Novel forecast technology to help firefighters in rescue missions
Watching a building being engulfed in flames is already a terrifying experience. Not knowing exactly when and how the blaze will spread can make the experience even more traumatic for those seeking to protect lives and surrounding buildings.. Aware of the value of the power to predict, an EU-funded team of researchers has developed a new technique that forecasts how a blaze will spread. This innovative technology is presented in the Fire Safety Journal. Developed by researchers at the University of Edinburg in the UK, the new technique can feed data obtained from sensors located in burning buildings into computer models, giving rescue teams the information they need to predict the potential spread of fire. The researchers say a number of disciplines have surfaced in the area of science and technology to make possible the forecasting of dynamics of non-trivial systems, including weather and astronomical objects. 'It is envisioned that the forecasting of fire dynamics in enclosures will lead to a paradigm shift in the response to fire emergencies in buildings, providing the fire service with essential information about the development of the fire with some lead time (i.e. seconds or minutes ahead of the event),' the authors write. 'This technology is currently non-existent because available fire simulation tools cannot predict fire growth in a fast, precise and robust manner.' This is where 'Sensor Assisted Fire Fighting' technology comes in. Rescuers will benefit immensely from this innovative tool, particularly because it will give them more time to determine how a fire will develop. Not only will it help them contain the blaze, but it will also help them minimise the impact of the blaze. The researchers say the sensors are simple and can measure the temperature and height of a fire. They could be integrated into smoke alarms, room temperature sensors and closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras. State-of-the-art computer models can then covert these into a forecast of the fire's dynamics, according to the team. The Sensor Assisted Fire Fighting technology allows rescue works to keep their eyes on a fire in real time. The sensor-derived information ensures that the forecast is updated regularly. The researchers point out that if there is a significant change in conditions, such as windows breaking, sensor measurements will allow the computational model to adjust the forecast. 'Firefighters often have to follow their instincts when tackling a fire,' explains project leader Dr Guillermo Rein of the university's School of Engineering. 'This technology could give them the extra information they need to consider more options available in handling the emergency, and reduce lost opportunities or unnecessary risks, ultimately saving lives and minimising damage. However, further research focusing on making the simulation as realistic as possible will be needed before this technology can be put into practice.' The research was funded in part by a grant under the EU Alban - Regional cooperation programme, which aims to strengthen cooperation between the EU and Latin America in the area of higher education.
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