Diseño de una ficha técnica para la priorización de tramos potencialmente críticos de interacción fauna–vía del Instituto Nacional de Vías

Abstract

This study aimed to design a technical assessment tool for the preliminary prioritization of road sections potentially critical for wildlife–road interactions within the road network managed by the National Roads Institute (INVÍAS) in Colombia. The methodology involved a review of scientific, technical, and institutional sources, followed by the identification and refinement of relevant variables, the definition of observable and verifiable criteria and indicators, and their weighting through the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), supported by expert judgment from professionals of the INVÍAS Wildlife Group. The resulting tool comprises nine criteria organized into four assessment dimensions: evidence of wildlife–road interaction, favorable ecological conditions, traffic exposure and road characteristics, and permeability and mitigation measures. These criteria were incorporated into a technical assessment form that generates a Prioritization Index ranging from 0 to 100 and assigns each road section to one of four preliminary priority levels: low, medium, high, or very high. A pilot testing protocol was also developed to assess the tool’s applicability and operational performance under real field conditions. The proposed instrument is intended to support the organization of field information and guide the identification of road sections requiring further technical assessment, wildlife monitoring, or evaluation of preventive measures; however, it does not replace specialized studies or constitute a definitive assessment of collision risk, ecological connectivity, or management effectiveness.