IoT – hot on the heels of forest fires

Climate change is a major contributor to the increased frequency and severity of forest fires. Rising global temperatures, combined with dryer conditions, exponentially increase the risk of fires starting and spreading. To exacerbate matters further, forest fires release large amounts of carbon into the atmosphere, and this continues to contribute to global warming. In fact, wildfires cause up to 20% of global CO2 emissions – this is practically the same amount of CO2 that is emitted by the world’s entire traffic including cars, aeroplanes and ships combined (https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-46212844).  There’s no question therefore that forest fires leave major ecological impacts on our planet – not only do they affect wildlife habitats but alter entire ecosystems. They also contribute significantly to soil erosion which negatively impacts water quality and land fertility.

Whilst controlling forest fires and mitigating the effects of climate change requires a multi-faceted approach and strategies, it is made significantly easier by using smart and technological innovation that detects CO2 and temperature levels.

Traditionally, detecting forest fires presented several challenges. The remote locations where such fires tend to occur make it difficult to locate the fire in the first place. Once located, accessing the area is usually time-consuming, requires lots of personnel, and the treacherous navigation of dangerous landscapes.  Weather conditions such as high winds, heavy rain, or thick smoke make conditions even worse and sometimes even distinguishing between a false alarm and an actual fire can distract firefighters from a real emergency.

Melita.io is now providing an Internet of Things (IoT) solution alternative which has proven to be highly effective in detecting forest fires early enough to avoid devastation. This machine-to-machine IoT solution uses smart sensors and connected devices to monitor and detect fires in real time. Battery powered smoke detectors, temperature sensors, are strategically placed throughout a forest to collect and transmit real-time data to a cloud-based platform. Since most fires occur in uninhabited areas internet connections are not readily available so these sensors are designed to communicate via melita.io’s combination of LoRaWAN and SIM based cellular networks.

IoT detectors can help identify and manage wildfires by detecting temperature, moisture levels, and wind direction even from the most remote areas around the world. The data is then transmitted to a central control centre, via melita.io’s LoRaWAN gateway where it is then analysed to detect potential fires in real time. If a fire is detected, an alert is sent to firefighting personnel, allowing them to respond quickly and effectively. This IoT solution can also provide valuable information such as the location, size, and spread of the fire, helping firefighters to better plan their response.

By detecting a fire early this smart IOT solution prevents the rapid spread of fires, reducing the damage to ecosystems and communities. IoT sensors are strategically spaced to provide exhaustive coverage and their highly accurate readings provide reliable data for optimal analysis.

Contact us today to learn how melita.io can help your business with the Internet of Things,

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