A California-focused wildfire detection tool has been named one of Time Magazine’s “Best Inventions” of 2023. The tool uses artificial intelligence along with a vast network of cameras and high-resolution terrain mapping to detect fire starts just after ignition by recognizing smoke. This project is the result of a collaboration between the University of California’s ALERTCalifornia program, Cal Fire and industry partner “DigitalPath.” Andy Emerick, the Cal Fire assistant chief for Northern Region Intel, said this technology has made a difference a number of times during the 2023 wildfire season. “The earlier we can stop fires, the more we can keep the destruction to an acceptable level. And I think this program has helped do that so far,” Emerick said.Emerick specifically cited a fire that started in the early morning hours of Sept. 11 near a populated part of Grass Valley in Nevada County. He said that by the time a 911 call came in, a crew was already at the fire site, alerted by the AI tool’s detection system.“We’re seeing that it’s beating 911 and reports from passersby 20-25% of the time, which is a pretty incredible stat if you think about it,” Emerick said.Early detection is the most visible benefit of the AI tool, but Emerick said the data gathered for the project is helping decision-makers at all stages of responding to fires.Neal Driscoll is the director of the ALERTCalifornia program at UC San Diego. Driscoll and his team have been building the framework for their AI tool since 2017. “AI is only as good as the data you feed it, and the more high-quality data you feed it, the better it is,” said Driscoll, noting that ALERTCalifornia has 1,060 cameras up and down the state trained on various wildland areas. All of the information produced by ALERTCalifornia’s AI tool is available to the public. Driscoll said that open access availability is designed to help not only firefighters but also people living in high-risk fire zones. “Anyone who has been impacted by fire, the scar doesn’t go away. Our team is out there because they’ve all been impacted on some level, and they want to give back to the public and give back to the firefighters,” Driscoll said.When asked about being recognized by Time Magazine, Driscoll began his response with one word: “humbled.””The team works really hard. Everyone is all in,” Driscoll said.
A California-focused wildfire detection tool has been named one of Time Magazine’s “Best Inventions” of 2023.
The tool uses artificial intelligence along with a vast network of cameras and high-resolution terrain mapping to detect fire starts just after ignition by recognizing smoke.
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This project is the result of a collaboration between the University of California’s ALERTCalifornia program, Cal Fire and industry partner “DigitalPath.”
Andy Emerick, the Cal Fire assistant chief for Northern Region Intel, said this technology has made a difference a number of times during the 2023 wildfire season.
“The earlier we can stop fires, the more we can keep the destruction to an acceptable level. And I think this program has helped do that so far,” Emerick said.
Emerick specifically cited a fire that started in the early morning hours of Sept. 11 near a populated part of Grass Valley in Nevada County. He said that by the time a 911 call came in, a crew was already at the fire site, alerted by the AI tool’s detection system.
“We’re seeing that it’s beating 911 and reports from passersby 20-25% of the time, which is a pretty incredible stat if you think about it,” Emerick said.
Early detection is the most visible benefit of the AI tool, but Emerick said the data gathered for the project is helping decision-makers at all stages of responding to fires.
Neal Driscoll is the director of the ALERTCalifornia program at UC San Diego. Driscoll and his team have been building the framework for their AI tool since 2017.
“AI is only as good as the data you feed it, and the more high-quality data you feed it, the better it is,” said Driscoll, noting that ALERTCalifornia has 1,060 cameras up and down the state trained on various wildland areas.
All of the information produced by ALERTCalifornia’s AI tool is available to the public. Driscoll said that open access availability is designed to help not only firefighters but also people living in high-risk fire zones.
“Anyone who has been impacted by fire, the scar doesn’t go away. Our team is out there because they’ve all been impacted on some level, and they want to give back to the public and give back to the firefighters,” Driscoll said.
When asked about being recognized by Time Magazine, Driscoll began his response with one word: “humbled.”
“The team works really hard. Everyone is all in,” Driscoll said.