The Pench Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra has introduced an advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) system aimed at early detection of forest fires, as announced on June 26, 2024.
System Components
- High-Resolution Camera
- Installed on an existing tower located at 540 meters above mean sea level near Kirringisarra village.
- Visual range of 15 kilometers, covering over 350 sq km of the reserve.
- Control Room
- Located at the West Pench range office in Kolitmara.
- Integrates data from 15 commercial satellite services.
Functionality
- AI-Powered Platform (Pantera)
- Utilizes camera feeds and satellite data for real-time forest fire alerts within 3 minutes.
- Can differentiate between smoke and clouds using infra-red technology for day and night monitoring, reducing false alarms.
- Additional Data Integration
- Receives data on temperature, precipitation, wind, etc.
- Analyzes historical fire incidences to forecast future fire risks, aiding proactive fire management.
- Integration with Resources
- Can connect with water tanks, forest vehicles equipped with GPS for real-time resource management during fire incidents.
Benefits
- Enhanced Management Practices
- Anticipates significant improvement in forest fire management with swift detection and response capabilities.
- Potential to save extensive forest land and protect wildlife.
Collaboration and Funding
- Collaborators
- Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra; Satpuda Foundation; Umgrameio (Brazil); Forest Fire Tech (Scaale Inc, USA).
- Funding
- Supported by Solar Industries India Ltd, Nagpur, and the Maharashtra government.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with Answers:
- What is the name of the AI-powered platform used for forest fire detection at Pench Tiger Reserve?
- A) Panthera
- B) Pantera
- C) Puma
- D) Pardus
- Answer: B) Pantera
- Where is the control room for the AI system located within Pench Tiger Reserve?
- A) Nagpur
- B) Kolitmara
- C) Kirringisarra
- D) Umgrameio
- Answer: B) Kolitmara
- What technology does the AI system use to differentiate between smoke and clouds?
- A) Ultraviolet
- B) Infrared
- C) Microwave
- D) Radar
- Answer: B) Infrared
- How quickly does the AI system provide alerts for forest fires?
- A) Within 1 hour
- B) Within 5 minutes
- C) Within 10 minutes
- D) Within 3 minutes
- Answer: D) Within 3 minutes
- Which organization was part of the collaboration for implementing the AI system at Pench Tiger Reserve?
- A) Forest Fire Tech
- B) Solar Industries India Ltd
- C) Maharashtra government
- D) Umgrameio
- Answer: A) Forest Fire Tech