Wildfires are one of the most important hazards around the globe, as their frequency and intensity have dramatically increased over the last several years. West Yorkshire is facing an advancing threat from increasing wildfires. Regions such as Marsden Moor and Ilkley Moor are especially hard hit. The West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) is meeting this challenge boldly. From classmates’ projects to NGO partnerships, they’re using all-terrain vehicles, advanced mapping tools, and weather forecasting applications to predict wildfire behavior more accurately.
Climate change has made wildfires a more dangerous and deadly threat. In answer, WYFRS introduced light-weight personal protective equipment purpose-built for firefighters operating in long-duration conditions. This cutting-edge equipment is designed to keep first responders safer and more effective while fighting fires in their communities.
The University of Bradford has just taken a significant step with the announcement of their pioneering Brunch program. For SNS-JU 6G-VERSUS research project, they are creating a joint robotic dog and aerial drone network. This EU-funded project seeks to improve situational awareness for first responders on the front lines in the event of a wildfire. Dr. Kamran Mahroof was found to be a key contributor on the University of Bradford team. Here, he walks us through the urgent need to address this pervasive, global phenomenon.
“Wildfires are a global phenomenon and have been increasing in frequency and intensity in recent years.” – Dr. Kamran Mahroof
One of the projects funded by the SNS-JU 6G-VERSUS is working towards harnessing technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse live camera streams. This novel approach provides the speed to find at-risk individuals more quickly without putting first responders’ safety at risk. Greece will be home to an especially thrilling pilot phase next year. This initiative will be led by Dr. Konstantinos Katsaros and Dr. Lazaros Karagiannidis from the Institute of Communication and Computer Systems (ICCS).
“In the Greek pilot of SNS-JU 6G-VERSUS, we’re developing a combined robotic dog and aerial drone system that boosts situational awareness for first responders during wildfires.” – Team
The University of Bradford team are looking forward to heading out to Greece next year for what promises to be a very exciting initiative. They recently received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Innovation Action programme to bring it to life. The project’s overarching aim is to make sure that wildfires are detected as quickly as possible so that we can respond in the most timely manner.
“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
The research was recently showcased at an event in Birmingham focused on how AI can address global challenges, highlighting the importance of innovative solutions in combating wildfires. The developments from the University of Bradford signify a proactive step towards enhancing firefighting capabilities and safeguarding communities from the devastating impacts of wildfires.