Digital Imaging and Remote Sensing Laboratory R.I.TR.I.TR.I.TR.I.T R.I.TR.I.TR.I.TR.I.T A low-cost weather/situation monitor for wildland firefighter safety Jason Faulring Jason Faulring Robert Kremens Rochester Institute of Technology Colin Hardy USDA Rocky Mountain Research Station Firelab

Digital Imaging and Remote Sensing Laboratory R.I.TR.I.TR.I.TR.I.T R.I.TR.I.TR.I.TR.I.T The weather/situation monitor came out of the NASA funded FIRES program that has broad scientific goals

Digital Imaging and Remote Sensing Laboratory R.I.TR.I.TR.I.TR.I.T R.I.TR.I.TR.I.TR.I.T Several generations of fire monitoring devices have been built or are being designed Generation I: ‘Autonomous Fire Detector’ – fire detection and position location in a compact inexpensive package as a fire alarm. Radio voice reporting of alarm condition.Generation I: ‘Autonomous Fire Detector’ – fire detection and position location in a compact inexpensive package as a fire alarm. Radio voice reporting of alarm condition. Generation II: Data logger for ground temperature measurements, fire radiant flux and weather parameters (wind speed, wind direction, humidity, temperature)Generation II: Data logger for ground temperature measurements, fire radiant flux and weather parameters (wind speed, wind direction, humidity, temperature) Generation III: Radio linked data as in Gen II plus RF video channel (NIR or visible), incident light (9 total data channels plus video) (Under development, to be deployed Spring 2004)Generation III: Radio linked data as in Gen II plus RF video channel (NIR or visible), incident light (9 total data channels plus video) (Under development, to be deployed Spring 2004)

Digital Imaging and Remote Sensing Laboratory R.I.TR.I.TR.I.TR.I.T R.I.TR.I.TR.I.TR.I.T Generation 1 devices were tested fully but not deployed on wildland / prescribed fires Unit is GPS aware so that it may be deployed anywhereUnit is GPS aware so that it may be deployed anywhere Integral radio transmitter with voice synthesizer transmits alert on detection of fireIntegral radio transmitter with voice synthesizer transmits alert on detection of fire Thermistor used to detect rapid temperature riseThermistor used to detect rapid temperature rise Proof of concept device, never deployed in an actual situationProof of concept device, never deployed in an actual situation Minimal space, power and price optimizationsMinimal space, power and price optimizations

Digital Imaging and Remote Sensing Laboratory R.I.TR.I.TR.I.TR.I.T R.I.TR.I.TR.I.TR.I.T Generation II devices have been deployed successfully on fires This unit combines and extends unique features and capabilities of several very expensive units now used by the FS: Remote weather station(RAWS): ~$12,000 Remote weather station(RAWS): ~$12,000 IR radiometers: $1500 eachIR radiometers: $1500 each Alarm/sentry – not availableAlarm/sentry – not available Radio reporting of data: not availableRadio reporting of data: not available Low cost: ~$300 vs ~ >>$10,000 for commercial unitsLow cost: ~$300 vs ~ >>$10,000 for commercial units Can be considered expendableCan be considered expendable

Digital Imaging and Remote Sensing Laboratory R.I.TR.I.TR.I.TR.I.T R.I.TR.I.TR.I.TR.I.T In-fire weather is critical to modeling efforts and firefighter safety Under $250 so burn-over is OK Measures: Wind Speed, direction Relative humidity Air temperature Ground/fuel temperature Can record, transmit data via voice or data link, or transmit alarms on ‘lookout’ conditions. Low cost allows a large number (~10) of weather locations to be measured A- $70 (unit qty.) wind speed/direction sending head B – Data acquisition box (RH, 4 ground temperatures) B – Data acquisition box (RH, 4 ground temperatures) Transmitter unit mounts on weather ‘pole’ Transmitter unit mounts on weather ‘pole’

Digital Imaging and Remote Sensing Laboratory R.I.TR.I.TR.I.TR.I.T R.I.TR.I.TR.I.TR.I.T Generation III devices will have full radio TX/RX capability and will be even less expensive and more compact Major revision and change in architectureMajor revision and change in architecture Goal: optimize size, power, price and usabilityGoal: optimize size, power, price and usability Move to a larger, more flexible processor with more featuresMove to a larger, more flexible processor with more features New development environment speeds prototyping & enhances functionalityNew development environment speeds prototyping & enhances functionality Upgraded analog signal processing daughter board in productionUpgraded analog signal processing daughter board in production New motherboard design under way, should be in production in the Spring of 2004New motherboard design under way, should be in production in the Spring of 2004

Digital Imaging and Remote Sensing Laboratory R.I.TR.I.TR.I.TR.I.T R.I.TR.I.TR.I.TR.I.T Generation III description / block diagram / costs Utilizing an Atmel ATMEGA128: cheaper (~$16), more I/O & more memoryUtilizing an Atmel ATMEGA128: cheaper (~$16), more I/O & more memory Chipcon CC1000 fully programmable radio & modem: ~$5.00 per part and with a $20 amplifier high power links can be establishedChipcon CC1000 fully programmable radio & modem: ~$5.00 per part and with a $20 amplifier high power links can be established Moving to compact flash based storage: more storage, cheaper & universally accepted and usedMoving to compact flash based storage: more storage, cheaper & universally accepted and used Basic to assembler compiler is feature rich for rapidly integrating processor with just about any sensor imaginableBasic to assembler compiler is feature rich for rapidly integrating processor with just about any sensor imaginable

Digital Imaging and Remote Sensing Laboratory R.I.TR.I.TR.I.TR.I.T R.I.TR.I.TR.I.TR.I.T We obtained data at two fires this summer using our weather/situation monitors (Gen II) Cooney Ridge Complex fire, Montana: wildfire ~27,000 acresCooney Ridge Complex fire, Montana: wildfire ~27,000 acres –Joint experiments with USMC RMSC, UM, UI, others. –Measured weather and thermal flux data –Continuous over flights with ‘FireMapper’ camera –Ground base MWIR using CE camera system –Ecological, biological and plot survey performed by RMSC and UI –Post burn evaluation by UI and USFS Tenderfoot Research Forest, Lewis and Clark NF: prescribed burn ~ 100 acresTenderfoot Research Forest, Lewis and Clark NF: prescribed burn ~ 100 acres –AS ABOVE

Digital Imaging and Remote Sensing Laboratory R.I.TR.I.TR.I.TR.I.T R.I.TR.I.TR.I.TR.I.T We measured the surface thermal flux and kinetic temperature in addition to fire weather parameters Used thermopile to measure surface flux – for our remote sensing effortsUsed thermopile to measure surface flux – for our remote sensing efforts –Basically a disposable device (~$60) Data recorded by loggerData recorded by logger Thermocouples previously deployed at Albany Pine Bush TNC prescribed burnThermocouples previously deployed at Albany Pine Bush TNC prescribed burn Wind speed, direction using inexpensive weather vane on lightweight tripodWind speed, direction using inexpensive weather vane on lightweight tripod RH/Temperature sensor – MUCH better than Kestral (compared to sling hygrometer)RH/Temperature sensor – MUCH better than Kestral (compared to sling hygrometer)

Digital Imaging and Remote Sensing Laboratory R.I.TR.I.TR.I.TR.I.T R.I.TR.I.TR.I.TR.I.T We finally deployed on the Cooney ridge fire on August 30. Almost all the desired experiments were performed:Almost all the desired experiments were performed: –Continuous aerial over flights (~5 minute period for 3 hours) –In-fire Weather (humidity, wind speed, wind direction, air temp, ground surface temperature, thermal flux (0.5 – 10 mm integrated) at 20 second sampling rate –Fire videography using ‘witness markers’ (RMSC) –Total radiant and total thermal flux (RMSC) –Plot characteristics, before and after fire: »Fuel loading »Plant types and populations »Fuel consumption »Fuel moisture and size distribution »Georeferencing –Ground-mounted MWIR camera with still exposures (15 second sample rate) and video

Digital Imaging and Remote Sensing Laboratory R.I.TR.I.TR.I.TR.I.T R.I.TR.I.TR.I.TR.I.T We are continuing development of relevant technology for fire detection, fire ecology and fire management Enhanced capability and radio transmission upgradesEnhanced capability and radio transmission upgrades Develop networking capabilities amongst multiple unitsDevelop networking capabilities amongst multiple units Enhanced sensor capabilityEnhanced sensor capability –Incident light, multi-band flux Stride towards low power consumption for enhanced battery lifeStride towards low power consumption for enhanced battery life Low cost for statistical relevanceLow cost for statistical relevance –Up to 50 units deployed at a single fire (NSF funding, Coen, Vodacek, et al)