Monitoring Southern Elephant Seal Colonies in Antarctica

Client

The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) is a government agency responsible for managing Australia's interests in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, including scientific research and environmental management activities. It manages research stations and coordinates research and logistical support for scientific activities in the region.

Challenge

The AAD needed to monitor Southern Elephant Seal colonies in the Vestfold Hills Area, Princess Elizabeth Land. The traditional method of on-site monitoring was high-risk and high-cost. A safer and more cost-effective alternative was required.

Solution

Geoimage was approached to assist in the project by providing a remotely sensed solution. The project involved collecting fresh 30cm satellite imagery using Maxar's WorldView-3 satellite over the Vestfold Hills Area within a narrow 3-month window in the spring-summer of 2017. Processing staff at Geoimage created a seamless mosaic of the digital data and delivered the final mosaic to AAD within their required timeframe.

Outcomes

The final WorldView-3 mosaic with its spatial resolution of 30cm was visually assessed by the AAD to detect the extent and location of the elephant seal colonies. The use of remotely sensed imagery eliminated the need for on-site monitoring, which posed safety risks and required the mobilisation of staff. The collection of imagery over such a large area within the defined time constraints would have been very difficult using traditional methods due to extreme weather conditions and limited access.

Benefits

The use of a remotely sensed solution provided significant benefits to the AAD. It allowed the scientists to spend more time on interpretation and analysis of results, rather than collection of information. Additionally, it eliminated the need for on-site monitoring, which posed safety risks and required the mobilisation of staff. A cost-effective automation of the process may be possible in the future, once definitive characteristics of the elephant seal colonies are established.