From Mother Jones · Mosabber Hossain · · 1m 10s
Wildfire Response Tech Shift
Drones and AI could revolutionize wildfire safety and response.
In brief
Drones and AI could revolutionize wildfire safety and response. US Forest Service tests drones and AI to predict fire spread and reduce firefighter risks. Originally reported by Mother Jones.
Sand Creek Fire Challenge
Fire crews faced steep slopes and fire-weakened trees during the Sand Creek Fire in southwestern Montana since August.
Drones for Real-Time Fire Mapping
Federal agencies use drones to map fire perimeters, detect hotspots, and monitor dangerous terrain for safer firefighting decisions.
Drones in Aerial Ignition
Drones reduce pilot and firefighter exposure during intentional vegetation burns to expand control lines.
UAS Pilot Positions
Federal agencies now have specific roles for drone pilots, managers, and data specialists in wildfire response.
Ground Robots in Testing
Forest Service tested autonomous vehicles carrying up to 800 pounds of supplies on rough terrain in Georgia.
AI Fire Prediction Models
Researchers use thermal-infrared drone data to predict fire spread rates and intensity with machine learning.
Drones for Smoke Modeling
Drone data helps researchers track smoke emissions and health risks downwind from wildfires.
The headline
US Forest Service tests drones and AI to predict fire spread and reduce firefighter risks.
