Imaging animal vision
Lead Research Organisation:
UNIVERSITY OF EXETER
Department Name: Biosciences
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Martin Stevens (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Paul SC
(2020)
Horse vision and obstacle visibility in horseracing.
in Applied animal behaviour science
| Description | This is a Pathfinder award so the findings relate to applied benefits stemming from work with industry and market surveys. The work centres around technology for imaging animal vision. We have undertaken several key areas of work, in addition to numerous developing industry links. Specifically in the following areas. 1) Animal control and product development related to vision and image analysis - currently under an NDA. 2) Horse sports. We have, also due to an award by the BHA and Racing Foundation, tested the current visibility of horse hurdles and fences, take off boards etc in UK racecourses, and assess better designs to horse vision. Work has involved visiting multiple UK racecourses to test alternative colours, and working with a National Hunt trainer on horse responses to alternative colours. The work has already attracted substantial attention from the media, and has the involvement of multiple key stakeholders, including BHA, trainers, jockeys, and courses. We have also undertaken events with things like Aintree and the Grand National. Final outcomes are pending. 3) Agritech and animal vision. This is preliminary but we have been visiting dairy, pork, and poultry farms to determine how lighting and vision affect welfare, feeding, and enrichment. Analysis is currently taking place. More recently we have also been awarded and undertaken a BBSRC ISCF Agri-tech Seeding Catalyst to investigate vision in cows, chickens, and pigs with regards to welfare and enrichment in livestock production. The project provided proof of concept to understand the role of livestock vision and the visual environment in productivity and welfare. This information will be used to inform where future full-scale translational projects would be best directed. |
| Exploitation Route | There are many ways the work can be taken forward with regards to numerous industries. |
| Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Agriculture, Food and Drink,Construction,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education,Environment,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Retail |
| Description | Please see section on 'Key Findings' - this is a Pathfinder award so is inherently applied / impactful in nature and involves multiple areas of work with industry and the public. It also led to funding for research on horse vision and racing from BHA and RF and BBSRC ISCF Agri-tech Seeding Catalyst award to work with several companies to investigate how animal vision can inform best practice in livestock welfare. The work helped in part to conduct pilot data and then secure funding on work into horse racing and vision, which has now led to the BHA changing the colour of all fences and hurdles in UK racing. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2016 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Construction,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal,Economic,Policy & public services |
| Description | Horse vision, obstacle visibility, and safety |
| Amount | £43,542 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Racing Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2017 |
| End | 03/2018 |
| Description | ISCF Agri-tech Seeding Catalyst |
| Amount | £9,375 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/SCA/Exeter/17 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2017 |
| End | 02/2018 |
| Title | Multispectral Image Calibration and Analysis Toolbox |
| Description | Digital cameras can be powerful tools for measuring colours and patterns in a huge range of disciplines. However, in normal 'uncalibrated' digital photographs the pixel values do not scale linearly with the amount of light measured by the sensor. This means that pixel values cannot be reliably compared between different photos or even regions within the same photo unless the images are calibrated to be linear and have any lighting changes controlled for. Some scientists are aware of these issues, but lack convenient, user-friendly software to work with calibrated images, while many others continue to measure uncalibrated images. We have developed a toolbox that can calibrate images using many common consumer digital cameras, and for some cameras the images can be converted to "animal vision", to measure how the scene might look to non-humans. Many animals can see down into the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum, such as most insects, birds, reptiles, amphibians, some fish and some mammals, so it is important to measure UV when working with these animals. Our toolbox can combine photographs taken through multiple colour filters, for example allowing you to combine normal photographs with UV photographs and convert to animal vision across their whole range of sensitivities. The toolbox is free, open source and open access and works with the free programme Image J. It is linked to this paper: Troscianko, J. & Stevens, M. 2015. Image calibration and analysis toolbox - a free software suite for objectively measuring reflectance, colour and pattern. Methods in Ecology and Evolution. 6: 1320-1331. |
| Type Of Technology | New/Improved Technique/Technology |
| Year Produced | 2015 |
| Impact | Still early stage. Being used by wide range of scientists already. |
| URL | http://www.sensoryecology.com/image-analysis-tools/ |
| Description | Grand National at Aintree Racecourse |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I collaborated with Aintree Racecourse to make a visual display (a slideshow) of how the Grand National appears to horse vision. This formed part of a course walk and other events, and seen by thousands of visitors each day. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Horse and Hound feature article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Article in Horse and Hound Magazine that featured the work we are doing on horse vision and eventing. 2 November 2017 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | National Media Museum display |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Supersenses exhibition at the National Science and Media Museum - we made images of animal vision to show to the public as part of this exhibition. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Telegraph article on horse vision and racing work |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Telegraph article featuring our work on 1 February 2018: "Exclusive: Racing could radically change the colour of fences - because horses can't see them properly" |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |