Animal detection system anti roakills on roads - "Passa Bicho"

• Grant number: 15/08607-7
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: June 01, 2016
• End date: April 30, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Forestry Resources and Forestry Engineering - Nature Conservation
• Principal Investigator: Fernanda Delborgo Abra
• Grantee: Fernanda Delborgo Abra
• Company: Viafauna Estudos Ambientais Ltda. - ME
• Associated researchers: Katia Maria Paschoaletto Micchi de Barros Ferraz ; Marcel Pieter Huijser
• Associated scholarship(s): 16/10912-5 - Development of animal detection system anti-roadkill for roads: Passa-Bicho, BP.PIPE

Abstract

The construction of railways, highways and roads (e.g. linear developments) is among the environmental changes that caused the greatest impact on animal populations around the world. This is achieved by the loss of individuals by roadkill and the barrier effect (i.e. animals exhibit behavior to avoid highways) which causes the isolation of populations. Estimates indicate that annually occur 475 million roadkill in Brazilian roads, collisions that also affect the safety of users and result in compensatory costs by the highway administrator. Thus preventing such accidents contributes not only to biodiversity conservation but also for user safety and the reduction of financial costs linked. In Brazil, the mitigation measures that have been used are restricted mainly in wildlife crossings installation, fences and signposts, demanded by environmental licensing agencies. Another mitigation option, widely used in the U.S. and in European countries is the animal detection system (SDA), which can prevent all collisions involving animals, but is still lacking in the Brazilian market. In this context, this proposal aims to develop for the national market a predictive roadkill system, similar to the SDA, called Passa-Bicho. The SDA - Passa-Bicho works through motion sensors installed in the right of way, that when is triggered by the presence of animals or pedestrians, sends a signal to a smart post (installed near this system), where an electronic panel send messages or flashing lights, indicating to the users the crossing of the animal or pedestrian. Both the sensors as the intelligent posts use solar panels to power and communicate by radio signals, which allows them to be installed with minimal impact on the highway. This mitigation measure, in addition to presenting a new technology nonexistent in the country, has several advantages compared to other existing mitigation measures: i) allows the crossing of animals anywhere in the highway, ii) allows its implementation with low operational impact on the highway, without the need for passage of electrical cables, iii) cover a large extension of the highway, iv) can be relocated easily, v) has its installation and maintenance facilitated by the kits scheme and, vi) has a low installation cost. The Passa-Bicho project development is a breakthrough technological innovation to the road system of the country and unites concepts of biodiversity conservation, sustainability and user safety. (AU)