The information that follows is a brief overview of how The Dolphin Project processes data from surveys and is NOT meant as a "how-to" guide.

The Technique

The technique of confirming that photographs, taken over time and in different areas, are of the same individual is called Photo-Identification. Photo-Identification (Photo-Id) is used for studying the movement patterns, home range boundaries, and social affiliations of Bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus as well as many other marine mammals such as whales and sea otters. Many bottlenose dolphins have distinct notches on their dorsal fin which can be used to identify individuals over time.

Initial Sorting and Identification

The first step of photo analysis is the initial sorting and identification of images from a survey. Images may be negatives, positives, black & white, color print film, or slides. Presently
TDP uses color slide film and is also
incorporating high definition
digital images. 

Film taken on TDP surveys is processed commercially then the processed images are initially sorted for quality of the image and distinct notching.  Each positive or negative must be of high quality as determined by sharp focus, lack of parallax and a distinctive notch pattern or scarring. Any image not meeting predetermined standards of photographic quality is excluded from analysis. Occasionally a fin is so distinctive that the image may be used even if less than ideal such as fins that have been chopped off or severely mutilated.

Fin Analysis

Presently, tracing is giving way to a computerized search using Fin Scan, a software product of Gilbert R. Hillman, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas. Dr. Hillman has developed an automated process that he shares with the field research community. Fins are
automatically scanned using Fin Scan and initially matched by the software,
but the ultimate determination of a re-sighted or new fin is done by matching
original image to original image by eye then juried by a panel of
individuals to reach consensus.