Wildfire Camera Detection:
Firehawk is a computer aided forest risk management system that is controlled by a human operator.
The system has been designed to be installed in remote areas where cameras can cover a radius of 6 to 8 km from the point of installation. Although the capability of cameras is far beyond the 6 to 8 km radius, weather conditions do not always allow detection of fires beyond this safe margin. Real time video images can be transmitted up to 30 km. without repeating being required.
These video images are fed to a central command base where they are processed and filter out unwanted image alarms and reporting only those required.
Wildfire Satellite Detection:
The Advanced Fire Information System (AFIS) is an operation alert and mapping system providing near real-time information related to the detection, monitoring and assessment of fires based on satellite data derived from the Terra and Aqua MODIS and Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) satellites.
The main aim of AFIS is to provide information regarding the prediction, detection and assessment of fires using Remote Sensing and GIS technology through an automated near real time Web GIS portal. AFIS forms part of the Wide Area Monitoring Information System (WAMIS) which aims to deliver relevant sensor based information (sensor web) to the local and regional user community in support of effective decision-making.
In 1999 and 2002 NASA launched the Terra and Aqua satellites, which both carries MODIS. These sensors scan the earth eight times a day in 36 spectral bands including a mid infra red band dedicated to fire detection. Coupled with MODIS data, Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) geostationary satellite data are providing fire location information every 15 minutes feeding AFIS to with continuous fire detections day and night.
AFIS has been developed by the CSIR in South Africa while initial funding for the development and implementation of AFIS came from South Africa's biggest power company - ESKOM.Additional to the power company, AFIS provides daily fire alerts to Fire Protection Associations (FPA's) across South Africa as well as numerous organisations across Southern Africa.