News Release

New app collects wildlife-vehicle collision data

Increases efficiency, accuracy in reporting wildlife-vehicle collisions

Peer-Reviewed Publication

PLOS

WVC Reporter Map Viewer Depicting Spatial Patterns in Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions

image: Spatial patterns in wildlife-vehicle collisions can be efficiently analyzed at both broad (left image) and fine (right image) scale extents using the WVC Reporter map viewer. view more 

Credit: Olson DD, Bissonette JA, Cramer PC, Green AD, Davis ST, et al. (2014) Monitoring Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions in the Information Age: How Smartphones Can Improve Data Collection. PLoS ONE 9(6): e98613. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0098613

A new app used to report wildlife-vehicle collisions increased efficiency and accuracy when compared to manual methods, according to a study published June 4, 2014 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Daniel Olson from Utah State University and colleagues.

Wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVC) endanger both humans and wildlife. Understanding when and where these collisions occur is essential to mitigating risks, but collecting this information requires an efficient and accurate system. Because data is currently gathered manually scientists aimed to develop and test a smartphone-based system for reporting, collecting, and managing WVC data that is improved over the manual method. The new WVC Reporter system consists of a mobile web application for data collection, a database for centralized storage of data, and a desktop web application for viewing data.

During the first year of use, ~6,800 animal carcasses were reported using WVC Reporter. Reports that used the app produced more accurate locations, were entered quicker, and had a lower data entry error rate than manual reports. The desktop web app improved access to WVC data and allowed users to easily visualize wildlife-vehicle collision patterns at multiple scales. Overall, the system increased reporting efficiency, improved accuracy, and enhanced data visualization. In addition, the authors conclude that development costs were minor relative to the potential benefits of having spatially accurate and temporally current wildlife-vehicle collision data. This app and collected data may be useful to protect both drivers and wildlife.

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Dr. Olson added, "This app for reporting wildlife vehicle-collisions improves accuracy of locations, increases time efficiency, and lowers cost of accurate data collection."

Citation:

Olson DD, Bissonette JA, Cramer PC, Green AD, Davis ST, et al. (2014) Monitoring Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions in the Information Age: How Smartphones Can Improve Data Collection. PLoS ONE 9(6): e98613. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0098613

Financial Disclosure:

This project was funded by the Utah Department of Transportation and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. The funding agencies provided input on the initial design of the WVC Reporter system and assisted in testing and collecting data. They did not participate in data analysis or the decision to publish the results.

Competing Interest Statement:

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

PLEASE LINK TO THE SCIENTIFIC ARTICLE IN ONLINE VERSIONS OF YOUR REPORT (URL goes live after the embargo ends): http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0098613

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