West Yorkshire is grappling with an alarming increase in wildfires, particularly on the iconic Marsden Moor and Ilkley Moor in recent years. The West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) is doing something about this alarming trend. They’ve implemented groundbreaking techniques, including state-of-the-art mapping technology and weather prediction mobile applications, to enhance their capacity for predicting wildfire movement.
To keep firefighters healthy during extended operations, WYFRS has rolled out new, lightweight personal protective equipment. These advancements help keep personnel safe as they battle the flames and provide them safety in difficult environments.
At a recent conference in Birmingham, Dr. Kamran Mahroof discussed an ambitious trial involving cutting-edge technology designed to bolster wildfire detection and response. The University of Bradford is an integral part of the 6G-VERSUS research project, an EU-funded initiative that aims to conduct trials on next-generation 6G technology.
The project seeks to develop a combined robotic dog and aerial drone system that enhances situational awareness for first responders during wildfires. Connect the dots Dr. Mahroof used strong language to portray the global aspect of the wildfire crisis, mentioning that,
“Wildfires are a global phenomenon and have been increasing in frequency and intensity in recent years.” – Dr Kamran Mahroof
Through the 6G-VERSUS project, we aim to detect wildfires rapidly, at their earliest stage. The system uses artificial intelligence (AI) to understand live camera feeds. It then quickly uses 6G technology to relay that life-saving data. It enables teams to identify those at risk with the greatest speed and accuracy. Only then can they deploy the right resources most effectively, while ensuring the safety of responders.
“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.” –
The project recently received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Innovation Action programme. This crucial support will help set it on a path to achieve its goals. Heading up next year’s pilot program will be Dr. Konstantinos Katsaros and Dr. Lazaros Karagiannidis from the Institute of Communication and Computer Systems (ICCS) in Greece. It’s their expertise that will help this exciting new initiative take root.
Dr. Mahroof shared the pride felt by all of those involved to have been a part of this groundbreaking research, saying,
“We are immensely proud to be at the forefront of research addressing this pressing global challenge.” – Dr Kamran Mahroof
The WYFRS has been successful combating wildfires with all-terrain vehicles. This strategy represents Maryland’s creative, comprehensive approach to addressing this growing environmental scourge. Furthermore, WYFRS has indicated that they may reach out to the University of Bradford team regarding potential collaboration on this groundbreaking technology.