The Indian Railways has initiated a pioneering step towards wildlife conservation by deploying the “Gajraj system,” an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based solution designed to prevent elephant fatalities on railway tracks. This surveillance system is being implemented along a 700-kilometer stretch in forest areas to alert locomotive pilots of elephants’ presence on the tracks, thereby mitigating the risk of collisions.
Project Overview
Implementation and Cost
- Total Stretch: 700 kilometers
- Implementation Cost: ₹181 crore
Initial Deployment and Effectiveness
- Initial Deployment: 150-kilometer stretch in Assam (Last Year)
- Effectiveness: The system proved notably effective in its initial deployment, with improvements based on field experience.
Success in the Northeast Frontier Railway
- Deployment: Across 11 elephant corridors in the Northeast
- Outcome: Successful eradication of elephant fatalities due to train collisions since its deployment
Technology and Accuracy
- System Name: Intrusion Detection System (IDS)
- Accuracy: 99.5% in detecting elephant presence on tracks
- Deployment Date: December 2022
- Components: Sensors to identify the movement of wild animals
- Alert Recipients: Control offices, station masters, gatemen, and loco pilots
- Alerts Issued: 9,768 alerts from December 2022 to July, averaging 41 alerts daily
- Zero Collisions: No train-elephant collisions reported in the 11 corridors since deployment
- Mechanism of Operation
How It Works
Detection: When an elephant steps onto the track, the system detects the presence.
Alert Issuance: Alerts are sent to the train controller, station master, train drivers, and other stakeholders.
Precautionary Actions: Prompted actions are taken to prevent potential dangers.
Technical Details
- Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) Usage: Deployed by the railways for telecommunication and signaling.
- Integration with OFC: The device is embedded within the OFC network.
- Vibration Detection: Captures vibrations caused by elephants on the tracks.
- Real-Time Alerts: Transmits alerts to the division control room and a mobile application.
- Detection Radius: Effective within a 5-meter radius from the fiber optic cable.
Conclusion
The Gajraj system exemplifies a significant stride in utilizing advanced technology for wildlife conservation. By effectively detecting and preventing potential train-elephant collisions, the Indian Railways not only ensures the safety of its operations but also plays a crucial role in preserving India’s wildlife heritage.