Australia (Commonwealth)_In recent years, the relentless onslaught of wildfires has captured global attention, wreaking havoc from Australia to Argentina and California to Turkey. The escalating impact of climate change is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of these fires, transforming small conflagrations into devastating blazes that ravage vast landscapes. A 2022 United Nations report warned that the number of wildfires could surge by up to 50% by 2100, highlighting the unpreparedness of governments to confront this escalating threat.
Addressing this urgent challenge are innovative “firetech” startups, and among them, Pano AI, based in California, is employing a unique approach. Utilizing a network of mountaintop cameras with 360-degree rotation capabilities, the company captures real-time data uploaded to the cloud. Pano’s AI algorithm detects the initial signs of smoke, applying bounding boxes to pinpoint potential wildfire ignitions. Human analysts review these boxes to eliminate false positives, ensuring accurate identification. Once confirmed, the precise location of the smoke is determined, enabling swift responses from first responders when the fire is still nascent, often within the first 10 acres.
Taking a more expansive approach, Munich-based OroraTech has deployed a constellation of low-level satellites designed to enhance fire detection from space. Equipped with thermal infrared sensors, these shoe-box-sized satellites identify hotspots indicative of potential wildfires. OroraTech’s advanced algorithms process this information within minutes, eliminating the need to wait for data downloads. The company aims to revisit every location on Earth every 12 hours, with a future goal of reducing this timeframe to just 30 minutes, providing an unprecedented level of immediacy in monitoring wildfire activity.
OroraTech’s technology proved instrumental in combating the 2021 Chilean wildfires, offering a comprehensive overview for effective decision-making. Beyond state-owned entities, utilities, forestry companies, and paper manufacturers are also adopting the system, recognizing the scalability of space-based fire detection. OroraTech is now developing predictive AI technology called Fire Spread, incorporating weather forecasts, fuel availability, and elevation data to enhance wildfire risk assessment.
Joining the fray, other firetech startups such as Overstory and Rain are employing AI to analyze satellite data and deploy autonomous drones, respectively, to identify and manage wildfire risks. Controlled burns, a beneficial practice for forest resilience, are facilitated by technology like the Nature Conservancy’s Burncast dashboard, providing precise weather forecasts for optimal planning. Companies like Drone Amplified are utilizing AI-powered drones to conduct prescribed burns safely and cost-effectively.
Recognizing the potential of AI in wildfire management, the World Economic Forum (WEF) collaborated with Koc Holding to launch the FireAid project. This initiative focuses on improving wildfire prediction and optimizing resource utilization. The FireAid project produced an interactive wildfire map of Turkey, employing AI and machine-learning algorithms to achieve an 80% accuracy rate in predicting wildfires 24 hours in advance. Emphasizing collaboration, the WEF aims to make these tools accessible to decision-makers beyond data scientists. Noteworthy participants include Microsoft, Google, Lockheed Martin, Portugal, and South Africa.
While AI’s development continues to advance, Helen Burdett, WEF’s head of technology for earth, highlights an emerging equity issue. Forestry data, crucial for effective AI models, is often held at regional or national levels, limiting the global applicability of existing models. Bridging this gap is essential to ensure that AI’s benefits extend to communities in the Global South, addressing the challenge of data quality and availability.
As the world grapples with the escalating wildfire crisis, the integration of AI and satellite technology emerges as a crucial frontier in proactive fire management. These innovative solutions not only detect and contain wildfires more effectively but also pave the way for collaborative global efforts to mitigate the impact of this growing threat.
