Aerial intelligence in wildfire management is a familiar concept. However, the advent of unmanned flight has opened new possibilities. Unlike manned aircraft, drones can still operate under conditions of thick smoke, providing vital real-time situational awareness to ground crews.
Using drones in wildfire management has proven to be cost-efficient and safe. As the technology continues to evolve, UAVs are expected to become even more integral to the strategies used to combat wildfires.
Increasing Acceptance
The use of drones in wildfire management has evolved significantly since the inception of the UAS program in 2015. Each year, incident management teams increasingly integrate drone capabilities into their strategies.
Communication between the UAS crew and firefighters on the ground is bi-directional. The drone can identify heat in an area and relay this information to the ground crew. Conversely, the ground crew can request drone assistance to explore places they suspect might be active.
Infrared Technology: Seeing Through the Smoke
The infrared technology on drone cameras has revolutionized wildfire surveillance. It allows drone operators to see more than ever, providing a second set of eyes and a different vantage point. This technology has been instrumental in enhancing safety and informing tactical decisions.
Since the cameras can detect heat and hot spots, incident management teams can track the fire’s progress. It also helps them find areas they may have missed when surveying from the ground. In addition, infrared technology has the potential to locate water sources and assess damage more accurately.
Air Safety: Air Traffic Control for Drones
During wildfire operations, a designated air traffic controller on the ground coordinates drones and firefighting airplanes sharing the same airspace. This ensures that the aircraft can operate safely and comply with safety regulations.
Airspace management is key for drone operations and is vital to the successful use of drones in wildfire containment. It allows pilots to avoid dangerous conditions while giving them more control over their environment. In addition, air traffic controllers can monitor multiple aircraft simultaneously for a more comprehensive activity overview.
The Safety Potential of Unmanned Flight
Spot Fires: The Silent Threat
Spot fires occur when embers from the primary fire are carried by wind to new locations, igniting fresh fires. These fires are notoriously hard to identify due to their small size, diminished visibility due to smoke, and their occurrence in hard-to-reach places.
However, drones are transforming this labor-intensive process. With UAVs, fire managers and incident management teams can scan large areas and identify spot fires up to about a mile from the primary fire. This information allows firefighters to suppress new fires before they grow.
Fighting Fire with Fire: Aerial Ignition Operations
Interestingly, the Forest Service uses a counterintuitive method to manage wildfires. They intentionally start fires to burn vegetation that would otherwise fuel wildfires. These are known as prescribed burns or back burns.
Aerial ignition operations involve using drones to start these controlled burns. Drones are equipped with a payload of combustible material that is dropped to start a controlled burn, creating fire containment lines.
By controlling the intensity and manipulation of the fire, drones assist in reducing the risk to human life and property.
The Environmental Impact of Drone Firefighting
Drones not only help contain wildfires but also help preserve the landscape. By controlling the reach and direction of wildfires, the Forest Service can minimize the environmental impacts of these massive fires. Drone firefighting can help reduce fuel loads, preserve the habitat of endangered species, and help promote natural regeneration. In addition, drones can reduce the use of water and chemical retardants in fighting wildfires.
Overall, drone firefighting is a safer, more effective way to manage wildfires and protect nature from destruction. With further development, drones could reduce or eliminate many of the daily risks that wildland firefighters face.
Reforestation: Planting Seeds for the Future
Once a wildfire has been extinguished, drones can also play a role in reforestation. Companies such as DroneSeed and Dendra Systems use large quad-copter drones that fly in swarms to spread seeds for new trees. This activity accelerates the reforestation timeline, helping to restore fire-ravaged forests to health as quickly as possible.
Conclusion: A New Era in Wildfire Management
As we look ahead, the stakes have never been higher for effective wildfire management. With the severity and frequency of wildfires rising and more people living in areas prone to such disasters, the need for advanced firefighting techniques and technology is more critical than ever. By continuing to invest in and develop these tools and methodologies, we can look forward to a future where wildfires are managed more effectively, efficiently, and proactively.
