A Non-Habituating Configurable Audio Visual Animal Deterrent System to Mitigate Roadkill

Abstract

Growth economies continue to be more reliant on roadways than ever before. Over 30,000 miles of road are added yearly to the already enormous road system that exists in the United States. As roads segment habitats, animals have no option but to walk across them for food, water and companionship. In this process they end up becoming roadkill. Wherever wildlife habitat and roadways overlap, death and destruction seem impossible to control. These animal deaths have a direct impact on the biodiversity and dynamics of an ecosystem and roadkill poses a threat to many species that are fighting extinction. Vehicles colliding with animals results in human fatalities, life changing injuries and extensive property damage. Current methods of handling roadkill are primarily passive and do not utilize the animal's natural instincts. This paper presents an alternative approach by actively involving the animal, warning them of an oncoming vehicle and triggering their survival instincts. Making the animal an integral part of the solution, augmenting their sensory perception with science and technology and utilizing their heightened reflexes and survival instincts provides a better chance at mitigating the problem of roadkill. The results show that this solution is able to provide animals a warning of an oncoming vehicle, consistently, reliably and in a wide range of testing conditions.