Sector of activity
Without mentioning human losses, the cost of a forest fire essentially depends on three components:
The ADELIE automatic forest fire detection system detects the presence of smoke in the natural environment thanks to a unique principle of image capture and processing. It allows, from one or more high points and up to the horizon, permanently and over 360°, the surveillance, detection and localization of fire starts.
Locally developed information is transmitted in real time to the operational centre. A visual and audible alert indicates to the operator the existence of a smoke detection and the images necessary to validate the alert are automatically displayed.
This system is based on 5 main themes:
The shooting equipment is spread out on towers, pylons or high points and covers the wooded surfaces visible from this point to the horizon and over 360°.
Each high point is equipped with two detection cameras covering 360°.
A remote-controlled video camera, known as a "doubt removal" camera, completes this system (monitoring of the fire before the arrival of the first unit).
Each of the detection cameras takes a picture every 10 seconds: 360° surveillance is achieved in less than 2 minutes.
The analysis of the resulting images is carried out by comparing two images, taken at the same orientation, to highlight any smoke. This is made possible by several exclusive algorithms, developed by PARATRONIC, which allow the comparison of a very large number of factors not visible to the naked eye.
This analysis is carried out in 3 phases:
Image registration: the images to be compared are registered to the 50th of a degree.
Comparison of images: Images are compared to highlight any changes, i.e. any movement or displacement of an object or any appearance of smoke.
Advanced analysis, based on the use of different algorithms: Not only are the differences highlighted are screened according to their shape, size, distance, etc... in order to eliminate any element other than smoke as much as possible, but other algorithms, of the "machine vector support" type or not using automatic classifiers, working on the basis of parameters extracted from one or more images, complete this analysis.
Following this analysis, a digital network (radio IP, fibre optics, etc.) is transmitted to the control computer system:
The images thus received (13500 images per site per 24 hours and per site equipped) are stored for 30 days. All images are therefore transmitted, whether or not they contain a detection. If an image and its linked file show a detection, an automatic check is carried out so that an alarm is only triggered if this detection has not taken place in an exclusion zone (zone where permanent smoke is known, for example a factory chimney).
With the images, the system sends the angular orientation (azimuth) to the operational centre in relation to the high point.
All information (fire confirmation, contact details, etc.) is directly transmitted to the user's usual alert management system.
Suppression: If only one tower has detected the smoke, the distance given in telemetry is used. If at least two towers have detected the smoke, the control centre will confirm the location of the disaster by triangulation.
Depending on the site, the transmission is carried out by high-speed communication media: IP radio, fibre, etc.
The existing towers or high points used are, depending on the topography and the transmission media used, connected in "mesh networks".
The network is dimensioned to receive, simultaneously and in real time, the camera views of all the watchtowers.
This architecture makes it possible to cover large distances, more than 100 kilometres for radio solutions, while ensuring the necessary data rates for image transport.
This transmission system can be secured in degraded operation by ADSL or 4G link (detections).
At the operational centre, images of the various observation points and any alarms are received on one or more computer stations.
The ADELIE system allows for the efficient detection of any suspicious smoke and its precise location. In addition, it facilitates the monitoring of the fire and the guidance of the fire-fighting resources.
The system's "Doubtfulness" section also makes it possible, without mobilising a unit, to quickly and accurately validate the location of a fire reported by a "CALL 18".
As with any automatic system, it is essential that there is a human validation of the alarms transmitted. It is the operators of the operations centre who, with the help of a high-definition camera equipped with a powerful optical zoom (30X, coupled with a long vision focal length), decide to validate the alarms and confirm the existence and importance of a fire outbreak.
Those responsible for monitoring operations can in turn remotely monitor the evolution of the situation thanks to these cameras, known as "doubt removal" cameras, without interrupting the detection system. The ADELIE detection system therefore remains fully active in order to prevent any eventuality of multiple fires.
The detected light(s) can then be viewed at the central station before the first unit is sent to the site. The number of units required can therefore be sent directly to the site.
During the intervention, ADELIE continues, through real time video, to give to the different persons in charge a great number of information on the evolution of the fire such as for example the extent and the colour of the plume of smoke, the view of the development of the event (which can be very variable according to the topology of the sector and the Weather) but also the live follow-up of the intervention of the canadairs and the result obtained .
The supervision tool enables the location of the disaster site to be determined by triangulation and its precise coordinates to be transmitted to the intervention teams.
The ADELIE system also works at night, searching for lights emitted by traffic lights.
Any system for monitoring and tracking natural hazards must operate under the worst imaginable conditions, including if these occur at the same time as a physical incident.
It is essential to ensure full continuity of service even in the event of equipment failure. All equipment must therefore be redundant and the switchover from failed equipment to replacement equipment must be automatic.
Each tower can therefore be equipped with one or two detection cameras, and one or two transmission systems (e.g. Radio + ADSL or 4G backup for detections).
A remote maintenance and remote control system is possible.
Achievements
France 3 report: Implementation of the ADELIE system for monitoring forest fires in the Sarthe (72).
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