Where’s Whaledo: A software toolkit for array localization of animal vocalizations. Snyder, E. R., A. Solsona-Berga, S. Baumann-Pickering, K. E. Frasier, S. M. Wiggins, and J. A. Hildebrand. PLoS Computational Biology. 2024. 20:e1011456
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Date Published:
  • May 20, 2024

Where’s Whaledo is a software toolkit that uses a combination of automated processes and user interfaces to greatly accelerate the process of reconstructing animal tracks from arrays of passive acoustic recording devices. Passive acoustic localization is a non-invasive yet powerful way to contribute to species conservation. By tracking animals through their acoustic signals, important information on diving patterns, movement behavior, habitat use, and feeding dynamics can be obtained. This method is useful for helping to understand habitat use, observe behavioral responses to noise, and develop potential mitigation strategies. Animal tracking using passive acoustic localization requires an acoustic array to detect signals of interest, associate detections on various receivers, and estimate the most likely source location by using the time difference of arrival (TDOA) of sounds on multiple receivers. Where’s Whaledo combines data from two small-aperture volumetric arrays and a variable number of individual receivers

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