AI-based surveillance system to check forest trespassing besides monitoring wild animals in Coimbatore
Towermounted AIbased cameras have been installed near Maruthamalai and Ponnuthu Amman temple at Thadagam in the Coimbatore forest range and near the Ulagambikai Amman temple in the Madukkarai forest range
The artificial intelligencebased surveillance cameras installed by the Forest Department at three places in the Coimbatore Forest Division will also check trespassing of people into the forest, besides their primary task of monitoring wild animal movement towards human habitations.
Towermounted AIbased cameras have been installed near Maruthamalai and near Ponnuthu Amman temple at Thadagam in the Coimbatore forest range and near the Ulagambikai Amman temple in the Madukkarai forest range. District Forest Officer N. Jayaraj said the cameras are operational for about a month and efforts are being made to finetune the early warning system.
“These cameras provide thermal imaging and optical visuals. They can cover a distance of about one km and can be rotated 360 degree. However, at present, the cameras have been focused to particular points between forests and human habitations to check the movement of wild animals, especially elephants, to prevent them from entering villages,” he said.
The camera installed near Maruthamalai will detect movement of elephants towards IOB Colony, which is often witnessing movement of wild elephants.
The one installed in the Madukkarai range will be used to monitor an area of about 300 metres, where wild animal movements are frequent.
“Feeds from these cameras come to the new command centre that has been established on the first floor of the DFO’s office. A tower has also been installed to receive signals. The video feeds are being checked by the staff and appropriate instructions are given to the field staff,” he said.
Alerts
The whole project is being implemented under funds from the Tamil Nadu Innovation Initiatives (TANII). “In addition to the surveillance of wild animals, technicians are now programming the system to generate alerts when humans trespass into the forest. This will help the department curb wildlife offences, including poaching,” Mr. Jayaraj added.
With the commencement of the annual ban on fishing period, over 500 mechanised trawlers in the coastal Thoothukudi district would remain off the sea beginning Monday.
Fisheries department officials had announced that to enable production of fish, the fishermen shall not venture into the sea for 61 days (April 15 to June 14) both days inclusive. During the ban period, the repair works in their boats could be undertaken.
The Tamil Nadu government, which was providing ₹ 5,000 as a monthly assistance, had enhanced it to ₹ 8,000. Hence, the fishermen and their families would benefit by an additional ₹ 3000 per month.
The ban on fishing may severely impact on the nonavailability of fish for the next two months. The price of the fish too would likely to increase.
Normally, the fishermen in Thoothukudi, Vembar, Tharuvaikulam and others stay away from venturing into sea on Sundays. Hence, the sea remained calm from today, the officials said.
Ramanathapuram Following the ban period, the fishermen in Rameswaram, Mandapam and Dhanushkodi would not venture into the Palk Straits from Monday onwards.
While those boats, which had gone for fishing returned to the shores on Sunday evening with the last catch prior to the commencement of the ban from April 15. The Fisheries Department officials said normal activity would come to a stop in as many as 14 districts in Tamil Nadu due to the enforcement of the ban period, which is mandatory as per the laws.
A total of 1.90 lakh fishermen would benefit from the financial assistance of ₹ 8000 for the next two months, they added.