The solar-powered cameras are being installed along the Monaro Highway. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
There’s hope that new AI-cameras can help wildlife carers battle a “perfect storm” that is engulfing the Monaro region, driving an increase in the number of wildlife road deaths.
That’s the message from Snowy Mountains Wildlife Rescue (LAOKO) secretary Peter Gibson.
He said winter was marked by a spike in the number of wildlife collisions as more people drove at night and tourists visited the Monaro.
“It’s just this time of year and a lack of water, a lack of grass that make a perfect storm for animal killing,” he told Region.
But the NSW Government is pushing ahead with a trial, with two AI-enabled cameras being placed along the Monaro Highway between Bredbo and Williamsdale.
They feature AI software that can detect animals passing near the road and send a warning message to a nearby screen to alert motorists.
LAOKO first put forward the area as the trial site about two years ago, with the government assessing more than 70 locations for the trial.
Mr Gibson hoped the 13 km stretch of highway, which falls inside their more than 15,000 sqm, will see a drop in collisions.
“That area is a good place to trial it because there’s a mixture of bushland types around there. You’ve got open farmland as well as native vegetation quite close to the road.”
Transport for NSW (TfNSW) considered the site the perfect choice for “real world testing” of the solar-powered technology due to its limited street lights and higher speed limit.
TfNSW developed the AI‑enabled signage, called Protective Animal Warning System (PAWS), as a way to urge drivers to slow down.
“Heat‑sensing and optical roadside cameras detect animals on or near the road and use an AI model that has been specially trained to identify common species such as kangaroos, koalas, deer and wombats,” a spokesperson told Region.
During the trial, the speed of vehicles approaching the signs (and whether they slow down) will be monitored.
Speed radar detectors are attached to the signs, but this data won’t be used in enforcement and licence plates won’t be collected.
The TfNSW spokesperson said that while the AI-enabled cameras were being temporarily used for the trial, the results would determine if their use could be expanded.
The trial follows on from a 2024 symposium that brought together experts to investigate strategies that could help to prevent wildlife collisions.
Two of the eight recommendations called for the government to develop detection systems customised for native wildlife and for it to investigate ways motorists could be informed of nearby wildlife while driving.
In its response, the NSW Government confirmed it supported pushing ahead with the recommendations.
Mr Gibson said their operations would continue as normal, but they have been asked to move deceased and euthanised animals to the roadside so the number of impacted animals can be tracked.
“We normally drag the dead animal well away from the road, mainly to get it away from cars … That’s the way we’re going to be affected.”
Member for Monaro Steve Whan told Region that he was excited to see the trial’s results.
“I have been approached by many different individuals and groups talking about the need for systems which better protect our native animals and our drivers,” he said.
“That’s why I’m excited this technology is being trialled in Monaro. If it works effectively and is affordable, we can hopefully see these trials expanded across the state in more high-risk areas.”
Mr Gibson was hopeful the trial would drive real changes in driver behaviour.
“If you put up fixed signs, people get very blase about them, say, ‘Oh there’s another sign – I’ve never seen a kangaroo here’.
“We expect a much more heightened level of response from AI signage.”
He said the trial could be the first step to sending wildlife warning messages to people directly.
In that circumstance, a “live message” warning of nearby wildlife would be sent directly to drivers’ phones.
“Our dream, in the long run, is the AI signage [triggers a message of], ‘At 12:30 pm, there’s kangaroos on the road’ … and alerts you,” he said.
“The dream in the long run is that it goes from just being signs that flash … to live feed information [for motorists]. That’s the big hope.”
The trial, which is due to last until 2027/2028, is expected to start in August, with installation of the cameras under way.
In another part of the state, near Bywong in southern NSW, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council is also running a $20,000 year-long trial of virtual fencing.
Original Article published by Claire Sams on About Regional.
