Essery, Scott (2024) Automated Mammal Nest Box Protection. [USQ Project]
![[img]](https://sear.unisq.edu.au/style/images/fileicons/text.png) |
Text (Project – redacted)
Essery_S_Research_Thesis_Redacted.pdf Download (6MB) |
Abstract
The continued reduction of native forests and habitats, coupled with a booming population of exotic predators and competing feral animals, is putting significant stress on small native Australian animals that require a nest to reproduce and thrive. The purpose of this study is to investigate the feasibility of leveraging new technologies to provide support to a target species of animal in their natural environment.
By reviewing past research projects in wildlife conservation which utilised electronic and automated systems and tools, this study collates common benefits and challenges indicated by the researchers in order to identify key criteria that a successful system would be required to meet. With key criteria identified, design and construction of a system designed to support nesting mammals was performed.
Tests of the various electronic components indicated that a nest box could be feasibly protected by an automated system that leveraged new advancements in compact computing, object and image recognition, and wireless reporting systems.
This study only analysed the technical capability to design and construct a system that could autonomously perform object detection, animal recognition, and operate the locking mechanism. Further study into how a live untrained animal would interact with a system is required to analyse whether the animal would both approach the nestbox, and whether they would positively interact with the nest box door.
|
Statistics for this ePrint Item |
| Item Type: | USQ Project |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Current – Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Engineering (1 Jan 2022 -) |
| Supervisors: | Long, Derek |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Mechatronic) |
| Date Deposited: | 07 Oct 2025 04:25 |
| Last Modified: | 07 Oct 2025 04:25 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | technologies; native mammals; Australia |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/53036 |
Actions (login required)
 |
Archive Repository Staff Only |
