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From: prinz@cod.NOSC.MIL (Robert A. Prinzivalli)
Newsgroups: sci.research,sci.electronics,sci.physics,sci.environment
Subject: Infrared detection of wildlife
Keywords: infrared,detection,research,elephant
Message-ID: <2492@cod.NOSC.MIL>
Date: 26 Nov 90 23:06:38 GMT
Organization: Naval Ocean Systems Center, San Diego
Lines: 28


        I am a systems engineer (EE) who is attempting to help the 
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and Wildlife Conservation International
(WCI) with a technical solution to one of their more difficult problems.
The problem is how to detect and count elephants in a dense rainforest.
        One method that is the current hot topic of debate is whether or 
not infrared detectors would be able to detect the presence ofan elephants    s
thermal emissions (at night?) throught a dense forest canopy.   Since there
is no clear proof either way, we would like to conduct some tests to answer
this question once and for all. 
        We are considering two tests to be conducted at the San Diego Wild
Animal Park.  The first test is simply to determine what the frequency of
any thermal emissions might be.  Since this is not my area of expertise,
I would appreciate it if someone out there could tell me what type of 
instrument would be best suited for this purpose; a bolometer, a radiance
spectrometer; a radiometer or what?   Also, since the KWS and WCI have very
little money to spend on this project, could you tell me where I might be
able to rent or borrow (preferably borrow) such a device.  The second test
would be conducted from a small aircraft with some portable instrument
capable of detecting emissions of the type and frequency determined in 
the first test.  Again, what type of device would be best and do you know   
where I might rent or borrow one. 
        If anyone would like to volunteer their help you can answer via
arpanet or call me at the Naval Ocean Systems Center, San Diego at (619)
553 -3603.
        Thanks in advance for any assistance you can give.

                             Bob Prinzivalli