The forest department has deployed an artificial intelligence (AI)-aided system along the highways near Thumboormuzhi, Kerala, to alert and warn travelers.
The newly developed artificial intelligence system is deployed on the Chalakudy-Athirapally-Malakkappara route to help in saving wildlife.
According to officials, the forest department and the United Nations Development Program would work together to implement the early warning system.
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The system contains numerous artificial intelligence-powered cameras and a sensor-based early warning system that sends an alarm to forest department rangers’ mobile phones when wild elephants invade human habitats. This one-of-a-kind technology has been developed in partnership with Kochi-based Invendo I Technologies.
Chalakudy DFO Sambudha Majumdar said, “Presently, we are using high-definition cameras installed by the department. Only the AI software was purchased from the company. A control unit and response team to manage the wild elephant issue are already in place.”
He further added that if the camera captures images of wild jumbos within 100 meters of the Athirappilly road, the LED screen will display a red alarm.
The forest department spent 2 lakh on the trial experiment, whereas AI technology will be more expensive. Following successful testing, the agency intends to put similar warning signs in strategic areas around the Athirapilly region, where vehicle traffic is heavy due to the tourist influx.
“Once the elephant reaches near the road, warning messages will appear on the LED board in English and Malayalam with red light,” said an official. Moreover, the official added that they could also send WhatsApp messages to alert forest officers.
Earlier, a similar kind of warning system had been deployed in two-state districts, but it turned out to be ineffective.
