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MASE: An Instrument Designed to Record Underwater Soundscape
Iván Rodríguez-Méndez1, Jonas Philipp Lüke1, Fernando Luis Rosa González1
1Department of Industrial Engineering, University of La Laguna, P.O. Box 456, 38200 La Laguna, Spain.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|May 20, 2022
Summary
Researchers developed a low-cost instrument, MASE, for real-time marine soundscape monitoring using ecoacoustic indices. This technology reduces data volume and enables long-term ecological studies, aiding conservation efforts.
Area of Science:
- Ecoacoustics and Marine Bioacoustics
- Environmental Monitoring and Conservation Technology
- Underwater Acoustic Signal Processing
Background:
- Soundscape analysis is crucial for understanding ecosystem health, informing conservation policies, and identifying environmental changes.
- Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) offers a non-invasive method for studying marine animal populations and the impact of anthropogenic noise.
- Traditional PAM systems face challenges with data storage, processing capacity, high costs, and data transmission, especially in offshore environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose and evaluate a novel, low-cost instrument for continuous, real-time marine soundscape monitoring.
- To reduce the significant data burden associated with long-term acoustic monitoring in marine ecosystems.
- To enable long-term characterization of marine soundscapes and assess changes, including anthropogenic acoustic impacts.
Main Methods:
- Development of the Marine Acoustic Soundscape Equipment (MASE), a low-cost instrument designed for marine environments.
- MASE provides three key ecoacoustic indices at 10-minute intervals, facilitating real-time data availability and reduced data volume.
- Deployment and continuous operation of MASE for 1.5 years in Gando Bay, Gran Canaria, with remote data access via an external server.
Main Results:
- MASE demonstrated uninterrupted operation and structural integrity over 1.5 years, maintaining internal temperature and preserving data.
- The instrument successfully monitored and characterized the soundscape of Gando Bay, providing real-time ecoacoustic indices.
- Data allowed for the comparison of acoustic conditions during periods of confinement versus the return of anthropogenic activity.
Conclusions:
- The MASE instrument offers a cost-effective and efficient solution for long-term marine soundscape monitoring.
- Real-time ecoacoustic indices significantly reduce data management challenges, making continuous monitoring feasible.
- This technology supports ecological research, conservation policy, and the assessment of human impacts on marine sound environments.
