Telemetry is an exciting field that has grown exponentially
in recent years. Telemetry is the process of placing collars (that give off specific
signals) on animals so they can be monitored from a distance (remote sensing). The collars
do not weigh more than 2% of the animal's body weight so that they minimize there impact
on the animal. This allows scientists to find the location of animals and monitor
their behavior without continuously disturbing them (which can alter their behavior). The
technology portion of telemetry can get fairly complicated but basically there have been
two formats for collars. One type of collar puts out a radio frequency (FM) that is picked
up by the scientist/technician with an antenna and a receiver. This type of telemetry is
called radio telemetry or VHF telemetry. It can be cost effective in some
situations, but can be very labor intensive in others. If the collared animals move over
great distances scientists may have to fly either by plane or by helicopter which
increases the cost of their project and the personal risk of obtaining the data. Animals
in the 1950's, 60's, 70's, and 80's were primarily equipped with collars that emitted a
radio signal. In radio telemetry the process of obtaining a collared animals position is
called triangulation. The scientist or technician moves to three different locations
(triangulating) with a radio receiver and antenna. They then determine the direction
of the animal and draw straight lines on a topographic map. The animal's position is then
estimated by the intersection of the three lines. Older telemetry technology procedures
could only give an animal's location once or twice each day thus limiting the data
collection and our view of the entire picture. 
Today scientists can utilize satellites to find
the position of animals. Not only is it far more accurate, the collection of data can be
made from very distant locations (as you are doing). It can be safer
collecting data as most of it can be accomplished via the computer. The amount of
data and information gathered can be incredibly insightful. Scientists can receive several
daily pinpoint locations on animals so that a more accurate account of their daily
movements can be monitored. Today, satellites monitor not
only the animal's movements but it's temperature, it's orientation (laying down or
upright), ambient weather conditions, and mortality of the animal for collar recovery.
Cost considerations used to be a major factor in the use of satellite technology. However,
current satellite collars are much cheaper than there predecessors
and the batteries that run them are much more effective. Battery life can be influenced
depending on the number of options the collar processes. Some collars can actually utilize
solar power. Several major breakthroughs in telemetry that have led to recent
successes are: high shock crystal technology (allowing the collar to take serious abuse by
animals like bears), GPS technology advancements, smaller/lighter more powerful and
reliable batteries, smaller more advanced circuitry and integrated silicon circuits,
smaller more advanced/powerful and flexible micro processing technology, smaller and more
durable antennas, on board data storage systems, smaller waterproof packaging, better
attachment procedures, software development, extreme temperature fluctuation
modifications, and the more cost effective use of this technology associated with other
satellites. The animals do not simply role over and let you place collars on them. The methods for immobilizing animals usually include a dart gun and a tranquilizer. However, bears can run in excess of 30 miles an hour so sometimes you have to dart them from the air. This adds a definite cost to the project and inherently increases the danger or risk factor for the people involved. Once the animal is down it must be handled in a way that will not result in injury and all attempts are made to reduce the animals stress. Critical data is recorded as the animal is processed and the collar put in place. Animals may have to be caught annually to replace batteries or power systems that run the collars. Collars must also be tested to see if they are being detected by the satellites and that data transmission is working.
Satellite systems that now play a
major role in this technology are a very recent addition. In the early 1980's, satellite
telemetry entered the scene and the ARGOS system revolutionized long-range tracking
studies. This allowed scientists to track animals on a daily basis and get real time data
on a variety of other scientific data. The first collar units were big and bulky. However,
by the 1990's miniaturization was accomplished and smaller devices were produced. A joint
effort between the U.S. military and NASA dramatically accelerated the process and brought
needed funding. Wildlife telemetry is not a household need so competition and
technological advancement can take some time. The ARGOS satellite system was primarily
designed to provide an operational environmental data collection, location and
disseminating service for the duration of the NOAA Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellite
(POES) program. This was the result of an agreement between NASA and NOAA, and the CNES of
France. These satellites have a two year designed lifetime. They are launched and
replaced to keep two units available at all times. The first system was operational in
1978 and was very successful with the Global Atmospheric Research Program Experiment. The
data collection and storage occurs at two locations to insure that no information is lost
(Landover, MD; and Toulouse, France). There are also three telemetry downlink receiving
stations: Wallops Island, Virginia; Fairbanks, Alaska (part of this project); and Lannion,
France. Signals from collared animals are picked up by the orbiting satellites and
decommutated to the two ARGOS Data Processing Centers. The messages are decoded and
converted to physical data units. Accurate computations of the satellite orbits are
then calculated and compared with Doppler shift data. The results are then stored on
computer files for user access. The two satellite system can provide up to 20 animal
positions a day. This can give scientists a much better view into the animals activities
and locations. Data can then be accessed by computer over the telephone, telex, or other
communication networks. Most data is available within four hours of transmission! More information can be obtained on the ARGOS satellite by visiting the
following web site http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/1999/news_release_990106a.html
GPS technology holds great promise
as the tracking system of tomorrow! More GPS information can
be found by going back to the puzzle page and clicking on the GIS/GPS Technologies piece
of this module. There are several companies in the field of wildlife telemetry and technology. One of the leaders in this technology is a company called Telonics in Mesa, Arizona. They have been involved in the telemetry field for decades and are an authority on products and new product development (often conducting their own experimentation and research). They also cooperate with various research agencies trying to meet the needs of a growing industry. This type of research allows wildlife and the biological world to meet technology and scientific world.