WhaleScale is a project sponsored by the Duke Marine Robotics and Remote Sensing Lab, a subset of the Duke Nicholas School of the Environment. It aspires to connect researchers with accessible tools to humanely and safely measure whales from drone images, right on their own computer using a web browser. WhaleScale uses software inspired by MorphimetriX, an image processing program developed by marine megafauna researchers KC Bierlich and Walter Torres. Like ImageJ and other UAS photogrammetry tools WhaleScale gives you the ability to draw vectors, curves, and points to measure whales.

Objective: Erosion of coastal landscapes can adversely impact amphibious training and coastal infrastructure and prescribed burns are an important tool used for forest management throughout DoD installations. The commonality between coastal and fire management is the reliance on occupied aircraft for data collection, real-time monitoring, and ground support, which is expensive and a safety risk. This project aims to implement reliable unmanned aircraft systems in DoD fire and coastal zone management, thereby increasing the speed, ease, and safety of obtaining useful monitoring products for a fraction of the cost of manned operations. In addition, this project will publicize, communicate and deliver the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) demonstrations across DoD installations.

Incorporate sUAS into the civilian workflow through a unified, strategic, and operational framework for training, coordination, and application on a regional level. Builds on lessons learned from CONFIRM. The capability to collect, process, & interpret on-demand, high-resolution remotely-sensed data will transform DoD land-management by providing the latest information for optimizing decision-making processes. Lack of a strategic UAS protocol results in one-off approval processes, no real time capabilities, and no process for incorporating the capabilities, efficiency, and safety of UASs into DoD natural resources management. Solution: demonstrate and deploy a comprehensive framework for integrating UAS capabilities that addresses deficiencies and provides a safer, more cost-effective workflow.