Brian Younessi: Energy and Wildlife
I am creating device which emits infrasonic waves in order to modify the flight path of migratory birds. It would serve to guide them around areas that are perilous to them such as wind farms and airport runways.
In California, along with other states, the production of wind farms has been limited due to bird injuries and bird deaths. According to the FAA, up to five hundred planes have been damaged due to bird collisions since 2000. A recent study by U.S. Geological Survey geophysicist Jon Hagstrum reveals that migratory bird flight patterns may be determined by infrasonic waves emitted by the earth’s surface. By modifying these waves, then, our product would redirect their flight paths in order to steer them away from dangerous areas.
Clean energy is a resource that is crucial in the United States and abroad; however, we currently cannot keep developing wind farms while ensuring the safety of birds. Thus, there must be a device created that will repel birds from the perimeters of a wind farm and ultimately save their lives and keep wind farms in business. Furthermore, these infrasonic waves can be used around airplane runways in order to prevent birds from damaging airplanes during takeoff and landing. This product is innovative because, unlike many scientists and environmentalists who suggest a complete relocation of wind farms in certain areas, we have proposed a way in which the wind farms can stay in the same place, but can have their problems addressed.
The key features involve creating a device that will emit infrasonic waves into the atmosphere that surrounds the wind farm or runway. In order to maximize efficiency, there will be motion detectors that will trigger the Bird Barrier and force it to emit the infrasonic waves. Its use around windmills will ensure birds’ safety, spur the creation of more wind farms, increase efficiency of existing wind farms, and increase both American independence from foreign oil and its reputation as an innovator. It has been proposed that one of the benefits of supporting green energy is job creation. According to a Booz Allen Hamilton study released by USGBC, green building will support or create 7.9 million jobs between 2009-2015 and will contribute $554 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product. Our product would enhance these numbers due to the research, development, manufacturing, and increased numbers of possible wind farm construction. In addition, its use around runways will enhance flight safety, thereby saving lives.