Dr. Konstantinos Katsaros and Dr. Lazaros Karagiannidis, of the Institute of Communication and Computer Systems (ICCS) will lead a new, ICCS‐based pilot program. This new initiative is all about improving how we detect wildfires. The project, called 6G-VERSUS, is a hugely ambitious and exciting EU-funded collaboration. It was funded by the European Union’s Horizon Innovation Action programme. Here’s how one piece of research hopes to use artificial intelligence (AI) to tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges. Particularly, it is to address the increasing occurrence of wildfires in places such as West Yorkshire.
At this year’s UK Wildfire Conference in Birmingham, Dr. Kamran Mahroof stressed the immediate dangers posed by wildfires. He noted that “wildfires are a global phenomenon and have been increasing in frequency and intensity in recent years.” That ever-worsening trend is what brought together a coalition of the following institutions. Importantly, University of Bradford, ICCS and West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) are coming together as partners to create pioneering sustainable solutions.
The 6G-VERSUS project will bring together the most advanced technologies. It will pair a robotic dog with an aerial drone system to improve situational awareness for first responders during wildfire events. Dr. Mahroof explained, “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.” This strategy is meant to deliver real-time data that will maximize the effectiveness of response efforts.
The team hopes to visit Greece next year to do field trials with the robotic dog-and-drone system. This pilot will be a key test for the technology in piecemeal, real-world scenarios. Dr. Mahroof emphasized the importance of rapid detection, stating, “The whole idea for us is to identify wildfires as soon as possible.” The tech uses AI behind the scenes to read real-time camera feeds. It uses 6G technology to transmit data, allowing teams to rapidly pinpoint people in danger and effectively mobilize the resources they need.
In West Yorkshire, wildfires are more severe than ever. Indeed, the number of reported incidents has increased dramatically in recent years. WYFRS, in turn, are keen to start working even more closely with the University of Bradford team. They told us that they plan to contact jurisdictions for further details about this exciting new initiative.
Dr. Mahroof concluded by stating, “We are immensely proud to be at the forefront of research addressing this pressing global challenge.” This advance project leverages new technology and innovative partnerships. Together, they complement each other to effectively mitigate the impact of wildfires.