West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service is taking action against the increase in wildfires. As a result, they are taking proactive steps to ensure that their region remains safe. The service uses all-terrain vehicles, sophisticated mapping software and apps that track weather patterns to inform their firefighting efforts. Each of these initiatives will help firefighters to more accurately predict fire behavior and increase response times during an often life-critical incident.
In recent years, places like Marsden Moor and Ilkley Moor have been battered by increasingly dramatic waves of wildfires. The service’s use of all-terrain vehicles brings firefighters deeper into environments they would typically struggle to reach. They’ve implemented specialized lightweight personal protective equipment in support of extended length operations. This gear enables their personnel to be both safe and more efficient when operating in these dangerous conditions.
Speaking at our recent Boiling Point conference in Birmingham, Dr Kamran Mahroof explained about some new trials taking place to hotspot best-practice wildfire management. He pointed to the need for using innovative technologies to improve real-time situational awareness for the nation’s first responders. The 6G-VERSUS research project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Innovation Action programme. It seeks to have a real impact on this incredibly meaningful effort.
The 6G-VERSUS project aims to create a hybrid system of robotic canine and aerial drones. This innovative new system will help deliver real-time situational awareness during fast-moving wildfires, allowing first responders to make mission-critical decisions in minutes rather than hours. Dr Konstantinos Katsaros and Dr Lazaros Karagiannidis from the Institute of Communication and Computer Systems (ICCS) will lead the project’s pilot next year. They are looking to lead the pack!
The West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service might be unfamiliar with this particular technology, for example. There is amazing promise for partnership! The service can get in touch with the University of Bradford’s team developing the 6G-VERSUS project, primarily because they see the potential benefits and value these innovations would add to their business.
The use of leading-edge technologies alongside new firefighting strategy and tactics represents an exciting development, and a deeper commitment to improving public safety and environmental stewardship. By leveraging cutting-edge tools and resources, the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service aims to mitigate the impact of wildfires and ensure a swift response to future incidents.