When it burns, it's too late. In order for the fire to be extinguished effectively, extinguishing must be started within 25 minutes of its origin. After this time, the fire will begin to spread exponentially, it cannot be stopped, only limited.
The key to maximum damage prevention is timely detection of fire at the time of its origin.
Forest Fires
Supervision Even In Hard-To-Reach Places
We usually install the patented optical sensors at already built sights, mostly towers of telecommunication operators, so that we can monitor the space above the treetops. Depending on the geomorphological composition of the monitored area in the conditions of the Czech Republic and Slovakia, each sensor detects a fire occurring at distances of at least 15 km, but usually up to 25 km, meaning it covers an area of 700-2000 km2.
The sensors communicate with each other and partially overlap to ensure detection of the entire area of interest under all circumstances.
Effective Combination
Sensors on the towers communicate with the operator at the headquarters and with the emergency services
in real time. When a threat is detected, they immediately send a signal.
The Fire Does Not Stop At The Border Of Your Forest...
The border of the forest is only an illusory line. Where the regions of two areas or countries are adjacent to each other, it is possible to link the systems in such a way as to create a comprehensive protection.
What if the terrain is too difficult and the topography is against us? Technology and AI solve that.
The system is not based on infrared imaging or CCTV cameras. Both named technologies are limited by their physical capabilities to detection distances of around 7 km and can only detect real fire, which is from the point of view of the need for fire brigades to arrive no later than 25 minutes late. FireWatch works on the basis of detecting smoke that is present even before a fire breaks out, which in practice means that the system informs about the occurrence of a fire within 3-6 minutes.
Fully integrated artificial intelligence ensures a reduction in the number of so-called False Positive Alarms up to a value of 2%, thanks to which the operator can manage up to 10 sensors without problems.
That gives us the opportunity to "catch" fires in time with minimal operating costs even in areas where other systems would not be able to cover hard-to-reach places. A typical example is The Czech Switzerland National Park.
Man & Tech Hand In Hand
Local knowledge is still a key ingredient. The sensors pick up traces of smoke and the operator uses the cameras to distinguish whether it is an unreported potential fire or the first smoke from a chimney in a populated area.
The risk of errors is practically excluded.
For What?
Did you know that 30-50 million ha of forests burn every year?
