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Abstract:<\/h2>\n
Wildlife are a serious hazard for drivers on many roads and highways across Canada. Each year, tens of thousands of wildlife-vehicle collisions, costing hundreds of millions of dollars and resulting in numerous human deaths and injuries, occur across the nation. The British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (BCMOTI) typically designs and installs wildlife exclusion systems to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions. However, along some highway corridors, mountainous terrain and extensively fragmented land tenure preclude the construction of these systems. To test potential alternative technological solutions, BCMOTI developed specifications for a wildlife detection system (WDS) to integrate ground surveillance radar, thermal (infrared) cameras and video analytic technologies to detect wildlife near or on highways. The WDS is networked with digital message signs (DMS) to provide real-time advanced warning to drivers. BCMOTI piloted two wildlife detection systems (WDS) to determine the potential of these systems to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions. Working with technology vendors and consulting systems engineering firms to develop the WDS, BCMOTI installed two systems on Highway 3 in southeastern BC. The highway segment between Cranbrook and the Alberta border on Highway 3 was identified as having one of the highest frequencies of wildlife-vehicle collisions involving large species of wildlife in the province. One system was installed near Elko, and the other near Sparwood.<\/p>\n
The Elko installation covers 2.6 km of highway in an area frequented by large numbers of deer and Big Horn Sheep. Each day, approximately 3300 vehicles pass through the Elko corridor. The Michel installation covers 5.5 km of highway in an area frequented by large numbers of deer and elk. Approximately 2800 vehicles pass through the Michel corridor daily.<\/p>\n
The WDS recorded vehicle traffic characteristics (speed, direction and volume) and wildlife movements at the test sites. WDS analytics were used to measure changes in driver behaviour (vehicle speed reduction) resulting from digital message signs activation. The WDS has proven effective in modifying driver behaviour so that potential wildlife-vehicle collisions and their severity can be reduced. When the digital message signs are activated, vehicle speeds in the Elko and Michel corridors are lower. The average vehicle speed reductions range from 4.0 km\/h to 8.3 km\/h. Typically, lower vehicle speeds are associated with shorter stopping distances and reduced vehicle collision severity. The number of deer, Big Horn sheep, elk and bear-vehicle collisions at the Elko site dropped from an annual average of 15.1, for the period 2004 to 2013 , to 4 in 2016, after the WDS was operating for a full year. The number of deer and elk-vehicle collisions at the Michel site dropped from an annual average of 19, for the period 2004 to 2013, to 15 in 2016. The early results are promising. Longer term studies are needed on how the influence of the WDS systems on driver behaviour and vehicle speeds can be increased. The WDS offers road authorities a cost-effective option to wildlife exclusion systems for protecting drivers from wildlife while providing wildlife unhindered access across roads and highways to critical habitats.<\/p>\n
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