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01 / 05
Bridges and Tunnels in Colorado Are Helping Animals Commute

New York Times | Conservation & Biodiversity

Bridges and Tunnels in Colorado Are Helping Animals Commute

“Wildlife crossings are growing in popularity across the country, and in recent years, Colorado has emerged as a leader. Since 2015, it has built 28 new large game crossing structures, according to the state Transportation Department…

Wildlife crossings, when combined with long stretches of fencing to funnel animals to the right location, have been found to reduce vehicle collisions with large animals by more than 80 percent.

They are expensive, but research has shown they can save money when installed on stretches of highway with at least an average of three collisions between motorists and deer per mile per year. For collisions with elk and moose, which are bigger and therefore cause more damage to vehicles and people, that threshold goes down to less than one collision per mile per year.”

From New York Times.

Yahoo News | Infrastructure

North Carolina Ends Parking Minimums for New Developments

“The next apartment complex, shopping center or mixed-use development built in North Carolina may look a little different.

A new bill signed by Gov. Josh Stein eliminates mandatory parking minimums for most new developments, giving builders more flexibility in deciding how many parking spaces to provide.

For decades, local governments could require developers to build a minimum number of parking spaces based on the size and type of a project. Beginning Jan. 1, that decision will largely be left to developers and market demand.

When new apartment communities, shopping centers and mixed-use developments are built, developers — rather than local zoning regulations — will determine how much parking is needed.”

From Yahoo News.

ScienceDaily | Infrastructure

Satellites Are Identifying Weak Bridges Around the World

“Satellites are giving scientists a powerful new way to watch over the world’s bridges. Using radar imaging, researchers can detect millimeter-scale movements that may signal early structural problems long before inspectors notice them. The study found many bridges—especially in North America—are aging and increasingly vulnerable, but satellite monitoring could sharply reduce the number classified as high-risk. The approach could be especially valuable in regions where traditional monitoring barely exists.”

From ScienceDaily.

Wall Street Journal | Science & Technology

The Hassle-Free Future of Trash Pickup and Recycling

“Urban planners, the refuse industry and cities across the country are reimagining how we manage and dispose of our waste. The New York City Department of Sanitation and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are among those leveraging artificial intelligence, robotics and electric power to tackle a growing garbage crisis fueled by cheap products and throwaway culture.”

From Wall Street Journal.

DD News | Water & Sanitation

Tap Water Coverage Crosses 81 Percent in Rural India

“More than 15.68 crore rural households – 81% of the total 19.36 crore – now have tap water connections under the government’s flagship Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), Minister of State for Jal Shakti V. Somanna informed the Rajya Sabha on Monday.

At the time of announcement of JJM, 3.23 crore (17%) rural households were reported to have tap water connections.”

From DD News.