Railways Boost AI Surveillance to Safeguard Wildlife

Strengthening Railway Safety and Conservation

Railways Boost AI Surveillance to Safeguard Wildlife: Indian Railways has strengthened its Artificial Intelligence-based wildlife protection system to prevent animal deaths caused by train collisions. The initiative focuses on forest zones and wildlife corridors where elephants and other animals frequently cross railway tracks.

The system aims to protect both human lives and wildlife by providing real-time alerts to train operators. This proactive approach marks a shift from post-accident responses to preventive railway safety management.

Static GK fact: Indian Railways operates one of the largest rail networks in the world, spanning over 68,000 route kilometres.

AI Based Wildlife Protection System

The upgraded system uses AI-enabled cameras combined with advanced sensing technologies to monitor animal movement near railway tracks. Once animals are detected, alerts are generated instantly for railway staff.

The technology enables loco pilots to receive warnings nearly 500 metres in advance, giving sufficient time to slow down or stop trains. This early warning capability is crucial in high-speed railway sections passing through forest areas.

Static GK Tip: Early warning systems are globally used in transport corridors passing through protected wildlife zones.

Intrusion Detection and Acoustic Monitoring

A key component of the system is the Intrusion Detection System (IDS) integrated with a Distributed Acoustic System (DAS). These sensors detect ground vibrations caused by animal movement near the tracks.

The system is particularly effective in identifying elephants, whose heavy footsteps produce distinctive vibration patterns. Acoustic data is continuously analysed using AI algorithms to reduce false alerts.

This integration ensures high accuracy in animal detection, even during low visibility conditions such as fog or night operations.

Real-Time Alert Dissemination

Once wildlife presence is confirmed, alerts are sent simultaneously to loco pilots, station masters, and railway control rooms. This multi-point communication ensures coordinated action across the railway network.

Real-time monitoring allows railway officials to regulate train speeds and manage traffic flow in sensitive zones. This reduces collision risks while maintaining operational efficiency.

Static GK fact: Indian Railways uses centralized traffic control systems for managing train operations across divisions.

Implementation and Coverage Expansion

The AI-based wildlife protection system is currently operational across 141 route kilometres in the Northeast Frontier Railway, a region prone to elephant-train collisions.

Encouraged by its success, Indian Railways has approved tenders to extend the system to 981 additional route kilometres. With this expansion, total coverage will reach 1,122 route kilometres across wildlife-sensitive areas.

This phased implementation reflects a scalable approach to railway safety and conservation technology.

Significance for Sustainable Development

The strengthened AI surveillance system supports wildlife conservation, railway operational safety, and environmental sustainability. It aligns with India’s commitments to biodiversity protection and responsible infrastructure development.

By leveraging automation and real-time data, the initiative minimizes human error and enhances response speed. It also demonstrates how digital technologies can balance development with ecological preservation.

Static GK Tip: Sustainable transport infrastructure is a key pillar of India’s environmental and climate action strategies.

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Railways Boost AI Surveillance to Safeguard Wildlife: