Wireless networks and artificial intelligence technologies reduce the impact of forest fires in Castilla y León

The Leonese company Telecomunicaciones Merino has been deploying an expansion of the high-speed communications network to support its forest fire monitoring system for the Ministry of Environment, Housing and Territorial Planning of Castilla y León. This network connects more than a hundred cameras deployed in forest areas of Ávila, Salamanca, Zamora, León and Soria.

The images are analyzed by the software installed in the infrastructure located on the campus of the the University of Leon, which uses a system based on Artificial Intelligence. So they offer tools that allow you to identify the location of the fire immediately.

Artificial Intelligence used to detect fires and forest fires before they spread

The project is led by the Natural Heritage Foundation, dependent on the Ministry of Environment, Housing and Territorial Planning. It involves an update and expansion of the network previously deployed between 2006 and 2016 in Zamora, Soria and León. Today it is also present in Ávila, Salamanca, and the system deployed in Zamora has been expanded.

This action is intended to address the consequences of climate change in Castilla y León, among which are the increase in the risk and severity of forest fires due to increased temperatures and the extension of drought periods. It is expected to avoid losses of economic resources, biodiversity and soil, avoid losing human lives, and prevent the release of huge amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere.

Telecomunicaciones Merino has deployed a new high-speed wireless network based on Cambium Networks technology and equipment, supplied by SISTELEC. The cameras will be connected to this wireless network. CCTV, an IP communications system, and several IoT devices among other services. The network will be connected to the SCAYLE infrastructure of the Junta de Castilla y León located on the campus of the University of León, which with the help of AI systems, the images will be analyzed for quick location of alerts and thus have a better initial response capacity for its control.

The cameras will allow surveillance of the area around each location in a minimum radius of between 8 and maximum of 25 kilometers, depending on the characteristics of the system. They will also allow real-time visualization of the fire and affected area, verify the alerts received at the Provincial Command Centers and avoid false alarms. Another factor that can be monitored will be the controlled agricultural burning that takes place in the area of ​​influence.