Machine learning methods application for analyzing hydro-acoustic telemetry data | USGS18FA0158

Opportunity Information: Apply for USGS18FA0158

The funding opportunity titled "Machine learning methods application for analyzing hydro-acoustic telemetry data" (Funding Opportunity Number USGS18FA0158) is a discretionary research award offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). It is structured as a cooperative agreement, which typically means the agency expects to have substantial involvement in the project as it is carried out, rather than simply providing funding with minimal interaction. The opportunity sits within the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category and is listed under CFDA 15.808.

The core purpose of the project is to speed up and modernize the way scientists handle hydro-acoustic telemetry datasets by applying machine learning. Hydro-acoustic telemetry often produces large volumes of detection and tracking data, and conventional processing workflows can be slow and labor-intensive. This grant is aimed at identifying suitable machine learning approaches for these kinds of datasets and then turning those approaches into practical, usable software so that scientific teams can process telemetry information much more quickly than they can with typical methods.

A central deliverable described in the opportunity is a Python software package that implements the selected machine learning methods. The emphasis is not only on experimenting with algorithms but on producing a tool that is usable in real scientific workflows. The description also highlights high-throughput computing, with Brigham Young University (BYU) proposing to use computational techniques designed to handle large datasets efficiently. In practical terms, this suggests the software is expected to be built with performance and scalability in mind, so it can run analyses quickly across large telemetry datasets and potentially leverage parallelization or other high-throughput processing strategies.

The intended outcome is improved turnaround time from raw telemetry data to actionable results. The opportunity explicitly links the software to "timely delivery of results to resource managers," meaning the work is expected to support applied decision-making, such as fisheries and aquatic resource management, where faster access to reliable analyses can influence monitoring, planning, and management actions. In other words, the project is framed as an applied research and development effort that translates machine learning into an operational capability for telemetry data processing.

Administrative details indicate the opportunity was created on June 1, 2018, with an original closing date of June 15, 2018, signaling a short application window. The award ceiling is $49,296, with one expected award, suggesting a small, targeted project, likely focused on a specific development milestone or prototype-level software deliverable rather than a large multi-year research program. Eligibility is limited to private institutions of higher education, which aligns with the BYU reference in the description and indicates the award was intended for a university-led effort with relevant technical expertise.

• The Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Machine learning methods application for analyzing hydro-acoustic telemetry data" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.808.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jun 01, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 15, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $49,296.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for USGS18FA0158

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: