Jakarta (ANTARA) - Forest and land fires (karhutla) remain a major\nconcern in several regions of Kalimantan. The National Disaster\nManagement Agency (BN\u2169PB) has reported an increase in hotspots across\nWest, Central, and South Kalimantan. Amidst these conditions, technology\nis being deployed to assist officers in locating fire sources that are\ndifficult to detect from the surface.<\/p>\n
One such tool is the thermal drone. BNPB is using drones equipped\nwith thermal cameras to search for fire sources in South Kalimantan,\nincluding hotspots located beneath the surface that are not visible to\nthe naked eye. The use of this technology is part of the ongoing field\nefforts to manage forest and land fires.<\/p>\n
So, what exactly is a thermal drone, and why can this technology\nassist officers in tackling forest and land fires?<\/p>\n
A thermal drone is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with a\nthermal camera. Unlike standard cameras that capture images based on\nvisible light, thermal cameras detect heat radiation from an object.<\/p>\n
Simply put, these cameras can help indicate which parts of an area\nhave higher temperatures. The results are then displayed as images with\nspecific colour differences or intensity levels, making high-heat areas\neasier to recognise. This technology enables thermal drones to be used\nfor various needs, especially when the target object is difficult to see\ndirectly.<\/p>\n
How do thermal drones work?<\/p>\n
The drone is flown to capture aerial imagery using the thermal\ncamera. The camera\u2019s sensors capture differences in heat radiation\noriginating from the surface or objects below.<\/p>\n
In managing forest and land fires, officers can use the monitoring\nresults to search for areas with temperature anomalies. This information\ncan then serve as a guide to determine locations that require further\ninspection by ground teams. An advantage of this method is that\nmonitoring can be conducted from the air without having to immediately\ndeploy numerous personnel across vast areas.<\/p>\n
This is particularly crucial in peatland fires. Fire is sometimes not\nvisible as flames on the surface but may leave embers beneath the\nsurface. Such conditions make the process of searching for the fire\nsource much more difficult.<\/p>\n
The use of thermal drones is not limited to forest and land fires.\nThermal camera technology on drones can be utilised for various\npurposes, including:<\/p>\n
Detecting hotspots: One of its primary functions is helping to\nfind areas with unusual temperatures. In forest fire cases, these\nhotspots can indicate the presence of fire or embers that need\nchecking.<\/p><\/li>\n
Assisting in locating fire sources: Drones can reach areas that\nare difficult for officers to access, including regions with heavy\nterrain. From the air, officers can obtain a picture of which locations\nshould be prioritised for inspection.<\/p><\/li>\n
Monitoring post-fire conditions: Fires that appear to be\nextinguished are not necessarily completely out. Embers may remain in\ncertain parts. Thermal cameras can help officers conduct re-monitoring\nto search for areas that still retain heat.<\/p><\/li>\n
Supporting regional mapping: Data collected by drones can help\nofficers gain an overview of a region\u2019s condition. This information can\nbe used as supporting material to determine subsequent management\nsteps.<\/p><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Forest and land fires often occur in vast areas, while not all parts\nof a region are easily accessible to humans. The use of drones allows\nfor aerial monitoring, enabling officers to obtain preliminary\ninformation without having to manually sweep the entire area.<\/p>\n
Thermal technology also provides an advantage when heat sources are\nnot easily visible to the eye. In the cases currently being handled by\nBNPB in South Kalimantan, thermal drones are being used to search for\nfire sources located beneath the surface that are invisible.<\/p>\n
With this information, officers can determine locations that require\nfurther inspection or intervention.<\/p>\n
Despite their ability to detect heat, thermal drones are not meant to\nreplace the work of personnel entirely. Monitoring results still need to\nbe analysed and verified before being used as the basis for field\naction. Drones are more accurately viewed as supporting tools to\naccelerate the monitoring process and help officers obtain information\nregarding the condition of an area.<\/p>\n
The use of such technology aligns with the increasing use of\ntechnology in managing forest and land fires. In addition to drones, the\ngovernment utilises hotspot data, weather monitoring, weather\nmodification operations, and ground patrols to anticipate the spread of\nfires. BMKG, for instance, supports fire management through weather\nanalysis and atmospheric dynamics monitoring.<\/p>\n
Ultimately, thermal drones serve as an example of how technology can\nassist humans in facing environmental challenges. Their ability to see\ntemperature differences from the air makes searching for heat sources\neasier, especially in large or hard-to-reach areas.<\/p>\n
In the management of forest and land fires in Kalimantan, this\ntechnology can be a vital part of the early detection system. The faster\na heat source is found, the quicker officers can determine the necessary\nsteps to prevent the fire from developing and spreading.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/what-are-thermal-drones-technology-for-detecting-forest-and-land-fires-1789103613", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }