The balloons can linger above a hearth for roughly 18 hours, exploiting the vagaries of their surroundings to maintain their equilibrium. Flying at a proximity to the top of the troposphere and the undersurface of the subsequent atmospheric layer – the stratosphere – “Characterized by unpredictable gusts blowing from multiple directions,” clarifies Leidich. The balloon navigates effortlessly in both reverse and forward directions by simply ascending or descending.
In a proactive measure, City Sky’s anonymous buyer for its August deployment leverages expertise in wind patterns and fuel types – encompassing timber, bushes, and grass – to inform predictions of where fires are likely to ignite and spread. While incorporating City Sky’s expertise is crucial, wouldn’t it be more accurate to say that their understanding focuses on identifying where and how fires actually start? According to Leidich, it’s essential that they incorporate an extra step in their procedure to thoroughly scan high-risk areas, ensuring a more comprehensive approach.
If a suspected fire occurs during the marketing campaign, City Sky can promptly dispatch its emergency response vehicle to the site. We deployed a surveillance drone to gather intel from above, confidently declaring, ‘Yes, we’ve detected a prominent chimney feature.’ Right here it’s,’” says Leidich.
COURTESY URBAN SKY
If they secure yeses where needed and nos where nothing can be seen, the proof of concept may lead to broader implementation of the HotSpot system, potentially offering an effortless and timely way for various regions to grasp control over their own blazes.
Within the past year, City Sky has received a grant from NASA’s FireSense program, aiming to discover innovative approaches for comprehending the three distinct stages of fire: pre-ignition, combustion, and post-combustion. Currently, Scorching Spot’s initial clients include the August marketing campaign and the NASA program, in addition to offering frequently updated aerial photographs of 12 Western US cities.
Falkowski notes that the technology enabling City Sky’s balloons to detect and monitor fires with such precision is truly fascinating, especially when deployed from a high-altitude platform.
With NASA’s assistance, the group aims to revitalize the system for extended flights, develop a more resilient communication network, and integrate a sensor capable of capturing blue, green, and near-infrared light, thereby enabling a deeper understanding of plant-based “fuels” and facilitating the assignment of risk scores to forests. In the next 12 months, the team plans to take on a new challenge, hovering above real-world fires as part of their mission with NASA.
There will always be fires to hover over. As a constant in the universe of phytoplankton research, Falkowski’s influence remains. “Fireplace isn’t an unpleasant aspect,” he remarks. “These ecosystems advanced with fireplace. The problem lies in individuals approaching areas that, by necessity, need to be consumed by flames.
