Marine Facility, adjacent to the Alaska Sea Life Center. Three twin sets of 130 W solar panels are mounted on support racks. In the foreground, another bare support rack can be seen. In the background is the large satellite dish for the VSAT system. Behind one panel set one of the imaging stations can be recognized as a black box atop a 5 ft 3" dia pole. At the bottom of the pole a battery box can be seen that houses the battery and charge regulator.

 

This image shows two boxes of one station. One box is on the ground, that is the one holding the battery and charge regulator. The other box is on top of a 3 inch diameter and 5 foot tall pole, and that is the actual imaging station. Behind these two boxes one solar panel set can be seen mounted on it's support structure.

The image above shows one imaging station as a large balck box atop a 3" dia steel pole. Power cables lead to the battery box at the foot of the pole. This box houses a spill-proof absorbed glass matt (AGM) battery, and a charge regulator.

 

This image is a closeup of the view port of one imaging station. The view port is a glass pane measuring 10 by 14 inches, and is mounted into the front of a large black ABS plastic cube of about 2 feet side length. Through the glass port one can just make out the front lens of the digital still camera.

The picture above shows a closeup of the viewport of one camera box. The viewport consists of a straight, optically rectified glass pane of 10 by 14". The glass is 6mm thick, tempered and has a special coating. The box is waterproof. Inside one can just make out the front of the camera lens, and some of the electronic components of the station.

 

This image shows the back of the large satellite dish mounted to it's 4 inch diameter steel pole via strong support beams. Next to the dish two twin solar panel arrays can be seen, and one set of battery and imaging station boxes as described in the preceeding images.

The above picture shows the back of the large VSAT satellite dish. The dish is of an offset design, meaning that even though the dish is vertical, or appears to be pointing horizontal, it is actually pointing about 20 degrees above the horizon, towards a geostationary satellite.

October 20th, 2004
We have begun with the preparation of the first Alaska installation of a SLiDAP system for test purposes, at the Seward Marine Facility of the Institute of Marine Science, School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Many thanks for the kind support offered by the IMS, and in particular by Mike Banas, Rawlins, and Tom Smith.

November 14th, 2003

We have installed the first outdoor imaging station at our neighbouring compound of the National Marine Fisheries Service here in Galveston, for testing purposes. Take a look at our first outdoor station. This first outdoor station is operating well and talking to other test stations located inside of our laboratory. Many thanks to Lynda, Niko and Brian for their incredibly hard and excellent work to get this station off the ground and running!

January 10th, 2002

Check out some SLiDAP test photos taken with four cameras positioned around a Steller sea lion haul-out at Long Island, in November 2001.

December 2001

We have completed the selection of COTS (Consumer-off-the-shelf) components to be used for SLiDAP, in conjunction with our own developments of hardware and software. We may periodically revise these selections.

Check out the components selected for use in the first generation SLiDAP system.

The SLiDAP project is funded through grants from a variety of sponsors, including:
National Science Foundation, Office of Polar Programs
The Steller Sea Lion Research Initiative of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA)
The Texas Institute of Oceanography (cost share participation)

The SLiDAP project is carried out in cooperation with the National Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMFS), the Alaska Sea Life Center.
Field testing of the first SLiDAP system is conducted with the kind support of the Seward Marine Facility of the Institute of Marine Science, SFOS, University of Alaska Fairbanks.

SLiDAP project principal investigator: Markus Horning.
Co-principal investigator of the biological applications of SLiDAP: Jo-Ann Mellish (ASLC)
Co-investigators: Tom Loughlin, Tom Gelatt (NMML / NMFS)

Project contractors and consultants:
Ashford Technical Software
EOS Systems Inc.
Wildlife Computers

Check back with us soon for further updates on this project.

(February 2006)

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