radR: an open-source platform for acquiring and analysing data on biological targets observed by surveillance radar

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Radar has been used for decades to study movement of insects, birds and bats. In spite of this, there are few readily available software tools for the acquisition, storage and processing of such data. Program radR was developed to solve this problem.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Program radR is an open source software tool for the acquisition, storage and analysis of data from marine radars operating in surveillance mode. radR takes time series data with a two-dimensional spatial component as input from some source (typically a radar digitizing card) and extracts and retains information of biological relevance (i.e. moving targets). Low-level data processing is implemented in "C" code, but user-defined functions written in the "R" statistical programming language can be called at pre-defined steps in the calculations. Output data formats are designed to allow for future inclusion of additional data items without requiring change to C code. Two brands of radar digitizing card are currently supported as data sources. We also provide an overview of the basic considerations of setting up and running a biological radar study.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Program radR provides a convenient, open source platform for the acquisition and analysis of radar data of biological targets.</p

A Progression of Avian Radar Studies at Airfields

We used our Mobile Avian Radar Systems on two different projects this past year. A study at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, used the old configuration, with a vertical-scanning radar and our image-processing technique. A study at Vancouver International Airport, B.C. used the new configuration with both vertical and surveillance radars and our new radar data processing technique. The Robins study was a preliminary assessment of seasonal bird-hazards, especially regarding the altitude distribution of birds near the airfield. Data was collected. The Vancouver study was a preliminary survey and system evaluation for the development of a real- time, dedicated Airport Bird Detection System. These two studies highlight the capabilities of avian radar systems and the improvements made over the past year. They also hint at the direction that avian radar systems are evolving as tools for managing bird hazards to aircraft