Abstract
Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI) collaborated with the University of Maine School of Computing and Information Science (UMaine SCIS), HiDef Aerial Surveying, Limited (HiDef), and SunEdison, Inc. (formerly First Wind) to test a stereo-optic camera system for documenting aerofauna interactions with wind turbines. The team also further developed the monitoring system, which uses an image-processing algorithm to detect and track daytime and nighttime aerofauna and assist video reviewers in parsing large amounts of visual data. Each of these components had not been tested in the field, so we had an opportunity to test and improve these components based on realistic deployment conditions. These developments allowed us to bring this technology closer to market and provide additional data for understanding aerofauna exposure to wind turbines. This project supports the Department of Energy (DOE) Wind Energy Technologies Office (WETO) goals of lowering the unsubsidized, levelized cost of energy (LCOE), and alleviates a significant market barrier to wind power development by reducing the uncertainty surrounding avian avoidance behavior and collision risk.