EAGE London Chapter Lecture
By Dr Beth Mortimer, University of Oxford
We need to be able to assess the movements and behaviours of animals in a non-invasive way to inform policies for how to protect them in their natural environment. Seismic monitoring has potential in this area, especially with large megafauna such as elephants or giraffes that generate seismic waves with their footfalls.
The loud and low frequency vocalisations of wildlife can be detected with seismic sensors, where elephants are thought to communicate with each other using ground-based vibrations. This talk will introduce the University's research aiming to assess whether seismic sensors can be utilised for wildlife monitoring, focussing on both elephant rumble vocalisations and footfalls.
Conducting their fieldwork at the Mpala Research Centre in Kenya, the team deployed an array of STRYDE seismic sensors to capture high-resolution seismic data, providing critical insights into elephant communication and movement.
Leveraging the world’s smallest, lightest, and most affordable seismic sensors, the team rapidly completed their field operations with maximum efficiency and minimal costs.
