USC computer scientists developed a new “FireLoc” wildfire mapping system using mobile phones. This is a pioneering leap into detecting wildfires that could effectively reduce response times. In contrast, traditional methods of detection by satellites and drones are slow, costly, and not even easily accessible. Firefighters have to rely on human observation. FireLoc hopes to do this by turning everyday cellular phones into fast wildfire sensors using relatively cheap hardware mounted on properties that could be at risk of wildfires.
Low-cost smartphones running basic cameras and sensor suites by USC PhD student Xiao Fu and team position their devices in high-risk areas; they sense the onset of fire often in seconds by analyzing images and data running through advanced computer models. In testing, FireLoc detected fires up to 3,000 feet away and mapped the conflagrations within 180 feet of their origin, outperforming traditional methods. Each device merely needs a power source and internet connection, making it an accessible solution for residents and businesses on the fringes of fire-prone wilderness.
Inside the heart of FireLoc, is the core concept of crowdsourcing; many gadgets at other locations feed back real-time data about possible fires. Once many cameras pick up smoke or fire, that data is fed into a cloud server where digital models and algorithms line up and interpret the image. This software then yields an exact location for emergency responders and increases the accuracy and speed in which wildfires are dealt with.
The USC team simulated FireLoc using the 2019 Getty Fire scenario and found just four cameras sufficient to detect more than 40% of the fires in the target area. The system’s scalability makes it possible to adjust specifically to regions by optimizing camera placement to maximize coverage. With a potential saving of lives and property, FireLoc looks like a transformative tool in the management of wildfires, especially at wildland-urban interfaces like those in Southern California.
When it was still in the testing stage, FireLoc marked a daring move toward sustainable co-existence with an extreme climate. Passionate about environmental conservation, Fu notes that “FireLoc envisions a future of more effective wildfire responses.” With its deployment, the system may well allow community-wide participation in wildfire monitoring and bolster the ability to protect natural landscapes against rising climate threats.