Method and device for automatically detecting marine animals

A non-transitory computer-readable carrier medium storing a program which, when executed by a computer or a processor, causes the computer or the processor to carry out a method for automatically detecting marine animals, carried out by a detection device and comprising:

• a step of obtaining acoustic signal measurements collected by at least one acoustic sensor in a underwater environment;
• at least one of the following branches:
• a first branch comprising a step of detecting frequency modulated sounds by:
• implementing in parallel several first detection channels;
• selecting the first detection channel having a maximum signal to noise ratio;
• and comparing the signal to noise ratio of the selected first detection channel to a first determined threshold;
• and/or
• a second branch comprising a step of detecting impulsive sounds by:
• implementing in parallel several second detection channels;
• selecting the second detection channel having a maximum signal to noise ratio;
• and comparing the signal to noise ratio of the selected second detection channel to a second determined threshold;
• and
• a step of taking an alarm decision, indicating presence of at least one marine animal, as a function of an output of the first branch and/or an output of the second branch,
• wherein each first or second detection channel has a different and fixed value for at least one degree of freedom belonging to the group consisting of:
• methods, and corresponding parameters, to present the acoustic signal measurements in said new space of representation;
• quantitative signal features in which the acoustic signal measurements are mapped in the new space of representation;
• methods to estimate the noise characteristic.

A detection device for automatically detecting marine animals, the detection device comprising:

• means for obtaining acoustic signal measurements collected by at least one acoustic sensor in a underwater environment;
• at least one of the following processing means:
• first processing means, allowing to detect frequency modulated sounds, and comprising:
• in parallel several first means for detection;
• means for selecting the first means for detection having a maximum signal to noise ratio;
• and means for comparing the signal to noise ratio of the selected first means for detection to a first determined threshold;
• and/or
• second processing means, allowing to detect impulsive sounds, and comprising:
• in parallel several second means for detection;
• means for selecting the second means for detection having a maximum signal to noise ratio;
• and means for comparing the signal to noise ratio of the selected second means for detection to a second determined threshold;
• and
• means for taking an alarm decision, indicating presence of at least one marine animal, as a function of an output of the first processing means and/or an output of the second processing means,
• wherein each first or second means for detection has a different and fixed value for at least one degree of freedom belonging to the group consisting of:
• methods, and corresponding parameters, to present the acoustic signal measurements in the new space of representation;
• quantitative signal features in which the acoustic signal measurements are mapped in said new space of representation;
• methods to estimate the noise characteristic.