Context:
Indian Railways has deployed an AI-enabled Intrusion Detection System (IDS) using optical fibre technology to detect elephant movements near railway tracks and prevent elephant–train collisions, especially in vulnerable forest corridors.
Key Highlights:
Technology Deployment
- The system uses optical fibres laid along railway tracks to detect vibrations caused by elephant movement.
- It sends real-time alerts to locomotive pilots, allowing them to slow down trains and avoid collisions.
Pilot Implementation
- The pilot project operates on the 52-km Madarihat–Nagrakata railway section in West Bengal, a known elephant corridor.
- This region experiences frequent elephant crossings.
Scale of the Initiative
- Since 2019, over 90 elephants have died due to train collisions in India.
- To address this issue, the Ministry of Railways has launched a ₹208-crore project to install IDS across 1,158 route kilometres.
Technology Used
- The system uses Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) technology.
- It analyses vibrations in optical fibres to detect animal movement.
Operational Significance
- The system is especially critical during the 5 PM–9 PM period, considered a high-risk time for elephant crossings.
Technology Origins
- Similar optical fibre sensing systems are used by security forces for border surveillance and infiltration detection.
Significance
- Helps protect endangered Asian elephants while maintaining railway safety and operational efficiency.
Relevant Prelims Points:
- Intrusion Detection System (IDS)
- A technology that identifies unauthorized or unusual activity within a monitored area.
- Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS)
- A system that uses optical fibre cables to detect vibrations, sound waves, and disturbances along the cable length.
- Rayleigh Scattering
- The scattering of electromagnetic radiation by particles much smaller than the wavelength of light.
- Used in optical fibre sensing to detect minute disturbances and vibrations.
- Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus)
- Listed as Endangered in the IUCN Red List.
- Included in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
- Elephant Corridors
- Natural routes used by elephants for seasonal migration between habitats.
Relevant Mains Points:
Human–Wildlife Conflict in India
- Increasing infrastructure development in forest areas disrupts animal migration routes.
- Railway tracks and highways often intersect elephant corridors, leading to frequent accidents.
Role of Technology in Wildlife Conservation
- AI and sensor-based systems enable real-time monitoring of wildlife movement.
- Improves early warning systems and reduces wildlife mortality.
Environmental Significance
- Protecting elephants is crucial because they act as keystone species, helping maintain forest ecosystem balance and seed dispersal.
Challenges
- High installation and maintenance costs.
- Need for integration with railway traffic management systems.
- Expansion required across multiple elephant corridors in India.
Way Forward
- Expand AI-based wildlife monitoring systems across all vulnerable railway corridors.
- Improve coordination between Railways, Forest Departments, and wildlife conservation agencies.
- Develop eco-sensitive infrastructure planning to protect wildlife corridors.
UPSC Relevance:
- Prelims: Distributed Acoustic Sensing, Rayleigh scattering, Asian elephant conservation status.
- Mains: GS III – Environment, wildlife conservation, role of technology in mitigating human–wildlife conflict.