UPDATE Dense, sparsely populated woodlands can be difficult to protect. Pano AI aims to use artificial intelligence to help detect and prevent forest fires before they get out of hand. According to T-Mobile, a participant in the 5G Open Innovation Lab that spawned Pano AI, the system will soon be deployed in the forested areas surrounding Portland, Oregon.
“Firefighters are looking for ways to detect, confirm and pinpoint a fire within minutes, and modern technology makes that very possible,” said Sonia Kastner, CEO of Pano AI. “Wildfire detection is especially important in rural and remote areas, and thanks to the long range of T-Mobile’s 5G network, we can bring Pano AI’s solution to some of the most vulnerable locations across the country.”
Portland General Electric is on board to combine T-Mobile’s 5G network and camera system with Pano AI’s fire detection units. “We put the safety of our customers, employees and communities first and this type of innovation allows us to do that by monitoring and detecting wildfires faster and more reliably than other methods,” stated Larry Bekkedahl, senior vice president of Advanced Energy Delivery at Portland General Electric. “The stakes are high when it comes to detecting wildfires and we need access to breakthrough technologies and reliable connectivity, which both Pano AI and T-Mobile bring to the table.”
Each Pano AI unit constantly monitors for changes in air quality and signs of smoke that could indicate a fire. The units communicate with each other, relaying visual information through the network and back to waiting firefighters. Advance notice of a developing fire can activate a proactive response to the danger. Because the units communicate with each other, the Pano AI system can also help gauge how fast a fire may be spreading, and which direction it is moving.
“Pano AI has developed an innovative solution that is poised to save lives and limit the devastation often caused by wildfires, and it’s both humbling and rewarding that T-Mobile’s 5G network is uniquely positioned to help bring it to life,” noted Neville Ray, President of Technology at T-Mobile.
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