Jan 27 2011
The source of the fire produced during wildfires, which generates enormous amount of smoke is difficult to identify and manage. The firefighting systems deploy infrared cameras for detecting the warmest and the core of a fire. If the environment is very smokey and dusty, the infrared technology system fails to function effectively.
Scientists at Germany-basedFraunhofer Institute for High Frequency Physics and Radar Techniques in Wachtberg have devised a sensor having the capability to perceive through the smoke. The sensor is operative at a very low frequency in contrast to the infrared sensors, and are resistant to dust particles. It also penetrates through dense foliage for tracking unseen areas of fire.
According to the research leader, Nora von Wahl, the components of smoke and dust are virtually translucent in the microwave range, but for identifying the source of the fire, the radiation should be strong. She added that, their sensors could detect the fires from a height of about 100 meters, evaluating five meters by five meters even in poor visible conditions. The system is also capable of tracking fires smoldering underneath the uppermost layer of earth.
Source: http://www.fraunhofer.de