Columbia Valley Pioneer staff
A company pitching its services to the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) says it has AI technology that can predict wildfires and mitigate the risks.
That’s what Zubin Kothawala and Adam Preece from Skymount Firemark told RDEK directors during a presentation on July 12.
The duo discussed their wildfire detection and monitoring platform that combines satellite imagery, tower-mounted cameras, drones and various data sources relating to weather, burn indexes, smoke detection and lightning strikes.
“It will offer the community the ability to mitigate the fire’s risk before a fire starts,” Kothawala said in his report.
He noted they would like to offer the Columbia Valley a pilot program this fall.
The company began working on an artificial intelligence (AI) system in 2021 to address the wildfire problem by predicting the starts and reducing their risk.
“We’re trying to add to the FireSmart program by giving you more information,” he pointed out.
Kothawala boasted a 90 per cent accuracy rate on their predictions using very advanced gas sensors that “smell the fire” before you see smoke or flames.
He explained the use of long-range thermal cameras, and their hope to put one on Mount Baker.
Kothawala said he spoke to Ktunaxa First Nation during last year’s wildfire in the Columbia Valley.
“They didn’t know what to do or where the fire was; with our product it will give you that information.”
He noted they are working with industry and have sparked interest in companies such as Canfor and Panorama Mountain Resort.
Preece said they use satellite images coupled with their AI engine to predict where a fire can occur before it happens. “The quicker we can find a fire, the quicker we can start reacting to it . . . the first hour is critical.”
Preece likened the program to a “big brother effect,” allowing them to be more proactive. He explained that one side of a mountain may have more fire risk than the other side.
He said their maps show them where to put sensors, noting they are typically strapped to trees. If they see an increased risk somewhere else, they simply move the sensors where they will do the most good.
Preece told the directors that, in the first hour of a fire, their satellite imagery targets the event and works out what is going to happen. Schools and other facilities will be automatically notified.
“We offer you more of a micro view of a wildfire,” Kothawala said.
He reiterated they are trying to get a pilot site in each province and have brought in wildfire behaviour specialists to help.
Kothawala said the biggest challenge is how to integrate their program so it doesn’t interrupt a municipality’s current operations.
RDEK chair Rob Gay said the board is certainly aware of the fire danger in the region, adding the more progress you can make, the better. He congratulated Skymount for moving forward with this technology.
