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From space, the planet is the territory Not of humans, but of the whale"
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From space, the planet is the territory Not of humans, but of the whale"
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WHALEFORCE has three tools to assist with the identification from the deck of a yacht:
1. 'Quick Cards'
2. WHALEFORCE identification book
3. WHALEFORCE Identification software
QUICK CARDS - The 'Quick Cards' are a series of 30 - 4"x6" water proof cards each containing identification information of a species of whale, dolphin or porpoise. One side of the card will present pictures of the species from the deck of the yacht. These will include blows, behaviour, fins, colour, distinguished markings, etc. The reverse side of the card will contain a written description of the species plus a picture of the full body of the species. These will be water proof so they can be used on deck. The 'Quick Cards will be part of the WHALEFORCE package for members.
Here is an example of a 'Quick Card'.
AVAILABLE SHORTLY
Book - The art work
and a most all of the research for the Identification Book has
been completed for the project. What remains is to proceed to
set up and publishing. The book will approach identification based
on what will be seen from the deck of a yacht with emphasis on
blows, behaviour, fins, colour, distinguished markings, etc. The
book will supplemented the 'Quick Cards' . Mush of the art work
contained on the WHALEFORCE Web site is taken from the
book and gives an example of the quality of the product that will
be produced.
The book will be available from WHALEFORCE when published. The anticipated date of availability is May 2008.
WHALE IDENTIFICATION SOFTWARE - Over the past four years CEI has been using Cybertracker software (http://www.cybertracker.co.za/) on many of their terrestrial projects. This software, which is programmable, can be used to developed an intuitive identification system for cetaceans based on the features that you commonly see from the deck of a yacht. The software when used on a computer system linked to a GPS receiver (desktop, laptop or PDA) can also record and automatically add observations to a data base that can then downloaded directly to the CEI global database for sightings.
CEI will use the information and research from the WHALEFORCE book and 'Quick Cards' to develop this identification software. The fact that a high percentage of our member yachts will have a laptop on board will make this a highly attractive option for filling out the sighting cards and then transferring the sighting data to CEI.
The identification software is anticipated to be available in June 2008.
