Abstract
Wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVC) pose a risk to drivers and cost U.S. society billions of dollars annually in property damage, emergency response, maintenance and mitigation, and lost economic activity. Reducing WVC requires identifying where these collisions are most common and what activities improve safety and protect wildlife. Collecting data on the extent and nature of WVC incidents is a challenge, however. Currently, Caltrans maintenance staff record their activities on paper in the field and then transcribe that information to a digital system when they return to the maintenance stations and regional offices. This system not only makes it challenging for individual staff to keep track of activities, it also reduces the chance that valuable information (like WVC location and wildlife species) will be retained and transcribed correctly.To improve data collection, the Road Ecology Center at UC Davis is developing tools such as a “one click” mobile app which will help Caltrans workers and others to collect WVC data in the field, with greater locational accuracy. The app will also enable Caltrains maintenance staff, who are often first responders to non-emergency roadside incidents, to track illegal dumping and as well as record roadside vegetation issues (e.g., areas that need mowing, weed-control, planting) and note fire hazards.
