Dr. Kamran Mahroof from the University of Bradford recently presented innovative research on wildfire detection. He presented his results at a conference in Birmingham. The project will leverage advanced technology such as robotic dogs and aerial drones. Its purpose is to improve the situational awareness of first responders who are fighting fires during a wildfire outbreak. This initiative is particularly timely due to the fact that West Yorkshire has experienced a significant increase in wildfires. Both Marsden Moor and Ilkley Moor have made the news recently with important initiatives.
This research is conducted under the European Union’s 6G-VERSUS project. Earlier this year, it was awarded funding under Horizon Innovation Action programme for SmartCommuter. Dr. Mahroof emphasized the urgency of addressing wildfires, stating, “Wildfires are a global phenomenon and have been increasing in frequency and intensity in recent years.” He highlighted the project’s goal: “The whole idea for us is to identify wildfires as soon as possible.”
Next year’s inaugural pilot program will be guided by Dr. Konstantinos Katsaros and Dr. Lazaros Karagiannidis from the Greek-based Institute of Communication and Computer Systems (ICCS). They’re looking forward to leading this effort! From the working prototype creations to eventual product development, they will create a Robotic Dog/Aerial Drone Interoperable System with the goal of increasing first responders’ situational awareness. Dr. Katsaros underscored the fact that their team uses AI tools to process real-time, constantly-operational camera feeds. By using 6G technology to transmit data from the field, responders can get faster response times and emergency resources can be directed more effectively.
“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
West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) comes to terms with growing risk of wildfires. They readily conceded they were out of their depth on this particular technology. They are thinking about contacting the University of Bradford team to explore possibilities for joint action. WYFRS employs high-tech mapping software and automated weather model apps to make accurate predictions about fire behavior. They’ve developed lightweight personal protective equipment for the firefighters, keeping them safe while working long operations.
Dr. Mahroof expressed pride in the project’s innovative approach, stating, “We are immensely proud to be at the forefront of research addressing this pressing global challenge.” This cutting-edge technology will protect the brave firefighters who are fighting the flames. At the same time, it aims to protect responders and those in danger.
“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