Background

In response to the needs of scientists and natural resource managers including federal agencies such USGS, NOAA, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), NASA has initiated a five-year study to determine a suitable space-based architecture for global low-latency tracking of small migratory animals like birds and bats. The objectives of the study, named Internet of Animals, are to 1) systematically assess user needs in the areas of space-based telemetry for animal movement ecology/behavior research and applied ecological management, 2) architect a next-generation space-based animal tracking system, i.e., an ‘Internet of Animals’ or IoA, to meet those needs, and 3) develop science and technology needed to monitor animal movement and link it with the many other dimensions of biodiversity and habitat that can now be mapped from space using remote sensing.

Status

The IoA study is a collaboration between the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Yale University, NASA's Ames Research Center, USGS Western Ecological Research Center, and the Max Planck Institute for Animal Behavior in Germany. There have been project delays associated to data access of an antenna on the Russian Module on the International Space Station (ISS).

Solution Characteristics

Societal Impact

Tracking animal movement from space in large numbers can inform various conservation efforts to maintain biodiversity and landscape connectivity to secure safe migratory routes. It can help mitigate human-wildlife conflicts, curb the spread of invasive species, and enhance our understanding of the spread of zoonic diseases and outbreaks such as malaria or avian influenza. Monitoring changes in animal movement behavior can facilitate the early identification of global change events, providing critical information to mitigate its impact on ecosystems and human societies. Finally, it can raise awareness about conservation efforts by showcasing the incredible trans-continental journeys of animals tracked from space.

Solution Resources

Need help using this solution? For more information on Internet of Animals, visit Animal Tracking Project Background.