Grant: Idea to Innovation
University of Regina
$15,000.00
A system for detecting and measuring the growth of wildfires, which is self-powered and omni-directional in its imaging capabilities.
FY 2023-24
Summary
An omni-directional imaging system is created to monitor wildfires and their growth, and is designed to work in off-the-grid remote areas without external power. Each unit can cover up to 3000 acres, allowing for coverage of large areas like highway corridors or mountainous regions with only a small number of units. This technology is based on a catadioptric imaging system originally developed for robotic pipe inspection in the applicant's lab eight years ago.The increasing number and severity of wildfires in North America, with 60,000 wildfires in 2022 alone affecting millions of acres, underscores the importance of early detection and management. Traditional surveillance methods using satellite imaging, piloted flights, and drones are often costly, dangerous, and labor-intensive. An alternative is to use a number of daisy-chained self-powered wildfire lookout stations (aka, watch towers) that can be installed in remote areas.This technology has significant potential for broader applications beyond wildfire detection, such as monitoring crops, mining sites, construction sites, renewable energy farms such as solar and wind, and traffic.
Program
Idea to Innovation
Recipient
Location
Saskatchewan, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
581197-2023
Name nom
Mehrandezh, Mehran M
Department département
Engineering and Applied Science, Faculty of
Organization id
17
Institution établissement
University of Regina
Province en
Saskatchewan
Province fr
Saskatchewan
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2023
Competition year année de concours
2023
Award amount
15000
Program id
I2IPJ
Program name en
Idea to Innovation
Program name fr
De l'idée à l'innovation
Group en
RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS
Group fr
PARTENARIATS DE RECHERCHE
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
201
Area of application group en
Natural resources (economic aspects)
Area of application group fr
Ressources naturelles (aspects économiques)
Area of application en
Forestry (silviculture, forest management)
Area of application fr
Foresterie (sylviculture, aménagement forestier)
Research subject code
2800
Research subject group en
Artificial intelligence
Research subject group fr
Artificial intelligence (computer vision, use2603)
Research subject en
Intelligence artificielle
Research subject fr
Intelligence artificielle (vision artificielle, utiliser 2603)
Application title
A system for detecting and measuring the growth of wildfires, which is self-powered and omni-directional in its imaging capabilities.
Keyword
catadioptric imaging; computer vision; digital image augmentation; image-based object tracking; image processing; machine learning; photogrammetry; self powered imaging systems; sensor fusion; thermal imaging
Application summary
An omni-directional imaging system is created to monitor wildfires and their growth, and is designed to work in off-the-grid remote areas without external power. Each unit can cover up to 3000 acres, allowing for coverage of large areas like highway corridors or mountainous regions with only a small number of units. This technology is based on a catadioptric imaging system originally developed for robotic pipe inspection in the applicant's lab eight years ago.The increasing number and severity of wildfires in North America, with 60,000 wildfires in 2022 alone affecting millions of acres, underscores the importance of early detection and management. Traditional surveillance methods using satellite imaging, piloted flights, and drones are often costly, dangerous, and labor-intensive. An alternative is to use a number of daisy-chained self-powered wildfire lookout stations (aka, watch towers) that can be installed in remote areas.This technology has significant potential for broader applications beyond wildfire detection, such as monitoring crops, mining sites, construction sites, renewable energy farms such as solar and wind, and traffic.
