Animal Sensor along NH-37 – Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve

Animal Corridors Sensor 

Problem

• Need of wildlife protection in the animal corridors on NH-37
• Over-speeding of vehicles putting animals’ lives under risk
• Need for regulation of traffic to protect the wildlife
• Need for levying environmental compensation on the vehicle crossing the speed limit
• Ensuring that the plying vehicles travel below a certain speed limit 

Solution

• Used a combination of sensors to recognise animal movement towards NH-37
• Placed speed sensors to indicate driver regarding vehicle speed
• Installed Automated Number Plate recognition (ANPR) systems and radar on the gantry
• Levied environmental compensation on vehicle crossing speed limit 
• Ensured that plying vehicles travel below the speed limit of 40 kmph 

Challenges

• Lack of effectiveness of the system beyond 300 meters due to varied length of corridors
• Power and the quality of power was a big challenge
• Lockdown delayed the implementation of the project
• Continuous rains hampered the implementation
• Issue surrounding finalizing the critical sections and involvement of other departments

Outcomes

• Regulated speeds of vehicles on the NH-37 in critical sections
• Captured imagery/video data of animal movement for research and other purposes
• Collected statistical data on the speed of the vehicles
• Evidence is available which can be used to prosecute the violators
• Reduced mortality of animals crossing the animal corridor

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Case Study

Animal Corridors Sensor 

Introduction

The NH-37 is a major arterial route which has a high volume of passenger and freight traffic, making it difficult to manage vehicle speeds. The technologically sophisticated Animal Sensor operates on behavioral mechanics by displaying the vehicle’s speed to the driver and therefore acting as a disincentive to overspeeding.

Problems

There was a need for wildlife protection in the animal corridors on NH-37 prior to the project’s implementation. Another issue was that uncontrolled vehicle speed endangered the lives of animals.

Solutions

This project involved the use of sensors to detect animal activity approaching the NH-37. Speed sensors were installed on animal corridors to alert drivers about vehicle speed. There was installation of Automated Number Plate recognition (ANPR) systems along with radar on the gantry. It included levying environmental compensation on vehicles that exceeded the speed limit. It also ensured that plying vehicles traveled below the speed limit of 40 KMPH.

Outcomes

The project’s implementation resulted in the control of vehicle speeds on the NH-37 in critical sections. It included capturing imagery/video data of the animal movement for research and other purposes. There was a collection of statistical data on the speed of the vehicles and evidence was made available which was used to prosecute the violators. Its benefits included reduction in mortality of the animals crossing the corridor.

Challenges

The challenges faced during the implementation included lack of effectiveness beyond 300 meters due to length of corridors. Power and its quality was also a big challenge. Lockdown was one of the factors that delayed the implementation along with continuous rains.

Innovation

The innovative aspects of the project included a combination of sensors including thermal imaging, motion sensor, and directional movement sensors along with development of ANPR system.

Opportunities

The project can be replicated in almost all the places with animal corridors and the technology will help to reduce man–animal conflict.

Summary

The innovation has ensured a check on speed of vehicles to 40km/hr, plying along the National Highway-37 to ensure reduction of road kills of the migrating animals during flood season in Kaziranga Landscape.

For more information, please contact:
Mr Chiranjeev P Jain, Additional Director, Kaziranga National Park at dfo.eawl@gmail.com

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