Project Researcher

Peter de Bruijn (Lead Researcher)
For question and scheduling the evaluation
(250) 579-9064
Email: Peter.deBruijn@fpinnovations.ca

Ray Ault
(780) 817-1840
Email: Ray.Ault@fpinnovations.ca

Table of content

Introduction
Objectives
Process
Method
      General
      Specifics
      Grid
      Safety plan
      Flight
      Targets
      Fire control
      Flight conditions and weather
      Refuelling and aircraft landing
      Vendor equipment
      Vendor information, pilot and thermographer experience
      Briefing
      Data format and delivery
      Evaluation flights -steps
      Data analysis
Timeline
Appendix 1
Appendix 2
Appendix 3

Introduction

The Provinces of Alberta and British Columbia have asked FPInnovations to manage an independent evaluation of vendors wishing to provide rotary wing based thermal infrared services in support of wildland fire operations. This evaluation process is intended to determine the vendor’s ability to meet a set of pre-determined criteria on target sensitivity, accuracy, and data delivery as required during fire operations.

Following consultations with wildland fire operations staff and individuals knowledgeable in wildfire thermal infrared systems, an evaluation process was established to provide a consistent and reliable assessment of system performance and capabilities in support of wildland fire operations. The intent is that all rotary wing thermal infrared vendors, prior to being awarded any contract, are required to demonstrate the ability of their equipment in meeting the basic requirements stipulated by Alberta Sustainable Resource Development.

Objectives

• To evaluate the helicopter thermal infrared service provider’s ability to meet the Level A requirements set out by Alberta SRD.
  
• To report the results of each evaluation to Alberta SRD and the company being evaluated.
  

Process

Companies interested in providing rotary wing based thermal infrared services will be referred to FPInnovations by Forest Protection staff from Alberta SRD and the BC Ministry of Forests and Range

FPInnovations will arrange with each company to conduct an evaluation of their thermal infrared capabilities using a grid specifically designed for this purpose. The primary period for 2010 evaluations will be April 26 – May 1. If weather conditions require postponement; evaluations will be the following week of May 2 – May 8.

Results of the evaluation will be forwarded to the company and Alberta SRD Performance results to be evaluated are: number of targets in each size and temperature class identified, time required to report data, and accuracy in locating targets.

Participating companies will be responsible for all of their own costs associated with the evaluation: aircraft, equipment, processing, accommodations & meals, etc.

Method

General

A grid simulating hot spots, similar in size and temperature of those commonly found during the mop-up phase of wildland fire operations, will be used to evaluate the sensor and thermographer working from the helicopter platform (R/W). Each company will fly the grid, collect thermal infrared and GPS data, and submit a map & listing of the target locations in the stipulated format to FPInnovations within the specified timeframe at a predetermined location. The collected data will then be compared to the artificial hot spot target locations following which the results will be forwarded to the vendor and the Provinces.

Specifics

This evaluation of thermal infrared has been designed for a rotary wing aircraft platform. The site was specifically selected for its terrain variations, forest cover, and accessibility.

Grid

The thermal infrared evaluation grid is located at the Cache Percotte Student Forest, directly south of the town of Hinton, Alberta. The southwest corner of the grid is 53.388551 - 117.540312. The grid consists of potential targets and false targets arranged in an area 2km long and 500 meters wide; it is oriented in an east-west direction at an approximate elevation of 3600 feet.

The grid was surveyed and target points mapped with a TopCon Hi Per-Lite RTK GPS system to within 0.5 meter accuracy. Each target point is marked with a 25 cm galvanized spike marked with coloured whisker tags and a row & column identifier.

Each target is described using FBP fuel types, ground cover, slope & aspect where applicable. A perspective digital photograph of each target was collected in 2005 along with a true-color hemispherical photograph. The Gap Light Analyzer program (GLA), version 2.0, is imaging software used to extract forest canopy structure and gap light transmission indices from true-color hemispherical photographs. The GLA was used to assess canopy class above each target.

For each evaluation, a random selection of up to 20 points or targets will be used. The targets will be computer generated the day before the evaluation. Up to 5 false targets may be included in the evaluation. Participating companies will not be informed of the number of targets or locations.

Safety plan

A briefing for the flight crew covering hazards, communications, radio frequencies, and a site tour will be provided to each company at 16:00 hrs the day before the evaluation.
The ground crew will receive a tail gate briefing prior to field operations each day.

Contact between the ground crew at the grid site and the helicopter will be on frequency 123.2 MHz.

Flight

The primary evaluation flights will occur within 90 minutes of legal flying time as posted by Transport Canada 06:10 and 07:40 MST. If a company so chooses, evaluation flights at other times can be arranged, however, all primary evaluation flights are to be conducted in the early morning.

Targets

Night before evaluation flight

Target locations will be decided and a map produced for the ground crew. The ground crew will locate each point and place a heat source. Red blinking lights will be placed along the route to assist in locating targets in the predawn darkness.

Morning of the evaluation flight

A ground crew of at least five will meet on site at least 60 minutes prior to legal flying time and light the hot spot targets approximately 30 minutes before the planned time of the evaluation flight.

Hobo data loggers with thermocouples will be used to monitor each target’s temperature during the evaluation. This data will be time stamped and compared to the acquisition time used by the vendor to provide target temperature during the flight.

Targets may consist of one of three size classes and three temperatures classes. Thermal source will be burning briquettes, cast iron stove tops, and cast iron frying pans heated by propane camping stoves.

Target size will range from 300 cm² to 850 cm², while temperatures will range from 240°C to 650°C.

Fire control

Each target will be placed on a sand base. Wildland fire suppression equipment will be on site and an initial attack crew will be on site, ready to assist. A fire permit will be obtained and a fire control plan will be circulated among participants.

Flight conditions and weather

Operators are responsible for compliance with all relevant Transport Canada Regulations.

The following on-site weather information will be collected: temperature, wind speed, relative humidity, visibility, and ceiling height. The Hinton Training Centre weather station will be used for precipitation data.

A site briefing will be held at the Cache Percotte Student Forest prior to flight over the grid evaluation area.

Minimum flight conditions for an evaluation are surface winds of less than 15 km/h. Flights will be conducted under VFR conditions with a minimum ceiling of 5000’AGL and forward visibility of 10 miles.

A flight path record (bread crumb trail) will be required in ESRI shape-file format and a mission report.

Radio communication between aircrew and FPInnovations are required to record the thermal scanning start time and stop times on radio frequency 123.2 MHz.

Radio communications between the Hinton-Entrance airstrip and the grid site will be in place; an FPInnovations representative will provide flight following.

Refuelling and aircraft landing

Helicopters can be parked overnight at the Hinton-Entrance airstrip (Airport code CEE4)

Alberta SRD maintains a fire camp at the south side of the Hinton-Entrance airstrip; coordinates: 53.22.53 117.42.04; a fire camp manager will be at the camp. A jet fuel bowser is on site and 100LL can be obtained from the Hinton Flying Club (780-865-5507). Alberta SRD will provide fuel for the evaluation.

Vendor equipment

The Vendor will provide all necessary equipment to conduct hot spot identification, location capture, map production & printing required for the evaluation.

Vendor Information, pilot and thermographer experience

TThe names, company contact information, along with infrared scanning experience for both the pilot and thermographer will be recorded.

Company cell phone numbers of all involved personnel shall be recorded.

Briefing

TThe mission briefing takes place at 16:00 hrs on the day prior to the evaluation. Briefing items will consist of:

1. “Thermal Imaging Service Request Form” (FP59).
2. A shape-file and a map will be provided outlining the area to be scanned.
3. “Mission Report Form” (FP60) will be handed out.
4. Review of Infrared Scanning Service Requirements (Appendix 1).

Data format and delivery

Upon completion of the evaluation flight, the helicopter will land at a pre-determined location where the following items are to be delivered to FPInnovations:

1. A mission report (FP 60) in the agreed upon format.
2. All vector spatial data (hot spot and breadcrumb trail) shall be delivered in shape-file format (*.shp, *.dbf, *.shx, *.prj). The defined datum will be NAD83 and the defined projection will be UTM. All delivered shape-files will comply with the file naming convention as set out in Appendix 1. CDs or thumb drives are acceptable delivery media.
3. An assessment of the found hotspots shall be delivered as a digital image file (JPEG or the preferred BMP file format) and a printed map product. This shall be known as the QuickLook Product, (see Appendix 3). The QuickLook Product shall be suitable for printing on 11” x 17”-size paper without using any other software than that included in the workstation-version of Microsoft Windows 2000, (jpg, bmp, or pdf format). The minimum allowable resolution is 140 dpi.
   

Evaluation flights steps

1. Briefing at 16:00 hrs on the day before flight with the IR provider.
2. Helicopter will contact FPInnovations by radio once airborne.
3. Helicopter will fly to the grid area at specified altitude.
4. Helicopter will notify FPInnovations once data collection has started; continue to fly the grid and collect the required data.
5. Immediately upon completion of data acquisition the helicopter will notify FPInnovations by radio.
6. The acquisition time will be recorded.
7. Landing time will be recorded.
8. Delivery of final product – time of delivery will be recorded.
   

Data Analysis

FPInnovations, assisted by Alberta and BC government representatives, will compare the vendor supplied data to the thermal targets set out by the ground crew.

The data analysis is comprised of:

1. Comparison of the vendor target points to the ground surveyed points.
2. Quality of projection i.e.: UTM
3. Response time from acquisition to delivery in minutes
4. Temperature record for each target during evaluation
5. Acquisition time and number of flight passes required

FPInnovations will compile a brief report with the following:

1. Number of targets identified.
2. A comparison of vendor target points to the surveyed points.
3. Time required from start of data acquisition to delivery of data.
4. Pertinent weather data from the duration of the evaluation.
5. Where applicable: an assessment of proprietary methods or tools used as well as any special conditions in relation to potential service innovations.
   

Timeline

Appendix 1

Description of infrared scanning services (PDF file)

Appendix 2

Appendix 3

Documents:

Evaluation of rotary-wing thermal infrared service delivery using simulated wildfire hotspots  5/5/2010

Simulated wildfire thermal infrared service evaluation - Rotary Wing - April 25 to May 1, 2010  2/9/2010

Infrared Scanning - Collection of Hot Spots  7/7/2005