This document discusses the use of near-real-time wildfire simulations to support firefighting operations. It provides examples of how satellite imagery and simulation models can be used to predict fire spread and estimate burnt areas. Such simulations allow incident commanders to make strategic decisions about resource allocation and evacuation planning. The document promotes several wildfire simulation and mapping platforms and tools that provide relevant, accurate and intuitive analysis to support safer firefighting operations.

1. knowing the
enemy
geospatially
NEAR-REALTIME WILDFIRE
SIMULATIONS TO SUPPORT
Dr Joaquin Ramirez
DTSWildfire Tecnosylva

2. Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Rapid Response System at NASA/GSFC http://youtu.be/eET7jwJOOqA

3. 750 m€
fire season
160.000
ha lost
480 m€
losses

7. MODIS SENSOR IMAGERY
TERRA SATELLITE
28/06/2012 11:35

8. MODIS SENSOR IMAGERY
TERRA SATELLITE
29/06/2012 12:05
FIRE: CORTS DE PALLARS
BURNT AREA: 11.770
ha

9. MODIS SENSOR IMAGERY
TERRA SATELLITE
30/06/2012 11:10
FIRE: CORTS DE PALLARS
BURNT AREA: 24.012 ha
(+9.143)
FIRE: ANDILLA
BURNT AREA: 5.371 ha

10. 11 km diameter
fire ball

11. http://www.nifc.go
v/fireInfo/fireInfo_
statistics.html
12000000 300000
10000000 250000
8000000 200000
fires
acres burnt
6000000 150000
4000000 100000
2000000 50000
Fires
0 0
Acres
1960
1964
1966
1968
1970
1974
1976
1978
1980
1984
1986
1988
1990
1994
1996
1998
2000
2004
2006
2008
2010
1962
1972
1982
1992
2002

12. Where do we go
Fire scenarios from 2010 to 2070 (ATSR Fire Atlas based)
Krawchuk MA, Moritz MA, Parisien M-A, Van Dorn J, Hayhoe K, 2009. Global Pyrogeography:
the Current and Future Distribution of Wildfire. PLoS
ONE 4(4): e5102. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0005102
Climate projections include 2010–2039 (A,), 2040–2069 (B) and 2070–2099 (C).

13. Fire Paradox
The better we
are fighting
fires, the bigger
those we

16. If you know
yourself and your
enemy, you can
win a hundred
battles without

17. FB: A YOUNG
SCIENCE
Harry T. Gisborne Jack S. Barrow
Director of the
Missoula Fire
First true Lab
specialist in forest The Mann Gulch

18. topography
http://goo.gl/amuxP

19. weather
extre
http://goo.gl/WkiKO

20. fuels
oversto
http://goo.gl/WkiKO

21. = extreme
behavior fires

22. The science and art
of Firegoing to be in
Where is it
Sim
the next hours?
When can we expect to
stop it?
What is the risk to this

23. Models are out there
Models completed in period 1990-2007
12 Physical
7 quasi-physical
15 empirical
5 quasi-empirical
11 simulation
22 mathematical analogous
Andrew L. Sullivan
Wildland surface fire spread modelling, 1990–2007
International Journal of Wildland Fire
Volume 18 Number 4 2009
.

24. We need to takesims from
the lab…
LANL Coupled Fire/Atmosphere Modeling, FIRETEC
http://ees.lanl.gov/ees16/FIRETEC.shtml

25. to the operation
personnel…

26. to the Incident
Command Post …

27. … to support safer
operations

28. Users expect
relevant
information

29. Ignition points from
fire department fire
CADs
progressio
n

30. Immediate results
where the fire will fire
arrive in the next
few hours progressio
n

31. risk on vulnerable
assets (homes, evacuatio
power lines, …)
n time

32. Allows
preparedness evacuatio
planning for
evacuation
purposes
n time

33. www.wildfireanalyst.com
On scene inmediate analys

34. FAST
iStock_000000525414

35. INTUITIVE
mylesdgrant/5434978427

36. POWERFUL
toptechwriter/338573258

37. Users expect
easy.

38. WILDFIREMAPS.COM
BURNENGINE

39. hoyvinmayvin/516609595

40. BURNE ENGINE RESULTS

41. www.wildfiremaps.com
On scene inmediate analys

42. Whitewater-Baldy
Complex ha
100.000
Kristen Allison
BLM FBAN Type

43. NEW
MEXIC
O
550 km

44. simulating from IR

45. simulating from IR
imagery

49. La Jonquera
13.000 ha / 4 hrs
rc Castellonou
Analyst Chief
onian Firefighters
Strategic analysis
in 20 min

50. accurate information fo
decission making
Wind

51. accurate information fo
decission making

52. 60 % resources reallo
based on the simulatio

53. Office: +1 905.727.8352 Office: +34 987.849.486
Mobile: +1 970.213.4635 Mobile: +34 696.922.909

54. More Information
www.DTSwildfire.com
www.fiRESPONSE.com
www.WildfireMaps.com
www.WildfireAnalyst.com

55. It pays to know
the enemy

56. not least because at
some time you may
have the opportunity
to