Highways and other busy traffic routes are dangerous obstacles for animals living in the wild. Green bridges (wildlife crossings) connect the animals habitats. Roe deer, red deer, wild boars, and other wild animals can cross traffic routes without danger. At the Dutch wildlife crossing location of Woeste Hoeve, the state forest administration wanted to learn how many and what types of animals use the bridge. LMS511 2D laser scanners from SICK assist in making available better image results.
Wildlife crossing location Woeste Hoeve
Mauritz Techniek BV, a system integrator from Huizen in the Netherlands, is a technical installation company whose main activities concentrate on the areas of access and security technology. The company was founded in 1995. The enterprise installed a control cabinet, a LMS511 2D laser scanner from SICK, a mast with a dome camera, an overview camera, and two infrared cameras at the wildlife crossing location of Woeste Hoeve. This approach makes exact identification and counting of the animals possible.
Precise positioning took place
LMS511 laser scanner with housing
Maarten van Tilborg, System Integrator at Mauritz Techniek, says, Use of the LMS makes track and trace possible. For instance, if a red deer comes within the scanned area, the LMS knows exactly where the animal is. As a result, we can zoom in much earlier and track the animals exactly at all times. At the Safety & Security trade fair in Amsterdam, we became familiar with the application possibilities of this scanner. Van Tilborg also explains that initially he expected fewer wild animals on the wildlife crossing. However, when the monitoring device went into operation, he was surprised to see that more than 60 animals cross the bridge every night. For the most part, it is red deer, wild boars, foxes, and roe deer. Apparently, they are not deterred by the noise of vehicles."
Film via e-mail
Today, Maarten van Tilborg is at the site of the wild animal crossing, doing some fine-tuning on the system. So far, the forest administration used to receive an e-mail. Personnel had to log in and view the images. Now the system is adapted in a way that the forest administration receives a film per e-mail whenever wild animals cross. This film shows both the image of the overview camera and that of the dome camera at the same time.
left: Maarten van Tilborg, System Integrator at Mauritz Techniek
European-wide interest
By now, the monitoring device by Mauritz Techniek B.V. has gained popularity across Europe. Interested inquiries have already come even from Germany and Poland Is that a reason for van Tilborg to be particularly proud of his work in the context of this project? Every project is interesting, but - I have to admit - this one is really unique!
Deer crossing at Woeste Hoeve
- Product information: LMS511 2D laser scanner
- Product portfilio: Outdoor laser measurement technology
