Research Project Uses Drones and AI to Detect Forest Fires Early

A collaborative German-Czech EU project, dubbed 'CTRL-F', is pioneering a new system to detect forest fires in their nascent stages. The innovative approach combines drone technology, artificial intelligence, and ground-based sensors. In the Neubäuer Forst near Roding, a test region, sensors have been attached to trees within a square kilometer, each with a range of 50 to 80 meters. These sensors trigger an alarm when they detect the smell of burning. Upon receiving an alert, a drone, equipped with a thermal imaging camera and ready for 24/7 deployment, is launched. The drone has a range of approximately 10 kilometers and can quickly identify hotspots, even before visible smoke appears. Project leader Stefan Geißelsöder, a professor at Ansbach University of Applied Sciences, explained that the drone can also be manually dispatched by firefighters for reconnaissance. The drone transmits live video feeds, analyzed in real-time by AI, to precisely locate fire sources. The 'CTRL-F' project, spanning three years, plans to install four drones along the German-Czech border in the Bavarian and Bohemian Forests starting next spring, pending air traffic control approvals. Safety is paramount, with drones designed to detect and avoid aircraft.

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The short reaction time is one of the drone's advantages. Through the thermal image, embers can be detected faster than waiting for visibly rising smoke.