Background

The 2006 evaluation of the ForestWatch Smoke Detection System resulted in 19 smoke detection events. The rate of false alarms improved in 2006 but is still considered to be too high.

The vendor believes we can detect more smokes and reduce the rate of these false alarms if we fine-tune the detection parameters to more accurately represent Alberta’s environment.

It is hoped that the system will produce improved results in the 2007 fire season through the adjustment of the selected detection parameters, and thus have an influence on the final business case study.

Objectives

1. To evaluate the detection ability of the ForestWatch Smoke Detection System in the Alberta environment following the adjustment of detection parameters.
   
2. To compare the cost and benefits of ForestWatch’s automated smoke detection system to other existing detection methods.
   

Method

1. Test the detection parameters against smoke images collected from 2005 and 2006.
   
2. Utilise a smoke generator to quantify detection ability.
   
3. Operate the system daily from 1000 to 1900 during the fire season and document performance.
   
4. Complete a business case study of smoke detection.

Deliverables

1. ForestWatch Smoke Detection System 2007 evaluation report.
   
2. Business case study, phase 1.
   
   

Documents:

Wildland Fire Detection Technology Evaluation Update 2006 Presentation  1/22/2007

Advantage Report - Operational trial of the ForestWatch wildfire smoke detection system  7/20/2005

Curtis Dyna-Fog 1200 Eases Frustrations of Smoke Generation  6/10/2005

Advantage Report - Use of a smoke generator and smoke plots to aid fire lookout personnel (PDF)  4/13/2005

Advantage Report - Evaluation of Three Wildfire Smoke Detection System  7/21/2004

Detection Workshop Program and Speaker Introductions  4/11/2003

Detection workshop 2003 speaker information and presentations  4/4/2003

Use of a video camera surveillance system for fire detection  9/6/2002

Identifying opportunities to improve the effectiveness of wildfire detection in Alberta  6/27/2002