Autonomous System for Wildfire and Forest Fire Early Detection and Control

Luís Miguel Ferreira,Aníbal T De Almeida,A Paulo Coimbra

doi:10.3390/inventions5030041

Luís Miguel Ferreira, Aníbal T De Almeida + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/inventions5030041

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Abstract

Recurring and increasing large-scale wildfires across the globe (e.g., Southern Europe, California, Australia), as a result of worsening climate conditions with record temperatures, drought, and strong winds, present a challenge to mankind. Early fire detection is crucial for a quick reaction and effective firefighting operations, minimizing the risk to human lives as well as the destruction of assets, infrastructures, forests, and wildlife. Usually, ground firefighting relies on human intervention and dangerous exposition to high temperatures and radiation levels, proving the need for mechanisms and techniques to remotely or autonomously detect and combat fire. This paper proposes an autonomous firefighting system built with a motorized water turret, narrow beam far infrared (FIR) sensors, and a micro-controller running novel algorithms and techniques. Experimental field results validated the technical approach, indicating that when a small fire front is within the field of view of the FIR sensor and within the range of the water jet, it is possible to provide an early alarm and even autonomously extinguish or delay the approaching fire front, increasing the chance for evacuation.

Highlights

Over the past years, wildfires have become increasingly common, larger, and deadlier.The associated costs and losses increased, representing billions of dollars in natural resources and property loss (p. 7, [1])
This recent recurring occurrence of cataclysmic wildfires across the globe, as a result of worsening climate conditions with record temperatures, drought, and strong winds, presents a challenge to minimize the risk to human lives as well as the destruction of assets, infrastructures, forests, and wildlife
The developed solution provides an opportunity for firefighters to minimize their exposition to harsh conditions such as high temperatures and heat radiation levels by avoiding manual control and handling

Summary

Introduction

Wildfires have become increasingly common, larger, and deadlier.The associated costs and losses increased, representing billions of dollars in natural resources and property loss (p. 7, [1]). According to the “Mediterranean Forestry Action Programme (FAO 1993)”, between 1981 and 1997, Portugal, on average, had an area of 83,143 ha burned per year, representing 2.79% of the national forested area affected by fire A similar situation occurred in the state of California, where the 2018 wildfires burned 676,300 ha (1,671,214 acres) [4], caused billions of dollars in losses, and cost hundreds of lives. This recent recurring occurrence of cataclysmic wildfires across the globe, as a result of worsening climate conditions with record temperatures, drought, and strong winds, presents a challenge to minimize the risk to human lives as well as the destruction of assets, infrastructures, forests, and wildlife. As a result of climate change, forest fire risk is increasing globally, with areas such as Canada, Alaska, and Siberia being subject to large fires

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