Its been quite a sometime since scientists were working towards

obtaining insights and control over the occurrences and patterns

of global wildfire. As per a research reported by Clark
University geographers, carbon emissions from fires have
escalated tremendously, between 1996 and 2008 is 2.4 times as
much as what burned between 1984 and 1995. So in order to
resolve the problem, scientists thought of having a dedicated
geostationary satellite. Such technology would also help in
averting catastrophes like Arizonas Yarnell Fire, which killed
nearly 19 Firefighters in US this summer.
The FUEGO (Fire Urgency Estimator in Geosynchronous Orbit)
satellite is a tool that researchers have offered to the firefighters.
The satellite would loom over the Western states almost
constantly taking pictures of the ground every few seconds in
search of hot spots that could be newly ignited wildfires. As per
the reports generated by FUEGO, timely action would be taken
in terms of preventing the escalation of fires.
In the words of Scott Stephens, a UC Berkeley associate
professor of environmental science and fire expert,
If we had information on the location of fires when they were
smaller, then we could take appropriate actions quicker and
more easily, including preparing for evacuation. Wildfires
would be smaller in scale if you could detect them before they
got too big, like less than an acre.
Feasibility of the satellite is made based on state-of-the-art
sensors and faster analysis software, which would also minimize
the risk of false alarms. FUEGO would overcome the challenge
of identifying hotspots from sunlight shining on a mirror or
windshield.
How it works
In concept, this is a simple system: a telephoto camera, an
infrared filter and a recording device. We are just looking for
something bright compared to the surroundings or changing over
time, Kelly said. Then, we do these rapid calculations to
determine if one image is different from the next.
Pennypacker and graduate student Marek K. Jakubowski
developed a computer analysis technique, or algorithm, to detect
these differences in space and time and to distinguish them from
bright lights that might look like fires. This involves several
billion calculations per second on images taken every few
seconds, covering the entire West every few minutes. The new
paper reports on tests of this algorithm using existing imagery
from real fires, but the team hopes to get funding to test the
system on a fire that is starting, such as a prescribed burn.
The point is, satellites like Landsat and GOES provide great
information after a fire starts; they can focus and monitor a fire
by looking at smoke plumes, fire spread, hot spots at the edges,
etc., Kelly said. FUEGO is designed for early detection of
smaller fires. Right now, we lose a lot of time because fires are
already big by the time we see them.
The experts are expecting frequent and extensive wildfires with
the growing affect of global warming hence they are hopeful
that FUEGO would assist in solving the problem at least in one
season. Similar tool would also help other regions of the world
such as Australia, where a line of fires is currently raging across
1600 kilometers west of Sydney.
Via: IEEE Spectrum and Eurekalert


Read more: http://www.techietonics.com/space-tonics/fuego-
the-fire-spotting-satellite-a-tool-for-
firefighters.html#ixzz2t7Z1V2GX