Critter Crossings, Sensors Keep Wildlife, Motorists Apart

This article looks at how high-tech applications are being combined with traditional common sense methodologies to help make highways safer for motorists and animals. It discusses the use of fencing, underpasses, vegetated overpasses, deer mirrors, reflectors, and signage to help mitigate wildlife-vehicle crash occurrences. The article examines how critter crossings can be more effective if the following aspects are taken into consideration: placement of passage structures, size, light, moisture, temperature, noise, substrate, approaches, and appropriate fencing. Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technologies, such as active animal detection systems that involve the use of electronic equipment or sensors to detect large animals, are also being tested for their effectiveness. Once these systems detect animals, warning signs are activated alerting motorists to the presence of animals. The article concludes by noting that eventually, Vehicle-Infrastructure Integration (VII) systems will be integrated into a regional ITS in such a way that detection of an animal in the vicinity would trigger a signal to automatically slow down a vehicle.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/1519687
• Authors:
  • Kuennen, Tom
• Publication Date: 2006-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: pp 28-34, 36
• Serial:
  • Better Roads
  • Volume: 76
  • Issue Number: 11
  • Publisher: James Informational Media, Incorporated
  • ISSN: 0006-0208
  • Serial URL: http://www.betterroads.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Animals; Design engineering; Detection and identification technologies; Environmental protection; Intelligent transportation systems; Surveillance; Warning devices; Wildlife
• Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; I85: Safety Devices used in Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01037612
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: UC Berkeley Transportation Library
• Files: BTRIS, TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Nov 30 2006 8:32AM