Tackling the Spread of Wilderness Fires with Digital Tech 利用数字技术应对野火蔓延

罗宾·费伦

From the Amazon basin to northern Siberian forests， the wildfires are spreading. However， the technology used to tackle large area fires has become more sophisticated to respond to this threat.從亚马孙河流域到西伯利亚的北部森林，野火正在蔓延。不过，用于应对大面积火灾的科技已变得更加先进。

Wildfires are among the most destructive forces on Earth. When these fires burn into towns and cities on the edges of forests or wildlands， the economic damage and potential loss of life can be massive. Meanwhile， hotter global temperatures and extreme heat waves increase the danger from wildfire spread.

The technology used to tackle large area fires has become more sophisticated to respond to this threat. Firefighters form highly-trained ground and air teams. Helicopters and air tankers carry water， suppressant foam， and flame retarding chemicals direct to fire hotspots.

The state-of-the-art tech behind fighting fires

Teams tackling the California wildfires used the Global SuperTanker1—a modified jumbo jet that carries almost 73，000 liters （19，200 gallons） of fire retardant—alongside the S-64 Aircrane heavy-lifting helicopter， which carries 10，000 liters （2，200 gallons） of water.

These air tankers are used to put out flames and monitor fire spread through sensors and video feeds coupled to GPS data. Fed into sophisticated computer modelling software， they can help predict the fires behavior and possible spread patterns. Computer models are able to provide small area coverage only meters wide， mapping terrain and airflow. Fires are especially responsive to wind conditions and these tools allow firefighters to determine the passage of flames at ground level.

But manned aircrafts need a large investment in maintenance and crew training. Command and control centers are turning to unmanned aerial vehicles （UAVs） to keep costs down and provide additional capabilities.

Smoke can obscure the ground for days at a time or pose a severe inhalation risk to air crews—However， this is not a problem for drones. Onboard high definition， infrared and thermal imaging cameras can provide direction to ground teams， spot vital infrastructure （including power or water lines）， and identify dangerous or flammable objects.

Air crews are regularly prone to incidents and 24 per cent of firefighter deaths between 2006 and 2016 were due to plane and helicopter crashes. This highlights the wisdom of expanding drone fleets to provide support to fire teams.

Infrared and thermal cameras can see through smoke to monitor ground teams and let them know when conditions change. UAVs can provide georeferenced aerial images， heat maps， and temperature scales of fire zones. Specialist drones can even carry hoses to less accessible areas. In the future， swarms of autonomous drones could be used to track wildfires and spot fire spread.

Thermal imaging technology has become widespread and less expensive to use. Handheld cameras and devices that attach to smartphones allow firefighters to see through smoke and find active fire hotspots， or undergrowth2 that is burning without producing smoke.

Other technologies that can save lives include survival items like fire blankets. Often the last line of defense for trapped firefighters， a Sunseeker fire blanket can withstand temperatures of 3，000 degrees fahrenheit. First response firefighters who parachute into wildland fires—known as smokejumpers—are among those who need them most.

Their training at the US Forest Service now includes the PARASIM3 virtual parachute jump simulator to practice for real-life situations. PARASIM provides the same performance as a parachute—where trainers can change wind speed， weather conditions and terrain types—inside a realistic 3D simulation.

Augmented reality helmets that include breathing apparatus alongside computer vision-aided displays are adding to the ground teams capabilities. Thermal cameras inside the helmets mean that firefighters can operate in environments completely obscured by smoke. At the same time they can wirelessly transmit information on what is happening at the frontline to command and control points.

Robots are also making a difference. The Smokebot was developed by a Swedish university to assist fire and rescue services. It collects data in environments with reduced visibility using radar， a laser scanner， a thermal camera and gas sensors. Smokebot can help in forest fire situations mapping large areas filled with dust or smoke， where it is too risky to send in rescue personnel.

Finally to get the bigger picture on fire tracking and monitoring， the US Forest Service and US Geological Survey uses data from the Landsat4 Earth-observing satellites. Data gathered from every major fire in the country since 1984 has been fed into computer models to help predict and prevent wildfires.

Earth-observing satellites commonly detect wildfires in wilderness areas. Their cameras and remote sensors are used to estimate the fires evolution and provide situational awareness5 that saves lives.     ■

野火是地球上最具破壞力的灾害之一。当大火烧入森林或荒地边缘的城镇，可能会造成重大经济损失和人员伤亡。同时，全球温度升高和极端热浪增加了野火蔓延的风险。

用于应对大面积火灾的科技已变得更加先进。消防员组成训练有素的地面和空中救援队。直升机和灭火飞机运载水、泡沫灭火剂及阻燃剂直达火灾现场。

最先进的消防科技

扑救加州野火的消防队使用了Global SuperTanker超级灭火机，这是一种经过改装的巨型喷气式飞机，可运载近73，000升（19，200加仑）的阻燃剂;还使用了S-64 Aircrane起重直升机，可运载10，000升（2200加仑）的水。

灭火机不仅可以扑灭火焰，还可以通过与GPS数据耦合的传感器和视频源监测火势的蔓延。把数据输入先进的计算机建模软件，可以帮助预测火情火势。计算机模型能够绘制精确到数米范围的地形图和气流图。火势尤其受风况影响，而这些工具使消防员得以在地面确定火势蔓延的路径。

但是由于载人飞机需要在机身维护及机组人员培训上投入大量资金，指挥控制中心正转而使用无人机，以降低成本和提供附加能力。

浓烟会连续多日遮蔽地面情况，使机组人员面临吸入浓烟的严重风险——但是，这对无人机来说并不是问题。机载高清、红外和热成像摄像机能为地面的救援队指引方向，发现重要的基础设施（包括电线及水管），识别危险和易燃物体。

机组人员经常容易出事故，在2006年至2016年之间，遇难的消防员中有24%死于飞机或直升机坠毁。这项数据表明，扩大无人机机队为消防队提供支持是明智的。

红外热像仪可以透过浓烟监测地面救援队，并在情况有变化时通知他们。无人机可以提供基于地理坐标的航空图像、热力图以及火区的温标。专用无人机甚至可以将水管运送到难以到达的区域。在未来，可用大量无人机发现野火和追踪火势的蔓延。

热成像技术已经普及且使用成本下降。手持摄像头及可连接到智能手机的设备使消防员能够透过浓烟，找到活跃的火点，以及已经起火却沒有冒烟的林下灌丛。

其他可以拯救生命的技术还有各种救生物品，例如防火毯。Sunseeker防火毯可承受3000华氏度的高温，通常是被困消防员的最后一道防线。接受应急任务空降到着火荒野中的消防员（也称“空降消防员”）是最需要这些防火毯的人群。

空降消防员在美国林业局的培训包括使用PARASIM跳伞模拟器进行实战演练。PARASIM以3D形式模拟跳伞的真实状况，教练员可以更改风速、天气条件和地形类型。

增强现实头盔配备呼吸装置和计算机视觉辅助显示器，提高了地面救援队的灭火能力。头盔内的热像仪能让消防员在被浓烟完全遮蔽的环境中工作。同时，他们还可以将一线的实时信息无线传输到各个指挥控制点。

机器人也正在发挥作用。瑞典某大学开发了Smokebot，用于协助消防和救援行动。它使用雷达、激光扫描仪、热像仪和气体传感器，在能见度降低的环境中收集数据。大片森林被灰尘和浓烟遮蔽时，派遣救援人员风险太大，在这种情况下，Smokebot可绘制出这些地区的地形图和气流图，帮助控制森林火情。

最后，为了更全面地了解野火追踪和监测情况，美国林业局和美国地质调查局使用Landsat地球观测卫星收集数据。自1984年以来收集的美国每一场大火的数据都被输入计算机模型，以预测和预防野火。

地球观测卫星通常用于探测荒野地区的野火。卫星上的摄像头和遥感器用来预估火势的发展，提供可以拯救生命的态势感知能力。                      □

（译者为“《英语世界》杯”翻译大赛获奖者）

1一种以波音747广体货机改造而成的超大型灭火机，是世界上装载量最大的灭火机，飞机持有者是Global SuperTanker公司。

2 undergrowth下层灌木丛（指林木下的）。

3一种伞降模拟训练系统，采用了VBS和虚拟现实技术，伞兵戴上VR眼镜就可以在室内完成高危伞降课目训练。

4美国NASA的陆地卫星计划。  5态势感知概念最早于20 世纪80 年代由美国空军提出（即分析空战环境信息、快速判断当前及未来形势并做出正确反应），覆盖感知（perception）、理解（comprehension）和预测（projection）三个层次。