New AI Satellites Can Spot a Wildfire the Size of a Bonfire

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is infiltrating nearly all areas of life. New satellites are now pairing with this technology to detect wildfires, helping fire crews to get a head start on containing the blazes. Here is a look into how this innovative technology works.

SpaceX Launches Fire-Detecting Satellites

It has been another brutal wildfire season in the West, with the peak of the activity still likely to come in some areas. As the impacts of climate change become more concerning, scientists and engineers are working to devise ways to detect fires earlier so that lives and property can be saved.

When it comes to detecting and fighting wildfires, time is of the essence. A new strategy to shorten this crucial timeline was launched in July when a SpaceX rocket sent three FireSat satellites into orbit. The initial trio is the first of what is to be 50 satellites engineered to spot wildfires from space.

The current satellites can detect large wildfires; however, they do not have the capabilities to locate smaller fires. The scientists working on FireSat hope to change that, stating that this latest network can detect fires as small as a bonfire. In addition, the FireSat network is designed to scan every location on the planet every 20 minutes, spotting fires before they have a chance to get out of control.

FireSat satellites use infrared sensors paired with AI technology to search for heat that could be indicative of a brewing wildfire. The network compares the new images with earlier ones to determine if a message should be sent to emergency responders.

How Satellites Work With Cameras to Detect Fires

These high-tech satellites also work with cameras on the ground used to look for smoke and heat. The goal is to not only find fires faster, but to also reduce the number of false alarms.

The use of cameras is instrumental in detecting wildfires. California leads the nation, with over 1,200 cameras used by Cal Fire. According to Chief Phillip Selegue, this network detects roughly half of the state's blazes before the first 911 call is made. California aims to suppress 95% of its fires before they grow larger than 10 acres. Selegue said that his crews trust this detection enough that they deploy the resources once they get the alert.

While ground cameras are great at observing the landscape in front of them, they do not have the wide view offered by satellites.  Cameras are also not able to detect fires in remote areas.

The technology that pairs the AI satellite information with the cameras on the ground cannot come fast enough. Wildfires are quickly becoming one of the most concerning natural disasters both in the U.S. and around the world as global warming becomes more entrenched. According to Climate Central, some areas of the western U.S. are dealing with two more months of fire weather when compared to patterns in the 1970s.

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