Wildfires pose a significant threat to lives and the environment, with scientists warning they are becoming more frequent and widespread. The impact of climate change on wildfires and urban sprawl have contributed to this surge. The European Forest Fire Information System reported that as of this July over 200,000 hectares of land across the EU has been burned - this year alone. The US has witnessed 1.5 million wildfires since 2000, and Australia continues to face catastrophic bushfire seasons.
The damage is not restricted to the immediate burn either. The global cost of wildfires is around $50 billion annually, not to mention the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere. And with the World Meteorological Organization predicting a potential 30% increase in extreme fires worldwide by 2050, we urgently need to tackle the impact of wildfires and bushfires.
Fortunately, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a powerful tool in the fight against wildfires and bushfires. AI can be harnessed to detect and prevent fires in real-time, potentially saving lives, ecosystems, and infrastructure.
Traditional fire detection VS fire detection AI
Traditional methods for detecting and combating fires include human surveillance, weather stations, fire towers, controlled burns, public reporting and the use of firebreaks and bulldozers, which have all played roles in managing these natural disasters for many years. However, they come with inherent limitations, including reliance on human vigilance, restricted coverage, and the need for ideal conditions.
While effective to a certain extent, the integration of fire detection AI technology offers the potential for faster, more precise, and more extensive detection and response capabilities.
The World Economic Forum launched the FireAid initiative in 2022, which utilises artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to predict and combat wildfires, potentially revolutionizing our response to these natural disasters. Other entities and AI tech initiatives have been developed worldwide, and we are starting to see some promising technology in this area.
Enabling early fire detection with AI
Early fire detection is paramount in managing fires effectively, and fire detection AI systems offer several advantages.
- Remote sensing - AI can analyze data from various remote sensing technologies, including satellites, drones, and ground-based sensors. These systems can detect heat anomalies, smoke plumes, and other indicators of fires in remote or inaccessible areas.
As an example, an engineer at NASA has developed satellite-focused imagery to spot thermal activity, achieving 98% accuracy in wildfire detection. - Image recognition – fire detection AI algorithms can process and analyze images from surveillance cameras placed in high-risk areas. These systems can identify smoke, flames, or even sparks, triggering immediate alerts to response teams. A great example of this is from Mobotix, who have created an app that detects flames in indoor and outdoor environments.
- Machine learning - Machine learning algorithms can be trained on historical fire data to recognize patterns and anomalies associated with fire outbreaks. As these systems learn, their accuracy in detecting fires improves over time.
Companies like Pano AI are at the forefront of developing AI-powered fire detection systems that leverage sensors to provide early warnings and precise fire tracking.
Real time wildfire and bushfire monitoring and alerts
One of the most significant advantages of fire detection AI is its ability to provide real time monitoring and instant alerts. Here’s how it works:
- Data integration - AI systems can integrate data from various sources, such as weather forecasts, topographical maps, and historical fire data. This comprehensive view allows AI to make more accurate predictions about potential fire risks.
- Immediate alerts - When a potential fire is detected, fire detection AI systems can send immediate alerts to relevant authorities, firefighters, and local communities. This rapid response can be critical in containing fires before they spread uncontrollably.
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS) - AI can also use GIS technology to map fire locations and predict their potential paths. This information helps emergency responders allocate resources effectively and evacuate affected areas.
Fire detection AI also supports firefighting assistance
Detection and prevention are key areas where huge gains can be made with reducing the instances and spreads of wildfires. However, even the best technology is unlikely to be able to prevent wildfires and and bushfires completely. And AI has been developed to assist firefighting efforts.
AI can predict how a fire is likely to spread based on its current conditions and historical data, guiding firefighters in planning their containment strategies. It can also optimise allocation of resources, predicting which areas are most at risk and where resources are needed most urgently.
And AI-powered drones and robots can be deployed to survey fire-affected areas, assess the extent of damage, and even deliver supplies to firefighters in remote locations.
NASA has developed AUDREY (Assistant for Understanding Data through Reasoning, Extraction, and sYnthesis), which can guide firefighters by tracking their movements, identifying upcoming hazards, and facilitating communication.
AUDREY is a cloud-based piece of software, and while watching an event it can incredibly start making predictions about what resources may be needed next. It can even track an entire team, sending alerts to each individual and suggestions on how they could work together.
AI is leading the way in the future of fire detection
AI’s role in detecting and preventing fires in real-time is a game-changer in the fight against wildfires and urban fires. With the risk and urgency increasing, these promising technological developments from various leading data-science entities and companies provides some hope to combat this increasing danger.
With big players like NASA and the World Economic Forum leading the way, we will no doubt continue to see incredible advances in how wildfires are combated in the years to come.
