A 1.5kg bird may not seem like a major cause for civil aviation concerns, but as Pakistan's data shows, these can even bring down passenger aeroplanes that are nearly 50 lakh per cent heavier.
From 2018 to 2022, 198 incidents of bird strikes were reported at the Allama Iqbal International Airport alone, while 622 were reported across Pakistan, as per an Express Tribune report.
In that regard, Pakistan is set to install SURICATE, its first AI-powered Bird Repelling System (BRS), at the Lahore International Airport.
The BRS will be designed jointly by French tech firm ATERMES and Pakistan's Imperial Electric Company (IEC) under a contract from the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA).
SURICATE reportedly uses a blend of optronics, edge computing, and deep-learning algorithms to detect bird activity in real time. When a bird in the area is identified as a potential risk, the system automatically activates laser and sound deterrence systems to get rid of the danger.
Unlike traditional bird-repelling methods, this system also saves power by activating only when needed. When in use, it consumes just 150W of power.
The AI system, which borrows features from BARIER, the French company's turnkey surveillance system for border protection, can also withstand harsh weather, and can be used on land or at sea.
Under the agreement, ATERMES will supply SURICATE, as well as the knowledge on how to best adapt it for the Pakistani airport, while the IEC will manage on-ground installation, systems integration, and maintenance, as per a Global Defense Insight report.
According to ATERMES Chairman Lionel Thomas, the project would transform "bird control into a predictive, autonomous, and eco-responsible process".
