Image-Based Otter Density Survey System And Method

Abstract

The present invention relates to an image-based otter density survey system and method, and more specifically, to an image-based otter density survey system and method comprising: a camera that switches from standby mode to shooting mode and photographs a target area for a preset time when it detects the movement of an otter in an installation space; a line placed in the installation space such that a predetermined interval is displayed and the target area becomes the center line of the field of view in the captured image; and a computer device that acquires the image and analyzes the movement of the otter using the image.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an image-based otter density survey system and method. Background Technology

[0002] Otters are Class 1 endangered mammals. As otters have recently been spreading nationwide, they are frequently appearing in urban environments. Consequently, contact with humans is increasing, and the importance of otter management is growing. To manage otters, it is essential to first understand their distribution.

[0003] Otters are primarily nocturnal and avoid humans, making it difficult to determine their distribution through direct observation. Consequently, many conventional researchers have estimated otter populations using indirect indicators such as droppings and tracks; however, this approach yields somewhat subjective results as the findings vary depending on the researcher's knowledge and experience.

[0004] Furthermore, as the survey methods are not quantified, the distribution of otters is estimated across the country using different methods. Since data derived from these different methods cannot be compared, they must be used as one-time data.

[0005] Therefore, there is an urgent need in this technical field for an otter density survey system and method that provides consistent and quantified survey results for more accurate determination of the otter population. Prior art literature

[0006] Korean Registered Patent Publication No. 10-2397880 Korean Registered Patent Publication No. 10-2242556 The problem to be solved

[0007] The present invention aims to solve the aforementioned problems and to obtain an otter density survey system and method that provides consistent and quantified survey results for more accurate determination of the otter population.

[0008] The technical problems that the present invention aims to solve are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned technical problems can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the present invention. means of solving the problem

[0009] To achieve the above objective, the image-based otter density survey system of the present invention provides: a camera that switches from standby mode to shooting mode and photographs a target area for a preset time when it detects the movement of an otter in the installation space; a line placed in the installation space such that a predetermined interval is displayed and the target area becomes the center line of the field of view in the captured image; and a computer device that acquires the image and analyzes the movement of the otter using the image.

[0010] To achieve the above objective, the image-based otter density survey method of the present invention provides: an otter shooting step in which, when the movement of an otter is detected in an installation space by a camera, the camera switches from a standby mode to a shooting mode and a target area is captured for a preset time; and an analysis step in which an image of the captured target area is acquired by at least one processor of a computer device, and the movement of the otter is analyzed using the image. Effects of the invention

[0011] As described above, according to the present invention, by utilizing an image of a target area and a Random Encounter Model (REM), the density of otters inhabiting the installation space can be calculated, and accordingly, there is an effect of enabling a more objectively quantified otter distribution survey than in the past.

[0012] The effects of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned effects will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the detailed description and claims. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0013] Figure 1 is a configuration diagram of the image-based otter density survey system of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a drawing showing an image according to the field of view (FOV) of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an image of a target area captured according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a plan view according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 is a flowchart of the image-based otter density survey method of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a detailed flowchart for generating a plan view according to an embodiment of FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a detailed flowchart for analyzing the movement of an otter according to an embodiment of FIG. 5. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0014] The terms used in this specification have been selected based on currently widely used general terms whenever possible, taking into account their functions in the present invention; however, these terms may vary depending on the intent of those skilled in the art, case law, the emergence of new technologies, etc. Additionally, in specific cases, terms have been arbitrarily selected by the applicant, and in such cases, their meanings will be described in detail in the relevant description of the invention. Therefore, the terms used in this invention should be defined not merely by their names, but based on their meanings and the overall content of the invention.

[0015] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as generally understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant technology, and should not be interpreted in an ideal or overly formal sense unless explicitly defined in this application. Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0017] Image-based otter density survey system

[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, the image-based otter density survey system of the present invention comprises: a camera (100) that switches from standby mode to shooting mode and photographs a target area for a preset time when it detects the movement of an otter in the installation space; a predetermined interval is displayed, and in the image (A) in which the target area is photographed, a center line of the viewing angle (L center It includes a line (200) placed in the installation space to be ) and a computer device (300) that acquires the image (A) and analyzes the movement of an otter using the image (A).

[0019] First, the camera (100) can be installed on land within a few meters (m) of the water surface, for example, within 5 meters, facing the water's edge. The camera (100) can be installed at a height of tens to hundreds of centimeters (cm), for example, 100 cm, from the ground. This is an installation method that utilizes the characteristics of otters and otter habitats. The camera (100) can be installed on a tree or bridge pillar, or installed using a separate stand and / or support.

[0020] The camera (100) may further include a memory (110) having a certain storage space to store an image (A) of the target area. The camera (100) may transmit the image (A) stored in the memory (110), such as a MicroSD card, to the computer device (300) via wired or wireless communication in real time or at a specific time. Alternatively, the memory (110) may be periodically extracted from the camera (100) by an investigator and inserted directly or indirectly into the computer device (300). The computer device (300) may acquire the image (A) by recognizing the memory (110).

[0021] The camera (100) sets the standby mode to its initial state. If no movement of the object, the otter, is detected, the standby mode is maintained. Here, the standby mode is a state in which power is applied but no shooting is taking place, and shooting is in standby mode with minimal standby power. When the movement of the object, the otter, is detected, the camera (100) can switch from the standby mode to the shooting mode, and the shooting mode can be operated. Here, the shooting mode is a state in which a target area is photographed for a preset time. The camera (100) can output multiple images by shooting at intervals during the preset time, or output a video by shooting continuously during the preset time. The shooting method of the camera (100) is not limited to a specific method. Meanwhile, considering battery consumption due to malfunction and the retention of the recording medium, the camera (100) can shoot again after a few seconds following shooting for the preset time.

[0022] In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the camera (100) can capture only a part of the installation space according to the optical specifications, which is called the field of view (FOV). The target area mentioned in the present invention is the installation space included in the field of view (FOV) among the installation spaces, and the image mentioned in the present invention is data in which the target area is captured. The image may capture only the target area, capture the target area and the line (200) within the target area, or capture the target area and the otter within the target area. The image may include a line image in which the line (200) is captured and an otter image in which the otter is captured. The size of the image may be expressed in width (W) and height (H).

[0023] Next, the line (200) may be marked with a predetermined interval in units of several meters (m). For example, the total length of the line (200) is 10m, and the interval may be marked in units of 1m. Referring to FIG. 3(a), the line (200) is the center line of the viewing angle (L) in the image in which the target area is captured. center It is placed in the above installation space so as to be (white). The above line (200) is not limited to a specific material and shape.

[0024] The above line (200) is provided to correct the distance error between the actual and the virtual, and the center line of the viewing angle (L) from the computer device (300) center If ) is set, it is most desirable to remove it from the installation space. This is because otters, being wild animals, tend to be quite sensitive to unfamiliar objects, so human traces are minimized to allow for a more accurate investigation.

[0025] Next, the computer device (300) may include at least one processor (310) and a recording medium (320). The recording medium (320) may be, for example, a CD, DVD, hard disk (HDD), USB, memory card, ROM, SSD, etc. And the image-based otter density survey method of the present invention may be implemented by the at least one processor (310) in the computer device (300) reading the recording medium (320).

[0026] First, the above at least one processor (310) is the angle of view centerline (L center Based on ), a virtual grid (L) on the above image grid Generate ) and the virtual grid (L grid It is characterized by including a plan drawing generation unit (311) that generates a plan drawing (B) based on ).

[0027] The above plan view generation unit (311) can generate a plan view (B) using a line image in which only the region of interest and the line (200) are captured before the otter is photographed. The line (200) has a predetermined interval marked on it. Accordingly, the above plan view generation unit (311) can create a virtual grid (L) on the image according to the predetermined interval of the line (200). grid A horizontal line of ) can be generated. And the line (200) is captured at the center of the vertical axis in the image. Therefore, the plan view generating unit (311) generates the line (200) captured in the image as the center line of the viewing angle (L center ) and the above angle of view centerline (L center A virtual grid (L) on the above image according to predetermined intervals to the left and right based on ) grid It can generate vertical lines of ). At this time, the plan view generating unit (311) can generate a virtual grid (L grid If the horizontal lines of ) are generated at 1m intervals, the virtual grid (L grid The vertical lines of ) are also generated at 1m intervals to form a square virtual grid (L grid Can generate ).

[0028] However, as in the embodiment of FIG. 2, the camera (100) has a field of view (FOV), and as in FIG. 3 (b) to (c), a virtual grid (L) within the image grid ) can only be displayed according to the field of view (FOV). In order to accurately analyze the movement of the otter, image flattening is required. Looking at an embodiment of FIG. 4, the planar view generating unit (311) uses the virtual grid (L grid It is possible to generate a plan view (B) that has the same number of grids and grid arrangement as ), and where all grids have the same square size.

[0029] Next, the at least one processor (310) has a camera position (P) in the plan view (B). camera It is characterized by further including a position designation unit (312) that designates the initial position (P1) and the final position (P2) of the otter, respectively, and a parameter calculation unit (313) that calculates parameters for a Random Encounter Model (REM) using the positions designated in the plan view (B).

[0030] In calculating parameters, the parameter calculation unit (313) can calculate the distance traveled along the path, which is the path the otter traveled from the initial position (P1) to the final position (P2). The parameter calculation unit (313) can also calculate the otter's speed of movement (μ) by dividing the distance traveled by the preset time.

[0031] In addition, the parameter calculation unit (313) is the camera position (P camera ) and the otter's initial position (P1) can be connected by a straight line. At this time, the parameter calculation unit (313) is the camera position (P camera The straight-line distance (r) of the straight line connecting the ) and the otter's initial position (P1) can be further calculated. The parameter calculation unit (313) calculates the camera position (P cameraThe straight line connecting ) and the otter's initial position (P1) and the above-mentioned center line of the viewing angle (L center The angle (θ) formed by ) can be further calculated. Meanwhile, the parameter calculation unit (313) can further calculate the shooting angle of the camera (100) by calculating the angle (θ) by doubling it.

[0032] That is, the parameters mentioned in the present invention are the movement speed (μ) of the otter and the camera position (P camera The straight-line distance (r) between ) and the otter's initial position (P1) and the camera position (P camera The straight line connecting ) and the otter's initial position (P1) and the above-mentioned center line of the viewing angle (L center The angle (θ) formed by ) may be included.

[0033] Next, the above-mentioned at least one processor (310) is further characterized by including a density calculation unit (314) that installs at least one R package based on the R language and registers it in a library, and calculates the density of otters for the installation space using a Random Encounter Model (REM) defined in the at least one R package.

[0034] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the R package (R Package) may include an Activity package, a rappingmotion package, and a RandEM package.

[0035] First, the density calculation unit (314) can install an Activity package and register it in the library, and can load the movement speed (μ) of the otter calculated from the parameter calculation unit (313) and the appearance time of the otter appearing in the image as data. The Activity package may be a model in which the movement speed (μ) of the otter and the appearance time are input variables, and the relationship of influence between the input variables is predefined using mathematical formulas, etc. That is, by loading the movement speed (μ) of the otter and the appearance time of the otter into the Activity package, the activity level value of the otter photographed in the installation space can be output. The closer the activity level value is to 1, the more consistently the otter photographed in the installation space behaved for 24 hours a day; the closer it is to 0, the more the otter photographed in the installation space behaved only during a specific short period of time and did not behave during the remaining time periods excluding that specific short period of time.

[0036] Additionally, the density calculation unit (314) can install the Trappingmotion package and register it in the library, and can load the activity level value and the otter's movement speed (μ) or the otter's average movement speed. The Trappingmotion package may be a model with a predefined mathematical formula in which the otter's daily movement distance (v) is calculated by multiplying the activity level value and the otter's average movement speed as input variables. That is, the Trappingmotion package can output the otter's daily movement distance (v) captured in the installation space by loading the activity level value and the otter's movement speed (μ) or the otter's average movement speed.

[0037] In addition, the density calculation unit (314) can install the RandEM package and register it in the library, and can load data for the input variables mentioned below. The random encounter model (REM) mentioned in the present invention may be a model defined by the following [Equation 1] within the RandEM package for calculating the density of otters. That is, the random encounter model (REM) can output the density (D) of otters for the installation space by loading data for the input variables mentioned below.

[0038]

[0039] Here, D is the density of otters in the installation space, y is the number of otter images captured in the installation space, t is the total number of survey days, Π is pi, v is the daily travel distance, and r is the camera position (P camera The straight-line distance θ of the line connecting ) and the otter's initial position (P1) is the camera position (P camera The straight line connecting ) and the otter's initial position (P1) and the above-mentioned center line of the viewing angle (L center It is the angle formed by ).

[0040] Accordingly, according to the present invention, there is a significant effect of objectively quantifying the density (D) of otters in an installation space using an image captured from the camera (100) and at least one R package based on the R language.

[0042] Image-based otter density survey method

[0043] Referring to FIG. 5, the image-based otter density survey method of the present invention includes an otter shooting step (S400) in which, when the movement of an otter is detected in the installation space by a camera (100), the camera switches from a standby mode to a shooting mode and a target area is photographed for a preset time; an otter image acquisition step (S500) in which an otter image of an otter within the target area is acquired by at least one processor (310) of a computer device (300); and an analysis step (S600) in which the movement of an otter is analyzed using the otter image by the at least one processor (310).

[0044] In addition, the present invention, by means of the camera (100), a line placed in the installation space is a center line of the viewing angle (L) in an image (A) in which the target area is captured. center A line shooting step (S100) in which a line is captured such that ) is formed, a line image acquisition step (S200) in which a line image of a line (200) within the target area is captured by the at least one processor (310) and the center line of the viewing angle (L) by the at least one processor (310) center ) serves as the standard for the virtual grid (L grid ) is generated, and the virtual grid (L grid It is characterized by further including a plan drawing generation step (S300) in which a plan drawing (B) is generated based on ).

[0045] In addition, the analysis step (S600) includes a camera position (P) on the plan view (B). camera It is characterized by including a position designation step (S610) in which the initial position (P1) and the final position (P2) of the otter are each designated, and a parameter calculation step (S620) in which parameters for a Random Encounter Model (REM) are calculated using the positions designated in the plan view (B).

[0046] Additionally, the analysis step (S600) further comprises an R package registration step (S630) in which at least one R package based on the R language is installed and registered in a library, and a density calculation step (S640) in which a Random Encounter Model (REM) defined in the at least one R package is used to calculate the density of otters in the installation space.

[0048] The embodiments may be implemented by hardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode, a hardware description language, or any combination thereof. Where implemented by software, firmware, middleware, or microcode, program code or code segments that perform the necessary tasks may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium and executed by one or more processors.

[0049] Furthermore, aspects of the subject matter described herein may be described in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules or components executed by a computer. Generally, program modules or components include routines, programs, objects, and data structures that perform specific tasks or implement specific data types. The aspects of the subject matter described herein may be implemented in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices linked through a communication network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located on both local and remote computer storage media, including memory storage devices.

[0050] Although the embodiments have been described above with reference to limited examples and drawings, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations from the description above. For example, suitable results may be achieved even if the described techniques are performed in a different order than described, and / or the components of the system, structure, device, circuit, etc. described are combined or assembled in a form different from the described method, or are replaced or substituted by other components or equivalents.

[0051] Therefore, other implementations, other embodiments, and equivalents to the claims also fall within the scope of the claims set forth below. Explanation of the symbols

[0052] 100.. Camera 110.. Memory 200.. lines 300.. computer device 310.. at least one processor 311.. Floor Plan Generation Unit 312.. Location designation section 313.. Parameter Calculation Unit 314.. Density calculation section 320.. Recording media L center .. Angle of view centerline L grid .. virtual grid P1.. Initial location P2.. Final location P camera .. camera position A.. Image B. Floor plan S100.. Line shooting stage S200.. Line image acquisition stage S300.. Floor plan generation stage S400.. Otter shooting stage S500.. Otter image acquisition stage S600.. Analysis stage S610.. Positioning step S620.. Parameter calculation step S630.. R package registration step S640.. Density calculation step

Claims

Claim 1 An image-based otter density survey system comprising: a camera that switches from standby mode to shooting mode and photographs a target area for a preset time when it detects the movement of an otter in the installation space; a line placed in the installation space such that a predetermined interval is displayed and the target area becomes the center line of the field of view in the captured image; and a computer device that acquires the image and analyzes the movement of the otter using the image. Claim 2 An image-based otter density survey system according to claim 1, wherein the computer device comprises at least one processor; and a recording medium; and the at least one processor comprises a plan view generation unit that generates a virtual grid on the image based on the center line of the viewing angle and generates a plan view based on the virtual grid. Claim 3 An image-based otter density survey system according to claim 2, wherein the at least one processor further comprises: a position designation unit that designates a camera position, an initial position of an otter, and a final position of an otter, respectively, on the plan view; and a parameter calculation unit that calculates parameters for a Random Encounter Model (REM) using the positions designated on the plan view. Claim 4 An image-based otter density survey system according to claim 2, further comprising: a density calculation unit in which the at least one processor installs and registers at least one R package based on the R language in a library, and calculates the density of otters in the installation space using a Random Encounter Model (REM) defined in the at least one R package. Claim 5 An image-based otter density survey method comprising: an otter shooting step in which, when the movement of an otter is detected in an installation space by a camera, the camera switches from standby mode to shooting mode and captures a target area for a preset time; an otter image acquisition step in which an otter image of an otter captured within the target area is acquired by at least one processor of a computer device; and an analysis step in which the movement of an otter is analyzed using the otter image by at least one processor. Claim 6 An image-based otter density survey method according to claim 5, further comprising: a line shooting step in which a line placed in the installation space is captured by the camera such that the target area becomes the center line of the field of view in the captured image; a line image acquisition step in which a line image of a line within the target area is acquired by the at least one processor; and a plan view generation step in which a virtual grid is generated by the center line of the field of view as a reference and a plan view is generated based on the virtual grid as a basis by the at least one processor. Claim 7 An image-based otter density survey method according to claim 6, wherein the analysis step comprises: a position designation step in which a camera position, an initial position of an otter, and a final position of an otter are respectively designated on the plan view; and a parameter calculation step in which parameters for a Random Encounter Model (REM) are calculated using the positions designated on the plan view. Claim 8 An image-based otter density survey method according to claim 5, wherein the analysis step comprises: an R package registration step in which at least one R package based on the R language is installed and registered in a library; and a density calculation step in which a Random Encounter Model (REM) defined in the at least one R package is used to calculate the density of otters for the installation space.

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