Predicting Wildlife Use of Existing Highway Bridges and Culverts

Departments of Transportation (DOTs) are paying increasing attention to wildlife connectivity needs across highways, which is reflected in the inclusion of $350 million in new funding in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. There are over 600,000 bridges along US highways, approximately 75% of which are over waterways and could be useful for wildlife connectivity. The purpose of this project is to develop an accessible model that DOTs can use to predict wildlife use of existing culverts and bridges and to look for cost-effective ways to increase wildlife use of existing structures. The research team will collaborate with the DOTs and/or Departments of Fish and Wildlife/Parks (etc.) of AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, ID, ME, MT, NV, OH, OR, and VA, and the Alberta MOT to develop a predictive model for wildlife use of existing structures, based on evidence of use of these structures. The researchers will develop a statistical model using structure and near-landscape characteristics, modeled traffic noise, and evidence of wildlife use from camera traps and Global Positioning System (GPS) collars. State DOTs could use the model to predict which structures are likely to be useful and which are not. This will assist their planning and programming wildlife connectivity enhancements for areas not served by existing structures.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $118758
• Sponsor Organizations:

  Department of Transportation

  Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC    20590

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  METRANS Transportation Center

  University of Southern California
  Los Angeles, CA  United States  90089-0626
• Performing Organizations:

  University of California, Davis

  Institute of Transportation Studies
  Davis, CA  United States  95616
• Principal Investigators:

  Shilling, Fraser

• Start Date: 20221001
• Expected Completion Date: 20230930
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridges; Cameras; Culverts; Global Positioning System; Wildlife; Wildlife crossings
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Environment; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01858364
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: National Center for Metropolitan Transportation Research
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Sep 20 2022 3:34PM