Thermal Imaging for Whale Detection and Mariner Safety
Thermal Imaging Cameras: Closing the Nighttime Tracking Gap
Thermal Imaging System Enhances Safety for Commercial Mariners & Whales
The Quiet Sound thermal imaging project deploys shore-based infrared camera systems to detect and protect marine mammals in critical Salish Sea transit corridors. By operating 24/7, this technology provides continuous tracking during nighttime and low-visibility conditions when traditional visual sightings are impossible. This project is made possible through funding from the Puget Sound Partnership, the National Fish and Wildlife with funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and US Department of Defense, and collaboration with partners like WhaleSpotter, the technology provider, and the U.S. Coast Guard, who facilitated the camera installation at Point Wilson, Washington.
How the Technology Works
How the Technology Works
Standard whale monitoring relies heavily on daytime visual reports. Quiet Sound closes the visibility gap by using specialized, shore-to-sea electro-optical infrared sensors paired with automated tracking software:
- Automated Infrared Scanning: The system continuously scans high-traffic marine corridors using advanced thermal sensors to detect the heat signatures of surfacing marine mammals.
- Computer Vision Detection: Artificial intelligence algorithms analyze video streams in real time to isolate biological blow and body dynamics from background wave action and vessel noise.
- Human Verification: Every detection is confirmed by an expert to avoid false alerts
- Rapid Alert Delivery: Once a detection is verified, the system automatically routes verified locations into the Whale Report Alert System (WRAS) network within an average of 4 minutes, broadcasting live telemetry directly to WRAS users, operational centers, and portable pilot units (PPUs).
Current Deployments & Operational Impact
Point Wilson Radar Tower (“Whale-E”)
Sitting at an elevation of 30 meters (approximately 90 feet) on the Point Wilson Radar Tower, our flagship installation has completed over a year of continuous data collection:
- Proven Resiliency: The system maintains a stable mean detection range of 1.5 to 1.7 kilometers across all seasons, proving highly resilient to harsh Pacific Northwest winter weather.
- Long-Range Capabilities: The system has successfully verified marine mammal targets at extreme distances of up to 4.5 kilometers from shore.
- Data Sharing: Thermal data directly maps regional community diversity trends, tracking consistent surges in pinniped and killer whale presence that align with seasonal salmon returns. Quiet Sound openly shares these verified datasets with regional research projects and state resource agencies.
Network Expansion
Quiet Sound is actively scaling this technology to eliminate regional monitoring blind spots:
- Point No Point Array: A second thermal imaging camera is confirmed for installation at Point No Point, strategically paired alongside our upcoming cabled shore-to-sea hydrophone array to create a dual optical-acoustic tracking station.
- Future Deployments: Additional camera locations are being ranked using expert criteria from our ORCAs Advisory Group and Leadership Committee to target high-risk transit corridors and maximize protection for Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKWs).
Why This Matters:
The Quiet Sound thermal camera project enhances SRKW conservation within Puget Sound by improving the effectiveness of the Whale Report Alert System (WRAS).
- Why is this important:
- Vessels generate noise: Commercial shipping increases underwater noise, which can negatively affect the SRKW population if it becomes excessive.
- Mariners care: When mariners know where whales are, they can reduce speed, alter course, or take other measures to operate more quietly and safely.
- Effective actions: These steps decrease acoustic disturbance, which interferes with orcas hunting and communications, and lower the chance of vessel strikes that can injure or kill whales.
- Alerts: Our goal is to improve safety for both mariners and whales by delivering more accurate and timely alerts about whale presence to vessels. We do this via WRAS.
- Continuous detections: Thermal cameras provide consistent whale detection, regardless of weather conditions or time of day.
- Extra benefits: The detailed data from thermal cameras will also support better-informed decisions for managing and conserving the SRKW population, and other protected cetaceans.
Orca thermal detection at 500 meters
Orca thermal detection at 3000 meters
This thermal camera project represents an exciting step forward in our efforts to understand and protect the endangered Southern Resident killer whales. We invite you to explore the rest of the Quiet Sound website to learn more about our initiatives, our dedicated team, and other ways we are working to ensure a healthy future for the Puget Sound.
Inspired by this innovative work and would like to support our ongoing research and conservation efforts? Invest with us! Your contribution, no matter the size, will directly help us continue projects like this and make a real difference for the Southern Resident killer whales and other Washington whales.
Our Partners
