Google's new AI tech may know when your house will burn down

Current satellite imagery is often low resolution, infrequently updated and unable to detect small fires. But what if there was a way to spot wildfires earlier and more accurately before they become raging infernos?

"Differentiating between real fires and random 'noise' in the environment was a challenge," says Chris Van Arsdale, who works on climate and energy projects at Google.

The team even loaded a plane with sensors to experiment with their progress.

"The first time we used the plane, one of our team members lit a barbecue and a fire pit in his backyard so we could fly the plane over and test it," says Erica Brand, one of the project managers for FireSat. "And the sensors were able to pick it up."

The first FireSat satellite has already been launched. The entire constellation should be in orbit by 2030. The satellite data will contribute to a global historical record of fire spread so that scientists can better model and understand wildfire behavior.

As part of AI Collaboratives, Google.org provided $13 million to support the launch of the first satellite in the FireSat constellation.

So, what does this all mean? It means a future where wildfires are detected faster, contained quicker and cause less devastation. FireSat represents a major advance in wildfire management. This ambitious project has the potential to protect lives, homes and the environment we all cherish.

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