Researchers Obtaining 3D Footprints of Animals to identify, track and monitor their health

 
Namita Lokare, Wes Snyder & Edgar Lobaton (L to R)

Edgar Lobaton, Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at NC State University and Wesley Snyder, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering are working with graduate student Namita Lokare to obtain three-dimensional footprints of large animals for computer-based footprint recognition.

Namita Lokare just started her PhD in Electrical Engineering this fall but is already working with staff from a company named Wildtrack (www.wildtrack.org) which has developed a non-invasive Footprint Identification Technique (FIT). Animals have unique feet, in the same way that humans have unique fingerprints and this process can identify endangered animals at the species, individual, age-class and sex levels. This allows researchers to monitor their status and work with decision-makers in environmental and conservation sciences to implement effective policies.

Once researchers have identified and measured features on the footprint, statistical software provided by SAS completes the identification of the animal. WildTrack staff are actively working with SAS staff on this project. Their algorithm is quite accurate, but requires humans to analyze the footprints, and the process of individually identifying the features of the footprint is very time consuming.

In attempt to speed up the process, Lobaton, Snyder and Lokare are developing image analysis algorithms to automate the feature measurement process. In the past, the footprints have been obtained using conventional cameras. In this photograph, the NC State researchers are shown using a three-dimensional camera to measure both extent and depth of the footprints. The work, if successful, will help to more rapidly identify individual animals, track them, and lead to improvements in the monitoring of their health.

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