National Infrared Operations Program National Infrared Operations Program National Infrared Operations Program National Infrared Operations Program

Thomas ZajkowskiUSDA Forest Service

Remote Sensing Applications Center

Salt Lake City, Utah

http://fsweb.rsac.fs.fed.us

(801) 975-3750

Fire Detection WorkshopFire Detection WorkshopHinton, Alberta CAHinton, Alberta CA

March 2003March 2003

2002 Wildland Fire Season2002 Wildland Fire Season2002 Wildland Fire Season2002 Wildland Fire Season

Even though 99% of all fires were suppressed in initial attack, 609 of 68,230 fires became large fire incidents

28,000 firefighters and support personnel were assigned to fire suppression activities by early July

International support came from Australia, New Zealand, and Canada

U.S. Fire HistoryU.S. Fire HistoryU.S. Fire HistoryU.S. Fire History

Decade Average Acres Burned

1920 - 1929 26,004,567

1930 - 1939 39,143,195

1940 - 1949 22,919,898

1950 - 1959 9,415,796

1960 - 1969 4,571,255

1970 - 1979 3,194,421

1980 - 1989 4,236,229

1990 - 1999 3,647,597

2002 Fire Season is approximately 6,700,000 acres

Fire Costs by Federal AgencyFire Costs by Federal AgencyFire Costs by Federal AgencyFire Costs by Federal Agency

“… forest fire detection is not a simple thermal mapping job. To be effective, this system must find the fire targets when they are very small and distributed over vast land areas. The fire targets must be precisely located to be of any use to fire suppression forces.”

Airborne Infrared Forest Fire Detection System: Final Report, 1971.

BackgroundBackground

Forest Service and IRForest Service and IRForest Service and IRForest Service and IR

First project, FireScan began in 1962 Continuous operational deployment since

1967 Development of Mouse Trap FLIR 1984 Numerous papers, and technical reports Continuous evaluation of commercial,

scientific, and military systems

National Infrared Operations ProgramNational Infrared Operations ProgramNational Infrared Operations ProgramNational Infrared Operations Program

Based at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise ID.

Presently there are 2 aircraft and 3 sensors

Full time staff consists of 2 IR technicians, and 4 pilots.

During the summer 4 IR technicians and nearly 200 Infrared interpreters help collect and interpret the data.

National Infrared Operations ProgramNational Infrared Operations ProgramNational Infrared Operations ProgramNational Infrared Operations Program

2002 statistics

• Over 778 missions flown• 1400 flight hours• Peak 29 fires per night

• 17 107Z• 12 100Z

• Average 3 to 5 missions per aircraft

• Nearly 85% of all request were accomplished.

Cessna Citation Bravo – N100ZCessna Citation Bravo – N100ZCessna Citation Bravo – N100ZCessna Citation Bravo – N100Z

Beechcraft King Air 200 – N107Z

NIROPS AircraftNIROPS Aircraft

Aerial Line ScanningAerial Line ScanningAerial Line ScanningAerial Line Scanning

FLAME – Fire Logistics Airborne Mapping EquipmentFLAME – Fire Logistics Airborne Mapping EquipmentEarly 1980sEarly 1980sFLAME – Fire Logistics Airborne Mapping EquipmentFLAME – Fire Logistics Airborne Mapping EquipmentEarly 1980sEarly 1980s

3-5µm, 8-12µmdetectors

3-5µm, 8-12µmdetectors

AnalogElectronics

AnalogElectronics

Film StripsFilm Strips

IR ScannerIR Scanner120° FOV200 lps

-------- RS-25 -------- --------- FLAME ---------

FLAME

• Completely analog system

• Output is 5-inch film strips

Phoenix DSP – Early 2000s to FuturePhoenix DSP – Early 2000s to FuturePhoenix DSP – Early 2000s to FuturePhoenix DSP – Early 2000s to Future

3-5µm, 8-12µmdetectors

3-5µm, 8-12µmdetectors

A/D andDSP

A/D andDSP

Data LogsData Logs

Strip ChartsStrip Charts

IR ScannerIR Scanner

DigitalProcessing

DigitalProcessing

120° FOV200 lps

------------ Phoenix DSP -----------

PC

------------ RS-25 ------------

Rectified Images

Rectified Images

Phoenix DSP

• Removes all analog electronics; now completely digital

• Integrates wider FOV scanner

• Moves some image processing to ground computers; dual outputs

• Replaces gyros/inclinometers with integrated GPS/IMU

Phoenix IntegrationPhoenix IntegrationCessna Citation Bravo – N100ZCessna Citation Bravo – N100ZPhoenix IntegrationPhoenix IntegrationCessna Citation Bravo – N100ZCessna Citation Bravo – N100Z

(U) Forest Service Airborne Thermal ImageryForest Service Airborne Thermal Imagery

1670 Pixels Wide by XXX Long

GeoTIFF file format

PHOENIX ImageryPHOENIX ImageryPHOENIX ImageryPHOENIX Imagery

Why a Typing Scheme NOW?Why a Typing Scheme NOW?Why a Typing Scheme NOW?Why a Typing Scheme NOW?

Requested by Incident Commanders Need to know which Infrared System to

choose for a particular situation. IR is not IR Save time and money!

Typing System. What is it good for?Typing System. What is it good for?Typing System. What is it good for?Typing System. What is it good for?

Sets realistic expectation of IR technology for Incident Commanders.

Defines a common language between firefighters and technical staff

Sets Guidelines for what is expected from a vendor.

What it is NOT!What it is NOT!What it is NOT!What it is NOT!

Rigid regulations Hindrance to technology development Barriers for commercial vendors

Based on the helicopter typing schemeBased on the helicopter typing schemeBased on the helicopter typing schemeBased on the helicopter typing scheme

Three types Based on fire detection sensitivity, area

coverage, and data products. Modifiers designate special capabilities

IR Typing Criteria IR Typing Criteria IR Typing Criteria IR Typing Criteria

Viewing Spatial Resolution Positional Accuracy Fire Detection Sensitivity

Fire Detection Accuracy Production Over Sampling Bands Product(s)

Modifying Criteria:Modifying Criteria:

Real time downlinkDigital outputAirdropsDay onlyNight only3-5 micron band8-14 micron band

Type 3Type 3Type 3Type 3

Single band usually 3-5 or 8-12 um

Might not have any data output other than what shows up on the units display

Three categoriesType 3c: Handheld unitsType 3b: Without geo-correctionType 3a: With geo-correction

Trulove’s Favorite Soap Box

GPS Antenna

1. Potential data error2. No way to check data3. Laser ranging or other means of

geo-locating the fire

Digital Data Error

LineLineScannerScanner

FLIRFLIR

Type 2Type 2Type 2Type 2

Typically mounted on fixed wing aircraft

Nadir viewing Higher production rates than

Type 3 sensors More than on band although

usually only one thermal band Focal plane arrays, multi-camera

systems, line scanners

Geo-correcting ImageryGeo-correcting ImageryGeo-correcting ImageryGeo-correcting Imagery

• Must solve for six degrees of freedom• X,Y, and Z position in space

• Roll, Pitch, and Yaw

Geo-correcting ImageryGeo-correcting ImageryGeo-correcting ImageryGeo-correcting Imagery

• One more thing needed…• Digital Elevation Model (DEM)

Terrain Elevation

“Flat Earth” Leads to Positional Error

Private Sector Thermal Imaging SystemPrivate Sector Thermal Imaging SystemHayman Fire, Colorado - 19 June 2002Hayman Fire, Colorado - 19 June 2002Private Sector Thermal Imaging SystemPrivate Sector Thermal Imaging SystemHayman Fire, Colorado - 19 June 2002Hayman Fire, Colorado - 19 June 2002

Private Sector Thermal Imaging SystemPrivate Sector Thermal Imaging SystemHayman Fire, Colorado – 19 June 2002Hayman Fire, Colorado – 19 June 2002Private Sector Thermal Imaging SystemPrivate Sector Thermal Imaging SystemHayman Fire, Colorado – 19 June 2002Hayman Fire, Colorado – 19 June 2002

Private Sector Thermal Imaging System Private Sector Thermal Imaging System Hayman Fire, Colorado – 19 June 2002Hayman Fire, Colorado – 19 June 2002Private Sector Thermal Imaging System Private Sector Thermal Imaging System Hayman Fire, Colorado – 19 June 2002Hayman Fire, Colorado – 19 June 2002

Coverage of Thermal Imaging Systems Coverage of Thermal Imaging Systems Hayman Fire, Colorado – 19 June 2002Hayman Fire, Colorado – 19 June 2002Coverage of Thermal Imaging Systems Coverage of Thermal Imaging Systems Hayman Fire, Colorado – 19 June 2002Hayman Fire, Colorado – 19 June 2002

Forest ServiceForest ServiceNational AirborneNational Airborne

SystemSystemSwath WidthSwath Width

Private Private Sector Sector System System

Swath WidthSwath Width

Type 1Type 1Type 1Type 1

Highest production rates Multi-thermal bands

Thermal Infrared – Why two bands?Thermal Infrared – Why two bands?Thermal Infrared – Why two bands?Thermal Infrared – Why two bands?

Two bands of interest: 3-5 micron, and 8-14 micron

3-5 micron band is much more sensitive to “hot” fire, butbecomes saturated easily – loss of background detail8-14 micron band better for background terrain, but not assensitive to fire.

Questions/DiscussionQuestions/Discussion