AI System 'Gajraj AI' Detects Elephants on Tracks, Alerts Train Drivers
Indian Railways is deploying an AI-powered system called 'Gajraj AI' to detect elephants on railway tracks. The system uses acoustic sensors to alert train drivers, aiming to prevent collisions and save elephant lives.
Key takeaways
- Indian Railways is implementing an AI system named 'Gajraj AI' to detect elephants on railway tracks.
- The system uses Distributed Acoustic Sensors (DAS) to detect elephant movement and alert train drivers.
- This initiative aims to prevent train-elephant collisions, which have resulted in 81 elephant deaths between 2019-20 and 2023-24.
- The technology has a reported detection accuracy of 99.5 percent and is being rolled out on 700 kilometers of forest routes.
Indian Railways is implementing an artificial intelligence system to mitigate collisions between trains and elephants. The technology, named 'Gajraj AI' (part of the Gajraj Suraksha initiative), aims to provide advance warning to train operators when elephants are detected on or near railway tracks.
What Happened
The new AI system is designed to alert train drivers to the presence of elephants, allowing them to slow down or stop trains before a collision can occur. This initiative addresses the ongoing threat of train-elephant collisions along established wildlife corridors.
Why It Matters
Collisions between trains and elephants pose a significant risk to elephant populations and can also endanger train operations. India is home to a substantial population of Asian elephants, with many habitats intersected by roads and railway lines. Between 2019-20 and 2023-24, 81 elephants died in train collisions, according to government data. The 'Gajraj AI' system aims to reduce these fatalities by providing an early detection mechanism.
Background
Indian Railways has identified 150 elephant corridors across the country that are increasingly crossed by human infrastructure. Some of these routes, particularly in forest areas of states like Assam, West Bengal, and Odisha, have become highly vulnerable. A notable incident last year involved the death of eight elephants in Assam after being struck by a train. The All India Loco Running Staff Association had previously highlighted the limitations of train drivers in preventing such collisions, especially given the long stopping distances of trains.
Key Facts
- The 'Gajraj AI' system is an AI-enabled Intrusion Detection System (IDS) developed by Indian Railways.
- It utilizes Distributed Acoustic Sensors (DAS) integrated with optical fibre cables laid beneath railway tracks.
- The system detects vibrations and is trained to recognize the specific movement patterns of elephants.
- Once an elephant is detected within five meters of the cable, the system sends alerts to loco pilots, station masters, and railway control rooms.
- The system boasts an accuracy rate of 99.5 percent in detecting elephants.
- The project is being rolled out across approximately 700 kilometers of forest routes.
- The estimated implementation cost for the system is Rs 181 crore.
- Between the 2019-20 and 2023-24 fiscal years, 81 elephants died in train collisions in India.
- In 2024, the All India Loco Running Staff Association publicly noted the technical limitations faced by train drivers in preventing collisions.
What Happens Next
The 'Gajraj AI' system is currently being deployed across nearly 700 kilometers of forest routes. This rollout aims to enhance safety for both elephants and train operations across vulnerable corridors.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
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