Gajraj: The AI Savior for Elephants in High-Risk Train Zones

"Bow your head. Show them respect. The elephants created this jungle. Where they made furrows with their tusks, rivers flowed; the leaves fell where they blew their trunks."

                                                    - 'The Jungle Book'

The Indian Railways has created the "Gajraj System," an AI-based surveillance system, to decrease the number of elephant deaths on train tracks.

 Since 2012, August 12 has been celebrated as 'World Elephant Day' as a step to call attention to the conservation of the largest animal in the world.

India is home to the most significant number of Asiatic elephants, accounting for nearly 60% of the jumbo population. However, even after being home to over 32 elephant reserves, the animal population in India is declining, and human activities are the cause behind it.

What is the GajRaj system?

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the implementation of the 'Gajraj System' in forest areas of Assam, West Bengal, Odisha, Kerala, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Tamil Nadu to protect elephants.

The Gajraj System is an AI-based surveillance system that uses Distributed Acoustics Sensing (DAS) technology to detect elephants near train tracks. The system is installed on Optical Fiber Cables (OFC) that run beneath train tracks. When an elephant steps on the track, the OFC vibrates. This vibration is detected by the Gajraj System, which sends an alert to the train driver, allowing the train driver to slow down or stop the train and prevent a collision.

How does the Gajraj System work?

• Optical Fiber Cables (OFC) as the Watchful Sentinels: Railways utilize OFC for communication and signalling and as a sensory network. (OFC transmit data by sending short light pulses along a long fibre (made up of plastic or glass)

• Detecting Vibrations, Recognizing the Presence of Elephants: The Gajraj System, integrated into the OFC network, detects vibrations caused by elephants stepping onto the track.

• Swift Alerts to Train Drivers: Instant alerts are sent to the division control room and a dedicated mobile application when elephant movement is detected.

• Precise Detection and Location: The system can accurately detect and locate moving elephants up to 5 meters from the fibre optic cable.

Budget for this project:

      The total cost of the project implementation on the 700 km tracks will be ₹181 crore.

But will this budget be enough for this system to be implemented?

Benefits of the Gajraj System

• Reduces elephant deaths on train tracks: The Gajraj System effectively detects elephants near train tracks. This has led to a significant reduction in elephant deaths on train tracks.

• Improves safety for train passengers: The Gajraj System also improves safety by preventing elephant-train collisions.

• Protects biodiversity: Elephants are an essential part of India's biodiversity. By protecting elephants, the Gajraj System helps to protect India's natural heritage

Disadvantages of using the Gajraj system:

   In my view, Although the Gajraj System is an impressive initiative to use AI technology to address the issue of elephant deaths on train tracks, there may be disadvantages and difficulties in its use.

• Cost: It can be expensive to set up and manage the Gajraj System, which includes installing AI technology and connecting Optical Fiber Cables (OFC). Financial burdens can be problematic, especially for trains with tight budgets.

• Limited coverages: The Gajraj System's effectiveness depends on the range of optical fibre cables. Areas without adequate coverage may remain vulnerable to elephant-train collisions, limiting the overall impact of the system.

• Environmental Impact: There may be an impact on the environment from the installation of optical fibre cables and associated infrastructure. Other creatures and their habitats may be impacted by the installation process's possible disruption of ecosystems.

Elephant Deaths on Indian Railways Data 

Between 1987 and 2018, numerous accidents involving elephants on these tracks resulted in the deaths of 249 elephants.

Elephant deaths by year:

Between 2015 and 2018, 49 elephants were killed in train accidents. The number of deaths broke down as follows:

• 2015-16: 9 deaths

• 2016-17: 21 deaths

• 2017-18: 19 deaths

The Gajraj System is currently implemented on a 700-kilometre track across India. The system is expected to be fully implemented by 2025.

The Gajraj System may have false positives (detecting the presence of elephants when none occurs) or false negatives (failing to see elephants when they are present), just like any other AI-based system. These mistakes could cause extreme train cancellations or, more seriously, forgetting to stop collisions. 

The AI Gajraj Surveillance System serves as a testament to the potential of artificial intelligence in shaping the future of security, and its success will depend on responsible implementation and continuous refinement in line with ethical principles and societal values. The main goal should be to protect elephant habits, put infrastructure conducive to animals, and encourage cohabitation between people and elephants. 

Will this stop Elephant Deaths

• Yes
• No
• Maybe