Drone Technologies in Bushfire Mitigation: Challenges and Opportunities
This project assesses innovative advancements in drones and sensory technologies with the aim of using these technologies to monitor, detect and prevent bushfires. The research framework used in the evaluation of these technologies consists of four core elements: information must be relevant, peer-reviewed, and published in academic journals within the past five years.
While technological enhancements in the field of detecting and monitoring fires has made significant progress over the past few years, it is evident that more research and development is required. Several articles published in this field propose methodologies and complex algorithms which theoretically can be applied to the prevention of bushfires, however testing of these technologies has largely been performed in laboratories or within controlled environments. Sensory technologies which can detect fire, such as vision-based, thermal, chemical, non-optical and avoidance sensors have produced positive outcomes in testing. Combining these sensory technologies with advancements in drone technologies is the challenge researchers must overcome. In order to mobilise a swarm of drones across a vast amount of land to autonomously prevent and mitigate bushfire risks, more research and investment is required.