The recent wildfires in California showed how hard it is for firefighters and emergency teams to prepare for and fight big fires.
Now, a research team in Australia has created a powerful AI tool to help. This tool uses weather data and artificial intelligence to predict wildfires faster and more accurately. Their study was published in the International Journal of Wildland Fire, and the results look very promising.
The AI model improved predictions by 47% compared to the older Forest Fire Danger Index. It does this by using past wildfire data from Queensland and checking the weather every 30 minutes.
“Getting fast and accurate fire danger warnings helps us prepare and respond better,” said Dr. Alberto Ardid, the study’s lead researcher. “Weather can change quickly, and that can lead to sudden fires.”
One big advantage of the model is that it uses weather data that is already available, so it’s cheaper and easier for communities to use. It doesn’t need any new or expensive equipment.
The tool’s quick weather updates help track changing conditions that might cause fires. That means people can get alerts sooner, which gives more time to act.
With hotter temperatures and more extreme weather happening around the world, wildfires are becoming more common. Human actions cause most of these fires—about 85–90%, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Other issues like invasive plants can also make fires worse.
Australia knows this problem well, with recent fires damaging places like the Grampians winemaking area. Events in California are also affecting insurance costs in Australia, especially in high-risk fire areas.
When it’s too late to stop a fire from starting, having extra time to evacuate or plan can save lives. A teenager in California even created an AI wildfire sensor that helped local officials.
This new AI system from Australia could do the same. It could help firefighters plan better, use their resources wisely, and keep people safe.
“This improved prediction could save lives and reduce harm to communities and nature,” said Dr. Andres Valencia-Correa, another researcher on the team.
Source: thecooldown
