Sources indicate that authorities intend to deploy an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) in regions with elephant activity to avert train-related fatalities of wild elephants.
East Coast Railway (ECoR) has taken a groundbreaking measure to address elephant fatalities on rail tracks in vulnerable zones. This initiative follows Odisha’s alarming report of 40 elephant deaths from train collisions over a decade. ECoR is implementing these strategies across the Khurda Road and Sambalpur Railway Divisions.
Reports suggest that authorities are strategizing the installation of an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) in elephant habitats, aiming to avert wild elephant casualties caused by train accidents.
What Does an Intrusion Detection System Entail?
The Intrusion Detection System boasts the capability to oversee atypical activities within a span of 60 kilometers. Its primary objective is to identify the presence of wild elephants nearing railway tracks. Additionally, this system is designed to promptly notify railway authorities, contributing to the prevention of elephant fatalities.
Leveraging optical fibers as sensing agents, this technology is designed to identify wildlife motions and rapidly apprise control centers, station managers, gatekeepers, and train operators. Employing an inventive fiber optic-driven acoustic mechanism, the system utilizes scattering phenomena to achieve immediate monitoring of elephant activity along railway lines.
An official source shared that this system will not only aid in the early discovery of rail fractures but also signal instances of track trespassing, unapproved excavation near rail lines, and potential landslides nearby, thereby contributing to disaster prevention efforts.
At the heart of this technology lies the fundamental concept of an Intrusion Detection System, specifically designed for Elephant Detection, which harnesses the Distributed Acoustics Sensing (DAS) approach. The primary objective is to precisely detect and identify the presence of elephants in close proximity to railway tracks, thereby triggering the implementation of reduced train speeds within affected segments.
Noteworthy is the system’s capability to promptly dispatch notifications to the locomotive pilot unit via SMS or Internet communication, accompanied by GPS tagging to provide accurate location specifics. According to an official spokesperson, the system’s effectiveness stems from its ability to identify and pinpoint the movement of elephants in or around ballasted track regions.
Which Routes are Set to Receive the IDS Implementation?
In its initial phase, the project’s focus is directed toward six specific railway segments, spanning a collective distance of 200 kilometers. These segments fall within the jurisdiction of the Sambalpur and Khurda Road Railway Divisions of the East Coast Railway.
The targeted sections encompass Maneswar-Bamur, Turekela-Lakhna, Arand-Arang Mahanadi, Norla-Theruvali within the Sambalpur Division, as well as Kapilas Road-Rajathgarh-Angul, Rambha-Ganjam, and Nayagarh-Porjanpur under the purview of the Khurda Road Railway Divisions.
The overarching objective of the project is to devise an economically viable solution for extensive monitoring and timely alerting concerning elephant encroachment. Once signal processing methods are thoroughly evaluated, the most suitable technique for real-time elephant detection is selected and simulated, as explained by an official statement.
