SHAD-TAGS+: Smallest High-performance Acoustic Devices Transforming Aquatic Global Solutions
Category: IT/Electrical
Developers: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Co-Developers: Aquatic Global Solutions
Product Description:SHAD-TAGS+ is an acoustic transmitter for tracking aquatic species that were previously considered “untaggable.” Leveraging AI in design and analysis, it is five times smaller and lighter than the smallest product available, reduces total costs by 76% and delivers high 3D tracking performance, transforming the understanding of aquatic species’ behavior worldwide. Conservation efforts for endangered and threatened aquatic species require a detailed understanding of their movement and behavior in water bodies and around humanmade structures such as hydropower facilities and dams. Therefore, precise, high-resolution data are essential for the development and implementation of cost-effective mitigation strategies. Acoustic transmitters are typically employed to achieve high-resolution tracking using telemetry because of their superior detection range and tracking accuracy in three dimensions. However, the species that can be studied using acoustic telemetry are limited by the size and weight of the implanted tag, which can affect their natural behavior and movement and increase their susceptibility to predation. These size and weight limitations also restrict which life cycles can be studied, and some species are also sensitive to handling and tagging. SHAD-TAGS+ is an acoustic transmitter developed at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory for studying the behavior of sensitive species. The design of SHAD-TAGS+ overcomes the challenges faced by other market-available transmitters to achieve low size and weight while achieving high 3D tracking accuracy and efficiency. With SHAD-TAGS+, researchers can now tag and track species and life stages that were unable to be studied before and reduce the costs associated with tagging and labor. Hydropower facilities will be able to develop mitigation measures to improve fish passage and conservation strategies without sacrificing power generation.
Developers: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Co-Developers: Aquatic Global Solutions
Product Description:SHAD-TAGS+ is an acoustic transmitter for tracking aquatic species that were previously considered “untaggable.” Leveraging AI in design and analysis, it is five times smaller and lighter than the smallest product available, reduces total costs by 76% and delivers high 3D tracking performance, transforming the understanding of aquatic species’ behavior worldwide. Conservation efforts for endangered and threatened aquatic species require a detailed understanding of their movement and behavior in water bodies and around humanmade structures such as hydropower facilities and dams. Therefore, precise, high-resolution data are essential for the development and implementation of cost-effective mitigation strategies. Acoustic transmitters are typically employed to achieve high-resolution tracking using telemetry because of their superior detection range and tracking accuracy in three dimensions. However, the species that can be studied using acoustic telemetry are limited by the size and weight of the implanted tag, which can affect their natural behavior and movement and increase their susceptibility to predation. These size and weight limitations also restrict which life cycles can be studied, and some species are also sensitive to handling and tagging. SHAD-TAGS+ is an acoustic transmitter developed at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory for studying the behavior of sensitive species. The design of SHAD-TAGS+ overcomes the challenges faced by other market-available transmitters to achieve low size and weight while achieving high 3D tracking accuracy and efficiency. With SHAD-TAGS+, researchers can now tag and track species and life stages that were unable to be studied before and reduce the costs associated with tagging and labor. Hydropower facilities will be able to develop mitigation measures to improve fish passage and conservation strategies without sacrificing power generation.
