Issue 8, March 2009

VPS Positioning Accuracy within Four Metres or Better

In the November 2008 newsletter, VEMCO announced new capabilities of the popular and affordable VR2W passive monitoring receiver, the VR2W Positioning System (VPS). With as few as three VR2Ws and a few synchronization tags, you can study movements of your tagged animals from within a few meters up to many kilometers!

Over time, you can add as many VR2Ws as you need to further expand your coverage. The design is wireless and very easy to implement - a fully functioning system can be up and running in just one day. If you add a depth sensor to your tags, you can explore three-dimensional behavior of your animals as well. By using VPS, you can monitor changes in animal behavior over seasons and years while investigating subtle changes in habitat and environmental preferences.

We recently assisted Dr. Terry Dick of the University of Manitoba with implementing a positioning study of lake trout in Chitty Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada. The Google Earth image below shows the movement of the fish for a three month period. The green dots represent VR2W positions with synchronization transmitters. The red track represents movements of the lake trout while the white track represents movements during the spawning period. Positioning accuracy was four metres or better.

If you are interested in VPS, VEMCO will work with you to design a comprehensive system layout in accordance with a precise set of design guidelines. It is imperative that the system be deployed properly to enable the secure capture of information to ensure study accuracy and success.