New AI Satellites Can Spot a Wildfire the Size of a Bonfire

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is infiltrating nearly all areas of life. New satellites are now pairing with this technology to detect wildfires, helping fire crews to get a head start on containing the blazes. Here is a look into how this innovative technology works.

SpaceX Launches Fire-Detecting Satellites

It has been another brutal wildfire season in the West, with the peak of the activity still likely to come in some areas. As the impacts of climate change become more concerning, scientists and engineers are working to devise ways to detect fires earlier so that lives and property can be saved.

When it comes to detecting and fighting wildfires, time is of the essence. A new strategy to shorten this crucial timeline was launched in July when a SpaceX rocket sent three FireSat satellites into orbit. The initial trio is the first of what is to be 50 satellites engineered to spot wildfires from space.

The current satellites can detect large wildfires; however, they do not have the capabilities to locate smaller fires. The scientists working on FireSat hope to change that, stating that this latest network can detect fires as small as a bonfire. In addition, the FireSat network is designed to scan every location on the planet every 20 minutes, spotting fires before they have a chance to get out of control.

FireSat satellites use infrared sensors paired with AI technology to search for heat that could be indicative of a brewing wildfire. The network compares the new images with earlier ones to determine if a message should be sent to emergency responders.