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Averting Wildlife - Train Interaction Using Thermal Image Processing and

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DOI: 10.4172/2327-4417.1000165

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Chandra Kumar J and Selvakumar A, J Biodivers Manage Forestry 2016, 5:3
DOI: 10.4172/2327-4417.1000165
Research Article
Averting Wildlife - Train
Interaction Using Thermal
Image Processing and Acoustic
Techniques
Chandra Kumar J* and Selvakumar A
Abstract
The most heartening news for nature lovers and wildlife
conservationists is the accidental loss of wild life by the passing
vehicles. Heavy vehicles and trains carrying goods pass through
the heart of the forest rich in flora and fauna. Normally, wild animals
shy away on hearing the noise of a roaring engine, but, at times
mainly because of the shock or misjudging the speed they are hit by
the vehicles. Of late, it has been reported that, trains are the major
cause for accidental deaths among the jungle community. Animals,
being the integral part of our biodiversity, need to be preserved
with our immediate response and immense responsibility. The
basic idea of this paper is to suggest some remedial measures
by adopting advanced technology with a novel approach. This
paper proposes a tangible solution for the above said problem
by combining thermal image processing techniques with acoustic
warning system. As soon as the image of an animal is captured by
the thermal imaging camera, a signal is sent to the microcontroller.
Which in turn generates an appropriate frequency of sound for
which that particular animal is highly sensitive?
Keywords
Thermal imaging camera; Frequency selector; Sound alert system
Introduction
Wildlife is an exotic congregation of plants, animals, avian of both
terrestrial and aquatic habitat. A healthy population of various species
of flora and fauna enriches an ecosystem and promotes bio-diversity
.This strengthens the food chain and maintains the ecological balance.
But, wild animals, the most significant component of our
ecosystem are being hunted, pouched, killed for food, trophies,
urbanization etc. Adding to these vows, now a lot of precious wildlife
is lost in the accidents occurring within the sanctuaries and national
parks [1]. Sanctuaries, the very region demarcated for wildlife
conservation are in recent times transforming into burial sites for
them, thanks to the plying vehicles.
Of late, due to commercialization and urbanization of forest
zones highways and railways are laid through the protected areas like
sanctuaries, national parks and bio-spheres [2]. While animals come
out in search of food and water they get killed by the vehicles speeding
*Corresponding author: Chandra Kumar J, Department of Energy and
Environmental Engineering, Saveetha University, Chennai-602105, Tamilnadu,
India, E-mail: jjck38@gmail.com
Received: April 04, 2016 Accepted: July 05, 2016 Published: July 11, 2016
All articles published in Journal of Biodiversity Management & Forestry are the property of SciTechnol, and is protected by
International Publisher of Science, copyright laws. Copyright © 2016, SciTechnol, All Rights Reserved.
Technology and Medicine
Journal of Biodiversity
Management & Forestry
a SciTechnol journal
across. Animals such as elephant, deer, lion, tiger, leopard, etc., need
to move across tens of kilometers within the jungle every day and
hence they are in the major risk of meeting with accidents. It has been
found that, small animals like fox, wolf, rabbit etc.; are frequently
caught in road accidents, whilst big animals such as rhinoceros and
elephants are killed in train accidents. The number of animals died in
train accidents is found to be larger than that of road accidents. Being
huge and hefty animals elephants are mostly affected when compared
to the other animals. The highest number of elephant deaths in single
railway accident at Jalpaiguri [3]. Four lions, including cubs died in
Gir forest after being run over by trains [4]. Approximately 80 animals
die yearly due to train accidents. As a preventive measure suggested
by the Government of India, Indian railways has restricted the speed
of the trains running through the forest regions. But, it has not
yielded the desired results. To protect wild animals from extinction
and to preserve ecology of our country we need a mechanism to alert
animals when trains are passing by. This can be effectively done by using
thermal image processing technique and sound alert system fitted in a
train [5]. As the thermal image processor identifies a passing animal that
information is transferred to a microcontroller, which triggers a signal to
the frequency selector to generate a specific frequency of sound for which
that animal responds instantaneously [6].
Block Diagram
Description of block diagram
Thermal Imaging Camera which is fixed on the train captures the
images of the animals when found in front of the train, processing
is done within the camera and gives image in thermal form. Then
this information is sent to the microcontroller, then microcontroller
decides whether the animal have higher intensity or lesser intensity
of infrared rays through image and so, according to which the stored
sound is selected from the frequency selector and played through
speaker as an alerting sound. And braking system is castoff during
emergency purpose, like when animal got struck or no movement
from that place even after the sound produced from speaker, it
activates the braking system and thus train is made to stop and the
animal is cleared off the rail path manually [7]. Figure 1 depicts the
block diagram of system.
Elements in block diagram
Thermal imaging camera: The camera focuses the object which
emits infrared radiation through optics, then infrared detector sends
the information to an electronic image processing circuit which
translate the data from IR sensor into an image and can be viewed on
a LCD screen in the form of thermal image [8].
Camera with 640 × 480 pixels has 307,200 measurement points
which is advanced than other pixel ate cameras, the image obtained has
four times better resolution than 320 × 240 pixels camera with 76,800
measurement points [9]. Not only measurement accuracy is better and
also it have huge difference in the quality of image. FLIR thermal imaging
cameras can be used for easier handling purpose. The captured image is
processed by microcontroller and output is obtained [10].
Microcontroller: A microcontroller is interfaced with
thermal imaging camera. The attained image is analyzed through
Citation: Chandra Kumar J, Selvakumar A (2016) Averting Wildlife - Train Interaction Using Thermal Image Processing and Acoustic Techniques. J Biodivers
Manage Forestry 5:3.
Figure 1: Block diagram of System.
microcontroller. It generates an output signal in response to thermal
radiation from the animals [11-13]. The thermal image obtained from
the camera determines the intensity of animals as microcontroller acts
as decision maker. As a result it elects the sound alert system through
speaker from frequency selector. The microcontroller delivers
deterministic high act and flexibility with reduction in outlays, heat
and power use.
Frequency selector: After gaining the information from the
microcontroller, it enables frequency selector to select the appropriate
sound as programmed. Only two frequencies of sound alert sare
generated - a bee buzz and gunshot for easy manipulation of the
operation. For animals showing larger intensity viz. elephant, as their
body emits large amount of infrared radiation so in thermal imaging
large amount of thermal variation is seen on, then frequency selector
selects the bee buzz. If it is a smaller animal like lion, tiger, deer,
leopard etc. are identified the intensity will be lesser so accordingly
the frequency selectors elect the gunshots [14].
Braking system: Automated braking system is implemented, so
in case of emergency the accidental drop of air pressure in the brake
pipe of all the coaches of the train are submitted to the brake action,
independent of driver control, thus the train comes to halt. This
system comes in to action when there is no response to the acoustic
system, even after the sound is emitted from the speaker and thermal
image still appears on the monitor after the acoustic system processed
and it confirms that the animal doesn’t move or got injured in the
track etc. so these situation will activate this system, thus the train
comes into halt [15].
Algorithm
The thermal imaging camera captures video streams and image
processing is done within the camera, it gives thermal imaging as
output and fed to the microcontroller. Figure 2 depicts the algorithm
of system. It acts as a decision maker since according to the intensity
level obtained from the thermal image, i.e. low intensity or high
intensity it chooses which sound to be generated through speakers
from frequency selector. If animal is present within the track (n ≥
1) even though after the sound is played through the speakers then
the signal is fed back to the decision maker (n=1) to stop the train
by applying braking system. If the animal moved from the track
(n=0) after the sound is emitted from the speakers then train moves
smoothly by without hurdle [16].
Concept for thermal imaging
The radiated intensity levels vary considerably between many
species, from tiny leaf cutting ant to elephant over 13kw. The wild
Volume 5 • Issue 3 • 1000165
doi: 10.4172/2327-4417.1000165
animals emits different radiations amount from their body, and have
different power intensity within them. In the table mentioned below
shows the head, body, and leg temperature and power intensity of
different animals in wildlife. Here elephant being the largest thermal
emitter as compared with other animals. Figure 3a and 3b depicts the
intensities of Elephant and Rhino [17] (Table 1).
Technique after obtaining image
Only two techniques is used in this paper for frequency selector i.e.,
one is for the animals that produce high intensity images and another is
for the animals that produces lower intensity thermal images.
Microcontroller does the work of sensing the variation in
intensities of the obtained thermal image and feeds the respective
signal to the frequency selector. If it is large intensified animal it select
bee buzz and if it is smaller intensified animal it selects gunshots.
After the frequency is selected the corresponding sound is generated
through a speaker and thus the animal is driven away.
For the selection of frequency we use up principle of intensity
i.e., the amount of power kept for intensified animal is 8 kW. This
will be the nominal mid value for the selection of frequency from
frequency selector. If it is less than 8 kW of power then it interprets
that it is a lower intensified animal and if the power is more than 8
kW then it finalize that it is higher intensified animal and it gives out
the appropriate sound from the speaker [18].
The minimal value of power for the lower intensified animal is
2 kW. So it considers only the animals having intensity power of
above 2kW which will be easy for the detection of animals like Zebra,
Giraffe, Rhino, Tiger, and Lion etc.
Sound alert system
All animals quickly respond to the minutest sounds produced in the
forest. So giving a loud noise will definitely make the animals to react.
Bee buzz
An elephant greatly respond to the buzzing sound of bees and
gives a greater response towards it. Because water around the eyes
of elephants are highly attracted by bees and their stings can be
incredibly painful for elephants [19,20]. Past studies show that the
elephants of Indian and African avoid the beehives which are placed
on their regular routes of food [21]. When bee rumble takes place the
headshaking is continuously done by elephants and it just move away
from that area [22]. The bee sound recorded are normally from 150
Hz to 500 Hz which greatly disturbs the elephants and force them to
move away.
• Page 2 of 4 •
Citation: Chandra Kumar J, Selvakumar A (2016) Averting Wildlife - Train Interaction Using Thermal Image Processing and Acoustic Techniques. J Biodivers
Manage Forestry 5:3.

doi: 10.4172/2327-4417.1000165

Table 1: The radiated intensity level of various species.

Animal Head / θ ◦c Body /θ ◦c Leg /θ ◦c Power
Zebra 26.8 25.8 25.0 2.8 kW
Elephant 21.1 21.1 20 13.4 kW
Giraffe 23.1 24.7 13.9 5.3 kW
Peccary 20.3 14.4 13.8 492 W
Rhino 30.5 25.5 23.5 3.7 kW

Figure 2: Algorithm of system.

Table 2: Sound of the gunshot.

SPL @ 1m Peak Freq
Firearm Calibre & Type (Typical)
Re 20 mPa (FFT)
.22 Pistol 146 dB 750 Hz
.38 Revolver 151 dB 500 Hz

Gun shot
All other animals of smaller size such as tiger, lion, deer, leopard
etc., are frightened by the gunshots of the Pistol or Revolver. As the
loudness of sound from pistol and revolver is high enough to frighten
[9] the animals present in the track, the animals run away from the track
Figure 3a: Elephant with power of 13.4 kW. on the instant of hearing the sound. No animal will be in that radius
after a gunshot like high decibel sound is generated [23] (Table 2).
Conclusion
The main theme of this research paper is to save the life of wild
animals from fatal accidents. Rail routes through wildlife corridors
not only cause injury and mortality to wild animals, but also
create habitat fragmentation, reduction of vital ecosystem and its
degradation. If this device is implemented in real time, at least few
animal lives could be saved. So, this thermal imaging and acoustic
technique can reduce mortality rate at least by 50%. It is worth trying,
as it protects and maintains the biodiversity and ecological balance.
In future, it can be further developed by improving the processing
along the curved tracks. Extinction may occur due to natural causes
[10]
in a long run, but no person with a little bit of conviction will allow
Figure 3b: Rhino with power 3.7 kW. such destruction to happen because of human intervention. Being on

Volume 5 • Issue 3 • 1000165 • Page 3 of 4 •

Citation: Chandra Kumar J, Selvakumar A (2016) Averting Wildlife - Train Interaction Using Thermal Image Processing and Acoustic Techniques. J Biodivers
Manage Forestry 5:3.

doi: 10.4172/2327-4417.1000165

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