Airport Wildlife Safety Management

CEAT/OMP Research Program 2006

The OMP/ASWM Research Team:

Faculty:

Bruce Branham, NRES (soil and plants)Ed Herricks, CEE (stormwater & GIS)Jeff Brawn, NRES (birds)

RA’s

Amanda Kiser, CEETheresa Kissane NRES

The ORD/OMP AWSM program is developing methods to improve operational safety at ORD through a multifaceted program that emphasizes systems integration.

OMP benefits from a considerable investment of the FAA in ORD research and coordination with Department of Aviation and USDA Wildlife Services.

2006 AWSM/OMP Program

Foundation: We argued that early design input can reduce construction and operational costs and increase long-term safety at ORD!

2006 AWSM/OMP Program

Results: Assisted in design specifications that reduced top soil purchase requirements!

AWSM/OMP Project Objectives

Fill/Topsoil and Vegetation

1) Integrate OMP designs with existing and/or new and innovative wildlife management practices to minimize the attractiveness of the airport to all wildlife.

2) Identify species/specific varieties and planting procedures to develop a vegetation cover for ORD that will minimize wildlife hazards to aircraft movement.

3) Conduct analysis of fill materials for graded areas that will minimize the development of soil microfauna and corresponding attractiveness of revegetated areas to a wide range of wildlife species.

4) Develop and test biobarriers as a wildlife management technique for airports.

Stormwater:

• Evaluate all proposed stormwater conveyance, detention, and retention facilities and planning for OMP with the objective of minimizing wildlife attractants at these facilities, at present, and into the future.

Coordination:

• Use the GIS developed for ORD by CEAT and Wildlife Services under the sponsorship of the FAA to provide advanced spatial analysis techniques in support of airport design considering both engineering and wildlife management issues.

Develop a comprehensive strategy for OMP and ORD to minimize the attraction of wildlife and implement an adaptive management process based on long term monitoring.

We have established test plots at UIUC

Task #1

Develop a working understanding of the OMP and develop a working relationship with the design engineers and managers of the project. We have met with OMP staff, but more can be done!

Task #2

Conduct research to address questions of soil surface characteristics and vegetation development.

Research initiated:

1. Plots established to evaluate whether soil insect quantity affect bird attractiveness.

2. Plans for plots that use of endophyte-containing turfgrasses and other unpalatable species (zoysiagrass) to reduce the visits of geese and other grazing birds; and

3. Considered the design of biobarriers containing an biocides that will control microfauna and some types of vegetation development.

Task #3

Analyze airport infrastructure and potential hazards to aircraft safety produced by wildlife relationships with that infrastructure.

Activities included:

1. Review design and construction planning for stormwater conveyance and detention structures. (GIS integration completed)

2. Use spatial analysis tools to analyze airport infrastructure and potential hazards to aircraft safety produced by wildlife relationships with that infrastructure. (Developing modeling capability)

3. Consider approaches to meet permit requirements while minimizing wildlife hazards.

2007 AWSM/OMP Program

Program focused on integration of activities

2007 AWSM/OMP Program

Soil testing procedures development to characterize potential for vegetation and run off.

Continue to collect data on the relationship of soil quality to bird visits

Soil mesofauna at ORD – rough survey

2007 AWSM/OMP Program

Program focused on integration of activities

Deliverables:

Technical notes will be prepared and submitted to the OMP throughout the duration of this project to transfer specific findings and recommendations.

Reporting will be provided on a regular basis – intermediate and final reports as topics require.

Questions?