Book Description

In 1981, the U.S. Army initiated a program with the JHU Applied Physics Laboratory to investigate the potential of developing small platform transmitter terminals (PTTs) to be mounted on animals and tracked by the French-U.S., Argos satellite system. The program was designed to provide a capability that could track migratory birds and other widely ranging species anywhere on Earth. Since the inception of the program, miniaturization has led to the commercialization and fielding of PTTs that weight less than 20gm and can interface with an array of sensors. Beginning in FY 94 the DoD's Legacy Resource Management Program and SERDP funded related projects to develop, demonstrate, promote and improve satellite tracking and monitoring systems for resource management and conservation on military lands. These projects were planned and executed in parallel. This Resource Managers' Technical Review summarizes: the Legacy/SERDP projects; the current state of how these systems and capabilities have been effectively used on a global scale; Current and planned innovative applications of these technologies for resource management on federal and private lands; and Future development opportunities.