West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) were already working to improve the service’s wildfire forecasting. To do this, they’re using cutting-edge mapping software and weather forecasting apps. This initiative comes in response to a notable increase in wildfires across the region, particularly on Marsden Moor and Ilkley Moor. The service has rolled out new lightweight wildfire personal protective equipment to protect firefighters operating for longer durations.
Like the rest of the UK, West Yorkshire has experienced an epidemic increase in wildfires in recent years. In turn, WYFRS has developed better approaches to handle these situations. The service has been deploying all-terrain vehicles—like the eight-wheel Argocat—in order to traverse tough terrains when responding to fires.
Dr Kamran Mahroof is one of the University of Bradford team’s ambitious gang of wildfire researchers. He presented their preliminary results at a PEDS conference this past fall in Birmingham. WYFRS also conceded that it had little knowledge of “this specific technology.” Yet, they express incredible excitement about working alongside Dr. Mahroof’s team. The University of Bradford has been awarded £4.5 million to lead the innovative research project 6G-VERSUS. This support is part of the European Union’s Horizon Innovation Action programme.
“Wildfires are a global phenomenon and have been increasing in frequency and intensity in recent years.” – Dr. Kamran Mahroof
The 6G-VERSUS project aims to develop a combined robotic dog and aerial drone system that enhances situational awareness for first responders during wildfire events.
Dr. Mahroof emphasized the project’s objectives, stating, “The whole idea for us is to identify wildfires as soon as possible.” He echoed the value of using advanced technologies to cut response times and better allocate resources in an emergency.
Dr. Konstantinos Katsaros and Dr. Lazaros Karagiannidis will be spearheading next year’s pilot for this exciting project. They are both affiliated with the Greek-based Institute of Communication and Computer Systems (ICCS). To help keep everyone safe, they aspire to do this using artificial intelligence to process real-time camera feeds and 6G connectivity to communicate important information.
“By applying AI to interpret real-time camera feeds and using 6G links to relay the data, we can help teams quickly identify people at risk and deploy resources where they’re needed most, all while keeping responders safe.” – Team
This partnership is an important first step in mitigating the increasing risk from wildfires across West Yorkshire and the UK. WYFRS is incorporating cutting-edge technologies with its age-old firefighting tactics. This change will greatly improve its day-to-day operational effectiveness in combatting wildfires.
