Computing the rate of spread of linear flame fronts by thermal image processing

Abstract

This work proposes a new thermal image processing method for computing the rate of spread (ROS) of forest fires. It is based on an application for linear flame fronts that are generated on flat surfaces with known dimensions. In the first step of the method, the correspondence between the points of the thermal image obtained and the real plane is calculated by means of a direct linear transformation (DLT). Subsequently, the position of the flame front is determined by applying a threshold-value-searching criterion within the temperature matrix of the target surface. The design principles for the implementation of this method in the laboratory are described in depth, as well as the considerations that must be taken into account if the method is to be correctly extrapolated to more complex experimental scenarios, such as prescribed burnings or real forest fire emergencies.