Smokey comes of age: unmanned aerial systems for fire management

Authors

Dirac L. Twidwell Jr., University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Craig R. Allen, US Geological Survey–Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research UnitFollow
Carrick Detweiler, University of Nebraska–LincolnFollow
James Higgins, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Christian Laney, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Sebastian Elbaum, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

ORCID IDs

Dirac L. Twidwell

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2016

Citation

Front Ecol Environ 2016; 14(6): 333–339, doi:10.1002/fee.1299

Comments

U.S. government work.

Abstract

During the past century, fire management has focused on techniques both to protect human communities from catastrophic wildfire and to maintain fire-dependent ecological systems. However, despite a large and increasing allocation of resources and personnel to achieve these goals, fire management objectives at regional to global scales are not being met. Current fire management techniques are clearly inadequate for the challenges faced by fire managers, and technological innovations are needed. Advances in unmanned aerial systems (UAS) technology provide opportunities for innovation in fire management and science. In many countries, fire management organizations are beginning to explore the potential of UAS for monitoring fires. We have taken the next step and developed a prototype that can precisely ignite fires as part of wildfire suppression tactics or prescribed fires (fire intentionally ignited within predetermined conditions to reduce hazardous fuels, improve habitat, or mitigate for large wildfires). We discuss the potential for these technologies to benefit fire management activities, while acknowledging the sizeable sociopolitical barriers that prevent their immediate broad application.