Wildfire Thermal Detection Instrument Development

Planet Labs PBC (Planet) in collaboration with NASA Ames and JPL proposes to conduct a study to mature a low cost mass producible space-based fire detection thermal Earth observation imager. This study is to mature a space-based fire detection instrument as part of the active fire stage of the wildfire lifecycle. The study specifically focuses on validating the approach of leveraging a SWIR and/or MWIR thermal camera to perform real time fire detection from space. By validating the instrument and sensing concept of operations, the study will investigate the case for a low-cost proliferated LEO constellation approach to wildfire detection, capable of providing a 15-minute detection cadence across the continental US. Planet believes this thermal imager could be deployed using our Superdove satellites which are a TRL9 platform, optimized to provide very high-performance while being mass producible at a very low cost. Leveraging a mature platform like this can enable operational systems to be deployed at a fraction of the cost and schedule of other approaches. An initial study done internally at Planet suggests that such a multi-spectral WIR/MWIR system would be capable of 30m resolution at nadir, and 70m at the highest off nadir angle. Using our current understanding of the requirements, we initially estimate being able to detect fires even as small as 10m2 with a system of this size on a 15-minute cadence for the continental United States. This proposed constellation will also utilize inter-satellite link technology being developed at Planet for real time communication as part of the NASA Communications Services Project (CSP), to allow stakeholders such as federal, state, and local agencies to see real time detections and near real time thermal imagery anywhere.

Enhances the capabilities for existing science instruments for monitoring pre-fire, active-fire, and post-fire situations, reduces the power and mass of these instruments, and enables unprecedented observations in support of wildfire science through distributed observing systems and the information technologies needed for their support.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 2) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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