AI-Powered Detection of Wildfires Using the Internet of Trees
Over the past few years, we have been inundated with distressing reports of wildfires occurring in different regions across the globe. The consequences of these fires are alarming, as they have a profound effect on numerous individuals, animals, plants, and even our surroundings. Additionally, they result in the destruction of valuable assets worth billions of dollars. As global warming continues to escalate, experts are expressing apprehension regarding the intensification of heatwaves, the elevation of sea levels, the melting of ice, and other related concerns. Although we may not currently be witnessing the full extent of these impacts, the situation is progressively worsening.
In order to reduce the severity of wildfires, engineers have developed new solutions and technology that detect forest fires even before they start. With the help of artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT), experts have found a way to deal with such situations specifically in highly vigilant places. Check what the new fire technology is capable of.
Firetech: AI sensor for wildfire detection
According to a report by Next Web, a German telecommunications company called Dryad Networks has developed technology that allows firefighters to take early action before a wildfire spreads and turns it into a truly harmful situation that cannot be controlled. The company aims to reduce the detection time from hours to a few minutes.
The technology called the “Internet of Trees” is installed in various forest locations that detect the initial stage of forest fires. According to reports, the sensor does not work like satellites, cameras or watchtowers to detect a fire after it has spread over a huge area.
The artificial intelligence sensor is powered by a solar panel and will be installed in a 1-hectare radius of the forest, which is an area in case of wildfires. The AI sensor scans the nearby atmosphere and smells microscopic amounts of gases such as hydrogen and carbon monoxide to identify the early stages of a potential wildfire. The sensor is also equipped to measure temperature, humidity and air pressure.
The report also explains that the sensor is equipped with machine learning algorithms that allow the sensor to detect different odors and distinguish which of them is the source of the fire.
How AI sensors send alerts
How does the technology send alarms in dense forests where there is no single means of communication? If the sensors catch fire, they send signals to a network hub called a mesh gateway. This gateway acts like a router, transferring data from the sensor to a larger gateway placed at the edge of the forest. These gateways are placed in places where the Internet can be used or where there is a satellite connection. These gateways then relay the collected data to firefighters, who then examine it on a cloud-based platform.
The Firetech startup has so far sold more than 10,000 sensors and raised 14.5 million euros in funds to continue its work and employ more staff. The sensors are currently being tested in the Eberswalde forest in the northeast of Berlin, which is known as one of the most dangerous places for forest fires.
