In this section
@article{Heath:2024:10.1111/2041-210x.14390,
author = {Heath, BE and Suzuki, R and LePenru, NP and Skinner, J and Orme, CDL and Ewers, RM and Sethi, SS and Picinali, L},
doi = {10.1111/2041-210x.14390},
journal = {Methods in Ecology and Evolution},
pages = {1568--1579},
title = {Spatial ecosystem monitoring with a Multichannel Acoustic Autonomous Recording Unit (MAARU)},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/2041-210x.14390},
volume = {15},
year = {2024}
}
TY - JOUR
AB - 1. Multi-microphone recording adds spatial information to recorded audio with emerging applications in ecosystem monitoring. Specifically placing sounds in space can improve animal count accuracy, locate illegal activity like logging and poaching, track animals to monitor behaviour and habitat use and allow for ‘beamforming’ to amplify sounds from target directions for downstream classification. Studies have shown many advantages of spatial acoustics, but uptake remains limited as the equipment is often expensive, complicated, inaccessible or only suitable for short-term deployments.2. With an emphasis on enhanced uptake and usability, we present a low-cost, open-source, six-channel recorder built entirely from commercially available components which can be integrated into a solar-powered, online system. The MAARU (Multichannel Acoustic Autonomous Recording Unit) works as an independent node in long-term autonomous, passive and/or short-term deployments. Here, we introduce MAARU's hardware and software and present the results of lab and field tests investigating the device's durability and usability.3. MAARU records multichannel audio with similar costs and power demands to equivalent omnidirectional recorders. MAARU devices have been deployed in the United Kingdom and Brazil, where we have shown MAARUs can accurately localise pure tones up to 6 kHz and bird calls as far as 8 m away (±10° range, 100% and >60% of signals, respectively). Louder calls may have even further detection radii. We also show how beamforming can be used with MAARUs to improve species ID confidence scores.4. MAARU is an accessible, low-cost option for those looking to explore spatial acoustics accurately and easily with a single device, and without the formidable expenses and processing complications associated with establishing arrays. Ultimately, the added directional element of the multichannel recording provided by MAARU allows for enhanced recording
AU - Heath,BE
AU - Suzuki,R
AU - LePenru,NP
AU - Skinner,J
AU - Orme,CDL
AU - Ewers,RM
AU - Sethi,SS
AU - Picinali,L
DO - 10.1111/2041-210x.14390
EP - 1579
PY - 2024///
SN - 2041-210X
SP - 1568
TI - Spatial ecosystem monitoring with a Multichannel Acoustic Autonomous Recording Unit (MAARU)
T2 - Methods in Ecology and Evolution
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/2041-210x.14390
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/114206
VL - 15
ER -