Strike Risk Research Articles

Insights into Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus L.) Population Movements in the Galapagos Archipelago and Southeast Pacific.

The Galapagos Marine Reserve is vital for cetaceans, serving as both a stopover and residency site. However, blue whales, occasionally sighted here, exhibit poorly understood migratory behavior within the Galapagos and the broader Eastern Tropical Pacific. This study, the first to satellite tag blue whales in the Galapagos (16 tagged between 2021 and 2023), explored their behavior in relation to environmental variables like chlorophyll-a concentration, sea surface temperature (SST), and productivity. Key findings show a strong correlation between foraging behavior, high chlorophyll-a levels, productivity, and lower SSTs, indicating a preference for food-rich areas. Additionally, there is a notable association with geomorphic features like ridges, which potentially enhance food abundance. Most tagged whales stayed near the Galapagos archipelago, with higher concentrations observed around Isabela Island, which is increasingly frequented by tourist vessels, posing heightened ship strike risks. Some whales ventured into Ecuador's exclusive economic zone, while one migrated southward to Peru. The strong 2023 El Niño-Southern Oscillation event led to SST and primary production changes, likely impacting whale resource availability. Our study provides crucial insights into blue whale habitat utilization, informing adaptive management strategies to mitigate ship strike risks and address altered migration routes due to climate-driven environmental shifts.

Age of First Exposure to Contact Sports Is Not Associated With Worse Later-In-Life Brain Health in a Cohort of Community-Dwelling Older Men.

To evaluate whether early age of first exposure to contact sports (AFE-CS) is associated with worse long-term brain health outcomes. A cross-sectional, survey study of older men with a history of contact sport participation was completed. Tertiary care facility. A cohort of community-dwelling older men dichotomized by using AFE-CS (<12 years vs ≥12 years). Independent variables included a dichotomized group of AFE-CS (<12 years vs ≥12 years). Brain health outcomes measured by depression, anxiety, cognitive difficulties, and neurobehavioral symptoms. Endorsements of general health problems, motor symptoms, and psychiatric history were also collected. Age of first exposure groups was compared using t tests, χ2 tests, and multivariable linear regressions, which included the following covariates: age, number of prior concussions, and total years of contact sport. Of 69 men aged 70.5 ± 8.0 years, approximately one-third of the sample (34.8%) reported AFE-CS before age 12 years. That group had more years of contact sports (10.8 ± 9.2 years) compared with those with AFE-CS ≥12 (5.6 ± 4.5 years; P = 0.02). No differences were found after univariate testing between AFE-CS groups on all outcomes (P-values >0.05). Multivariable models suggest that AFE-CS is not a predictor of depression or anxiety. Those in the AFE-CS <12 group had fewer cognitive difficulties (P = 0.03) and fewer neurobehavioral symptoms (P = 0.03). Those with AFE-CS <12 to contact sports did not have worse long-term brain health outcomes compared with those with AFE-CS ≥12. Individuals with AFE-CS <12 had significantly lower British Columbia Cognitive Complaints Inventory and Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory scores compared with those with AFE-CS ≥12. The benefits of earlier AFE-CS may outweigh the risks of head strikes and result in comparable long-term brain health outcomes.

Flying in the Strike Zone: Urban Air Mobility and Wildlife Strike Prevention

The number and rate of wildlife strikes continue to increase worldwide. More than 30 years of wildlife strike data indicate that approximately 92% of wildlife strikes for commercial aircraft occur at or below 3500 ft above ground level. Since urban air mobility (UAM) operations are envisioned to carry cargo and passengers up to an altitude of 4000 ft above ground level, UAM operations will face increased exposure to wildlife strike risks throughout their operations. Moreover, the comparatively small size of UAM aircraft, proposed cruising speeds of up to 170 kt, and quieter electric engines are expected to reduce opportunities for threat perception and evasive maneuvers by aircraft operators and wildlife. This paper presents how well-established wildlife strike prevention measures can be adapted to meet the needs of UAM operations and how, with new technology, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), regulatory agencies, aircraft operators, communities, airspace managers, and vertiport operators can work together to enhance safety.

Extending air traffic control tasks to control air taxis and to warn of critical wildlife: an impact analysis

AbstractDespite large and successful efforts to keep wildlife off airports, many collisions between aircraft and animals still happen at low altitudes outside the airport boundaries, where wildlife is most abundant. These wildlife strikes are especially threatening for aircraft departing from airports as well as for envisioned low-flying urban air mobility aircraft. The here presented study evaluates the operational feasibility of a concept to provide tower air traffic controllers with wildlife strike risk information to contribute in a reduction of these critical strikes. For this purpose, real-time human-in-the-loop simulations with ten air traffic controllers were performed in a 360° tower simulator. Based on controller feedback as well as measures for safety and efficiency, the findings indicate feasibility of providing controllers with wildlife strike risk information. It is expected that the refinement of the procedures presented here will pave the way towards field-tests and eventually actual implementation of air traffic control involvement in wildlife strike prevention.

Targeting fin whale conservation in the North-Western Mediterranean Sea: insights on movements and behaviour from biologging and habitat modelling.

Biologging and habitat modelling are key tools supporting the development of conservation measures and mitigating theeffects of anthropogenic pressures on marine species. Here, we analysed satellite telemetry data and foraging habitat preferences in relation to chlorophyll-a productivity fronts to understand the movements and behaviour of endangered Mediterranean fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) during their spring-summer feeding aggregation in the North-Western Mediterranean Sea. Eleven individuals were equipped with Argos satellite transmitters across 3 years, with transmissions averaging 23.5 ± 11.3 days. Hidden Markov Models were used to identify foraging behaviour, revealing how individuals showed consistency in their use of seasonal core feeding grounds; this was supported by the distribution ofpotential foraging habitat. Importantly, tracked whales spent most of their time in areas with no explicit protected status within the study region. This highlights the need for enhanced time- and place-based conservation actions to mitigate the effects of anthropogenic impacts for this species, notably ship strike risk and noise disturbance in an area of exceptionally high maritime traffic levels. These findings strengthen the need to further assess critical habitats and Important Marine Mammal Areas that are crucial for focused conservation, management and mitigation efforts.

The WhaleReport Alert System: Mitigating threats to whales with citizen science

Ship strikes are a pervasive threat to cetaceans globally. Real-time observations of cetaceans reported by citizen scientists unlock an opportunity to develop ship strike mitigation tools. The Ocean Wise Sightings Network (OWSN) is an example of a long-running and expansive citizen science program. The OWSN curates sightings data collected by coastal communities, mariners, and tourists into a database that can be utilized to monitor the 23 cetacean species inhabiting British Columbia and Washington State waters. Recently, the OWSN mobilized real-time sightings data into a mitigation tool, the WhaleReport Alert System (WRAS), which alerts professional mariners to the presence of cetaceans within their vicinity, allowing them to take action (e.g., slow down or divert course), to mitigate the risk of ship strike. The success of the WRAS (550 registered users) can be largely attributed to outreach events conducted in coastal communities which recruit new observers who report sightings to the WhaleReport app. Partnering with mariners to develop the WRAS has resulted in its continued support from and use by marine industry. We highlight the critical role of a sightings network for mitigating threats to cetaceans, emphasize the need to collaborate with marine industry, non-governmental, and government bodies to support endorsement of the tool, and stress the importance of metrics to evaluate success of the WRAS. This approach taken by Ocean Wise has resulted in the delivery of >20,000 WRAS alerts and is a framework which could be integrated into existing sightings networks globally to mitigate the risk of ship strikes on cetaceans.

RESEARCH OF TRANSPORT SUPPLY OF METALLURGICAL INDUSTRY BY RAILWAY TECHNOLOGICAL ROUTES

Purpose. In the conditions of a full-scale war, ensuring the stable functioning of the national economy is one of the strategic tasks. The functioning of the industrial complex, the availability of jobs and the payment of taxes to the state budget are, among other things, part of ensuring the country's defense capability. One of the main branches of Ukraine's economy is the metallurgical industry, so it needs the implementation of measures to ensure reliable and stable work even in conditions of military aggression, constant risks of air strikes and infrastructure damage. In accordance with this, the purpose of the study is to analyze and determine the structure of cargo flows of technological routes of transport service of metallurgical production (on the example of PJSC «Zaporizhstal»). The dynamics of iron ore (iron ore concentrate) and coking coal (coke) transportation volumes by means of transport were studied. Irregularity was investigated and descriptive statistics of daily volumes of transportation of iron ore (iron ore concentrate) and coking coal (coke) for metallurgical production were performed (on the example of PJSC «Zaporizhstal»). Methods. An analysis of the unevenness of the daily volume of goods received for the needs of a metallurgical enterprise (on the example of PJSC «Zaporizhstal») by technological routes of railway transport was carried out. Methods of mathematical statistics, probability theory, theory of transport processes and systems were used. As a result of the analysis of cargo flows arriving at the enterprise, it was established that the distribution of the daily volume of iron ore arriving at the Zaporizhzhia Live station is subject to symmetrical distribution laws with a relatively low variation of 18.4%. The distribution of the random value of the daily volume of coke intake also indicates a certain symmetry with a fairly high probability (59%), and is approximated by a normal distribution. Scientific novelty. As a result of the conducted research, it was established that the approximate density of the distribution of volumes of iron ore (salt-ore concentrate) and coking coal (coke) for metallurgical production (on the example of PJSC «Zaporizhstal» for 2022). Practical significance. The mathematical expectation and the level of correlation of the volumes of iron ore (iron ore concentrate) and coking coal (coke) supply to metallurgical production are established (on the example of PJSC «Zaporizhstal» for 2022). In the future, the obtained results are planned to be used as input data for a simulation model of the functioning of the transport support system of an industrial enterprise.

Biological Protection of the Military Airport and Its Possible Optimization

Nowadays the importance of air traffic safety is more than ever. One of the basic elements that contribute to safety is the biological protection of the airport. The article aims to describe and explain how the biological protection of the military airport Sliač works. The main aim of protection is the create conditions to reduce the overall risk of bird strike or strike with other animals. It can be reached by the implementation of preventive active or passive methods. The objective of the study was to analyse negative sources which attract all kinds of animals. Based on the findings of the research, we can suggest and implement new methods of deterrence in the airport.

Correction to: Comparing bird strike risk assessment methods: a new perspective for safety management

Correction to: Comparing bird strike risk assessment methods: a new perspective for safety management

An investigation of bird strike cases in the aviation sector with a novel approach within the context of the principal-agent phenomenon: Bird strikes and insurance in the USA

Bird strikes, a risk factor in the aviation industry, are a common problem in certain states of the USA, while they are extremely rare in other states. Similarly, the seasonal distribution of bird strikes is not proportional. This situation poses an unfair situation in the aviation insurance of airline companies in terms of routes taken. The current study, detecting a literature gap related to the principal-agent problem within the aviation sector, evaluates the possible differences in aviation companies' insurance costs, assuming bird strikes are spatially and temporally analyzed in the US, and airline companies are provided with complete information regarding bird-strikes. In this research, QGIS software served in spatial model mappings. In terms of the threshold value, the study results show that making bird-strike insurance aircraft in twenty-one states which were below the threshold value increased the aviation costs of these airline companies, while in the remaining twenty-nine states, non-insurance raised the cost. In this context, as of 2022, it has been determined that not paying an extra premium for bird strikes in twenty-one states below the threshold value will create efficiency, while expending an above-average insurance premium in twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia above the threshold value will create efficiency. The research seeks to answer the following question: Is it fair for airlines operating on routes with low or high bird strike risks to pay the same amount of insurance cost?

Comparing bird strike risk assessment methods: a new perspective for safety management

Comparing bird strike risk assessment methods: a new perspective for safety management

Mammal management: Strike mitigation measures and practices at European airports

Airfield environments can be attractive to a broad range of wildlife, including mammals, and rates of wildlife-aircraft collisions are generally increasing, globally. It is important, therefore, that the components of an airfield that may be attractive to wildlife and the effectiveness of current mammal-exclusion and strike mitigation measures, are understood. However, the suite of applied measures and the efficacy thereof differs between airfields. The collation of such information would represent a useful tool in potentially mitigating strike frequency or severity for airfield managers. To this end, an online survey was distributed to personnel responsible for wildlife management at airfields in Europe (Belgium, France, Greece, Ireland, Spain and the UK) between July 2020–March 2021. Mammals were recorded at all responding airfields (n = 22), while mammal strikes were recorded at 21 locations. A mammal sightings index scored foxes (91% of airfields) and rabbits (81% of airfields) as the most frequently recorded species. The presence of specific habitat (mainly heathland/peatland) airside was associated with a high mean mammal diversity at airfields in Ireland, the UK and Belgium which reported the presence of this habitat type. The erection of fencing and grassland management measures were the most frequently implemented mitigation measures, while managing water sources within the airfield environment was ranked as the most successful mitigation measure. Our study highlights the need for Wildlife Hazard Management Plans to consider an integrated management approach that not only mitigates general strike risk but is also adaptable to species of particular concern.

Modelling ship strike risk to fin, humpback and killer whales in British Columbia, Canada

Many cetacean species are susceptible to mortality or serious injury from vessel collisions. Spatially explicit assessments of risk per whale can help identify potential problem areas to guide appropriate mitigation measures. Canada’s Pacific waters host high cetacean densities and intense maritime traffic, and the issue of vessel collisions has taken on a high priority in British Columbia (BC) recently due to several major industrial development applications. Spatially-explicit statistical modelling and Geographic Information System (GIS) visualisation techniques identified areas of overlap between shipping activity and waters used by humpback, fin and killer whales. Areas of highest risk were far removed from areas with highest concentrations of people, suggesting that many beach-cast carcasses could go undetected. With few exceptions, high-risk areas were found in geographic bottlenecks, such as narrow straits and passageways. Port expansion and a proposed pipeline for carrying oil from Alberta to BC’s north coast (with associated oil tanker traffic) would increase ship strike risk for all three species. The risk assessments illustrate where ship strikes are most likely to occur, but cannot estimate how many strikes occur. Propeller wounds on live killer whales are common in the region, and fatal collisions have been reported in BC for all three species. Procedures were used to estimate potential mortality limits in accordance with a wide range of quantitative management objectives from jurisdictions around the world. While the extent of under-reporting of ship strikes has not been evaluated, the few known cases of collisions involving fin whales suggest that mortality due to ship strike for this species may already be approaching or even exceeding mortality limits under the most risk-averse management objectives. It is hoped that risk maps may inform environmental impact assessments of marine traffic because it will be easier to plan new shipping lanes so that they avoid high-density areas for whales than it will be to move the lanes after they become entrenched.

Multi-scale temporal characters mining for bird activities based on historical avian radar system datasets

AbstractAvian radar systems are effective for wide-area bird detection and tracking, but application significances need further exploration. Existing radar data mining methods provide long-term functionalities, but they are problematic for bird activity modelling especially in temporal domain. This paper complements this insufficiency by introducing a temporal bird activity extraction and interpretation method. The bird behaviour is quantified as the activity degree which integrates intensity and uncertainty characters with an entropy weighing algorithm. The method is applicable in multiple temporal scales. Historical radar dataset from a system deployed in an airport is adopted for verification. Temporal characters demonstrate good consistency with understandings from local observers and ornithologists. Daily commuting and roosting characters of local birds are well reflected, evening bat activities are also extracted. Night migration activities are demonstrated clearly. Results indicate the proposed method is effective in temporal bird activity modelling and interpretation. Its integration with bird strike risk models might be more useful for airport safety management with wildlife interference.

Sperm whale ship strikes in the Pelagos Sanctuary and adjacent waters: assessing and mapping collision risks in summer

Collisions with large vessels potentially present a major conservation issue for sperm whales in the Pelagos Sanctuary in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea. The exact numbers and locations of ship strikes remain largely unknown at present. In this study, sightings of sperm whales in summer (June–September) were gathered for the period between 1998 and 2008 from nine French and Italian organisations, together covering an area of more than 68,000km. Working on a regular grid of 0.1° × 0.1° latitude/longitude cells, approximate surface density of the whales was calculated using kriging methods. A database of shipping lanes of ferries and merchant vessels was assembled, and traffic density was mapped (kilometres travelled per cell). The data was overlayed and multiplied, using ArcGis, to create a relative density surface map of sperm whales correlated with the relative density of maritime traffic. Several maps of collision risk were drawn up according to the speed class of the vessels. Of living animals that had been photo-identified, 9% had scars attributed to ship strike. Results show that sperm whales are at high risk from merchant vessels along the French and Italian continental coasts and at risk from conventional ferries on the east side of the islands of Corsica and Sardinia. It was calculated that 74 animals could be in a ship strike risk situation during the summer period in the Pelagos Sanctuary. Based on these results, mitigation measures already in place were reviewed and new measures to reduce ship strike risk are suggested.

Investigating nocturnal UAS treatments in an applied context to prevent gulls from nesting on rooftops

AbstractRing‐billed (Larus delawarensis) and herring (L. argentatus) gulls are numerous and widespread in North America. These gulls rank among the top 9 species for risk of bird‐aircraft collisions (hereafter strikes). The ubiquitous presence of gulls in urban coastal environments, including rooftop nesting behavior, are factors impacting strike risk. Our purpose was to assess gull response to a small uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) in hazing flights at night during the nest‐building phase. We hypothesized that nocturnal UAS operation, like nocturnal predator disturbance, might reduce gull numbers and, thus, strike risk to aircraft. In spring 2021, we conducted UAS treatments over target roofs at least once every hour from 2000 until 0200, weather permitting, for 15 min and over a 14‐day period for each site. The UAS flew directly above (~4 m) and then descended (~4 m/s) within 1 m of loafing gulls. No gulls interacted with the UAS and most flushed within 6 minutes. Generally, the first treatment of a night dispersed all gulls (min–max = 1–130 individuals) from the target roof for an extended period. Our operations were often grounded because of weather and our gull response data were limited because of few individuals present. We discuss our observations with particular attention to feasibility and possible implications such as shifting birds to other sites which, potentially, could be counterproductive for management.

Simulation of Cloud-to-Ground Lightning Strikes to Wind Turbines Considering Polarity Effect Based on an Improved Stochastic Lightning Model

The accurate determination of the annual lightning flash number to a wind turbine is essential for designing proper lightning protection measures. However, the method to assess the lightning risk of wind turbines recommended by the IEC is not associated with the actual lightning attachment process. Additionally, there is little research on positive cloud-to-ground (+CG) lightning. In this study, a lightning risk assessment method correlated with wind turbines on the basis of an improved stochastic lightning model is proposed. Based on the model, the influence of the lightning current amplitude, wind turbine heights and blade rotations on lightning strike risk are quantitatively analyzed. Moreover, the development and distribution characteristics of negative cloud-to-ground (−CG) lightning and +CG lightning are discussed. Finally, a more accurate calculation method of lightning strike risk is proposed considering the polarity effect. The results show that the effect of blade rotations on lightning risk cannot be ignored when the lightning current is large or when the wind turbine is tall. The −CG lightning has more bifurcation, but the dispersity of its development path and the lightning strike point are both small. The +CG lightning has scattered lightning strike points, and the development paths are tortuous, and. According to the verification calculation, the results calculated in this paper are in better agreement with the observation data than the results calculated by the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) recommended method.

PS-BPC11-5: INCIDENCE OF CLINICAL HYPERTENSION IN YOUNG TRANSGENDER PEOPLE AFTER A FIVE-YEAR FOLLOW-UP: ASSOCIATION WITH GENDER-AFFIRMING HORMONAL THERAPY

Introduction and Objective: There is a paucity of data on the long-term cardiovascular side effects of hormonal therapy in transgender people. The most overlooked issue is the cardiovascular risk associated with the use of androgen blockers. While some short-term data on blood pressure effects of gender-affirming hormonal therapy are available, the risk of hypertension development is unknown. We sought to assess this risk in our transgender patients. Design and Methods: Retrospective analysis of the clinical records of consecutive transgender patients who began hormonal therapy in our Outpatient Gender Identity Clinic with &lt; 30 years of age and have a follow-up of at least 5 years. Patients who had office sitting BP &gt; 140/90 mmHg at least twice, had an ABPM or systematic HBPM register with &gt; 135/85 mmHg or were taking antihypertensive medication were diagnosed with hypertension. Mediation analyses with weight increase as mediator were performed post-hoc to quantify its relative contribution to the increase in blood pressure. Patients who were already living with hypertension at the onset of hormonal therapy, withdrew from it or switched androgen blockers were excluded. All subjects gave informed consent. Results: 129 transgender women treated with estradiol and 153 transgender men treated with testosterone were included. Their onset and 5-year follow-up age, blood pressure and body weight are shown in the Table (women are stratified by type of androgen blocker) along with the incidence of hypertension. The increase in body weight was strongly correlated with the SBP increase (Spearman's r: 0.361, p &lt; 0.001). Mediation analyses showed that 31.2% - 42.3% (95% CI) of the SBP increase was mediated by body weight increase but the rest was body weight-independent. Conclusions: The annual incidence of hypertension in young transgender men (1.17%) seems comparable to that of the general population, but in young transgender women the choice of androgen blocker has a remarkable effect on the incidence of hypertension, with apparent protective effect of spironolactone but a striking risk increase with cyproterone acetate (close to 5% yearly). Taken together with the known risks of this drug (meningioma, depression, low libido, liver toxicity, thrombosis…), the use of cyproterone acetate for this indication should be reconsidered. Body weight increase is undoubtedly related to the increase of BP transgender people on gender-affirming hormone therapy but is probably not the main factor.

Environmental Interaction of Resolved Human Cytomegalovirus Infection With Crohn's Disease Location.

Lay Summary Active cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection complicates management of inflammatory bowel disease, but the relationship of resolved CMV infection to Crohn’s disease (CD) behavior or localization is unknown. This article reports a striking risk (9-fold) of Crohn’s disease localization to the colon with prior CMV infection. It also reports imputed mucosal cellular composition, HLA class 1, and KIR gene variants that delimit prior observations regarding HLA and KIR associations with Crohn’s disease risk and behavior.

Overlap between bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) and vessel traffic in the North American Arctic and implications for conservation and management

Collisions between vehicles and wildlife is a global conservation concern, and vessel strikes are a leading cause of serious injury and mortality for baleen whales. Yet vessel strikes have rarely been studied in the Arctic. Vessel traffic is increasing throughout the Arctic as sea ice is declining, leading to increased overlap between vessels and whales. We examined hypothetical vessel strike risk for the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort (BCB) and Eastern Canada-West Greenland (ECWG) populations of bowhead whales during the open-water shipping season. We used satellite telemetry and aerial survey data to calculate monthly relative density of both populations, and satellite vessel tracking data to calculate monthly vessel density and speed. We estimated vessel strike risk by multiplying whale density by vessel density corrected by vessel speed. For the BCB population, the highest relative risk was near Utqiaġvik and Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, USA, and near Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, Canada. For the ECWG population, the highest risk was in the Gulf of Boothia, Cumberland Sound, and near Isabella Bay, Nunavut, Canada. Strike risk was highest in August and September, corresponding with monthly trends in vessel traffic. This study provides important information for focussed monitoring and to minimize/mitigate the threat of vessel strikes to bowhead whales. Although vessel strike risk is presently lower for these populations than for other temperate large cetacean populations, bowhead whale behaviour and projected increases in traffic elevates their risk in the Arctic. Measures to mitigate vessel strike risk to bowhead whales will likely benefit other Arctic marine mammals like beluga and narwhal.