Google's FireSat: AI-Powered Satellite Constellation Launches to Revolutionize Wildfire Detection

Google's first satellite for detecting wildfires is now in orbit

The wildfires that devastated Los Angeles in January are estimated to have caused more than $250 billion in damages The first satellite in a constellation designed specifically to locate wildfires early and precisely anywhere on the planet has now reached Earth's orbit, and it could forever change how we tackle unplanned infernos. The FireSat constellation, which will consist of more than 50 satellites when it goes live, is the first of its kind that's purpose-built to detect and track fires. It's an initiative launched by nonprofit Earth Fire Alliance, which includes Google and Silicon Valley-based space services startup Muon Space, among others. According to Google, current satellite systems rely on low-resolution imagery and cover a particular area only once every 12 hours to spot significantly large wildfires spanning a couple of acres. FireSat, on the other hand, will be able to detect wildfires as small as 270 sq ft (25 sq m) - the size of a classroom - and deliver high-resolution visual updates every 20 minutes. The FireSat project has only been in the works for less than a year and a half. The satellites are fitted with custom six-band multispectral infrared cameras, designed to capture imagery suitable for machine learning algorithms to accurately identify wildfires - differentiating them from misleading objects like smokestacks. These algorithms look at an image from a particular location, and compare it with the last 1,000 times it was captured by the satellite's camera to determine if what it's seeing is indeed a wildfire. AI technology in the FireSat system also helps predict how a fire might spread; that can help firefighters make better decisions about how to control the flames safely and effectively. This could go a long way towards preventing the immense destruction of forest habitats and urban areas, and the displacement of residents caused by wildfires each year. For reference, the deadly wildfires that raged across Los Angeles in January were estimated to have cuased more than $250 billion in damages. Muon is currently developing three more satellites, which are set to launch next year. The entire constellation should be in orbit by 2030.

Google's new satellite network can help spot wildfires

The first FireSat satellite has launched and made a connection with Earth. The FireSat system is a collaborative effort between Google Research, Muon Space, Earth Fire Alliance, Moore Foundation, and numerous other agencies, and it has a single, deceptively simple purpose: to detect wildfires before they become too hard to contain and control. Wildfires have been a constant problem for agencies. Early detection is vital, but fires can often start in subtle ways; by the time anyone notices the growing blaze, it's too late to stop. Just take the wildfires in Los Angeles earlier this year as an example. Apps have been created to crowdsource fire detection, and the traditional method of watching for wildfires is through satellite imagery. Recommended Videos However, smoke, debris, and other obstacles make satellite imagery unreliable at best. It is often only updated every 12 hours, too. FireSat builds on existing infrastructure to create what its team calls a "wildfire boundary map." This system will enable people to view wildfires through services like Google Maps. FireSat utilizes AI to search for fires. The way it works is by comparing a current image of a given location with previous imagery. "Differentiating between real fires and random 'noise' in the environment was a challenge," Chris Van Arsdale, co-founder of FireSat, says. "We had to determine where to draw the line between what is a real fire versus things like sensor issues or misaligned pixels." The new model is particularly effective. Previous detection methods often only picked up on wildfires after they were a few acres in size, but FireSat is quite a bit more capable. Erica Brand, one of the project managers for FireSat, gave this example. "One of our team members lit a barbecue and a firepit in his backyard so we could fly the plane over and test it. And the sensors were able to pick it up." FireSat is still several years away from being fully functional, but the team believes it will be able to accomplish things no wildfire detection system has been able to before. According to Google, the full system will be able to detect a wildfire about the size of a classroom within 20 minutes. This will give response teams significantly more time to contain the blaze before it spreads to residential and commercial areas.

The first FireSat satellite has launched to help detect smaller wildfires earlier.

The first satellite for the FireSat constellation officially made contact with Earth. This satellite is the first of more than 50 in a first-of-its-kind constellation designed to use AI to detect and track wildfires as small as a classroom (roughly 5x5 meters). It launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California aboard SpaceX's Transporter-13 mission. Currently, many wildfire authorities depend on satellite imagery that's low-resolution or only updated a few times a day. FireSat will advance the science and practice of fighting wildfires by providing high-resolution imagery updated globally every 20 minutes, helping emergency responders catch wildfires before they become destructive. FireSat is a collaboration between Google Research, Muon Space, Earth Fire Alliance, Moore Foundation, wildfire authorities and others. Funding for the constellation's first satellites comes in part from Google.org, which has provided $13 million through the AI Collaborative: Wildfires, an initiative to harness AI's potential in reducing the economic, humanitarian and environmental damages from catastrophic wildfires.

FireSat satellite launches to enhance wildfire detection By Investing.com

Investing.com -- Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) has announced the successful launch and communication with Earth of the first FireSat satellite, which is part of a larger constellation designed to detect and track wildfires. The satellite is the first of over 50 planned to be part of this unique constellation, which will utilize AI to identify fires as small as a classroom, approximately 5x5 meters. The FireSat satellite was launched from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California as part of SpaceX's Transporter-13 mission. This marks a significant advancement in wildfire detection technology, as many wildfire authorities currently rely on low-resolution satellite imagery that's updated only a few times per day. The new FireSat constellation aims to provide high-resolution imagery updated globally every 20 minutes. This advancement will greatly assist emergency responders in catching wildfires before they can cause significant damage. The FireSat project is a collaborative effort involving Google Research, Muon Space, the Earth Fire Alliance, the Moore Foundation, wildfire authorities, and others. Google.org has contributed $13 million towards the funding of the initial satellites as part of the AI Collaborative: Wildfires initiative. This initiative is designed to harness the potential of AI to reduce the economic, humanitarian, and environmental damages caused by catastrophic wildfires.