Artificial intelligence for combating wildfires

The program’s purpose is to leverage artificial intelligence technology to detect wildfires early and minimize false alarms.

Currently, it’s only the beginning of spring in Australia, but the country is already grappling with heatwaves and wildfires. Recently, numerous wildfires have broken out across the nation, with New South Wales experiencing over 60 incidents.

According to CNN, these signs are raising concerns about an “unforgiving summer” with a combination of natural climate phenomena, including El Niño and global warming.

The concern is not only in Australia but is also a global issue, following the loss of lives in a series of recent wildfires. According to the AP, new solutions utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) have emerged to better respond to wildfires.

For instance, OroraTech (Germany) is developing a satellite constellation to detect fires from space, and Microsoft (USA) is using AI models to predict where the next flames may ignite.

Meanwhile, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection in the United States is testing an AI system this summer to detect smoke from over 1,000 data sources, such as cameras placed on mountaintops.

The system is designed to detect anomalies and alert emergency command centers. Personnel at these centers will then investigate and confirm whether it is indeed smoke.

Pano AI, a US-based startup, has adopted a similar approach by installing AI-equipped cameras on mobile towers to detect smoke and send alerts to its customers, including fire departments, utility companies, ski resorts, and more.