A landscape-scale model to predict the risk of bird collisions with electric power transmission lines in Alberta
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2007
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Abstract
A great number of birds are killed each year through collisions with power lines. Altalink, like other electric utility companies, operates thousands of kilometers of transmission line, making it nearly impossible to identify and prioritize areas according to the degree of risk they pose to birds. The potential severity and magnitude of collisions is not well understood, because unless reported by the public, utility companies are generally unaware of problem sites. This is because unlike electrocutions, collisions do not cause power outages and do very little damage to the line itself. Problems occur in specific situations where certain factors exist to create high collision potential. Past research has been focused on localized sites and has not been assessed at a larger scale. I developed a method to assess collision risk at a landscape scale using risk modeling and spatial ecological analysis. To spatially identify and prioritize high-risk areas, Saaty's Analytical Hierarchy Technique using Pairwise Comparison Analysis in ldrisi32 and then raster calculator in ArcGIS 9.0 were used. Model validation occurred through ground truthing at select sites. Results show that this methodology can predict where high-risk collision areas are. It will enable a population-level management approach to target and prioritize the higher risk sites for subsequent mitigation.
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Bibliography: p. 123-132
Some pages are in colour.
Some pages are in colour.
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Citation
Heck, N. N. (2007). A landscape-scale model to predict the risk of bird collisions with electric power transmission lines in Alberta (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/1482