Evaluation of an unmanned aircraft system for detecting surrogate caribou targets in Labrador1

Regular, standardized population inventories have been suggested as an important component to the recovery of declining populations of boreal caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou). Current survey methods typically employ manned aircraft, which can be noisy, expensive to operate, and dangerous for the people conducting the surveys. Small unmanned aerial systems (UAS) have garnered attention as a promising alterative to conducting aerial surveys in manned aircraft. Our research investigates the feasibility of using an UAS to conduct aerial surveys and determine which factors affect the detection of surrogate caribou targets, and hence may affect detection of real caribou. In the fall of 2013, we tested the capabilities of the Brican TD100E, a small, electric-powered fixed-wing UAS, to fly beyond visual line of sight near Goose Bay, Labrador. Seven surveys were done using different flight paths to collect aerial images of 26 surrogate caribou targets placed in six different habitats. Mixed effects logistic reg...