Patent attributes
A device for counting animal traffic in an aquatic animal passage system includes chutes positioned across the aquatic animal passage system and a sensor positioned to sense an animal moving through or in the aquatic animal passage system. The chutes and the aquatic animal passage system are formed with precast concrete segments and may include a protective liner or coating coupled to their outer surface to protect animals from contacting the outer surface of the precast concrete segments. The sensors may be integrated with the precast concrete segments forming the chutes. Smart concrete segments may be employed as transducers to create an electric field in the chutes, with impedance sensors coupled to the transducers being responsive to changes to the electric field in the chutes caused by passing animals.
