The town of Vail, a ski resort in Colorado, has partnered with Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) to implement an AI Smart City Solution aimed at improving wildfire detection and other municipal services. The initiative comes as the region faces increased wildfire risks due to hotter and drier weather, exacerbated by climate change. In recent years, Colorado has experienced 11 of its 20 largest wildfires recorded in history.
Town manager Russell Forrest noted the importance of rapid fire detection and response during a summer wildfire that occurred 30 miles from Vail. This prompted him to connect with HPE and the tech firm Kamiwaza to explore AI solutions. As a result, Vail has become the first U.S. municipality to adopt HPE’s new smart city technology, which utilizes existing camera footage from buses and high-altitude locations for fire monitoring.
The system leverages advanced video analytics to differentiate between smoke and fog and restore image fidelity as needed. It can identify lightning strikes and smoke in real time, using contextual information such as weather conditions to assess fire dangers. Additionally, geospatial data analysis through Blackshark.ai integrates satellite and drone imagery to evaluate vegetation health and proximity to residential areas, informing fire risk management.
Vail’s approach reflects a broader trend, as organizations like NOAA are also developing AI tools to automate fire detection and inform first responders through satellite monitoring. However, the environmental impact of data centers, which often require significant energy inputs, raises concerns about the potential for increased fossil fuel use and its implications for climate change.
While the AI system targets wildfire detection, it also aims to enhance administrative efficiencies in various municipal operations, assisting Vail’s local government in servicing both residents and the influx of visitors during peak ski season.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/report/809348/ai-fire-detection-vail-hpe-smart-city-platform