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THE JOURNEY / WHEN IT HAPPENS

Built season by season.

A cycle of engineering, software development, and field testing—each season turning observations into a better instrument.

NSF award period September 1, 2025–August 31, 2028

The phases below map the proposal’s three-year plan to the awarded project period. Planned milestones are not completion claims.

The foundations2023–24
Documented preliminary work

A question becomes an instrument.

An interdisciplinary team began combining field biology, mechanical engineering, and computer vision. These early results established the basis for the NSF proposal.

  • Early prototypes tested in Idaho during summer 2023.
  • More than 37,000 small-mammal images collected in preliminary trials.
  • Initial on-device species detection and classification demonstrated.
Year 12025–26
Planned milestones

Build. Observe. Learn.

The first project year focuses on instrument design, animal visitation, and the reference data needed to train and evaluate individual recognition.

  • Construct and field-test 10 first-generation instruments.
  • Compare animal visitation with conventional traps held open.
  • Build individually labeled image datasets using existing PIT-tagged study animals.
Year 22026–27
Planned milestones

From prototype to autonomy.

The next generation is designed for longer deployments, remote data transfer, and richer biological measurements.

  • Build 20 refined, aluminum-housed instruments.
  • Equip 10 units with solar power and 10 with satellite transmitters.
  • Train individual-recognition and anatomical-measurement models.
  • Begin work with NEON at the Santa Rita Experimental Range.
Year 32027–28
Planned milestones

Test widely. Share what works.

The final year emphasizes independent validation, broader use, and sharing the technology with the research and conservation communities.

  • Validate individual recognition and measurements against field reference data.
  • Conduct independent testing with NEON and Idaho Fish and Game.
  • Prepare instrument documentation for non-commercial research use.
  • Plan donation of 10 instruments to a selected conservation nonprofit.

THE ANNUAL RHYTHM

Winter at the workbench.
Summer in the field.

NOVEMBER–APRIL

Engineer & train

Refine the hardware. Develop the software. Train and validate models using the images and measurements gathered in the field.

MAY–OCTOBER

Observe & evaluate

Test instruments when animals are active. Compare automated observations with field reference data, then carry those lessons into the next design cycle.

A SHARED CURIOSITY. A SHARED FUTURE.

Good science starts
with a conversation.

Connect with the team