Silvaguard and Silvanet: Berlin drone to warn of forest fires
Forest fires devastate forests. An early warning system using drones and sensor networks can detect fires early, alerting emergency services promptly.
A Silverguard drone takes off from its base for a mission.
(Image: Dryad Networks)
Dryad Networks, a company based in Berlin and Eberswalde, presented a drone called Silvaguard on Thursday that can be used for the early detection of forest fires. The drone detects, localizes and monitors fires using artificial intelligence (AI). The autonomous drone is part of a larger fire detection system that includes a network of gas detection sensors, the Silvanet. When a fire is detected, it calls on the Silvaguard drone.
The forest fire early warning system consists of gas sensors distributed in forests and several Silvaguard drones located in different places, which are located in a hangar and charged with solar energy. The sensors are integrated into a wireless network and are powered by solar energy. They are therefore ready for use around the clock. The sensors are mounted in trees and can each monitor an area the size of a soccer pitch.
Fire detection in real time
If one of the sensors detects a fire, it automatically requests a Silvaguard drone. The drone then flies automatically to the coordinates of the gas sensor to check whether a fire has actually broken out or whether it is just a false alarm. An AI analyzes the camera images to determine how large the fire is and delivers the images to the emergency services. This works in real time so that an overall picture of the situation is available within a few minutes.
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The emergency services can use the aerial and infrared images to initiate the next steps and take extinguishing measures. According to Dryad, the Silvaguard drones should also be able to extinguish smaller fires themselves. They use acoustic waves for this purpose.
Dryad is already testing the early warning system in several countries – including the USA, Canada, Italy, Thailand, Germany and Lebanon. More than 50 installations are said to already be in operation in order to detect forest fires at an early stage. Dryad now intends to bring the system to Australia and New Zealand.
(olb)
