SITHON: An Airborne Fire Detection System Compliant with Operational Tactical Requirements

Pavlos Konstantinidis,Charalabos Kontoes,Iphigenia Keramitsoglou,Nicolaos Sifakis

doi:10.3390/s90201204

Pavlos Konstantinidis, Charalabos Kontoes + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/s90201204

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Abstract

In response to the urging need of fire managers for timely information on fire location and extent, the SITHON system was developed. SITHON is a fully digital thermal imaging system, integrating INS/GPS and a digital camera, designed to provide timely positioned and projected thermal images and video data streams rapidly integrated in the GIS operated by Crisis Control Centres. This article presents in detail the hardware and software components of SITHON, and demonstrates the first encouraging results of test flights over the Sithonia Peninsula in Northern Greece. It is envisaged that the SITHON system will be soon operated onboard various airborne platforms including fire brigade airplanes and helicopters as well as on UAV platforms owned and operated by the Greek Air Forces.

Highlights

Digital geo-referenced fire location maps are essential for tactical fire intelligence and mapping
The present paper introduces SITHON, a complete system tailored to the unique requirements of the wildland fire fighting community
To account for inaccuracies derived by device drifts in long time operations, the MIDG II inertial system is using a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, which is ideally coupled with the inertial data using a Kalman Filter

Summary

Introduction

Digital geo-referenced fire location maps are essential for tactical fire intelligence and mapping. Fast fire detection and real time monitoring of fire parameters, such as fire spread and location of hot spots, are crucial for the success of the initial attack on and containment of a fire For this purpose, thermal infrared sensors and airborne infrared line scanners or frame cameras should be regarded as components of such a detection and monitoring system. Added-value products from these observations include the fire perimeter, fire front, and isolated hot spots and they are used to support decision making for initial attack response, logistical and tactical planning and sustained action operations [1] These different levels have very different requirements in terms of spatial and temporal resolution.

Remote Sensing Systems for Wildfire Emergency Management

SITHON project Overview

Goals and Specifications of the airborne thermal imaging system

Camera

Inertial measuring unit for positioning and orientation

50 Ohm SMA

Acquisition control system

Image processing

Demonstration test flight

Conclusions