A GIS Framework for Spatio-temporal Analysis and Visualization of Laboratory Mice Tracking Data

Knowing the locations and spatio-temporal paths of individual mice is an essential prerequisite for behavioral analysis of large groups of laboratory mice. Traditional observations have been carried out by trained humans who are able to distinguish more than fifty behavioral patterns. This is a tedious labor limited with respect to observation length. In this paper we propose a tracking solution based on the integration of GIS and RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology to automatically collect 24h/7days of movement data. Appropriate cage design and antenna placement are discussed. A software solution is presented to facilitate the recording (JerryTS), visualization and analysis (TOM) of mice movements.