Evaluation of the Reliability and Effectiveness of an Animal Detection System Along State Hwy 3 near Ft Jones, CA

The authors investigated the reliability and effectiveness of a microwave break-the-beam animal detection system along State Hwy 3 near Ft Jones, northern California, USA. The results indicated that the system was capable of detecting a human and was therefore likely to be able to detect large ungulates such as black-tailed deer. While blind spots were absent some of the beams did show evidence of desensitizing during testing. A comparison of the detection data to video images associated with the system showed that at least 74% of all detections could be considered “correct”. Unidentified triggers occurred mostly in the late afternoon or night when camera range was limited. About 93% of the correct detections related to vehicles turning on and off the highway on side roads. Only about 4% of the correct detections related to black-tailed deer. Drivers reduced vehicle speed by about 5.5% when warning signs were activated (from 56.2 mi/hr (90.4 km/h) to 53.1 mi/hr (85.4 km/h)). Regarding the effectiveness of the system, speed reductions were greatest during the evening and night. There was one deer-vehicle collision recorded in the road section with the system after the system and signs were put into operation. However, it was not possible to conclude whether the animal detection system may have reduced the number of large mammal-vehicle collisions. The authors recommend improving the reliability of the system, reducing potential downtime, operation, and maintenance costs, improving the warning signs, and to implement an extensive public outreach program.

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• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee ADC30 Ecology and Transportation. Alternate title: Evaluation of Reliability and Effectiveness of Animal Detection System Along State Highway 3 near Ft. Jones, California
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Huijser, Marcel P
  • Sharafsaleh, Mohammad
  • Nowakowski, Christopher
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 93rd Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC
  • Date: 2014-1-12 to 2014-1-16
• Date: 2014

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 16p
• Monograph Title: TRB 93rd Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Animal vehicle crashes; Crashes; Detection and identification systems; Highways; Microwave detectors; Performance measurement; Roadside fauna; Roadside hazards; Warning devices; Wildlife
• Uncontrolled Terms: Animal detection systems
• Geographic Terms: Fort Jones (California)
• Subject Areas: Environment; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I15: Environment; I80: Accident Studies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01519602
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 14-1861
• Files: PRP, TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Mar 26 2014 10:07AM