| |
Project Overview
The UAV Applications Center is participating in a multi-year applied research project sponsored by NASA’s Earth Science Research program Research, Education and Applications Solutions Network (REASoN). Advanced fire surveillance technology being developed by NASA in collaboration with the US Department of Agriculture - Forest Service (USFS) will improve the effectiveness of tactical firefighting. Airborne platforms, thermal infrared imaging technology, and data telemetry will combine to reduce access time to critical fire map data. The technology will assist the USFS in wildfire management, thereby reducing risks to life, property, and forest natural resources.
The UAV First Response Experiment (FiRE) pilot-project was conducted in September, 2001 at the General Atomics Flight Operations Facility in southern California. A General Atomics ALTUS II UAV made several passes over a controlled burn. Thermal image data were telemetered from ALTUS, through an INMARSAT satellite, to a NASA/Ames server located 400 miles distant. The data were geo-rectified (mapped) at Ames, and within ten minutes redistributed to the Internet for access worldwide. The FiRE project successfully demonstrated a potential role for UAVs in real time disaster management. This project forms the foundation for follow-on, advanced technology demonstrations utilizing UAV platforms for longer duration / higher altitude disaster assessment missions planned for 2004 and 2005.
|
 |
|
