E-Thesis 161 views 437 downloads
The Biophone: Developing and Testing a Bioacoustic Recorder for Science and Citizen Science / DAVID TODD-JONES
Swansea University Author: DAVID TODD-JONES
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Copyright: the author, David Todd-Jones, 2025. Distributed under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (CC BY 4.0).
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Abstract
Bioacoustic Recorders (BARs) are specialised audio sensors for monitoring wildlife that have gained significant traction in academia to track species and understand biodiversity. Advancements in the underlying hardware have been key drivers for this growing popularity. However, the cost, power constr...
| Published: |
Swansea
2025
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| Institution: | Swansea University |
| Degree level: | Master of Research |
| Degree name: | MSc by Research |
| Supervisor: | Jennings, M. R., Lewis, R. P., and Guy, O. J. |
| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa71087 |
| Abstract: |
Bioacoustic Recorders (BARs) are specialised audio sensors for monitoring wildlife that have gained significant traction in academia to track species and understand biodiversity. Advancements in the underlying hardware have been key drivers for this growing popularity. However, the cost, power constraints and expertise required have limited the scale of their use. This thesis documents the research, development and testing of a new BAR device, the “Biophone”, designed for both academic researchers and non-expert citizen scientists. The context of use and underlying hard-ware for BAR devices are explored in a literature review. The investigated hardware includes: Microcontroller Units (MCUs), Single Board Computers (SBCs), power electronics, microphones, signal processing and flash storage. This project involved building and testing two versions of the device: v1.0, with a 10 A h Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery, and v1.1, with a 30 A h Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery, as well as several other improvements to the design. For laboratory-based tests, an intermediary current-sense circuit was built, and waveforms were taken from oscilloscope and voltage-logger readings, with key observed waveforms described. In the lab, the Biophones had an effective deployment time of 3.91 days and 24.73 days for v1.0 and v1.1 respectively, when recording at the maximum Root Mean Square (RMS) power consumption of 93.99 mA, or 310.17 mW. In the field, a deployment time of 23 days for v1.0 was observed, recording with a bespoke schedule for the internal boards.Analysis of this deployment data identified 26 species of birds using the BirdNET algorithm. Furthermore, the computed acoustic indices revealed a distinct dawn chorus across all sites, along with a discernible variation in acoustic diversity among them. The closing chapters of this thesis discuss the key takeaways, the contribution and limitations of the study and the necessary further tests and development of this device. |
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| Keywords: |
Bioacoustic, Bioacoustic Recorder (BAR), Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM), Ecoacoustic, Soundscape, Spectrogram, Autonomous Recording Unit (ARU), Field Recorder, Citizen Science, Conservation Technology, Wildlife, Monitoring, Sound Recording, Single Board Computer (SBC), AudioMoth, Microphone, Power Consumption. |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |