How can remote sensing and GIS help monitor forest fire risk and vulnerability?

Remote sensing allows for large-scale, real-time observation of wildfires. Thermal infrared sensors are the most widely used technologies for fire detection. There are two prominent thermal bands to consider: * Mid-wave infrared (MWIR) sensors (3.9µm) allow us to measure high temperatures, e.g., the fire front. * Long-wave infrared (LWIR) sensors (8-12µm) enable ambient temperature detection. The LWIR band reduces false positives of MWIR fire detections and can also be very helpful in detecting low-temperature fires.

The area which is vulnerable to forest fires must be monitored continuously by using remote sensing objects. Sensor-based drones and satellites are very useful for this purpose as it doesn't require human presence in the field which reduces the risk.

Concordo plenamente. O sensoriamento remoto utiliza tecnologias como satélites e drones para adquirir dados sem contato direto. Esses sistemas captam imagens e sinais, medindo várias formas de radiação eletromagnética, como infravermelho e radar. Na Planet, soluções como temperatura do solo e volume de água no solo são extraídas de imagens de satélite. Isso permite monitorar vegetação, umidade, atividades de fogo e fumaça de forma eficiente e abrangente, oferecendo insights valiosos para gestão ambiental e agrícola.

We must consider systems which can process raster data alongside vector data at scale and maintain a historical log of those datasets. It is critical not just to process the point in time snapshot but to also compare it with the historical perspective to assess the change across the different environmental factors.

GIS is a very reliable process to store and use the data for future referencing or historical examination. For instance, adding layers of images collected at different times of the event to assess the impact of the forest fire along with the direction of spread and rate of spread of fire. These assessments play a crucial role in mitigation and rescue plans

Um sistema de informação geográfica (GIS) é essencial para armazenar, analisar e visualizar dados espaciais, incluindo imagens de satélite, com o software da ESRI sendo um ponto central nesse processo ou por exemplo QGIS. O GIS manipula informações geográficas como coordenadas e limites, integrando diversas fontes de dados para executar funções como sobreposição e buffering. Combinando imagens de sensoriamento remoto e outros dados geoespaciais, o GIS permite análises detalhadas e a geração de insights cruciais para planejamento urbano, gestão ambiental e tomada de decisões estratégicas.

After a fire, GIS analyzes the extent of damage, helping in recovery and restoration efforts by identifying areas needing immediate attention.GIS also overlays remote sensing data with other datasets (e.g., population density, infrastructure, biodiversity) to assess the vulnerability of different areas to fire, identifying the most at-risk zones. The Normalized Burn Ratio (NBR) measures burn severity by comparing pre- and post-fire reflectance in near-infrared and shortwave-infrared bands, identifying areas most affected by fire.

A avaliação de risco de incêndio depende de diversos fatores como combustível, clima e topografia. O sensoriamento remoto, incluindo imagens de satélite que medem o NDVI, é crucial nesse processo, fornecendo dados sobre a saúde da vegetação. Integrando esses dados com o software GIS, como o da ESRI ou QGIS, é possível criar mapas detalhados de risco de incêndio. Esses mapas ajudam a identificar áreas com diferentes níveis de risco, facilitando o planejamento de prevenção e resposta a incêndios.

Satellite-based wildfire detection and mapping are becoming increasingly important. Already today, remote areas are trusting space data for situational awareness and early detection. With the upcoming thermal-infrared sensing constellations, real-time in-space edge computing, and AI, we are heading towards a space-based live map with accurate wildfire perimeters and spread predictions.

A wide range of technologies needs to be combined to provide accurate and timely data. Technology providers of ground-based smoke sensors, lightning-strike sensors, camera drones, aircraft, LEO satellites, and GEO satellites need to work together to meet the specific needs of each location.