Automated Wildland Fire Detection with AWFS Wildland Fire

Automated Wildland Fire Detection with AWFS Wildland Fire Detection Workshop FERIC Hinton, Alberta June 6 -8, 2006 Presented by Joachim Dreibach Fire Watch AG Joachim Dreibach We save your natural resources!

Automated Wildland Fire Detection with AWFS 1. Introduction Methods of detection 2. Automated detection of smoke Parameters How it Works System Overview 3. Extended and Additional Applications 4. Summary Joachim Dreibach We save your natural resources!

Automated Wildland Fire Detection with AWFS 1. Methods of Detection • Lookout Towers with human resources - Reliability, human factors ( thickness, sleep, concentration. . ) • Aircraft surveillance - expensive, time frame between trials • Video-based systems - handling, human factors , technology • Satellite - very expensive, time factors Joachim Dreibach We save your natural resources!

Automated Wildland Fire Detection with AWFS 2. Automated Smoke Detection Parameters The early – and precisely detection of wildfire with an automated system is a complex task. It far exceeds the use of a simple video camera which is taking pictures and – maybe a correlated standard image processing SW is running. Automated detection requires a reliable, precise recognition of Events caused by a fire. . Joachim Dreibach We save your natural resources!

Automated Wildland Fire Detection with AWFS 2. Automated Smoke Detection Parameters As smoke is one of the first visible sign for a starting fire, it is an preferred parameter for the automated detection. Automated detection must largely eliminate factors in the observed areas, not correlated to a smoke cloud, Automated detection shall submit additional information like coordinates of fire, distance, information about type and size. Joachim Dreibach We save your natural resources!

Automated Wildland Fire Detection with AWFS Disturbing factors for automatic detection Moving Objects like: Cars, Animals, People, Aircrafts, Clouds, Shadows, Air turbulences, Fixed Objects, but changing by influences like: Trees - moving by wind, Sun reflections on objects, These factors demonstrate that an automated smoke detection requires more than a commonly used image processing software to guarantee an acceptable number of false alerts Joachim Dreibach We save your natural resources!

Automated Wildland Fire Detection with AWFS, How it works This SW algorithm is based on a research program of the GFMC(UN) The method and system are patented by DLR (EP 0984413) AWFS has been successfully applied for 5 years with more than 100 installations Detects smoke fast and efficiently up to a distance of 40 km (depending on sight conditions). Scanning Time 360° 5 -8 min AWFS has the capability for day and night detection. Survived lightning strike 2006 Joachim Dreibach We save your natural resources!

Automated Wildland Fire Detection with AWFS, how it works To provide highest quality AWFS, is based on a Sensor used for space missions and software algorithm developed within a EU research program forest fires. The method involves an optical detector, rotating platform, an image processing unit and a transmitter for local alerts. Searching smoke in a spectrum around 620 nm using a filter with a small bandwidth (to increase contrast ratios and cut off other colors not related to smoke). For the exclusion of the disturbing parameters, AWFS evaluates smoke parameters by a series of independent features like: Shape, Brightness Dynamics, Expansion, Structure This reduces the numbers of false alerts but ensures safe detection. Joachim Dreibach We save your natural resources!

AWFS, How It Works Each image is analyzed pixel by pixel to identify the portions of images corresponding to the smoke criteria of shape, contrast, dynamics, expansion and brightness. The portions identified on three images are then compared in order to analyze any move in the targeted portions. If the system construes it as smoke emanating from a fire, it sends an alarm signal to the supervision/control system. Joachim Dreibach We save your natural resources!

How It Works - Sensor Operations Joachim Dreibach We save your natural resources!

The long way to develop a Smoke Detection System…. Headed by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) ground, satellite and aircraft based systems for fire monitoring have been studied since 1992 – Development and tests of aircraft based payload ABAS (IR and optical line cameras, onboard processing) – Development and operating the microsatellite (BIRD) for fire recognition (launch in 2001 – Development and tests of main components of the tower based FIRE-WATCH technology 1996: 1997: 1998: 1999 - 2000: 2001 - 2002: 2004: 2005: initial contacts with German forest authorities first tests with different sensors (optical and IR camera development of the detection software EU tender by the forest authorities of the state of Brandenburg for a pilot project was released successful demonstration of FIRE-WATCH, tender was awarded to DLR pilot project (parallel with conventional monitoring) FIRE-WATCH became fully operational after a selection process of the entire technology IQ wireless Gmb. H, with a license for the German marked only, was installing 120 Systems in Germany the newly founded company FIRE WATCH AG placed in Switzerland gets the exclusive international license and full from DLR major developments to adjust the AWFS for the international specifications first international orders and field trials are running, the system AWFS is working very well also outside of Germany Joachim Dreibach We save your natural resources!

System Overview Joachim Dreibach We save your natural resources!

Key Parts of AWFS Sensor Unit Pan and tilt head with special sensor Mobile Applications North Finder GPS Unit Control Office IPU Image Processing Unit with lightning protection Camera Tower 1 Camera Tower 2 Telemetry Unit Point to Point, Satellite, ISDN APU Autonomous Power Unit H 2 500 watt fuel cell Joachim Dreibach We save your natural resources!

Core Software Modules Image Processing Software • • • Complex analysis of typical smoke characteristics (color, brightness, dynamics, structure and expansion) Normalization, filtering, matching, cluster search algorithm and probability assessment Automatic cloud reduction Programmable parameter settings for sensitivity Alerts in the event of smoke detection Values implemented based on a UN research program Control Office • • • Displaying of up to 5 towers to one 19” Monitor (connectable up to 64 Sensors) Communicates the alert information from the tower Evaluation of alarm data by special software tools (zoom, filters, contrast, continuous fire observations) Evaluation of transmitted images by an operator Computer aided alarm handling Archiving of data and actions of operator into a data base Joachim Dreibach We save your natural resources!

Control Office Joachim Dreibach We save your natural resources!

Control Office Joachim Dreibach We save your natural resources!

Alert 16 km from sensor position Joachim Dreibach We save your natural resources!

Live sequence Joachim Dreibach We save your natural resources!

Event Monitoring Continuously monitoring of an event while continuing to survey area By requesting life sequence images from selected area of interest. Optional color images for monitoring an area of interest and classifying the smoke to manage the resources Database Archiving of all collected data, operation tasks as well as system status information in databases for long term documentation and training. Joachim Dreibach We save your natural resources!

3. Extended and Additional Applications • • • Mobile Units Comand Center, controlling several Offices Forecast fire propagation – – • With GPS unit locate ground assets on map – • Meteorological data Ecological data Vehicles and personnel Communicate with Air and Ground Assets – – Send map and ground asset data to aircraft Advise Ground assets of impending air drop Joachim Dreibach We save your natural resources!

4. Summary • FIRE-WATCH is a highly specialized tower based system with a CCD-camera and sophisticated software for the early recognition of forest fires that has been tested and optimized for more than 8 years. • FIRE-WATCH technology has been installed in Germany since 2001 and has fulfilled the expectations of the clients. In the moment 120 systems are operational. In many regions it has completely replaced manual surveillance from lookouts. • At conditions as prescribed in Germany, FIRE-WATCH is less expensive (savings of ~ 20%) and faster compared with the traditional monitoring from lookouts by trained staff and with aircraft monitoring. • Presently the system is equipped with additional components to make it ready for other countries with other conditions. Joachim Dreibach We save your natural resources!

Location Thank you for your attention. Don’t hesitate to request additional information. Contact Fire Watch AG Christian Raboud CMO Kehrstrasse 12 CH-3904 Naters Switzerland Phone +41 27 922 0804 Fax +41 41 922 0805 info@fire-watch. ch Joachim Dreibach We save your natural resources!

Typical Installations Joachim Dreibach We save your natural resources!

Additional Application: Fire Propagation – C 2 I Center Implementation of a Fire Propagation Software Meteorological data from a sensor site like: Temperature Wind speed Wind direction Humidity Air pressure at ground level GPS data Time Joachim Dreibach We save your natural resources!

Additional Application: 3 D - C 2 I Center Implementation of AWFS Data onto a 3 D Digital map Information about Identification of Resources Position of Resources Movement of Resources Strategic Coordination of Resources Identification of Fire Position Joachim Dreibach We save your natural resources!

System Components Joachim Dreibach We save your natural resources!

System Components Joachim Dreibach We save your natural resources!

System Components Meteorological Sensor Temperature, Wind speed, Wind direction Humidity, Precipitation (Rain) Air pressure at ground level, Illumination Joachim Dreibach We save your natural resources!

Business Partners Deutsches Zentrum für Luft-und Raumfahrt e. V. (German Aerospace Center) Joachim Dreibach We save your natural resources!