Drones Employed to Survey Bengaluru’s Stray Dog Population
In a pioneering initiative, drone technology has been utilized to survey the stray dog population in Bengaluru, India. The project, conducted by VayDyn, a startup at the Artificial Intelligence & Robotics Technology Park, Indian Institute of Science (ARTPARK IISc), in collaboration with the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), aims to determine the number and gender of stray dogs in the city for effective implementation of the Animal Birth Control program.
The survey, initiated by the BBMP across its eight zones, commenced on July 11. The drones were deployed to count the free-roaming dogs near Bengaluru’s lakes and open spaces. This marks the first-ever usage of drone technology for such a purpose in India. The data collected by the drones will be cross-validated with the information gathered through traditional ground surveys, ensuring accuracy.
The BBMP Animal Husbandry’s Joint Director, K.P. Ravikumar, explains that while the drones may not be able to identify the gender and neutering status of the dogs, they will greatly contribute to the overall dog population survey. The survey encompasses 1,368 micro-zones across different areas such as commercial zones, slums, and lakes. To effectively cover these zones, the survey team utilized two-wheelers.
The initial survey focused on Hulimavu, Sarakki, Seegehalli, and Yele Mallappa Shetty lakes. The drones, equipped with artificial intelligence, successfully captured and identified dogs and also differentiated between other stray animals such as cats and cows.
Founder of VayDyn, Varun Raghavendra, explains the preference for conducting the survey around lakes, citing safety reasons. Since lakes offer a clutter-free airspace, even in case of drone crashes, there would be minimal physical damage or injuries. Moreover, lakes have fewer potential sources of signal interference.
However, some challenges were encountered during the pilot project. Urban airspace regulations and safety concerns posed restrictions on the operation of drones in certain areas, such as airports, cantonment zones, and DRDO testing lab areas. Additionally, adverse weather conditions like strong winds and the risk of birds colliding with low-flying drones posed safety concerns.
Upon completion of the survey, the data will be handed over to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research – National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Disease Informatics (ICAR-NIVEDI), Bengaluru, for further analysis using scientific methods.
While the use of drones for this survey has several advantages, animal activist Arun Prasad believes that drones are more suitable for open grasslands and less effective in capturing stray dogs in urban areas. According to Prasad, many stray dogs take shelter under vehicles and in drainage systems or hide between building complexes, making them difficult to detect by drones.
By leveraging drone technology, the BBMP aims to streamline its efforts in managing the stray dog population and implementing effective control measures. If successful, this pilot project could pave the way for future surveys using drones in Bengaluru and other cities, ensuring a more time and cost-efficient approach compared to traditional methods.
