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🇦🇺 Australia /Technology

AI cameras and smart signs trial aims to stop wildlife roadkill in Australia

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • A new AI-powered system called PAWS is being trialed on Australia's Monaro Highway to prevent wildlife from being hit by vehicles.
  • The system uses thermal and optical cameras to detect animals and smart signs to alert drivers in real-time.
  • The trial aims to reduce the high rate of animal-vehicle collisions in the area, which is a known hotspot for kangaroos and other wildlife.

A stretch of the Monaro Highway in New South Wales, Australia, is testing an innovative artificial intelligence system designed to prevent animals from becoming roadkill. The Protective Animal Warning System (PAWS) employs thermal and optical cameras to detect wildlife near the roadside.

This new technology enables us to give motorists early warning that there would be a target species on the road ahead of them.

— Jenny AitchisonNew South Wales Roads Minister, explaining the purpose of the PAWS technology.

An AI computer vision model then identifies common species like kangaroos, deer, and wombats. Once an animal is detected, a smart road sign flashes the message "Animal on road slow down," providing real-time alerts to approaching motorists. New South Wales Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison stated that the technology offers drivers early warnings, allowing them to slow down and be prepared for animals on the road.

It gives them time to slow down and be ready for the animal, so that the animal can hopefully get off the road in time.

— Jenny AitchisonNew South Wales Roads Minister, describing the benefit of the real-time alerts.

The trial is taking place on a 300-meter section of the Monaro Highway at Michelago, an area identified as having one of the highest rates of wildlife strikes in New South Wales. Elena Guarracino, president of Wildcare Queanbeyan, described the location as an "incredible hot spot," particularly for kangaroos, citing frequent crossings between dams and the road.

This is an area that has been assessed as having one of the highest rates of animal wildlife strikes on the network in New South Wales.

— Jenny AitchisonNew South Wales Roads Minister, describing the trial location.

Guarracino noted that the high traffic volume, including ski traffic and commuters to Canberra, contributes to the problem. She highlighted the significant impact of these collisions, not only on the animals but also on wildlife rescue volunteers who face costs and extensive hours for rehabilitation, especially for orphaned joeys. The PAWS system represents a technological effort to mitigate these frequent and often tragic encounters between vehicles and wildlife.

There are a couple of dams on one side of the Monaro Highway, and they're continually crossing there and it's just a very … horrible area.

— Elena GuarracinoWildcare Queanbeyan president, describing the wildlife collision hotspot.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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