Kuenlek Tshomo Tshering | Intern
Fire incidents are increasing. Some blame it on climate change; others think it is a man-made disaster.
Geoneon, a climate tech company which leverages AI and satellite imagery to transform complex geospatial data into actionable climate risk, has developed a wildfire hazard severity index and a wildfire exposure index to manage wildfire risks for the country.
This is expected to respond quickly to fire incidents in the country.
The hazard index uses satellite imagery, AI, and data on fuel, topography, weather, and climate to estimate wildfire intensity. The exposure index maps building footprints and assigns exposure scores based on their risk.
In 2019, there were 40 forest fire case in the country that burned 3,524.72 hectares of land. In 2020, the country saw 26 forest fires that burned 2,387.14 hectares. In 2021, there were 43 forest fires that burned 4,308.05 hectares, and in 2022, there were 34 forest fires that burned 4,501.55 hectares.
In 2022, 11 people were fined a total of Nu 597,800 for causing forest fires.
Geoneon focuses on enhancing resilience and sustainability through cross-border collaboration and strategic alliances, aiming to provide actionable insights that empower global communities to tackle climate change challenges effectively.
It also provides guidance on how to use this data to make informed decisions and train local communities to use these tools effectively, making them better equipped to handle the challenges of climate change.
The proposed open-source tool for wildfire mitigation in Bhutan maps building exposure to wildfires at a 10-metres resolution. It improves emergency readiness by refining plans, ensures resources are allocated to protect at-risk areas, and promotes community awareness and collaboration in fire management.
The tool helps safeguard buildings by identifying risks, provides detailed risk assessments for both local and national decision-making, and is scalable and sustainable with its open-source design.
Comprehensive training ensures that it remains useful over time, leading to a better wildfire management, improved preparedness, and strategic resource use, ultimately creating a safer and more resilient Bhutan.
A few years ago, they collaborated with an international organization to establish an early fire detection system, but it failed due to technical glitches. Today, Geoneon’s wildfire hazard severity and exposure index software will greatly enhance our wildfire monitoring and planning efforts.
With AI, the Department of Disaster Management can now make data-driven decisions, ensure accuracy, rationality, and improvement. They will also stay updated with the latest trends and technology.
Karma Chorten Dhendup, the forestry officer, said that the main challenge was road accessibility, which is crucial for effective fire suppression.
Firefighters need proper roads to reach and control fires quickly.