Infrastructure Obstruction Profiling: a method to analyse ecological barriers formed by transport infrastructure

Environmental fragmentation and habitat reduction are among the most widespread factors that cause biodiversity loss. Transportation infrastructure is the principal element that determines and exacerbates such conditions. The infrastructure system is a barrier to movement for most non-flying terrestrial animals because of obstacles like guard rails, new-jerseys, walls, enclosures and vehicular traffic. Each obstacle creates a different degree of occlusion which acts on the various species in different ways. The present study proposes a methodological approach to compare the technical characteristics of roads with their impact on wildlife movement.