
Avian Mortality Analytics System
Case Study: Spatial Pattern Analysis
Data Points
5,400+ Incidents
Real-time Updates
3-Year Coverage
Analysis Methods
DBSCAN Clustering
Kernel Density
Impact Scoring
Key Metrics
87% Pattern Detection
12 Risk Zones
Impact Assessment
This case study explores the development of a geospatial analytics platform for analyzing and visualizing bird fatality patterns across urban environments. The system processes 5,400+ incident reports through advanced clustering algorithms to identify high-risk areas and temporal patterns.
Research Objectives
Pattern Analysis
- Identify spatial clustering of incidents
- Detect temporal patterns in fatalities
- Analyze environmental risk factors
Impact Assessment
- Quantify collision risk by area
- Evaluate mitigation effectiveness
- Track seasonal pattern changes
Spatial Analysis Implementation
Clustering Algorithm Implementation
class CollisionAnalyzer:
def __init__(self, min_samples=5, eps=0.1):
self.min_samples = min_samples
self.eps = eps
def analyze_collision_patterns(self, incidents):
# Convert incidents to numpy array for processing
coordinates = np.array([[i['lat'], i['lng']] for i in incidents])
# Perform DBSCAN clustering
clustering = DBSCAN(
eps=self.eps,
min_samples=self.min_samples,
metric='haversine'
).fit(coordinates)
# Process clusters and calculate risk metrics
clusters = self._process_clusters(coordinates, clustering.labels_)
# Calculate kernel density estimation for risk heatmap
kde = self._calculate_density(coordinates)
return {
'clusters': clusters,
'density': kde,
'risk_zones': self._identify_risk_zones(clusters, kde)
}
def _process_clusters(self, coordinates, labels):
clusters = []
unique_labels = set(labels)
for label in unique_labels:
if label == -1:
continue
mask = labels == label
cluster_points = coordinates[mask]
clusters.append({
'center': cluster_points.mean(axis=0),
'size': len(cluster_points),
'density': len(cluster_points) / self._calculate_area(cluster_points),
'points': cluster_points.tolist(),
'risk_score': self._calculate_risk_score(cluster_points)
})
return clusters
def _calculate_risk_score(self, cluster_points):
density = len(cluster_points) / self._calculate_area(cluster_points)
temporal_factor = self._analyze_temporal_patterns(cluster_points)
environmental_risk = self._assess_environmental_factors(cluster_points)
return (density * 0.4 + temporal_factor * 0.3 + environmental_risk * 0.3)
Data Analysis Interface
Interactive Map View
Dynamic geospatial visualization of 5,461 documented incidents with smart clustering system:
Cluster Types
- Yellow: Minimal incident areas
- Orange: Growing concern zones
- Red: High-frequency locations
Interactive Features
- Dynamic cluster expansion on zoom
- Consolidated location markers
- Hover previews for quick info
- Click for detailed incident view
Incident Details
- Date and time stamps
- Fatality cause classification
- Data source and verification
- Precise location data
- Incident photographs
Filter Controls
- Date range selection
- Incident type filtering
- Species-specific views
- Location-based filtering
Data Export
- CSV format download
- GeoJSON format export
- Filter-aware exports
- Full dataset access
Analytics Dashboard
Real-time data visualization platform featuring:
Filter Controls
- Date range selection
- State-level filtering
- Species categorization
- Incident type classification
Temporal Analysis
- Monthly incident distribution
- Seasonal patterns
- Year-over-year trends (2014-present)
- Day-of-week frequency
Dynamic Visualizations
- Species-cause correlations
- High-impact buildings
- Critical area analysis
- Building height distribution
Data Intelligence
- Cached data management
- Smart building recognition
- Wikipedia species integration
- Location type classification
Data Statistics
Currently tracking 5,461 incidents with advanced categorization:
Export Capabilities
- Full dataset access
- Filter-aware exports
- Map view exports
- Multiple format support
Cause Categories
- Structural Collisions
- Cat Predation
- Wild Predation
- Other Incidents
System Architecture
Frontend Layer
- Core: JavaScript ES6+, HTML5, CSS3
- Mapping: Leaflet.js with custom clustering
- Analytics: Chart.js for data visualization
- Performance: Multi-layer caching system
Backend Services
- Database: Firebase Realtime Database
- Storage: Cloudinary image management
- Security: Data validation & access control
- Cache: Performance optimization layer
Data Processing
- Geospatial: Coordinate validation & processing
- Analysis: Building recognition algorithms
- Integration: Multiple API endpoints
- Export: GeoJSON & CSV capabilities
Data Processing Layer
- Clustering: Custom marker clustering with dynamic expansion
- Caching: Client-side data caching for performance
- Fuzzy Matching: Intelligent cause categorization system
- State Management: Filter state preservation and recovery
Smart Data Management
- Multi-layer Caching: Separate caching for building data and bird incidents
- Fuzzy Matching: Intelligent cause categorization with pattern recognition
- State Detection: Automatic geofencing for MD, VA, and DC regions
- Building Recognition: Smart address and building name mapping system
Integration Features
- Species Info: Real-time Wikipedia data integration
- Image Storage: Cloudinary integration for incident photos
- Location Services: Google Geocoding for address validation
- Data Export: Context-aware CSV and GeoJSON exports
Performance Features
- Progressive Loading: Lazy-loaded charts and visualizations
- State Management: Filter state preservation and recovery
- Error Handling: Graceful degradation with fallbacks
- Mobile Optimization: Adaptive clustering and UI components
Data Flow
Data Collection
User submissions through interactive form with location detection and image upload capabilities
Processing & Storage
Real-time validation, normalization, and storage in Firebase with Cloudinary integration
Analysis & Visualization
Dynamic data processing with custom clustering and comprehensive analytics dashboard
Core Features
Interactive Mapping System
- Custom-built marker clustering for efficient data visualization
- Real-time geospatial data processing
- Dynamic heatmap generation
- Location-aware reporting system
Data Analysis Dashboard
- Multi-dimensional data visualization
- Species-specific trend analysis
- Building impact correlation studies
- Seasonal pattern recognition
Education Platform
- Bird safety guidelines
- Emergency response protocols
- Building recommendations
- Conservation resources
Technical Deep Dive
Intelligent Caching System
- Dual-layer caching with separate expiration for building and incident data
- Optimized localStorage management with timestamp validation
- Selective data persistence based on view requirements
- Automatic cache invalidation for stale data
Fuzzy Match Algorithm
- Smart cause categorization with pattern recognition
- Automated incident classification system
- Multi-keyword matching for accurate categorization
- Fallback categorization for edge cases
Progressive Loading
- IntersectionObserver for lazy-loaded charts
- Optimized marker clustering for large datasets
- Debounced filter operations for performance
- State preservation during view updates
Smart Building Recognition
- Coordinate-based building identification
- Geofencing for DMV region classification
- Fallback naming system for unknown locations
- Building height estimation algorithms
Technical Challenges & Solutions
Performance Optimization
Large dataset causing performance issues on mobile devices
Solution Implemented:
- Hybrid caching system and data aggregation
- Reduced load times by 60%
- Optimized memory usage for mobile devices
- Implemented progressive loading
Geospatial Accuracy
Inconsistent location data affecting analysis accuracy
Solution Implemented:
- Implemented geofencing
- Created building recognition algorithm
- Built data cleaning pipeline
Cross-Platform Compatibility
Inconsistent user experience across devices
Solution Implemented:
- Developed adaptive UI components
- Created mobile-specific controls
- Optimized touch interactions
Credits
This project would not be possible without the dedicated efforts of various organizations and individuals. Special thanks to City Wildlife, Inc. for providing invaluable data on avian mortality and rehabilitation efforts. Their collaboration has been instrumental in shaping the project's scope and impact.
We extend our gratitude to Dr. Daniel Hanley at George Mason University (GMU) for his guidance and expertise in avian research. His insights have significantly contributed to the project's scientific foundation. Additionally, Dr. Rebecca Forkner's support and expertise have been invaluable throughout the development process.
The project utilizes research-grade data from iNaturalist, whose contributions to biodiversity data collection are deeply appreciated. Efforts are ongoing to engage with rehabilitation organizations like City Wildlife for data sharing and to further enhance the project's scope and impact.
Data for this project is sourced from iNaturalist, a joint initiative by the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society. The platform's commitment to open data and community science has been instrumental in making urban wildlife research more accessible to everyone.