On 5/7/2008 1:18 AM, Bob La Quey wrote:
I assert that we could, with quite realizable physical systems, detect
most of the fires in SoCal within a few minutes of their beginning. I
am quite willing, even eager, to discuss how in this forum for all to
criticize.
Bob, what systems do you envision?
The forest service and CDF used to have a reasonable system of fire
lookouts on local mountain peaks, and often they were the first to
report a fire. These were largely abandoned and some of the structures
torn down years ago. The only one I know of still in operation in San
Diego County is on Los Pinos near Lake Morena. These used to be staffed
by paid personnel; today I think some are volunteers.
During daylight most of what lookouts detect is smoke, not flames. It's
unlikely that land-based infrared sensors would detect many small fires,
they won't see flames due to terrain and trees. Smoke must be
distinguished against a variety of backgrounds -- sky, clouds, rocky
hills, dry meadows, etc. Software to distinguish smoke from clouds
sounds tough. Humans have a hard time with this one, and it's especially
needed during thunderstorms. There's also the problem of knowing where
the origin of the smoke is when you see some, as it's often diffuse and
not in a vertical column. Smoke color is important to distinguish heavy
equipment exhaust and fireplaces, as is knowing whether the smoke is
building or dying down. Given today's technology I suspect this is
better done by humans.
There are lightening detection systems in place. Putting up cameras with
good lenses on mountaintops might do some good.
There are some mountaintop cameras, but not for fire detection.
http://hpwren.ucsd.edu/cameras/
Satellite-based systems might do better. See
http://www.firedetect.noaa.gov/viewer.htm
This doesn't appear to have the required resolution, but maybe it's a start.
Karl
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