School of Biology / SMRU: Camera System for use in Aerial Surveys of Grey Seal Breeding Colonies

Camera System for use in Aerial Surveys of Grey Seal Breeding Colonies.

The aim is to repeatedly produce high-resolution (approx. 2 cm / pixel Ground Sampling Distance) orthorectified image mosaics for grey seal breeding colonies in the UK. Each colony is surveyed around five times throughout a breeding season (Sep-Dec). The sizes of the survey sites vary from under 0.5 km2 to 5 km2. Whereas some of the sites have very little elevation, others are long narrow beaches at the foot of high cliffs.

Standard survey parameters

Aircraft type: Small (four- or six-seater) twin-engine fixed-wing aircraft (eg, Vulcanair / Partenavia P68 or Piper PA-23 Aztec)

Survey altitude (AGL): approx. 1100 ft

We cannot go much lower due to some survey sites being at the foot of 250m high cliffs (820ft). We do not want to go higher in order to remain below cloud base as much as possible.

Survey flight speed: ≤ 130 kts ground speed (typically around 110 kts)

Survey area: Approx. 80 sites of different size (0.5-5 km2, around 1 km2 on average), up to 40 surveyed on a single day.

Light conditions: Surveys are carried out in autumn and winter (mid-September to end of December) in the UK (between 52˚ to 60˚ North). Days are very short towards the end of the breeding season and, given other constraints (e.g., weather windows, airspace restrictions), surveys regularly have to be carried out in poor light conditions (eg, solar altitude below 10˚, overcast, area of interest at foot of north-facing cliffs).

System requirements

Camera type: RGB still camera (option to add IR camera would be desirable)

Total number of pixels: ≥ 150 MP

Number of pixels across flight track: approx. ≥15,000

Cover across flight track: ≥ 300 m

Ground sampling distance (GSD): approx. ≤ 2 cm / pixel

Image overlap (consecutive frames): ≥ 60%

Maximum shutter speed: 1/1000 sec or faster

Minimum frame interval: ≤ 1 sec

Camera stabilisation: gyro-stabilised mount that automatically corrects for aircraft pitch / role / yaw

Georeferencing: All photographs should be georeferenced as accurately as possible.

Forward motion compensation: ≤ 1.5 pixels forward motion blur at 130 kts ground speed. Some type of active FMC is likely necessary to allow for slow shutter speeds in poor light conditions.

Monitors: Ideally the system would include three monitors:

1. pilot’s monitor to guide pilot onto survey tracks
2. camera operator’s ‘monitor 1’ for selecting, monitoring, and adjusting survey flight tracks. It usually isn’t possible to stick to a pre-flight survey plan, so it must be possible to quickly change the order and/or flight direction of different survey runs in-flight to conduct survey flights as efficiently as possible.
3. camera operator’s ‘monitor 2’ for checking image quality

Software: Software packages should cover all aspects of survey planning, survey flight management & guidance, and image processing (eg, georeferencing, stitching, orthorectifying).

System size: small footprint to allow installation in different types of small (4- or 6-seater) aircraft (eg, Vulcanair / Partenavia P68, Piper PA-23 Aztec, or smaller). The system must fit a camera hatch that is 45 cm wide and 20 cm deep.

System installation and operation: easy and quick to install in and remove from aircraft by one or two people. System must be operable by one person (not the pilot).

Please see ITT for full requirements. Additional information: All tenders for the University of St Andrews are administered through our eTendering System (InTend).To Express an Interest please go to our tender website at intendhost.co.uk/universityofstandrews ↗

Please note that 'Notes of Interest' placed via PCS (Public Contracts Scotland) are not automatically accepted