Application of the firemappertm thermal-imaging radiometer for wildfire suppression

Applications of a new thermal-imaging radiometer, the FireMapperTM, have begun in support of fire research and tactical fire suppression. FireMapper is a unique three-channel, calibrated imaging system designed through a Research Joint Venture between the USDA Forest Service and Space Instruments, Inc. It has been designed to map the progress and intensity of wildland fires but has sufficient sensitivity to be useful in terrain mapping, disaster management, and naturalresource monitoring. FireMapper employs a microbolometer detector array that requires no cryogenic cooling, as do conventional mercury-cadmium-telluride detectors. Thus it offers a less complex and expensive thermal-imaging system. FireMapper has been deployed to wildfires in California aboard the Forest Service’s Airborne Sciences Aircraft, N70Z, which is a twin-engine Piper Navajo. Results show that the FireMapper can successfully characterize flaming front environments and temperatures with the potential for improving tactical fire suppression operations, fire-fighter safety, and our understanding of fire behavior and the environmental impacts of wildland fire. It has proven useful in mapping fire outbreaks, detecting spot fires ahead of a fire front, characterizing rates of spread, and monitoring fire intensity. Data have been delivered to the Incident Command Team on major wildfires within 90 minutes of collection by employing satellite communications and posting of imagery on the Internet. 1 U.S. Government work not protected by U.S. copyright. IEEE AC paper #1523. TABLE OF CONTENTS