New Methods of Environmental Monitoring Time Lapse Video

New Methodsof

Environmental MonitoringTime Lapse Video

Thorne Abbott

CoastalZone.com

Great Barrier ReefAustralia

Whitsunday Islands

Hook Island

Manta Ray Bay

Protected Anchorages

Exceptional Water Clarity

High Species Diversity

Substantial Coral Coverage

Concerns & Conflicts

• Concerns over coral damage from– anchoring

– diver fins

– contact by snorkelers

• Fish feeding• Trash & refuse• Water quality

• Mooring Availability– Commercial interests

wanted more

– Residents wanted less

• Overcrowding during water activities

Challenge . . .

Design a monitoring system

to balance conflicting uses and

enhance decision-making

for sustainable use

Monitor Equipment

• Camera• wide angle lens

• polarizer

• zoom facility

• Processor• Battery Re-charger• Solar Panel• Battery's

• Monitor Housing• prospecs lens

• telescoping stand

• tripod head

• camera housing

• padlocks, security

• Laptop Computer• Software

• Battery

Objectives

Determine appropriate sampling strategies for video monitoring

Analyze the resolution or clarity of the imagery produced

Calibrate the validity of the data generated

Determine if the results obtained can enhance decision making

Vessel Samples

Number of Visitors"expected"

Size Time

Type Day

Mooring Date

Vessels172 samples 20 seconds each

Visitor Samples

Low Resolution VHS std FormatVisitor Counts by 3 Observers

High Resolution S-VHS FormatVisitor Counts by 4 Observers

19 @ 20 seconds19 @ 10 seconds19 @ 5 seconds19 @ 1 second

19 original samples4 sub-samples per original

14 @ 20 seconds14 @ 10 seconds14 @ 5 seconds14 @ 1 second

30 original samples1, 2, or 3 sub-samples per original

Randomness

Visitors52 samples originally 20 seconds each

Accuracy of Observers Estimatesof Visitor Activity

0

20

40

60

80

100

1 5 10 20Length of Recorded Sample

(seconds)

Per

cen

tag

e A

ccu

racy

VHS standard resolution S-VHS high resolution

Effect of Resolution& Sample Length

P e r c e n t a g e O b s e r v e d t o E x p e c te d

L e n g t h o f S a m p le ( T IM E )

2 0 se conds1 0 se conds5 se conds1 se cond

Pe

rce

nta

ge

Ob

se

rve

d

T a p e F o rm a t

V HS std.

S -V HS

1.0.9.8.7.6.5.4.3.2.1.

Comparison o f Visitor Counts

VHS std. to S-VHS Tape Formats

Methodology

The Method of Monitoring can be» consistent (Chi^2 : p>.05)» accurate (>70%)» HIGH resolution tape format» samples 10 seconds or longer

SCUBA DivingNum be r o f S c uba D ive rs

by Time of Day

TIME

5:003:30

3:002:45

1:551:45

1:201:00

12:4012:20

12:0011:40

11:0510:40

10:20

Num

ber o

f Dive

rs

8

6

4

2

0

Snorkeling

by Time of Day

TIME of Day

5:003:30

3:203:00

2:301:55

1:401:00

12:4012:20

11:4011:05

10:20

Num

ber o

f SNO

RKEL

LER'

s

16

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

N u m b e r o f S n o r k e l l e r s

Visitor Patterns

Most activity takes place between 10 AM and 4 PMScuba divers visit morning to mid-daySnorkelers visit in the afternoonSubstantially more snorkelers than divers

Vessel Sizes at Moorings10 meter maximum by regulation

187710N =

Ve s se l S ize s a t M oo rings

all Vessels

MOORING

QueuingNot MooredCBA

SIZ

E in

met

ers

1614121086420

Mooring Times through the Day

187710N =

M oo ring Ince ptio n T im e o f D a y

all Vessels

6 = 6:00 AM18 = 6:00 PM

MOORING

QueuingNot MooredCBA

TIM

E o

f Day

18

12

6

.

Comparative Length of Stay120 minutes maximum by regulation

5544 13236N =

C om pa ris o n o f A nc ho rage D ura tio n

by Mooring and Owner Type

MOORING

QueuingNot MooredCBA

DU

RA

TIO

N in

min

utes

300

200

100

0

TYPE

Commercial

Private

Mooring Patterns Vessels ranged from 3 m to 15 m long Private vessel visit as often as commercial vessels,

but commercial vessels stayed for twice as long Vessels moored between 10 AM and 4 PM Vessels arriving from 2–3 PM queued and didn’t

moor Vessels that moored, did so within 20 minutes One mooring was used last, least, and for less than

one hour

Recent Successful Applications

• Time-lapse video monitoring of boat traffic in Missionary Bay

• Establish Dugong movement patterns in the Hinchinbrook Channel, World Heritage Area and interactions with boat traffic.

• 2500 samples collected to date

New Initiatives…The Managaha Marine Conservation Area

Monitoring Vessel Traffic

in the MPA and its Transportation

Corridor

Adaptive Management in ActionWhat is being done…

• Boundaries established, but waiting on regulations

• Education and Outreach efforts using brochures, posted signs, newspapers, and school programs

• Stakeholder helping in the development of rules, regulations, and management plans

• Active - Passive Use areas, “use” permits

• No anchoring and No Take Zones

• Commercially dedicated moorings

Questions to be addressed by video monitoring

• Are the MPA boundaries being ignored?

• Are vessels using the transportation corridor?

• What type of activities most often violate restrictions?

• How should we change outreach, education, and enforcement activities?

Conclusion

Time lapse video monitoring provides valuable real time data

on patterns of use

Managers can better judge if education, outreach, and

enforcement activities are having their desired effect

These activities can then be adapted to ensure the

sustainability of marine resources

Acknowledgements Commonwealth of the

Northern Marianas

DLNR, Division of Fish & Wildlife

Joe Ruak,

DFW Aquatic Education Specialist

CRC Reef Research Centre Queensland Dept. of Environment & Heritage James Cook University

Dept. of Tropical Environmental Studies & Geography

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Ray Berkelmans Graeme Inglis