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Published on August 21, 2007

Thanks to the deployment of a radio frequency identification (RFID) system in the aquarium visitors are able to learn about the animals themselves.

Amorn Poonpoo-nga, a customer-service official at Under Water World Pattaya, said the facility has been testing the use of an RFID system in the Amazon aquarium where around 20 animals from the Amazon River live.

The concept is to embed passive RFID tags in the bodies of the animals and install an RFID reader on the outside of the aquarium. Once an animal comes within range, around one metre, that animal and its ID number will be tracked and linked to the information about it in a database before its picture, along with biological information, is displayed on a screen in front of the aquarium.

Visitors can see the pictures and read the information for themselves.

Amorn said that in the initial stage, the implementation of RFID was for management purposes as the system allowed officials to track the animals individually.

"We can take care of our animals and check their health more easily. The stock and inventory management system will be operated more efficiently," said Amorn.

In the next step, the RFID system will be expanded to serve visitors wanting information since it can be deployed in areas of the facility where there are no staff to explain the exhibits.

Embedding the RFID tags in the animals requires care as the only suitable area is the muscle on their back.

The system is a pilot project and may eventually be deployed in all aquariums at the complex where over 2,500 animals from more than 200 species live.

The move follows the deployment of an RFID system at Under Water World Singapore, which is the parent company. The system at Pattaya was made in Singapore, but its implementation required trained Thai officials.

The technology was transferred from Singapore.

This is the latest movement of technology in oceanariums and the first application of RFID in aquarium areas. At Under Water World Singapore, the RFID system serves both management and visitors.

Asina Pornwasin

The Nation