The accuracy of Fastloc-GPS locations and implications for animal tracking
Data(s) |
01/11/2014
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Resumo |
Over recent years, a major breakthrough in marine animal tracking has occurred with the advent of Fastloc-GPS that provides highly accurate location data even for animals that only surface briefly such as sea turtles, marine mammals and penguins. We assessed the accuracy of Fastloc-GPS locations using fixed trials of tags in which >45 000 locations were obtained. Procedures for determining the speed of travel and heading were developed by simulating tracks and then adding Fastloc-GPS location errors. The levels of detail achievable for speed and heading estimates were illustrated by using empirical Fastloc-GPS data for a green turtle (Chelonia mydas, Linnaeus, 1758) travelling over 3000 km across the Indian Ocean. The accuracy of Fastloc-GPS locations varied as a function of the number of GPS satellites used in the location calculation. For example, when Fastloc-GPS locations were calculated using 4 GPS satellites, 50% of locations were within 36 m and 95% within 724 m of the true position. These values improved to 18 and 70 m, respectively, when 6 satellites were used. Simulations indicated that for animals travelling around 2·5 km h-1 (e.g. turtles, penguins and seals) and depending on the number of satellites used in the location calculation, robust speed and heading estimates would usually be obtained for locations only 1-6 h apart. Fastloc-GPS accuracy is several orders of magnitude better that conventional Argos tracking or light-based geolocation and consequently will allow new insights into small-scale movement patterns of marine animals. |
Identificador | |
Idioma(s) |
eng |
Publicador |
Wiley |
Relação |
http://dro.deakin.edu.au/eserv/DU:30071721/hays-accuracyoffastloc-2014.pdf http://www.dx.doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.12286 |
Direitos |
2014, Wiley |
Palavras-Chave | #Animal tags #Positioning error #Satellite telemetry #Sensitivity analysis |
Tipo |
Journal Article |