AI is helping Halifax Regional Municipality detect wildfires. Here’s how
Posted May 7, 2024 11:12:37 AM.
Last Updated May 7, 2024 11:12:42 AM.
The Halifax Regional Municipality launched a pilot program that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to detect wildfires.
The cameras, by FireScout, a technology company, run 24/7 with a 360-degree view of three areas from March 15 to Oct. 15 — the province’s peak wildfire season. During the day the cameras can see about 46 kilometres.
The pilot program costs about $20,000, Roy Hollett, deputy fire chief of Halifax Regional Fire told CityNews 95.7. If the pilot project is successful, the region would need 10 to 12 cameras to cover all of HRM.
The AI cameras were placed on provincial communication towers in Hammonds Plains, Musquodoboit Harbour and Middle Sackville.
Hollett said the three areas were chosen because of the wildfire risks, according to the N.S. Department of Natural Resources and Renewables.
The region is hoping the technology will allow earlier detection and prevention of larger blazes. Hollett said he’s “impressed” with the technology.
The AI will monitor signs for smoke, and if it’s detected an alert will be sent to a fire scout with Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency for action.
“Employee will look at it determined ‘yes, it looks like a fire,'” Hollett said. “Then we can take control of that camera and zoom in to determine if it’s an approved fire based on the time of day and the location or if it needs to be investigated.”
The AI has been trained on pictures of smoke and given pictures that may look like smoke but aren’t like clouds, birds and dust.
So far, Hollett said, the AI has not given a false alert.
“What’s really interesting with this program is it learns based on location, for example, it was catching the smoke from towers, the program understands that it’s normal to see smoke coming from the towers,” he said.
For the past month, the cameras have been working, Hollett said, and the AI has already detected a fire.
“For example a few weeks ago, we had the tower fire in downtown Halifax. Each camera, within 30 seconds, caught the smoke from that fire,” he said.
With files from CityNews 95.7’s Mark Hodgins.
