Photonic Monitoring of Atmospheric and Aquatic Fauna

Abstract

Flying insects are of utmost importance in ecology and for human living conditions. Certain species serve as indispensable pollinators to ensure the availability of food stuffs, while others are dangerous vectors for spreading deadly diseases, such as malaria. Agricultural pests reduce the yield of crops, and their abatement through pesticides cause many additional problems. Birds and bats are frequently carriers of diseases, which, especially for long‐distance migrants, cause serious consequences. Clearly, there is high motivation to be able to effectively identify and quantify flying fauna. Here, the emerging field of optics and laser‐based monitoring of flying fauna is reviewed with an emphasis on remote sensing based on pulsed and contineous wave (CW) lidar systems, and how they complement existing radar techniques. Furthermore, ground‐truth laboratory studies are covered. Wing‐beat and overtone spectra as well as reflectance, depolarization and fluorescence properties are studied. The aquatic environment is for many reasons less accessible for optical studies, but is clearly also of great importance. Phytoplankton constitute the start of the aquatic food chain, followed by zooplankton and a long chain of higher animals, including fish, an important part of the human food supply. Finally, how optical monitoring can complement sonar and sampling techniques is discussed.

Application of lidar remote sensing of insects in agricultural entomology on the Chinese scene

“…The data that support the findings of this study are openly available in [Wiley Online Library] at https://doi.org/%5B10.1002/ece3.4054], (Brydegaard et al, ). The data that support the findings of this study are openly available in [Wiley Online Library] at https://doi.org/%5B10.1002/lpor.201800135], (Brydegaard & Svanberg, ). The data that support the findings of this study are openly available in [Annual Reviews] at https://doi.org/%5B10.1146/annurev-ento-120709-144820], (Chapman et al, ).…”

“…Since hardware costs are very low compared with those of conventional lidar and radar systems, a wider penetration into precision farming practices may be expected. Generally speaking, lasers and photonics open up new avenues for improved assessment of both aerial and aquatic fauna (Brydegaard & Svanberg, ).…”

Real-time dispersal of malaria vectors in rural Africa monitored with lidar

“…In this study, we demonstrate the applicability of lidar (laser radar) for mosquito surveillance [ 17 ], by real-time in situ spatial profiling of malaria vectors, through the classification by their wing-beat modulation, at the periphery of an African village. We present data collected continuously over three days during the dry season, with no precipitation and virtually no wind during recordings.…”

Aquatic environment monitoring using a drone-based fluorosensor

“…The system was integrated with a compact drone carrier. To obtain range-resolved spectra of the upper few meters of the water overflown by the drone, a CW lidar system based on the Scheimpflug principle, as described for vegetation monitoring in our recent paper [26], could be adapted to aquatic applications, where many challenges regarding, e.g., the aquatic fauna are present [29]. However, for studies of oil on water, and for hydrological studies of dye dispersion [30], the compact system described in the present paper provides a good alternative to conventional pulsed-laser fluorosensors and CW-laser Scheimpflug systems, and exhibits certain advantages in terms of performance and simplicity.…”