Publications (FIS)

Analytical volume model for optimized spatial radar bat detection in onshore wind parks

authored by: Jannes Kreutzfeldt, Carolin Floeter, Thies Lingner, Lukas Schmitz-Beuting, Michael Reich, Veit Dominik Kunz
Abstract: To develop mitigation measures for the protection of bats in close proximity to onshore wind turbines, new detection techniques covering large-scale environments and techniques, which are able to track individuals are required. Radar based observations, successfully applied in ornithological studies, offer a promising potential, but come with challenges regarding the comparability of measurements and noise interference (ground clutter) from objects within detection range. This paper presents improvements of a commercially available inexpensive pulse radar for 3D spatial detection of bat-sized objects in onshore wind parks. A new analytical spatial detection volume model is presented incorporating calibrated radar data and landscape parameters such as clutter. Computer simulation programs to process the analytical spatial detection volume model were developed. For model calibration, the minimum signal power of the radar was experimentally determined with the radar cross section (RCS) of an artificial bat (similar to Nyctalus noctula), resulting in a maximum detection range of 800 m and a corresponding RCS of 12.7 cm². Additionally, the spatial volume for radar detection was optimized with a clutter shielding fence (CSF). Adjusting the volume model by incorporating a theoretical model of the CSF, an extension of the detection volume by a factor of 2.5 was achieved, while the total volume of a 105o horizontal angular radar image section yields 0.0105 km³. Extrapolation and comparison with state-of-the-art acoustic bat detection result in a 270 times larger volume, confirming the large-scale detection capabilities of the pulse radar.
Organisation(s): Institute of Environmental Planning
External Organisation(s): Hamburg University of Applied Sciences
Type: Article
Journal: PLOS ONE
Volume: 15
ISSN: 1932-6203
Publication date: 30.09.2020
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: General
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0239911 (Access: Open)
https://doi.org/10.15488/12636 (Access: Open)

BibTeX

@article{d175c52663ac4de289efa87efc0409ef,
title = "Analytical volume model for optimized spatial radar bat detection in onshore wind parks",
abstract = "To develop mitigation measures for the protection of bats in close proximity to onshore wind turbines, new detection techniques covering large-scale environments and techniques, which are able to track individuals are required. Radar based observations, successfully applied in ornithological studies, offer a promising potential, but come with challenges regarding the comparability of measurements and noise interference (ground clutter) from objects within detection range. This paper presents improvements of a commercially available inexpensive pulse radar for 3D spatial detection of bat-sized objects in onshore wind parks. A new analytical spatial detection volume model is presented incorporating calibrated radar data and landscape parameters such as clutter. Computer simulation programs to process the analytical spatial detection volume model were developed. For model calibration, the minimum signal power of the radar was experimentally determined with the radar cross section (RCS) of an artificial bat (similar to Nyctalus noctula), resulting in a maximum detection range of 800 m and a corresponding RCS of 12.7 cm2. Additionally, the spatial volume for radar detection was optimized with a clutter shielding fence (CSF). Adjusting the volume model by incorporating a theoretical model of the CSF, an extension of the detection volume by a factor of 2.5 was achieved, while the total volume of a 105o horizontal angular radar image section yields 0.0105 km3. Extrapolation and comparison with state-of-the-art acoustic bat detection result in a 270 times larger volume, confirming the large-scale detection capabilities of the pulse radar.",
author = "Jannes Kreutzfeldt and Carolin Floeter and Thies Lingner and Lukas Schmitz-Beuting and Michael Reich and Kunz, {Veit Dominik}",
year = "2020",
month = sep,
day = "30",
doi = "10.1371/journal.pone.0239911",
language = "English",
volume = "15",
journal = "PLOS ONE",
issn = "1932-6203",
publisher = "Public Library of Science",
number = "9",
}