Dr. Kamran Mahroof of the University of Bradford recently introduced a creative new wildfire detection trial. He presented his information at a national conference, here in Birmingham. The initiative addresses the increasing number and severity of wildfires. It rightly focuses attention on places including West Yorkshire, where such incidents have more than doubled in the past few years.
“Wildfires are a global phenomenon and have been increasing in frequency and intensity in recent years,” he stated. The overall goal of the trial is to provide timely detection of wildfires, so first responders can respond quickly. “The whole idea for us is to identify wildfires as soon as possible,” he added.
The trial incorporates a new cutting-edge system that uses robotic dogs and aerial drones. This cutting-edge technology is intended to improve situational awareness for first responders on the ground during wildfire emergencies. The project, part of the EU-funded 6G-VERSUS research initiative, has garnered attention for its potential impact on emergency response strategies.
Next year, Dr. Konstantinos Katsaros and Dr. Lazaros Karagiannidis will lead the pilot phase of the project. She is originally from the Greek-based Institute of Communication and Computer Systems. Although Dr. Mahroof will not be at the helm during this phase, he remains an integral part of the research team working on 6G technology trials.
The West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) is genuinely enthusiastic about the emerging technology. This was something to which they acknowledged having not paid much attention to. A representative from WYFRS said that they hoped to be in touch with Dr. Mahroof’s team about possible collaborative work.
West Yorkshire has been no stranger to some of the country’s most extreme wildfires in recent years, with major fires on Marsden Moor and Ilkley Moor. WYFRS confronts these unique challenges directly as frontline responders with a fleet of all-terrain vehicles. They use mapping tools and weather forecasting applications to predict fire behavior with more precision. In addition, they have helped develop new, lightweight personal protective equipment specifically engineered with firefighters’ needs in mind for prolonged operations in extreme elements.
The funding for this pioneering research was won just recently, earlier this year, through the European Union’s Horizon Innovation Action programme. The potential of artificial intelligence to address global challenges was a central theme at the Birmingham event where this research was showcased.