Camera-based wildland fire Camera-based wildland fire detection: detection:

Lessons learnt Lessons learnt

Camera-based wildland fire Camera-based wildland fire detection: detection:

Lessons learnt Lessons learnt

Sharad C. KarmacharyaSharad C. Karmacharya

ResearcherResearcher

Wildland Fire Operations Research GroupWildland Fire Operations Research GroupFERIC Western DivisionFERIC Western Division

Sharad C. KarmacharyaSharad C. Karmacharya

ResearcherResearcher

Wildland Fire Operations Research GroupWildland Fire Operations Research GroupFERIC Western DivisionFERIC Western Division

Wildfire detection- backgroundWildfire detection- backgroundWildfire detection- backgroundWildfire detection- background

• Wildland fire detection research work Wildland fire detection research work since 2002since 2002

• Wildfire detection workshop in 2003Wildfire detection workshop in 2003

• Three video camera based detection Three video camera based detection systems tested in 2003 (ForestWatch systems tested in 2003 (ForestWatch FireWatch and Manual)FireWatch and Manual)

• ForestWatch chosen for further field trialForestWatch chosen for further field trial

• Wildland fire detection research work Wildland fire detection research work since 2002since 2002

• Wildfire detection workshop in 2003Wildfire detection workshop in 2003

• Three video camera based detection Three video camera based detection systems tested in 2003 (ForestWatch systems tested in 2003 (ForestWatch FireWatch and Manual)FireWatch and Manual)

• ForestWatch chosen for further field trialForestWatch chosen for further field trial

ForestWatch: Tower ForestWatch: Tower mounted video camerasmounted video camerasForestWatch: Tower ForestWatch: Tower mounted video camerasmounted video cameras

• Cameras are commercially available, dome Cameras are commercially available, dome type with pan/tilt/zoom control.type with pan/tilt/zoom control.

• 100 m communications towers were used.100 m communications towers were used.

• Cameras are commercially available, dome Cameras are commercially available, dome type with pan/tilt/zoom control.type with pan/tilt/zoom control.

• 100 m communications towers were used.100 m communications towers were used.

• One tower to be fitted with two cameras:One tower to be fitted with two cameras:– Tower top is not available, two cameras

provide full 360 coverage– Back up in case of camera failure– Scanning will continue if one camera is

switched to manual control– 2nd Camera is a small cost relative to other

system components

• One tower to be fitted with two cameras:One tower to be fitted with two cameras:– Tower top is not available, two cameras

provide full 360 coverage– Back up in case of camera failure– Scanning will continue if one camera is

switched to manual control– 2nd Camera is a small cost relative to other

system components

Smoke generatorSmoke generatorSmoke generatorSmoke generator

2006 Activities2006 Activities2006 Activities2006 Activities

• 8 cameras in 4 different towers8 cameras in 4 different towers

• Identification and evaluation of Identification and evaluation of other available wildland fire other available wildland fire detection technologiesdetection technologies

• 8 cameras in 4 different towers8 cameras in 4 different towers

• Identification and evaluation of Identification and evaluation of other available wildland fire other available wildland fire detection technologiesdetection technologies

Edson Tower May 13, 06 15:51Edson Tower May 13, 06 15:51Edson Tower May 13, 06 15:51Edson Tower May 13, 06 15:51

Obed tower - May 16, 06 17:07Obed tower - May 16, 06 17:075 km away5 km away

Obed tower - May 16, 06 17:07Obed tower - May 16, 06 17:075 km away5 km away

Obed tower - May 16, 06 17:51Obed tower - May 16, 06 17:515 Km away5 Km away

Obed tower - May 16, 06 17:51Obed tower - May 16, 06 17:515 Km away5 Km away

Carrot Creek May 30, 06 19:42Carrot Creek May 30, 06 19:42Flarestack 35 Km. awayFlarestack 35 Km. away

Carrot Creek May 30, 06 19:42Carrot Creek May 30, 06 19:42Flarestack 35 Km. awayFlarestack 35 Km. away

Lessons LearntLessons LearntLessons LearntLessons Learnt

• Integration with other informationIntegration with other information

• TowerTower

• Remote data transferRemote data transfer

• Detection softwareDetection software

• InstallationInstallation

• Integration with other informationIntegration with other information

• TowerTower

• Remote data transferRemote data transfer

• Detection softwareDetection software

• InstallationInstallation

Integration with other Integration with other informationinformation

Integration with other Integration with other informationinformation

• Burn permitsBurn permits

• Lighting strikesLighting strikes

• Flare stacksFlare stacks

• Burn permitsBurn permits

• Lighting strikesLighting strikes

• Flare stacksFlare stacks

TowerTowerTowerTower

• Identify tower siteIdentify tower site

• Visibility coverageVisibility coverage

• AccessibilityAccessibility

• Identify ownerIdentify owner

• Permission to usePermission to use

• Engineering evaluationEngineering evaluation

• Tower type and mountingTower type and mounting

• CostCost

• Identify tower siteIdentify tower site

• Visibility coverageVisibility coverage

• AccessibilityAccessibility

• Identify ownerIdentify owner

• Permission to usePermission to use

• Engineering evaluationEngineering evaluation

• Tower type and mountingTower type and mounting

• CostCost

Remote data transferRemote data transferRemote data transferRemote data transfer

• Microwave, satellite, and internetMicrowave, satellite, and internet

• Deciding communication methodDeciding communication method

• Cost a factor for the decisionCost a factor for the decision

• System specification.System specification.

• Combination of different methodsCombination of different methods

• SuperNet and FireNetSuperNet and FireNet

• Microwave, satellite, and internetMicrowave, satellite, and internet

• Deciding communication methodDeciding communication method

• Cost a factor for the decisionCost a factor for the decision

• System specification.System specification.

• Combination of different methodsCombination of different methods

• SuperNet and FireNetSuperNet and FireNet

SoftwareSoftwareSoftwareSoftware

• Automatic smoke detectionAutomatic smoke detection

• Night visionNight vision

• Pan/tilt/zoom controlPan/tilt/zoom control

• Images are integrated with Images are integrated with GIS/DEMGIS/DEM

• Location and distanceLocation and distance

• False alarmFalse alarm

• Automatic smoke detectionAutomatic smoke detection

• Night visionNight vision

• Pan/tilt/zoom controlPan/tilt/zoom control

• Images are integrated with Images are integrated with GIS/DEMGIS/DEM

• Location and distanceLocation and distance

• False alarmFalse alarm

Installation (towers)Installation (towers) Installation (towers)Installation (towers)

• Camera and Communication Camera and Communication systemsystem

• Brackets (movement)Brackets (movement)

• Shed with power and accessShed with power and access

• Climbing towersClimbing towers

• 1 technician and 2 riggers take one 1 technician and 2 riggers take one dayday

• Camera and Communication Camera and Communication systemsystem

• Brackets (movement)Brackets (movement)

• Shed with power and accessShed with power and access

• Climbing towersClimbing towers

• 1 technician and 2 riggers take one 1 technician and 2 riggers take one dayday

Other issuesOther issuesOther issuesOther issues

• Potential for other usesPotential for other uses

• Leaving system in winterLeaving system in winter

• Mobile towersMobile towers

• Potential for other usesPotential for other uses

• Leaving system in winterLeaving system in winter

• Mobile towersMobile towers

Wildland fire detection technology Wildland fire detection technology evaluation, adaptation and evaluation, adaptation and

implementation projectimplementation project

Wildland fire detection technology Wildland fire detection technology evaluation, adaptation and evaluation, adaptation and

implementation projectimplementation project

• Identify and evaluate potential Identify and evaluate potential technologies relevant to wildfire technologies relevant to wildfire detection detection

• develop a business case for develop a business case for wildfire detection program for wildfire detection program for AlbertaAlberta

• Identify and evaluate potential Identify and evaluate potential technologies relevant to wildfire technologies relevant to wildfire detection detection

• develop a business case for develop a business case for wildfire detection program for wildfire detection program for AlbertaAlberta

Business caseBusiness caseBusiness caseBusiness case

• Identify business modelIdentify business model• Analysis of different scenariosAnalysis of different scenarios• Costs and benefitsCosts and benefits– Short-term– Long-term

• Combination with existing system for Combination with existing system for better coverage and optimal solutionbetter coverage and optimal solution

• How will these combination effect How will these combination effect detection level?detection level?

• Efficiency and effectiveness thresholdsEfficiency and effectiveness thresholds

• Identify business modelIdentify business model• Analysis of different scenariosAnalysis of different scenarios• Costs and benefitsCosts and benefits– Short-term– Long-term

• Combination with existing system for Combination with existing system for better coverage and optimal solutionbetter coverage and optimal solution

• How will these combination effect How will these combination effect detection level?detection level?

• Efficiency and effectiveness thresholdsEfficiency and effectiveness thresholds