California rescuers are being helped by artificial intelligence (AI) to effectively fight forest fires. The first results have already been seen.

By utilizing more than a thousand cameras located throughout the state of California, rescuers can detect fire outbreaks earlier and fight them more effectively.

It all started when engineers at the University of California, San Diego, developed the ALERTCalifornia AI program using DigitalPath technologies. The program provides firefighters with up-to-the-minute information about fire outbreaks.

Already in the first month of the program's operation, an example of successful system operation was recorded. One episode occurred in the Cleveland National Forest, 50 miles (80 km) east of San Diego. A camera detected a fire that broke out at 3 a.m. The camera detected the fire. The system alerted the on-duty fire department officer. And he promptly called more than 60 rescuers to extinguish the fire. Thanks to this rapid response, the fire was successfully extinguished in less than an hour.

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The ALERTCalifornia AI platform has more than 1,000 cameras. They are located at various government agencies and power company facilities across the state. Each camera can rotate 360 degrees. As a result, it provides a wide view of the forested area. However, the system is not just limited to video surveillance. It also collects a variety of data. Such as aerial photography to identify potentially dangerous areas, mapping of the Earth's surface. Also infrared data and data from other wavelengths that are inaccessible to the human eye.

This innovative practice is helping to fight fires in California. The situation here is already complicated due to large-scale fires in the western part of the country. Data from artificial intelligence helps to detect fires in time and avoid serious consequences for nature and the population.

The program developers also hope the technology will become a model for other states and countries around the world.

Socium.Network team will continue to monitor the development of technology.

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