Parks aren’t the first place you think of when you consider the use of ‘smart’ technology.  Indeed, you might not readily think of parks as the kind of place that would need smart technology, but that hasn’t stopped researchers from Utrecht University joining forces with PWN and Smart Parks to create one in the Netherlands.

The team have been working to ensure that the Zuid-Kennemerland National Park is the first in Europe to be equipped with a Smart Parks network.  The network consists of smart sensor technology to allow data to be gathered on the behavior of the animals in the park.

The park is unique in that it has a number of large grazing animals, including European bison, highland cattle and fallow deer.  The animals play a crucial role in the park as they prevent dunes from becoming excessively dense and ensure space is available for vulnerable species to thrive.

Tracking movement

The data will provide detailed insight into the movement of each animal to help park managers govern the park effectively.  For instance, it will provide valuable insight into the movement of the animals, and how they interact with the visiting public.

“This innovation directly serves our management question, but we also contribute to the development of smart technologies. By now having a trial location in the Netherlands, the technology can develop even better, and ultimately also contribute to wildlife protection in Africa. That sounds far away, but that is a realistic result,” the team say.

They also want to explore the possibility of using the data to engage with visitors.  For instance, if a bison is in the vicinity of a visitor, the visitor could be messaged via their phone to prevent any unwanted or unexpected encounters.

It’s an interesting project that is a nice example of how parks and park management is getting smarter with the use of IoT-based devices.  Time will tell if it’s a trend that spreads throughout Europe.