Wind Energy

GMI offers a full line of wind energy project-related services, products, and technologies for wildlife and bird studies, assessments, and management at proposed and existing wind power development sites. GMI has years of experience studying the impacts of onshore and offshore wind power developments on wildlife, especially migratory birds. GMI staff are experts in conducting avian assessments and wildlife impact studies through the use of remote sensing (e.g., radar, thermal imaging, NEXRAD) and field methods (e.g., surveys, assessments) to support wind energy developments.

Environmental impacts of wind energy developments on wildlife in general and migratory birds and bats in particular is a concern of regulatory agencies. To assess the risk of a proposed wind energy project on wildlife, pre- and post-construction studies are needed. The results of these studies provide a database of information for the preparation of formal risk assessments that are considered before final approval is given for project construction.

GMI wind energy project-related services include:

• Site screening and selection
  • Onshore
  • Offshore
• NEXRAD analysis – determine regional migratory patterns over months and years
• Radar surveys – assess site-specific migratory bird or bat activity (passage rates, altitude use, flight directions)
• Avian and bat field surveys
• Mortality surveys and mitigation
• Land use analysis
• Threatened and endangered species presence and absence determination
• Archeological, cultural, and historical resources management
• Biological monitoring
• Permitting

In addition, GMI offers similar services for other types of development projects such as:

• Wind turbine generator – siting studies, surveys, and operations
• Cellular towers – siting studies, surveys, and operations
• Biological habitat assessments and migratory studies and surveys
• Military and commercial aviation – BASH and wildlife hazard assessments and management plans

GMI has conducted a number of avian monitoring studies and avian risk assessments for commercial clients intending to site and permit wind power projects. These studies are similar to airport wildlife hazard assessments, collecting wildlife activity data over extended lengths of time.

A typical study combines data collected by GMI’s custom-designed Mobile Avian Radar System® (MARS®) bird detection system with field observations to identify avian activity relative to proposed wind and other development projects. The MARS® bird detection system plays a critical role in these assessments, automatically archiving and monitoring activity (24/7), speed, headings, and altitudes of birds that cross a project site. GMI’s visual survey protocols allow for a quantifiable assessment of detection performance while complementing MARS® performance to provide species composition. Although a typical radar study is 30 to 90 days, radar studies can be any duration based on client needs. GMI studies provide data to construct resident activity baselines and identify occurrence and duration of migratory and resident events.

GMI has developed advanced tracking and improved bird classification algorithms to provide the most accurate and defensible radar assessments for different types of birds (small neotropical songbird migrants, soaring migrant raptors, and other species such as geese, vultures, and grackles). In addition, GMI offers consultations and provides mitigation and management plans for wind power and other development projects.