Case study · Infrastructure
IoT camera traps in underpasses to measure the effectiveness of ecological corridors
Automated wildlife monitoring in highway underpasses with IoT cameras to document which species use ecological corridors and assess their effectiveness as infrastructure for ecological connectivity.
Linear infrastructure: ecological barriers that fragment habitats
Linear infrastructure such as highways fragments natural habitats, disrupts wildlife dispersal corridors and increases mortality from roadkill. Isolated animal populations lose genetic variability, reducing species resilience in the long term. Wildlife underpasses are designed to restore ecological connectivity, but their effectiveness depends on factors such as location, size, substrate and human disturbance, and can only be assessed through systematic monitoring of transiting species.
The challenge
Verifying whether wildlife actually uses highway underpasses
Scientific evidence was needed on the actual use of ecological corridors by wildlife . A continuous and non-invasive monitoring system to document species, crossing frequency and movement patterns in the underpasses .
What we did
13 IoT cameras in 6 underpasses across 14 monitored hectares
XNatura responded with a system of IoT camera traps installed in wildlife underpasses to document the use of ecological corridors in a continuous, non-invasive and automated manner.
How we did it
From installation to automated census
A project combining IoT cameras, artificial intelligence for species classification and satellite mapping to assess the effectiveness of highway ecological corridors.
- 0113 IoT cameras positioned in wildlife underpassesThe 13 IoT camera traps were installed inside the 6 highway underpasses designed for wildlife passage. The cameras operate 24/7 with infrared sensors for night detection and automatic data transmission to the platform. Positioning was calibrated to maximise the field of view and minimise false triggers.
- 02Species identification and transit pattern analysisThe collected images are analysed to identify transiting species, crossing frequency and temporal usage patterns of the corridors. The census documented 1,128 individuals belonging to 44 species, providing scientific evidence on the effectiveness of underpasses as ecological connectivity infrastructure.
- 03From data to adaptive management of ecological corridorsData flows into the XNatura Environmental Platform, where the highway operator monitors the evolution of corridor usage season after season. The goal is to build a historical series documenting underpass effectiveness over time and provide a scientific basis for optimising the design of new ecological corridors along the infrastructure.
What the data says
What crosses the ecological corridors
All reported data excludes human sightings. The census documented 1,128 individuals belonging to 44 distinct species across the 6 monitored underpasses, confirming that ecological corridors are effectively used by wildlife to cross the highway infrastructure.
Of the 44 species identified, 40 are native. Of the 1,128 individuals recorded, 76.2% belong to invasive species, a significant finding for understanding the pressure of alien species on ecological corridors and guiding management strategies along the infrastructure.
Monitoring in action
Monitoring in action
Key sections of the XNatura Environmental Platform dedicated to monitoring highway ecological corridors.
The platform
Access the XNatura Environmental Platform
The platform with which the highway operator monitors the effectiveness of ecological corridors and wildlife transiting through underpasses.
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What was the environmental challenge at Highway Ecological Corridors?
Linear infrastructure: ecological barriers that fragment habitats. Linear infrastructure such as highways fragments natural habitats, disrupts wildlife dispersal corridors and increases mortality from roadkill. Isolated animal populations lose genetic variability, reducing species resilience in the long term. Wildlife underpasses are designed to restore ecological connectivity, but their effectiveness depends on factors such as location, size, substrate and human disturbance, and can only be assessed through systematic monitoring of transiting species.
What method did XNatura use at Highway Ecological Corridors?
A project combining IoT cameras, artificial intelligence for species classification and satellite mapping to assess the effectiveness of highway ecological corridors.
What data came out of the Highway Ecological Corridors project?
All reported data excludes human sightings. The census documented 1,128 individuals belonging to 44 distinct species across the 6 monitored underpasses, confirming that ecological corridors are effectively used by wildlife to cross the highway infrastructure. Of the 44 species identified, 40 are native. Of the 1,128 individuals recorded, 76.2% belong to invasive species, a significant finding for understanding the pressure of alien species on ecological corridors and guiding management strategies along the infrastructure.
What access does Highway Ecological Corridors have to the XNatura platform now?
The platform with which the highway operator monitors the effectiveness of ecological corridors and wildlife transiting through underpasses.
Do you want to monitor the ecological corridors of your infrastructure?
XNatura supports infrastructure operators, public authorities and protected areas in wildlife monitoring and ecological corridor effectiveness assessment, with IoT camera traps, satellite mapping and validated scientific protocols, producing data integrable into ESG and reporting frameworks.
Do you want to monitor the ecological corridors of your infrastructure?
XNatura supports infrastructure operators, public authorities and protected areas in wildlife monitoring and ecological corridor effectiveness assessment, with IoT camera traps, satellite mapping and validated scientific protocols, producing data integrable into ESG and reporting frameworks.
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