{"id":12977,"date":"2016-08-03T14:55:20","date_gmt":"2016-08-03T18:55:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=12977"},"modified":"2016-08-03T14:55:21","modified_gmt":"2016-08-03T18:55:21","slug":"satellite-images-monitor-wildfires-and-help-to-prevent-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=12977","title":{"rendered":"Satellite images monitor wildfires and help to prevent them"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"1_igh_4ADz5F-I27bs9M13ag[1]\"<\/a>The Beaver Creek Fire in northern Colorado on June 21, 2016. <\/em>
\nPlanetScope image \u00a92016 Planet Labs, Inc. cc-by-sa 4.0<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

This post from\u00a0the earth observation satellite company Planet<\/a> (formerly Planet Labs) describes the use of satellite imagery to monitor forest wildfires and to help prevent them from happening:\u00a0Fire Watch: Watching and Understanding Wildfires from Space \u2014 Planet Stories \u2014 Medium<\/a>\u00a0–<\/span><\/p>\n

Satellite imagery has long played an important role in fighting wildfires, from estimating the amount of dry vegetation available to fuel a fire to evaluating the severity of a burn in the wake of a blaze. The rapid revisit rates and relatively high resolution of Planet\u2019s RapidEye and Dove instruments allow unique ways of preparing for, monitoring, and responding to fires.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"1_yg8hXKk_KJWmmfKQNk-7xQ[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"1_4aD-xVCKQ1xrzAIlB-Z2jA[1]\"
\n<\/a>True-color image and vegetation map of the <\/em>
\nsite of the San Gabriel Complex fires on June 4. <\/em>
\nRapidEye satellite images \u00a92016 Planet Labs, Inc. cc-by-sa 4.0<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n

These images show the site of the San Gabriel Complex fires, which ravaged the mountains north of Los Angeles. Starting on June 20, 2016, the Reservoir Fire and Fish Fire consumed a total of 9652 acres, before being contained about a week later.<\/em><\/p>\n

On the [top]\u00a0is a true-color image, showing the area On June 4, 2016, more or less as it would appear to a human observer. The dark green, chaparral-covered hillsides contrast with gray rooftops and roadways\u200a\u2014\u200athe northern fringes of the Los Angeles conurbation.<\/em><\/p>\n

On the [bottom]\u00a0is a map of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index<\/a>\u00a0(NDVI), a measure of plant health and abundance. Dark green represents thick, vigorous plant cover, while lighter greens represent thinner and less healthy vegetation. Beige areas are vegetation free\u200a\u2014\u200abare soil, rock, asphalt, or concrete.<\/em><\/p>\n

Vegetation Index maps are a valuable fire-fighting tool because they show fuel available to feed a fire. This can help land managers plan efforts to thin vegetation on vulnerable land to limit the intensity of damaging fires, or prevent them from spreading in the first place.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"1_zZNmtXwsKBUq-8X607Xf4w[1]\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"1_A0Wunu1YhzQnobHYz8r0Pg[1]\"
\n<\/a>True-color and near-infrared false-color images <\/em>
\nof the San Gabriel Complex fires on June 22, 2016. <\/em>
\nRapidEye satellite images \u00a92016 Planet Labs, Inc. cc-by-sa 4.0<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

True-color and near-infrared false-color views of the San Gabriel Complex fires show the extent of the blazes on June 22. In true-color ([top]), smoke is blue-brown, burned areas are dark gray, and flame retardant foam laid down in front of advancing flames is bright red. In false-color ([bottom]), the smoke almost disappears, leaving a clear view of the burn scar. More severely burned areas are darker. Vegetation appears bright red, and water is dark blue.<\/em><\/p>\n

Satellite images can help fire fighters during a fire outbreak:<\/p>\n

Up-to-date vegetation data can help predict the propagation of a fire, especially when combined with additional information like topographic maps, weather data, and land cover classification. This allows firefighters to efficiently combat wildfires and protect at-risk property.<\/em><\/p>\n

And after a fire the satellite information can help with rehabilitation of the affected areas:<\/p>\n

The USDA Forest service employs Burned Area Emergency Response<\/a> teams to evaluate the severity of fires, and quickly rehabilitate areas<\/a> vulnerable to threats like erosion and the spread of invasive species.<\/em><\/p>\n

New low cost smallsat constellations like that of Planet’s can provide more frequent images\u00a0of a fire area, in some case multiple views per day, and are making\u00a0space imagery more accessible and affordable.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Beaver Creek Fire in northern Colorado on June 21, 2016. PlanetScope image \u00a92016 Planet Labs, Inc. cc-by-sa 4.0. This post from\u00a0the earth observation satellite company Planet (formerly Planet Labs) describes the use of satellite imagery to monitor forest wildfires and to help prevent them from happening:\u00a0Fire Watch: Watching and Understanding Wildfires from Space \u2014 … Continue reading Satellite images monitor wildfires and help to prevent them<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12977","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-eyes-in-the-sky"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p34aWK-3nj","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3743,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=3743","url_meta":{"origin":12977,"position":0},"title":"George Clooney keeps an eye on Sudanese dictator by satellite","author":"TopSpacer","date":"August 1, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"A reader points me to this article about George Clooney and his political activism, particularly his interest in the conflict between North and South Sudan: George Clooney tastes sustainability in Nespresso coffee - Lucy Siegle\/theguardian.com \"Most of the money I make on the [Nespresso] commercials I spend keeping a satellite\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "DIY space"","block_context":{"text":"DIY space","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=35"},"img":{"alt_text":"PlanetLabsDove2image_April26_2013","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/PlanetLabsDove2image_April26_2013.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":15057,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=15057","url_meta":{"origin":12977,"position":1},"title":"Satellites image California wildfires + Using satellites to spot wildfires globally within 15 minutes","author":"TopSpacer","date":"October 12, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"California has been hit with more wildfires than usual this year. Here is a short video from NOAA showing fires as seen by the GOES-16 satellite: https:\/\/youtu.be\/tsLs74Cr_CU --- An article from NASA about the fires and satellite observations of them: Wildfires Running Amok in California Fires broke out\u00a0quickly this past\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Eyes in the Sky"","block_context":{"text":"Eyes in the Sky","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=27"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/20171010-california1-1024x757.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":16465,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=16465","url_meta":{"origin":12977,"position":2},"title":"Satellites image fires, lava flows, and heatwaves in US and Europe","author":"TopSpacer","date":"July 30, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Here is a sampling of satellite images of recent events in the US and Europe: ** Fires in California: US weather satellites view wildfires in California:\u00a0Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) 16 and 17: Monitoring storm systems and California\u2019s wildfires | WHNT.com The past 24 hours of the #CarrFire, as seen\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Eyes in the Sky"","block_context":{"text":"Eyes in the Sky","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=27"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/PIA22489-161-1024x576.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":12437,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=12437","url_meta":{"origin":12977,"position":3},"title":"Video: “Why Send Art Into Space?” – the Planet Labs satellite art","author":"TopSpacer","date":"April 2, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Planet Labs is a Silicon Valley based company that has launched over 80\u00a0smallsats into low earth orbit, many by shooting them from the Int. Space Station. Here is a video\u00a0from the National Geographic Short Film\u00a0Showcase\u00a0about the artworks etched onto the sides of the satellites: Planet Labs, an Earth-imaging company, paired\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Eyes in the Sky"","block_context":{"text":"Eyes in the Sky","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=27"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/POHLCbdM-hs\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":15946,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=15946","url_meta":{"origin":12977,"position":4},"title":"Videos: Watch US forests change over decades in satellite images + Access satellite imagery with EOSDIS app","author":"TopSpacer","date":"May 1, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Check out this interesting video from NASA Goddard showing the continual changes in the health and status of North America forests as seen with imagery from the Landsat satellites, which have carried out remote sensing from orbit since the 1970s: https:\/\/youtu.be\/rR6gxF9waQE (Via\u00a0Video: Satellite imagery highlights changes in US forests -\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Eyes in the Sky"","block_context":{"text":"Eyes in the Sky","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=27"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/rR6gxF9waQE\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":16610,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=16610","url_meta":{"origin":12977,"position":5},"title":"Build a LEGO version of the Planet Labs Dove satellite","author":"TopSpacer","date":"August 23, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"These days even elementary student groups and small organizations are building CubeSats and seeing them go into orbit. If you are not up to building and launching a working spacecraft yourself, here are the directions for assembling a LEGO model of the Dove earth imaging CubeSat developed by the company\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Amateur\/Student Satellite"","block_context":{"text":"Amateur\/Student Satellite","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=4"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/PlanetLabsDove1.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12977","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12977"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12977\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12983,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12977\/revisions\/12983"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12977"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12977"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12977"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}