Vernon, B.C. taking part in early wildfire detection research
Global News
During the two-year pilot project, SenseNet Inc. is expected to install a network of 50-100 sensors to create a type of fire detection belt around the city.
The smoky conditions created by the 2017 and 2018 fire seasons in B.C. prompted a Vancouver entrepreneur to wonder why more wasn’t being done to detect wildfires early before they blew up.
Now Hamed Noori’s business SenseNet Inc. is trialing technology that aims to do just that and will be partnering with the City of Vernon on a two-year pilot project.
Vernon’s fire chief is excited to be part of a pilot project that will see dozens of sensors for early wildfire detection installed around the city.
Right now officials mainly rely on people spotting fires.
“The reliability depends on people to see it, to detect it and then to do the right things. On the other end of the spectrum we have satellite imagery and some very expensive options, but this looks like it could be a very practical affordable way to blanket a community,” said Vernon fire chief David Lind.
During the two-year pilot project SenseNet Inc. is expected to install a network of 50-100 sensors to create a type of fire detection belt around the city.
The sensors collect data in real time about environmental conditions and an algorithm processes the data to look for anomalies that might indicate a fire.
“For example, increasing temperature, decreasing humidity, increasing CO, CO2 levels or abrupt changes in the NO2 level or methane levels,” explained Shahab Bahrami, the company’s chief technology officer.