Our very own Dr. Kamran Mahroof shone a light on an innovative use of robotic dogs for wildfire detection at our conference earlier this year in Birmingham. New increasingly intense and frequent wildfires, which have been accelerated by climate change, were underscored by Dr. Mahroof, as part of the 6G-VERSUS research project. He termed them a “global emergency,” reiterating the need for immediate action. He stated, “Wildfires are a global phenomenon and have been increasing in frequency and intensity in recent years.”
6G-VERSUS, a European-Union funded project involving 13 partners from industry and academia, aims to test the most advanced applications of 6G technology. This research project is funded by the European Commission Horizon Innovation Action programme. It’s looking for unique approaches that will lead to the next big ideas in routine fire detection and response. The research team at the University of Bradford, where Dr. Mahroof is based, is certainly leading the charge on this groundbreaking research.
Next year, Dr. Konstantinos Katsaros and Dr. Lazaros Karagiannidis will run the pilot program. This is changing. They hail from the Greek-based ICCS – Institute of Communication and Computer Systems. This pilot will use robotic dogs and aerial drones to provide first responders with enhanced situational awareness on wildfire incident scenes.
Dr. Mahroof explained the project’s objectives, stating, “The whole idea for us is to identify wildfires as soon as possible.” As for AI, it will combine with full-time camera feeds and 6G comm links. This will facilitate early identification of at-risk individuals and timely deployment of interventions. This innovation is designed to improve response effectiveness with added attention to keeping responders on the ground safe.
Wildfires have increased substantially in West Yorkshire. The West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) plays an important role in combating these archetypal firestorms. The service utilizes all-terrain vehicles along with advanced mapping tools and weather forecasting applications to predict fire behavior more accurately. The recent development of specialized, lightweight personal protective equipment made for wildfire situations increases their operational efficiency even more.
Recent incidents on Marsden Moor and Ilkley Moor serve as reminders of the ongoing wildfire challenges faced in West Yorkshire. As the WYFRS adopts new technologies and methods to control these incidents, they’re learning how to best implement them.
“We are immensely proud to be at the forefront of research addressing this pressing global challenge.” – Dr. Kamran Mahroof
Numerous other efforts around the world, like the European 6G-VERSUS project, are far along in their development. Through the use of other innovative technologies like robotic dogs and drones, we’re improving our wildfire detection and response capabilities.
