Fire Index Research Articles

INFERNO: a fire and emissions scheme for the UK Met Office's Unified Model

Abstract. Warm and dry climatological conditions favour the occurrence of forest fires. These fires then become a significant emission source to the atmosphere. Despite this global importance, fires are a local phenomenon and are difficult to represent in large-scale Earth system models (ESMs). To address this, the INteractive Fire and Emission algoRithm for Natural envirOnments (INFERNO) was developed. INFERNO follows a reduced complexity approach and is intended for decadal- to centennial-scale climate simulations and assessment models for policy making. Fuel flammability is simulated using temperature, relative humidity (RH) and fuel load as well as precipitation and soil moisture. Combining flammability with ignitions and vegetation, the burnt area is diagnosed. Emissions of carbon and key species are estimated using the carbon scheme in the Joint UK Land Environment Simulator (JULES) land surface model. JULES also possesses fire index diagnostics, which we document and compare with our fire scheme. We found INFERNO captured global burnt area variability better than individual indices, and these performed best for their native regions. Two meteorology data sets and three ignition modes are used to validate the model. INFERNO is shown to effectively diagnose global fire occurrence (R = 0.66) and emissions (R = 0.59) through an approach appropriate to the complexity of an ESM, although regional biases remain.

DETEKSI AREA BEKAS KEBAKARAN HUTAN DAN LAHAN MENGGUNAKAN DATA CITRA RESOLUSI MENENGAH MODIS DENGAN PENDEKATAN INDEKS KEBAKARAN

This research examined the use of fire index algorithms to detect and recognize the burnt area in West Kalimantan by applying the pre-fire and post-fire image comparison technique. The main data used were derived from remotely sensed data MODIS acquired from Januari to April 2014. The examined algorithms utilized the near-infrared (NIR) and short-infrared (SWIR) wavelength spectrums. in the case of forest and land fires, occured the value of NIR decreases as the amount of chlorophyll decrease, while the pixel values and the inceasing value of SWIR will increase due to the rising temperature. The research objective was to the capability of the algorithms in detecting burnt forest and land areas in several selected areas in West Kalimantan, using few indices generated from MODIS data. The examined indices were NDFI (Normalized Difference Fire Index) and MNDFI (Modified Normalized Difference Fire Index), which utilize the reflectance values of band 2 (NIR) and band 7 (SWIR) from MODIS. The study results show that both the NDFI and MNDFI were applicable in detecting burnt area having good performance with the Normalize Distance (D) values larger than 1. Based on D-Value and accuracy assessment, MNDFI algorithm gave better index than the NDFI in detecting both forest and land areas.

DETEKSI AREA BEKAS KEBAKARAN HUTAN DAN LAHAN MENGGUNAKAN DATA CITRA RESOLUSI MENENGAH MODIS DENGAN PENDEKATAN INDEKS KEBAKARAN

DETEKSI AREA BEKAS KEBAKARAN HUTAN DAN LAHAN MENGGUNAKAN DATA CITRA RESOLUSI MENENGAH MODIS DENGAN PENDEKATAN INDEKS KEBAKARAN

DETEKSI AREA BEKAS KEBAKARAN HUTAN DAN LAHAN MENGGUNAKAN DATA CITRA RESOLUSI MENENGAH MODIS DENGAN PENDEKATAN INDEKS KEBAKARAN

This research examined the use of fire index algorithms to detect and recognize the burnt area in West Kalimantan by applying the pre-fire and post-fire image comparison technique. The main data used were derived from remotely sensed data MODIS acquired from Januari to April 2014. The examined algorithms utilized the near-infrared (NIR) and short-infrared (SWIR) wavelength spectrums. in the case of forest and land fires, occured the value of NIR decreases as the amount of chlorophyll decrease, while the pixel values and the inceasing value of SWIR will increase due to the rising temperature. The research objective was to the capability of the algorithms in detecting burnt forest and land areas in several selected areas in West Kalimantan, using few indices generated from MODIS data. The examined indices were NDFI (Normalized Difference Fire Index) and MNDFI (Modified Normalized Difference Fire Index), which utilize the reflectance values of band 2 (NIR) and band 7 (SWIR) from MODIS. The study results show that both the NDFI and MNDFI were applicable in detecting burnt area having good performance with the Normalize Distance (D) values larger than 1. Based on D-Value and accuracy assessment, MNDFI algorithm gave better index than the NDFI in detecting both forest and land areas.

Enhanced fire behavior of Casico-based foams

The present work deals with the preparation and characterization of improved fire-retardant ethylene-acrylate foams. A commercial formulation, usually employed in the cable industry sector, Casico, was modified using two different synergistic flame retardant (FR) systems: silica/zinc borate micro-sized particles (M) and montmorillonite/graphene nanoplatelets (N). The different composites were prepared by melt-blending and the foams by a compression-molding chemical foaming process (Casico-based foams). All Casico-based foams presented a mainly closed-cell structure. The presence of the nanoparticles system (N) promoted the formation of microcellular foams, with cell sizes lower than 100 μm, and narrow cell distributions. Nevertheless, when both flame retardant systems were added a higher cell collapse was noticed. Due to the foam's Casico-N structure and the presence of the stiff layered nanoparticles an increase of the temperature of β and α relaxations and specific loss modulus was registered for that foam respect to the Casico foam. In a general way, the Casico-based foams presented a thermal decomposition behavior similar to that of unfoamed Casico. Only a slight increase of the thermal stability of the step associated to the ionomer decomposition was observed respect to the Casico. Significant fire behavior improvements were observed for Casico-M-N foam. Specifically, this foam showed the lowest value of PHRR (peak of heat release rate), EHC (effective heat of combustion) and FIGRA (fire index growth rate), having therefore the lowest flammability, even lower than Casico unfoamed material.

Индекс пожаров в Российской Федерации за 2006-2010 годы

As a result called on review of the scientific studies it's shown regions category need in Russian Federation on number of fires. This will allow to compare the situation with fires in region. The authors consider expedient to select two groups region (dangerous and crisis). In dangerous regions group it will be necessary to develop the program on reduction of the number of fires, but in crisis group - take urgent and priority measures. In economy and stocks market for estimation of the condition Dow Jones Average is actively used. The similar approach is possible fireman for estimation to dangers. The methods of the calculation of the fire index are enough simple. On the first stage regions of Russian Federation are ranked in order of the decrease of the number of fires. Then 30 regions with maximum importance of the number of fires are selected. They form the listings of the calculation of the fire index and the first category of the countries, which is considered dangerous. The fire index is paid by averaging the factors region in listings. Except this amongst groups dangerous region, came in listings, it's possible select the second category a region - a crisis group. The regions will get in this group with importance of the number of fires exceeding value of the index. There are computed frequencies of the hit region Russia in listings of the calculation of the fire index for 2006-2010 years, as well as in crisis group. The got results useful for shaping the programs of the reduction number of fires in region in dangerous and crisis category.

Forest fire risk modeling in Uttarakhand Himalaya using TERRA satellite datasets

Forest fire is one of the major causes of degradation in western Himalaya, and is an annual phenomenon in more than 50% in the forests of Uttarakhand state. Fire danger models are useful for the fire managers to mitigate and suppress the fire activates. MODIS 8 day products viz. MODIS Terra Land surface reflectance (MOD09A1), MODIS Terra Land surface Temperature (MOD11A2) and ASTER digital Elevation Model (DEM) were used to develop fire danger model in this paper. Three parameters Modified Normalized Difference Fire Index (MNDFI), Perpendicular Moisture Index (PMI) and potential surface temperature were computed from the above mentioned satellite products. MNDFI has been used for determining the actual fire occurrence in thermal anomaly pixels and PMI has been used for the estimation of live fuel moisture content in the vegetation and litter. The Potential surface temperature was computed using the MODIS Land Surface Temperature and ASTER DEM. Spatial model was developed based on the above parameters and MODIS terra and Aqua thermal anomaly product (fire location) was used for the validation of the model in the study area. The fire danger models showed an accuracy of 87.31%, i.e. the model accurately predict the fire danger over the study area. Further analysis was done based on composite fire danger image and vegetation types; composite fire danger image and fragmentation map of the study area.

Use and performance of the Forest Fire Weather Index to model the risk of wildfire occurrence in the Alpine region

Assessing a territory’s fire proneness is fundamental when planning and undertaking effective forest protection and land management. Accurate methods to estimate the risk of fire ignition in natural environments have been proposed over the last decades and digital mapping has been used to identify critical areas. The Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index is a well-known fire danger rating index created and improved during the last 45 years by the Canadian Forest Service. The goal of this paper is twofold. Firstly, we evaluated whether the Forest Fire Weather Index is an adequate instrument to predict fire ignition in Alpine and sub-Alpine areas using quite a large dataset of meteorological and forest fire data collected in the Lombardy region (Northern Italy) between 2003 and 2011. By means of a spatial binary regression model, we demonstrated that Forest Fire Weather Index has a significant impact on the probability of fire ignition. Since this approach allows us to account for other characteristics of the territory in order to provide a more accurate estimate of the spatial wildfire dynamics at a moderately large scale, the second goal of the paper aims at creating a model to assess fire risk occurrence using the Forest Fire Weather Index and land use information. It has been found that ignition can easily occur in large forested areas whereas denser urban areas are less exposed to fire since they usually have no fuels to ignite. Nevertheless, since human activity has a direct impact on fire ignition human presence, it fosters ignition in forested areas. Finally, the model, including these spatial dimensions, has been employed to derive a probability map of fire occurrences at 1.5 km resolution, which is a fundamental instrument to develop optimal prevention and risk management policy plans for the decision maker.

ANALISIS SIFAT PENYERAPAN AIR DAN INDEKS NYALA API PADA PAPAN KOMPOSIT YANG DI PERKUAT SERAT DAUN PANDAN DURI DAN LIMBAH SERBUK GERGAJI KAYU SENGON DENGAN RESIN POLYESTER

The use of composite materials as an alternative to metallic materials in the field of engineering more widespread, not only as an interior daneksterior in the automotive field but also extended to other areas such as property and architecture is to reduce the incidence of fire one only to find a replacement for wood as a raw material of houses and buildings with other alternative materials are more fire resistant, the material need not be limited in mechanical strength, but also on the physical properties. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the absorption properties of water and fire index in the fiber-reinforced composite board pandanus leaves thorns and wood sawdust filler sengon with polyester resin as matriknya.Analysis of the absorption properties of the water carried by the ASTM D 5529 with a variation of the length of time of immersion (10, 20, and 30 days) and the fiber volume fraction (0%, 10%, 20% and 30%). Testing index of the flame using ASTM E1321 with long burning time of 10 minutes. To test the effect of soaking time and a fiber volume fraction of the weight gain, volume, and density on the board fiber composite pandanus thorns with 10% filler wood sawdust sengon diguanakn Two Ways Analysis Of Variance, and the effect of fiber volume fraction to index Flash Fire is used One Ways Analysis Of Variance.The results showed that the water absorption is affected by fiber volume fraction and longer soaking time. The largest percentage of water absorption occurs in the volume fraction of 30% with long soaking time of 30 days is 24.41%. Similarly, the highest percentage swelling occurs in composite board with a volume fraction of 30% with a 30-day long soaking time is 11:22% .Then the flame to the percentage of the index without fiber composite board has a greater percentage is 167.03%. By contrast the percentage of board composite index gained shortest of composite board with a fiber volume fraction of 30% ie 70.25% composite board with a fiber volume fraction of 30% also have a flame index is lower than the comparison is with wood composites sengon.

Fire protection design in aircraft cabin based on fire evacuation safety index

In order to study the influence of aircraft cabin design on fire protection performance,a concept of fire evacuation safety index( FESI) was firstly presented. The fire scenario and evacuation procedures in aircraft cabin were simulated via simulation software Pyro Sim and Pathfinder. FESI at different exits were determined under the scenarios of different internal surface area of cabin,width and height of the exit and population. An analysis was conducted to study the influence of such design factors to cabin fire evacuation performance. The maximum populations of several narrow-body aircrafts were determined using back-propagation( BP) neural network in case to ensure the safe evacuation. And an optimized evacuation program was proposed for B737 aircraft. The results reveal that internal surface area of cabin,width and height of the exits and numbers of seats are the design factors that significantly impact cabin fire protection performance. The maximum population of B737-800 under typical layout is 154. However,it may increase to 175 after optimizing to the evacuation program. The proposed concept of FESI not only performs an assessment for the existing aircrafts against fire protection performance and an optimization for cabin layout and evacuation program,but also provides a basis for fire protection design of domestic large aircraft cabin. In addition,it can also provide a reference for other areas of fire research.

Индекс риска пожара в российской федерации в 2010-2014 годах

As a result called on review of the scientific studies in the field of risk and fireman of the risk is shown regions category need in Russian Federation on fire risk. This will allow to compare the situation with risk of the fire in region. The authors consider expedient to select two groups region (dangerous and crisis). In group dangerous region will be necessary to develop the program on reduction of the fire risk, but in crisis group - take urgent and priority measures. In economy and finance for estimation of the Dow Jones Average is actively used. The similar approach possible fireman for estimation to dangers. The methods of the calculation of the index of the fire risk is enough simple. On the first stage regions Russian Federation are ranked in order of the decrease of importance of the fire risk. Then 30 regions with maximum importances of the fire risk factor are selected. They form the listings of the calculation of the fire risk index and the first category of the countries, which is considered dangerous. The fire risk index pays by averaging the factors region in listings. The offered methods of the highlighting of the dangerous group region allows clearly to define the regions Russia for which necessary development of the programs of the reduction of the risk. Except this amongst groups dangerous region, came in listings, the second category a region may be selected - a crisis group. The regions will get in this group with importance of the risk exceeding value of the index. The computed frequencies of the hit region Russia in listings of the calculation of the fire risk index for 2010-2014, as well as in crisis group. The got results useful for shaping the programs of the reduction risk in region in dangerous and crisis categories.

Proposing a Hybrid Index that Combines between Meteorological and Topographic Parameters to Predict Forest Fires

All over the world, statistics show that forest fires rate has increased in the recent decades despite the numerous studies and various indices developed to predict high risk of fire occurrence. In this paper, a new proposal for a fire detection index is presented that combines between meteorological and topographic parameters. The parameters of slope, aspect and elevation are introduced and their impact on fire behavior (ignition, spread & intensity) is described. The method of calculation of the new index is based on simple logic gates. A comparison is then held between the proposed index and seven commonly used existing indices. The accuracy percentages are calculated which reveals the distinction of the new combination over the present models, taking the Lebanese data into study. In order to verify the efficiency of our proposed hybrid index, several informative experiments are shown.

A Fire-Risk-Breakdown System for Electrical Power Lines in the North of Brazil

AbstractAnthropogenic or spontaneous fires (hotspots) are the main causes of unexpected breakdowns of electrical power lines in the northern region of Brazil. This research has tested, adapted, and implemented a preoperational system aiming to prevent electrical breakdowns for 382 km of electrical transmission lines in the state of Maranhão. The breakdown electrical fire risk is based on a combination of three variables: 1) the fire risk index, 2) the remotely sensed hotspot presence in the vicinity of electrical power lines, and 3) the vegetation stage. These variables are converted into Boolean variables, and their combination will classify the electrical fire risk as extreme, high, medium, low, or null. In regard to the system input variables, the fire risk index carries the highest representativeness in composition value of the breakdown electrical fire risk. Therefore, the results of two fire risk indices, calculated on the basis of the (a) Monte Alegre and (b) Angstrom methods, are presented and discussed. The validation of the fire risk indices is based on six categorical statistics (with the obtained final values also indicated in parentheses for the Monte Alegre and Angstrom methods, respectively): accuracy (0.91, 0.92), bias (1.05, 1.06), probability of detection (0.98, 0.99), false-alarm ratio (0.07, 0.07), probability of false detection (0.90, 0.80), and threat score (0.91, 0.92). The system presented here may be used as a tool within the electrical sector to prevent and respond to sudden electrical power line breakdowns.

Risk Analysis and Safety Evaluation on Combustion System of Gas-Steam Combined Cycle Power Plant

Under the general policy of the national energy-saving emission reduction and sustainable development, the domestic iron and steel enterprises surge in the by-product gas power generation project. There exist many dangerous and harmful factors in by-product steel gas power generation process and which easily caused casualties and the pollution of the environment. The study on risk analysis and evaluation are still relatively dearth about the by-product gas generating process of domestic steel enterprises. The boiler system on a Combined Cycle Power Plant was analyzed and evaluation by ICI/MOND fire and explosion toxicity index method and the method of fault tree analysis, which combined with the actual situation of steel plant Combined Cycle Power Plant. The results show that the combustion system is more dangerous, and the hazard index levels are reduced to lower level after safety compensatory measures except the unit toxicity index higher. The shielding device or gas alarm failure was the main cause of gas poisoning. According to the analysis some feasible measures was put forward. The study has positive guiding significance for risk management and safety administration decision of the Combined Cycle Power Plant.

The Application of DOW Method for Production Risk Evaluation in Chemical Enterprises

The DOW’s Fire and Explosion Index (F&EI) was used to assess the chemical enterprise production safety risk. This article used methanol synthesis unit as an example, according to the characteristic of the hazardous chemical and process of the fertilizer production, conducted risk evaluation of the production unit by Fire and Explosion danger index evaluation method, and proposed suitable safety protection measures aim at the evaluation results.

A comparison of forest fire indices for predicting fire risk in contrasting climates in China

The relationships between fire danger indices and fire risk have been extensively studied in many regions of the world. This work uses partial effect analysis in semiparametric logistic regression models to assess the nonlinear relationships among location, day, altitude, fire danger indices, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and fire ignition from 1996 to 2008 in four different climatic regions in China. The four regions are North China (NR), Northeast China (NE), Southeast China (SE), and Southwest China (SW). The three main results are as follows: First, different fire danger indices are selected as significant variables dependent on the region. The inter-regional difference could be partially explained by difference in local weather and vegetation conditions. Second, spatial location exerts highly significant effects in all four regions. NDVI values are selected as explained variable for NR, NE, and SE on fire ignitions. On a daily scale, altitude influences fire ignition for NR, SE, and SW. Third, the robustness of the probability models used in NE, SE, and SW is better than that in NR on a daily scale. The semiparametric logistic regression model used in this study is useful for assessing the ability of fire danger indices to estimate probabilities of fire ignition on a daily scale. This study encourages further research on assessing the predictive ability of fire danger indices developed at other temporal and spatial scales in China.

Design & Application of Forest Fire Monitoring System by Remote Sensing for Beijing, Tianjin & Hebei

In order to monitor the forest fire effectively and to reduce the loss caused by forest fire in North China areas, a forest fire monitoring system was designed. Based on satellite remote sensing data, GIS data and meteorological information, the system has functions such as processing of data, adjusting of forest fire index for judging hot spots, intelligent judging of hot spots, and analyzing of geographical information and weather condition of hot spots. Also fire information is issued on web and by short message service. The system makes the remote sensing monitoring of forest fire automatically.

Application of Improved Dows Fire and Explosion Index (F&EI) for Organic Solvent Recovery Plant

The Dow fire and explosion index (F&EI) is universally used in evaluating the hazard category of a process plant, area of exposure, expected losses in case of fire and explosion, etc. In the current procedure, the effects of the safety management measures (SMMs) on the F&EI value are not taken into account. This makes the plant look more hazardous, makes it more spread out, requires more elaborate emergency measures and alarms the public more than is necessary. The objective of this paper is to develop an improved Dows fire explosion index which not only supplemented and detailed the safety compensation coefficient and added the safety management coefficient in the F&EI value. And furthermore, this paper calculates and evaluates quantitatively the fire explosion risk of organic solvent recovery plant in a pharmaceutical factory based on the improved evaluation method. To do this, we have developed the relevant equations and have proved the efficacy of the SMMs by means of an actual case, and the evaluation results are more accurate and scientific.

Application of Underground Engineering Fire Safety Evaluation Based on the Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation Method

In this paper, built fire control safety evaluation index system according to the underground engineering characteristics of fire and introduce a method to determine the weighing values for assessment index. Put fuzzy comprehensive assessment method on underground engineering of fire safety assessment, then use fuzzy mathematics theory build a model of engineering of fire safety assessment fuzzy evaluation, and through the underground engineering design of fire safety assessment, to prove its scientific and effective.

Synergism between Intumescent Flame Retardant and Organo-Montmorillonite in Polypropylene Nanocomposites

A simple method of melt blending was used to prepare PP, PP/IFR and PP/IFR/OMMT composites. The Flammability and mechanical property of the composites were investigated. Limiting oxygen index (LOI) tests and cone calorimetry results indicate that there are synergisms between IFR and OMMT. Incorporation of OMMT led to a further increase in LOI value of intumescent retarded PP samples when the addition amounts of OMMT are less than 2%. Cone calorimeter measurements demonstrate that the peak heat release rate (PHRR), average mass loss rates (AMLR) and fire growth rate index (FIGRA) of PP/IFR/OMMT composites are all less than that of PP/IFR30 when OMMT contents are less than 1.5% (including 1.5%).Char residues after cone calorimeter tests were investigated. Unlike the expansion char residue of PP/IFR, the char residues of PP/IFR/OMMT display a lower height and compact morphology, which are due to the barrier effect of OMMT. The presence of less than 1.5% OMMT can somewhat enhance the tensile strength and Izod impact strength of PP/IFR/OMMT composites. Larger OMMT amounts decrease the above mechanical properties.