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TECHNOLOGY TO THE RESCUE
"Like the resource it seeks to protect, wildlife conservation
must be dynamic,changing as conditions change, seeking
always to become more effective"
...Rachel Carson
TRAILGUARDS:
Wildland Security has designed and is currently employing electronic surveillance technology for monitoring of protected parklands. The use of remote electronic surveillance technology increases the effectiveness of protection efforts both in terms of the cost effectiveness of monitoring as well as by increasing apprehension before poaching occurs. Electronic intrusion detectors have the advantage of remaining vigilant at all hours of day for years with little if any maintenance or costs incurred after the system is initially installed. Through utilization of this technology, park rangers no longer depend upon intelligence information such as from informants that may be unreliable or outdated. The real-time information obtained from the sensors allows timely dispatches of patrols into areas under invasion.
This system, called TrailGuards, is a network of miniaturized, weatherproofed, concealable, sensors similar to those used in airports to detect metal. The alarm sensors in this devise can be triggered by any number of events including metal, movement, sound, or fire. Metal detection sensors are the most typically used since poacher and rangers are often the only metal bearing animals in protected parks. The sensors are specially programmed to ignore passer-bys who are coded as “rangers”.
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The Trailguards are placed along forest trails and other natural "choke points" where humans entering a protected area are likely to pass. The devices are readily concealed and will require little maintenance once installed.
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By placing the sensors near entry points to protected areas, it becomes an early warning system, sending alarms possibly hours before the intruders reach their hunting grounds and in time to be apprehended before they can start killing. Using the Trailguard, metal (weapon) carrying individuals can be detected immediately, long before poaching occurs. A rifle or machete will trigger the magnetic sensor (metal detector). |
Once metal is detected, the device sends a signal to a pager alarm via satellite, which notifies personnel immediately that a metal carrying person has entered the range of the detector. |
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More specifically, the TrailGuard system is comprised of unattended magnetic sensors that are networked via an internet gateway and which, when triggered by a metal object such as a firearm, cable snare, or machete, send intruder detection alarms to park authorities on handheld satellite pagers. When the sensor detects an intruder, the event is radio-transmitted to the Internet via a satellite gateway (typically located at the top of the forest canopy, and well camouflaged). An alarm is sent via satellite data transmission to a web server where the event is logged, an incident report is automatically generated, and text messages are immediately sent via standard pagers or as emails to park officials and any other pre-specified parties. After a detection event, the TrailGuard system continually prompts protection authorities that an intruder is present. |
The intruder message is sent to both park personnel on the ground in the park as well as other agencies outside of the park that have a need to know what is
happening in the park from a management and oversight perspective. So within
a matter a few minutes of the intrusion detection, a permanent record,
accessible by many, is made and any number of people received
notification.
SUSTAINABILITY
Once the system is installed, the TrailGuard system requires a very minimal fixed infrastructure to function continuously for up to ten years without maintenance to the sensor or gateway components. However, the system is also highly "scalable" which means that more sensors can be added incrementally to increase coverage without requiring any redesign of the system. Training of park staff in web server access and functionality will ensure that the performance-monitoring component of the system is incorporated into a long-term adaptive management strategy.
The obvious intention is to save lives, not to just punish poachers. This technology has the potential for decreasing poaching activity independent of apprehension. In several parks utilizing effective anti-poaching surveillance, poaching has decreased significantly simply in response to individuals learning that their activities are being monitored.
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