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Completed TRL 6 (started at 3, targeting 6)
Purpose: The proposal aims to address the increasing challenges posed by wildfires, exacerbated by climate change and human settlement patterns. With the rise in wildfire frequency and severity, there's a pressing need for timely and accurate information to aid decision-making during fire mitigation planning and response. Technology: The proposed solution is ""FireWatch,"" an application powered by AI/ML models. This app will predict fire ignition risk, spread, and intensity in near real-time using a combination of remotely sensed data products such as Soil Moisture (SMAP), Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI), localized weather data (RAWS), and historical fire spread and intensity data (FIRMS & MTBS). Users can input specific coordinates to receive visual displays of expected fire risks, spread direction, speed, and intensity. Additionally, the app will serve the insurance industry by providing validated risk scores to adjust rates based on fire risks across different regions. Intended Use of Funding: - Developing an AI/ML model training dataset using historical fire data. - Aggregating remote sensing datasets. - Correlating vapor pressure data for accurate predictions. - Determining the optimal AI/ML model for wildfire predictions. - Designing an intuitive user interface for the FireWatch application. - Commercialization efforts, including outreach to firefighting agencies, insurance companies, and the general public. Target Markets: The primary beneficiaries of FireWatch will be firefighting entities, insurance companies, and the general public. The application will also serve as a tool for federal and local officials to make informed decisions prior to and during wildfire events."
NASA: The proposal supports the following mission directives; Earth Science, TechnologyAdvancements, and Commercial Partnerships. The development and review of fire riskAI/ML model will provide casual information on changes in the environment and potentialadditional insights about geographic weather impacts on fire conditions. Developing newtechnologies for remotely sensed data application and interpretation supports technologyadvancement. The utilization of existing NASA data products has the ability to extend to numerous other modeling or consumer application developments. The development ofFireWatch will support commercial partnerships by fostering the utilization of NASA dataproducts for the distribution of timely and potentially lifesaving alerts and information. Non-NASA: The Firewatch app presents a plethora of commercialization opportunities, especially whenleveraged by firefighting agencies, insurance companies, and the general public. Forfirefighting agencies, the app can serve as a pivotal tool in early wildfire detection andmanagement, allowing for swift response and allocation of resources, thereby minimizingdamage and optimizing operational efficiency. Insurance companies can harness the app'scapabilities to assess wildfire risks in real-time, enabling them to formulate more accurateand dynamic policy pricing and to expedite claims processing post-wildfire events. Thegeneral public can utilize the app to stay informed about wildfire ignition risks and toreceive timely alerts, which can be instrumental in ensuring personal safety and minimizingproperty loss. Additionally, the app’s insights into wildfire spread and intensity probabilitycan facilitate community awareness and preparedness, fostering a proactive approach towildfire management. The amalgamation of these diverse usage scenarios can lead to thedevelopment of various revenue models such as subscription fees, premium featureaccess, and data analytics services, thereby unlocking substantial economic value andfostering innovation in wildfire mitigation strategies.
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