Google’s FireSat project’s first satellite was successfully placed into low Earth orbit (LEO) last week by Elon Musk’s SpaceX. The initiative, aimed at using satellites to detect and prevent wildfires before they escalate, has moved one step closer to its goal. A blog post published by Google on Monday said that this satellite is the first of more than 50 in a first-of-its-kind constellation designed to use AI to detect and track wildfires as small as a classroom.
Wildfires are becoming more frequent and destructive across the globe. Traditional satellite imagery is often low-resolution, with updates available only every 12 hours. Recognizing this gap, Google partnered with SpaceX to launch FireSat for real-time wildfire detection.
FireSat uses AI technology to detect fires early by comparing real-time satellite images with historical data. The AI evaluates factors like local weather, terrain, and nearby infrastructure to confirm the presence of a fire. This rapid identification allows emergency responders to act swiftly, preventing small fires from escalating.
The project is led by the Earth Fire Alliance, with funding support from Google.org and the Moore Foundation. Google.org contributed $13 million through its AI Collaboratives: Wildfires initiative, uniting nonprofits, academic institutions, and government agencies to combat wildfire damage using advanced AI models.
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