8 ways we’re using AI to help cities be more sustainable
#ways #cities #sustainable
Wildfires are becoming increasingly common due to hotter and drier climates around the world — but until now, satellite imagery that tracked wildfires was only available at a low-resolution or not updated frequently enough. This made it difficult to detect fires until they’ve grown larger than a soccer field. Now, we’re partnering with leading wildfire authorities to launch FireSat, a new global satellite constellation designed specifically to detect and track wildfires the size of a classroom by providing higher-resolution imagery within 20 minutes. Using AI and satellite imagery, we can detect wildfires in their early stages, often before they are reported through traditional channels. This technology can help fire authorities respond more quickly and effectively, potentially saving lives, property and natural resources.
8. Providing real-time information about wildfires
FireSat adds to our existing efforts around tracking wildfires and alerting people nearby. Using AI, we are able to show detailed wildfire boundary tracking in Search and Maps and through location-based push notifications — and just this summer, we expanded those wildfire boundary maps to 15 countries across Europe and Africa. These maps provide near real-time information about the size and location of active fires, helping firefighters and other emergency responders — and when wildfires can be kept at bay, biodiversity is protected, and Earth is healthier overall.