A network of solar powered CCTV cameras mounted on poles throughout the forest are linked to citizen fire watchers over the web, to obtain advance warning of wildfires before they manage to spread.
A group of children from California, who were evacuated out of their homes because of wildfires, came up with an inspired idea to detect forest fires.
After teaming up with Sony Europe, the concept is now being put to the test in trials on Forestry Commission land at Alice Holt in Surrey and in America.
The youngsters’ brainwave, which aims to reduce the number of wildfires in California and other parts of the world, won the Children’s Climate Call competition in Copenhagen earlier this year. It so impressed Sony executives that they offered to bring the idea to life.
Since then the children, who are known as Forest Guard, have worked with engineers at Sony’s professional headquarters in Basingstoke, resulting in this initial version of the system being tested.
A network of solar powered CCTV cameras mounted on poles throughout the forest are linked to citizen fire watchers over the web, to obtain advance warning of wildfires before they manage to spread.
In the tests at both Alice Holt and near the children's homes at Tahoe in California, the technology is being assessed without there being any fire simulation. Scottish and Southern Electric worked closely with Sony and the Forestry Commission to install the system at Alice Holt.
At the Forestry Commission, Iain Skinner, the area land agent, said:
"Fortunately Alice Holt has not suffered from fires, but we are engaged with many aspects of mitigating climate change. We are delighted in being involved with this project to help Sony test this technology, which may be used in many parts of the world to help detect forest fires."
The system will be shown to the world's leading authorities on climate change when the young Forest Guard team return to Copenhagen during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) at the Bright Green Expo on 12-13 December.
Morgan David, Divisional Director, Research and Development (R&D) at Sony, added:
"We are so pleased we could bring our technology and engineering skills to this project and help this young team's idea become a reality.”
Sony’s designs and software for the Forest Guard proof of concept will be released into the public domain and a white paper will be made available so that the technology is available to all scientists, governments and NGOs working to combat wildfires globally.
The American youngsters are acutely aware of the need for detecting forest wildfires early. Particularly after forest fires once again broke out near to them in September, destroying 50 homes and 10 businesses in their local area, and forcing them to evacuate their homes.
They are keen to highlight the environmental impact these devastating fires can have in the likes of California, Australia and southern Europe. The carbon dioxide emitted during these fires can equal that produced by several million cars on the road in a year and throughout the world CO2 emissions by forest fires are expected to increase by 50% by 2050 if something isn’t done.
NOTES TO EDITOR
1. The Forest Guard Team are also The Lego Guards, a FIRST LEGO League team from Meadow Vista, California and includes Andrew Wood, 13; Aydan Potts, 11; Alejandro Vega, 13; Bobby Huckins, 12; Faith Oakes, 13 and Drew Oakes, 10 and they are mentored by team coach Heidi Buck. For more information about the team and the project, go to www.forestguards.org
2. Children’s Climate Call was organised by FIRST Scandinavia and the LEGO Group in partnership with IBM, NIRAS and Sony Europe. For more information about the event and photos, go to www.childrensclimatecall.org
3. LEGO, the LEGO logo and MINDSTORMS are trademarks of the LEGO Group. ©2009 The LEGO Group.
4. The Forestry Commission is the government department responsible in England for protecting, expanding and promoting the sustainable management of woods and forests and increasing their value to society and the environment. Forestry makes a real contribution to sustainable development, providing social and environmental benefits arising from planting and managing attractive, as well as productive, woodlands. Further information can be found at www.forestry.gov.uk
5. Sony is a leading global innovator of audio, video, communications and information technology products for both the consumer and professional markets. Sony is renowned for its audio-visual products, such as the BRAVIA™ LCD high-definition television, Cyber-shot™ digital camera, Handycam® camcorder and Walkman® MP3 player as well as its VAIO™ personal computers and high-definition (HD) professional broadcast equipment, highlighted by the XDCAM® HD. Offering a complete end-to-end HD value chain and with its electronics, music, pictures, game and online businesses, Sony is one of the world’s leading digital entertainment brands, employing approximately 170,000 people worldwide.
Through its long-term football partnerships as an official sponsor of the UEFA Champions League until 2012, Official FIFA Partner until 2014 and global sponsor of the FIFA World Cup™ in 2010 and 2014, Sony is inspiring a sense of excitement for the millions of football fans around the world.
For more information on Sony Europe, please visit http://www.sony-europe.com and http://www.sony-europe.com/presscenter
MEDIA CONTACTS
Sony: Claire Thacker, Corporate Communications, Sony Europe
tel: +44 1932 81 6000/ email: claire.thacker@eu.sony.com
Forestry Commission England: Chris Johnson, Press Officer, tel: 01223 346034, email: chris.c.johnson@forestry.gov.uk
Source: http://www.forestry.gov.uk/newsrele.nsf/AllByUNID/8C0696BD4808A4118025767E00336FA0
