AI Detects Wildfires: Cal Fire’s Alert California Program Saves Lives
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) has partnered with the University of California San Diego to develop an innovative program that utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) to detect wildfires. Named the Alert California AI program, it leverages the data from 1,032 360-degree rotating cameras to identify abnormalities within their feeds. When abnormalities indicative of a potential blaze are detected, emergency services and authorities are promptly alerted for a response.
Launched in July, this program has already proven its effectiveness by successfully mitigating one potential wildfire. During the early hours of the morning, a camera recorded a fledgling fire in the remote Cleveland National Forest east of San Diego. The AI system quickly identified the inferno and alerted a fire captain, who promptly called in 60 firefighters along with essential firefighting equipment. Thanks to their swift response, the flames were extinguished within a remarkable 45 minutes.
The technology behind Alert California incorporates LiDAR scans from airplanes and drones. These scans provide the program with precise three-dimensional information about the scanned surfaces, which is then combined with data on the physical traits of tree species. This combination allows Cal Fire to gain valuable insights into California’s forest biomass and carbon content. Additionally, the program’s machine learning model utilizes extensive data from the cameras to differentiate between smoke and other airborne particles.
The program was developed by engineers at the University of California San Diego in collaboration with the California-based company DigitalPath. Over the past four years, Cal Fire has invested more than $20 million in this groundbreaking initiative, with an additional $3,516,000 committed in the near future.
Neal Driscoll, a geology and geophysics professor at UCSD and the program’s principal investigator, emphasized the urgency of their work in light of the current extreme climate conditions. Driscoll stated, We’re in extreme climate right now. So we give them the data because this problem is bigger than all of us. We need to use technology to help move the needle, even if it’s a little bit. However, he also acknowledged that the current sample size is too small to make conclusive statements about the program’s overall effectiveness.
To provide transparency and accessibility, you can access the Alert California camera quilt on your computer or mobile device. The program’s website displays a grid of remotely operated live camera views from various locations across the region.
By harnessing the power of AI, Cal Fire’s Alert California Program not only detects wildfires promptly but also enables a rapid response to potential blazes. With its ability to identify abnormalities in camera feeds and promptly alert emergency services, this program has already proven instrumental in preventing the spread of fires. As the threat of wildfires continues to loom large, initiatives like Alert California demonstrate the potential of technology in mitigating the devastating consequences of climate change.
